《Shattered Bonds: A Second Chance Mate》
Still His 1
Chapter 1
The first time I shifted, it felt like my body was unraveling¨Cbone by bone, thought by thought. My muscles snapped into ce in ways they were never meant to, and yet¡ I had never felt so whole.
Mika, my wolf, came alive that night under a silver moon, and she was glorious. She was strong. Fierce. And she felt like home.
I was sixteen.
Most wolves waited for this moment with excitement, but I had only felt fear. Not of the pain¨Cno, that was fleeting¨Cbut of the unknown. What would I be? Who would I be once I shifted?
I got my answer before the moon set.
Ruben Severius ck.
The moment my bones stilled, my breath caught. My wolf went silent in awe, in recognition. And deep inside me, something pulsed with the rity of fate. My fated mate was here. Close.
I didn¡¯t see him at first¨CI felt him. The pull. Like gravity, but warmer. Stronger. My heart thundered, then stilled the moment my eyes found his across the training field.
Ruben ck. Son of the Head Warrior. Trusted right hand of the Alpha. The most powerful young male in our pack¨Csmart, skilled, charming. And three years older than me.
Our eyes locked.
It was supposed to be magical.
He looked at me¡ and then he looked away.
Just like that.
Like I wasn¡¯t even there.
Mika whimpered inside me, confused and hurt. I stumbled toward him, hoping I was wrong. Maybe he hadn¡¯t seen me. Maybe the bond hadn¡¯t clicked for him yet. Maybe-
But no¡
He turned his back to me like I didn¡¯t matter.
And then she walked out of the packhouse, Kaithlin Powel¡ He gives her a wide smile when he saw her, a smile that I thought he will give to me, it¡¯s for another woman.
She is the Alpha¡¯s daughter. Beautiful. Elegant. And already wrapped around Ruben¡¯s arm.
They kissed.
Oh my God¡. I could feel Mika whimpers in pain.
Not a shy, awkward thing. No. A real kiss. The kind of kiss that breaks illusions.
I stood there, still half¨Cwolf, heart pounding in/my chest, as my world cracked open and spilled everything I believed in.
He felt it. I knew he did.
I could see it in the flicker of guilt behind his eyes before he buried it.
1/2
but no,
10.40
I was his mate.
And he didn¡¯t care.
Not because he couldn¡¯t. But because he wouldn¡¯t.
Because I wasn¡¯t good enough.
I was just Eine Rollin¨CEl. A pack orphan with no title. No lineage. My parents died in a rogue ambush when I was only seven, and I¡¯d been passed around ever since. The ¡°charity case¡± of ckpine Pack. Useful enough to work in the kitchens, quiet enough not to make noise.
Ruben could¡¯ve had anyone.
But he wanted the Alpha¡¯s daughter.
And I? I was in the way.
So, he pretended the bond didn¡¯t exist.
And I stayed silent. Because I didn¡¯t know what else to do.
Mika howled for him in the dark, night after night. I tried to soothe her, to lie to her, but she wasn¡¯t stupid. She felt it. The pain. The rejection. The slow unravelling of the bond we never got the chance toplete.
Still, I hoped.
I hoped he¡¯de to his senses.
That maybe, just maybe, he would choose me.
Days, weeks, months into years, I keep waiting for him to open his eyes¡
Three yearster, only to find out the hard truth¡
That he chooses another woman, Kaithlin, the Alpha daughter, he was truly reject me and didn¡¯t want me.
A
Still His 2
Chapter 2
Three yearster, after a long.. Lonely day and night. The truth is like a hard p
Today is the day.
on my face.
The day Ruben ck will stand beside Kaithlin Powel, the Alpha¡¯s daughter, and make vows that were never meant for her.
They were supposedly meant for me.
I stare at my reflection in the small mirror above the basin in the servants¡® quarters, barely recognizing the girl staring back at me.
19 years old girl, just finish high school with a pale skin, hollow eyes, lips pressed tight to keep from trembling.
My hair is braided simply, pulled away from my face the way Maria suggested-¡°neat, but not too pretty,¡± she¡¯d said, as if dressing me down would soften the pain.
It doesn¡¯t.
Nothing does.
The packhouse is alive with celebration. Laughter and music filter through the stone walls like cruel reminders of what today means.
Wolves from neighboring territories have arrived, dressed in their finest. It¡¯s a grand affair. After all, the Alpha¡¯s daughter is being mated to the pack¡¯s finest warrior. A political alliance. A love story in the eyes of the crowd.
But a tragedy in mine.
I smooth the front of my in blue dress and take a shaky breath.
¡°You don¡¯t have to go¡± Mika had whispered weakly in my mind this morning.
But I don¡¯t have any choice¡
Not because I want to. Goddess, no. But because the Alpha ordered the entire pack to bear witness. No exceptions. Not even for the orphan girl whose
soul is about to be shattered.
My footsteps echo through the hallway as I make my way to the great hall.
Every step feels like a goodbye. A goodbye to hope. To the bond. To the wolf inside me that¡¯s already fading.
When I step into the hall, it takes my breath away¨Cnot because of its beauty, but because he¡¯s there.
Ruben¡
Standing tall and strong at the front of the room, dressed in ceremonial ck with silver embroidery across his chest. His dark hair is swept back, h sharp, eyes calm. Controlled.
And beside him, radiant in ivory and gold, is Kajthlin. Her red curls are braided with pearls, and her smug smile stretches too wide as she clings to his
arm.
She doesn¡¯t even look nervous.
Why would she? She won.
The crowd hushes as the Alpha rises and steps forward to begin the ceremony. I can hardly hear his voice over the roaring in my ears. My hands clench into fists at my sides, and I fight to keep my breathing even.
16:48 Sat, 12 Jul T GO.
My gaze flicks to Ruben. For one awful second, he looks at me.
And I know he sees me
There¡¯s no flicker of recognition. No apology. Only indifference.
And that hurts more than anything.
He felt the bond. I know he always did.
And still¡ this is the choice he made.
The Alpha¡¯s voice grows louder, solemn.
¡°Do you, Ruben ck, ept Kaithlin Powel as your chosen mate, and pledge your life to hers, in strength and in soul?¡±
A pause¡.
Please. Please, Goddess, no.
¡°I do.¡±
His voice is steady.
The world tilts beneath me.
My knees buckle, but I don¡¯t fall. Not yet.
¡°And do you, Kaithlin Powel, ept Ruben ck as your chosen mate, and pledge your life to his, in strength and in soul?¡±
¡°I do,¡± she says sweetly.
The Alpha lifts his hands, blessing their union with ancient words in the old tongue.
And that¡¯s when it happens.
Pang!! It felt like I¡¯ve been shot by a gun.
The bond snaps.
There¡¯s no other way to describe it. One moment, it¡¯s there¨Cfrayed, weak, but still holding¨Cand the next¡ it¡¯s gone.
Something rips through me like a de.
can¡¯t breathe. I can¡¯t think.
My heart shatters in my chest, pieces crashing into my ribs like ss.
Mika screams inside me¡ªa sound of agony so raw and wild, it steals thest of my strength.
She¡¯s gone.
My wolf is gone.
I stumble backward, out of the crowd, unnoticed. Everyone is watching them¨Capuding, cheering. The union is .
I slip through the doors and down the hallway, my vision blurred by tears.
No one calls after me. No one even notices.
215
16:48 Sat, 12 Jul TGO¡¤
The cold air hits me as I reach the back door and shove it open.
Trun¡
Past the kitchens, the garden, all the way to the edge of the woods where the servants store the empty barrels from the kitchen.
And there, in the shadow of the celebration, I copse.
The sob that rips from me is not human.
It¡¯s not wolf. It¡¯s something broken. Something dying.
I press my hand to my chest, but it doesn¡¯t help. The pain is inside, tearing me apart from the inside out.
He was supposedly my mate.
He was supposedly choosing me.
But he didn¡¯t¡
And now¡ I have nothing.
¡°Eine¡¡±
The voice is soft, familiar.
Maria, one of the servants, the only one who knows.
She kneels beside me, her arms already around my trembling shoulders.
¡°Oh, sweetheart,¡± she whispers, rocking me gently. ¡°I was looking for you.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t breathe,¡± I sob into her chest. ¡°It hurts, Maria. It hurts so much.¡±
She tightened her arms around me ¡°I know, baby. I know.¡±
Her fingers stroke my hair as I cry, and for the first time in years, I let someone see the depth of my pain.
¡°I thought¨Cmaybe¡ªI thought he¡¯d change his mind, for years I waited¡± I whisper. ¡°Even this morning, I hoped. I¡¯m so stupid!¡±
¡°No, you¡¯re not,¡± she says fiercely, cupping my face. ¡°You¡¯re kind. You¡¯re strong. And he¡¯s a fool.¡±
She helps me sit up and hands me a bottle of water, her warm eyes never leaving mine.
¡°You don¡¯t belong here, El,¡± she says softly. ¡°Not anymore.¡±
I look at her, confused.
She reaches into her apron and pulls out a folded envelope. ¡°This justing yesterday. Schrship eptation. ¡°she presses the envelope into my
hands.
I frown, confused ¡°What? I never¡.¡±
¡°I was the one who send it. We both know how amazing your painting and drawing so it¡¯s not a surprise to know you got in¡± She smile and I heave a hard
breath.
Yes, Maria know how drawing and painting is my only way to run: To forget. But never thought she¡¯s going to sign me up to art schrship. She¡¯s the closest person have here like a family.
16:48 Sat, 12 Jul T GO
Since my parents died by the rogue when they protect the territory when I am only 7 years old, she¡¯s the one who start helping me with everything
I can¡¯t say how grateful for have her beside me.
¡°You know, don¡¯t you¡± I look up and saw her nod in sadness.
I see, so she knows that Ruben will never choose me.
That¡¯s why¡
¡°You can leave¡ Away from here. I¡¯ve already informed the Alpha about your schrship in Italy. This is your only way out. And this¡± She shove me another paper ¡°this is the address of my dear friends Louis and Patricia. They¡¯ll help you settle in.¡±
Tears well in my eyes again, but this time from something else. Gratitude. Relief.
¡°I don¡¯t know if I can¡± I whisper.
¡°I know you can¡± she says gently but firmly. ¡°Because you¡¯re not meant to stay here and wither. You¡¯re meant to grow. To thrive. To live.¡±
I nod slowly, clutching the envelope like it¡¯s a lifeline,
Her words lift me.
Maybe it is.
¡°Maria¡¡± I murmur, voice shaking. ¡°Mika is gone. I can¡¯t feel her anymore.¡±
She cups my face with both hands. ¡°Then you¡¯ll heal. And she¡¯lle back. When the time is right.¡±
I want to believe her.
I really do.
But tonight, I¡¯m nothing but hollow.
Still, I whisper, ¡°Thank you. For everything.¡±
She hugs me tight onest time, then stands, brushing the dirt from her apron. ¡°You have one night left, El. Pack your things. Rest. And don¡¯t you dare look back when you¡¯re gone.¡±
I watch her walk away, disappearing into the light of the celebration.
I stay behind in the dark, the cold wrapping around me like grief.
But even in the darkness¡ a spark remains.
Tomorrow, Heave this ce.
Tomorrow, I start again.
And maybe one day, I¡¯ll be whole again too.¡±
16:48 Sat, 12 Jul
Still His 3
Chapter 3
Knock.. Knock.. Knock¡
The knock on the Alpha¡¯s office door echoed louder in my chest than it did down the hall.
My fingers trembled as I smoothed the folded schrship letter in my coat pocket. This wasn¡¯t just a conversation¨Cit was closure.
The beginning of my freedom.
¡°Come in,¡± Alpha Gregor¡¯s voice boomed.
I stepped inside, spine straight, chin lifted. I had to look confident even if everything inside me trembled.
The Alpha looked up from a stack of papers, his piercing gaze pausing when he saw me. ¡°Eine. What brings you here?¡±
I took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯ve received a full schrship to study at an art academy in Florence, Italy. It¡¯s a rare opportunity and¡ I¡¯d like to request permission to leave the pack.¡±
He blinked..
For a moment, just silence. Then, slowly, he nodded, rubbing his chin.
¡°I was informed of your eptance,¡± he said, his tone neutral. ¡°You¡¯ve made yourself useful to this pack, despite your¡ background. It¡¯s not often we see
someone rise from such odds.¡±
I wasn¡¯t sure if that was meant to be apliment or just a reminder of where I came from so I kept my expression neutral.
Did he forget that my parents were a great warrior once? But I decide to keep my mouth shut.
He finally nodded ¡°I¡¯ll sign the necessary approvals,¡± he continued, reaching for his stamp. ¡°But be aware, Eine¨Conce you leave, you are no longer under our protection. You¡¯ll be a lone wolf outside our borders.¡±
¡°I understand,¡± I said quietly.
He gave a final nod. ¡°Very well. You leave tomorrow?¡±
¡°Yes. The train to the city leaves at dawn.¡± I said firmly and again, make him nodded his head.
As I turned to go, the door opened again.
I froze in ce the second his scent hit me.
Shit!!
Ruben¡.
Of course¡ He lived here now, didn¡¯t he? In the Alpha¡¯s mansion. His new home with Kaithlin. Their bond had barely settled, yet everything already seemed in ce¨Clike I had never been part of the story.
His eyes found mine, and for the first time in years, I didn¡¯t look away.
¡°Eine?¡± he said, voice unsure, caught off¨Cguard.
I forced a smile. ¡°Ruben¡ Sir..¡± I almost forgot to call him not only by name, luckily no one aware about it.
¡°What are you doing here?¡± His voice dropped to something quieter, almost like he was trying not to sound desperate. ¡°You¡¯re not¡ you¡¯re not in trouble, are you?¡±
1/4
I raise my eyebrow in wonder, what does he mean by trouble?
But I decide to ignore it.
¡°No,¡± I said simply. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡°,
His brows pulled together. ¡°Leaving?¡±
I nodded my head ¡°I got a schrship,¡± I answered. ¡°Art academy in Italy.¡±
The silence that followed was sharp, biting.
¡°Italy?¡± he echoed, like the word offended him.
I tilted my head. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll be gone by morning.¡±
Ruben opened his mouth, then closed it again. Something flickered in his eyes¨Cshock, disbelief, anger maybe. But he said nothing.
Good¡ Don¡¯t you dare say anything!
No one in this pack knew he had once been fated to me. He had made sure of that. Only Maria knew, and I¡¯d sworn her to silence. I wasn¡¯t going to be the one to start shouting truths just to make people ufortable. What would it change?
¡°What about your wolf?¡± he asked suddenly, almost usingly.
I flinched before I could stop myself. ¡°She¡¯s¡ quiet.¡±
Another flicker. Regret? Guilt? I didn¡¯t care anymore.
¡°Why now?¡± he asked, stepping closer. ¡°Why so far?¡±
Why do you care? I thought but decide to not say it.
¡°Because there¡¯s nothing left for me here,¡± I said calmly, meeting his eyes. ¡°And I want something for myself. I deserve that.¡±
His jaw clenched. ¡°You¡¯re running away.¡±
¡°No,¡± I said, lifting my chin. ¡°I¡¯m choosing me.¡±
That silence returned¡
He looked like he wanted to say something¨Cmaybe everything. But Ruben ck was good at swallowing words he didn¡¯t want to face.
So, when I heard nothing more, I turned my back on him, the same way he once turned his back on me.
Maria met me in the kitchenste that night, wrapping food into a small cloth bundle, her eyes already brimming with tears.
¡°I still think it¡¯s too soon,¡± she muttered. ¡°You haven¡¯t even healed yet.¡±
I wrapped my arms around her. ¡°This is my healing, Maria.¡±
She sniffled and pulled back. ¡°You remember the address I gave you? Louis and Patricia. They¡¯ll meet you at the station in Florence. Good people. They¡¯ll keep an eye on you.¡±
I nodded ¡°I remember
¡°And the money¨Cdon¡¯t argue with me, Just take it.¡±
040
Sat, 12
I smiled, my throat tight, she¡¯s the closest person that I have like a mother. ¡°Thank you, For everything.¡±
Maria squeezed my cheeks like I was still a child. ¡°Make art. Be free. And if that boy ever shows up crying at your door, m it in his face.¡±
Iughed, a real one. The first in years.
Like it¡¯s going to happen, I thought sadly.
The next morning, the pack was still asleep as I dragged my single suitcase through the snow¨Cdusted path toward the main gates. The sky was still dark, stars barely beginning to fade.
No goodbyes. No audience. Just me and the open road.
I sighed as the cold bit at my cheeks, but I didn¡¯t mind.
I was leaving behind a ce that had defined my pain¨Cand I was walking into something unknown, something new. It terrified me and thrilled me in equal measure.
The station came into view, steam curling from the engine like breath. I boarded with my heart in my throat.
As the train pulled away, I stared out the window, watching the forest disappear. My home. My cage.
Goodbye, Ruben, I thought.
You chose power¡ I choose peace¡
The journey to Florence took more than a day. By the time I arrived, my body was exhausted, but my soul felt strangely light.
Louis and Patricia stood at the tform holding a small sign with my name on it. I wasn¡¯t. family.
Ito kindness from strangers, but they weed me like
They drove me through winding cobblestone streets, past old stone buildings and flower¨Ccovered balconies.
The city felt alive¨Clike it breathed art into the air.
¡°You¡¯ll stay with us until the dorms open,¡± Patricia said in her warm ent. ¡°We live near the Arno. It¡¯s quiet there. Peaceful.¡±
Peaceful¡
I almost didn¡¯t remember what that felt like.
¡°Before that we need to go to the Pack house, Beta Alfonso will wee you and do the document needed¡± Louis added and I nod my head slowly before look back from the window.
New country, new ce, new pack..
when I arrived in the pack house, didn¡¯t notice why it was the Beta who meet me, not the Alpha, I try to keep my face and expression neutral and polite thinking that I am not important enough for their Alpha to greet me before we went back to the road to go to the university.
The academy was something out of a dream. White pirs, ivy climbing up ancient walls, students moving with sketchbooks under their arms and paint smudged across their jeans.
It didn¡¯t feel real. And yet¡ it felt right.
I spent the first week in silence, letting my hands remember how to create. Canvas after canvas, charcoal and watercolor, sketches of pain and longing and quiet hope.
And through it all, I searched¨Csometimes subconsciously¨Cfor the feel of Mika.
A
16:49 Sat, ???
But she remained silent.
Gone? No, Just¡ sleeping.
She¡¯d been hurt too deeply. Just like me.
So, I painted. Every day. Like my soul depended on it.
One afternoon, while sitting alone on a bench near the river, sketching the Ponte Vhio, I felt something strange¨Ca flicker in the back of my mind. Like a heartbeat I hadn¡¯t heard in years.
My spine stiffened.
¡°Mika?¡± I whispered.
Still nothing.
But something had stirred.
I closed my eyes, breathing in the scent of the river, the sun, the foreign wind. Maybe she wasn¡¯t gone. Maybe, like me, she was slowlying back to life.
Weeks passed¡ Then Months¡
Letters came from Maria, always with little notes of encouragement. I never heard from anyone else in ckpine. Not that I expected to.
Not even Ruben¡
That part still stung sometimes. Late at night. But less and less each time.
Because I was rebuilding myself.
I was no longer just the rejected girl, the charity case.
I was Eine Aurora Rollin. An artist. A survivor.
And somewhere deep within, I knew¡
My story wasn¡¯t over yet.
Italy was just the beginning.
G
Still His 4
Chapter 4
Shockingly 6 months has passed in blur.
Months since I stepped off that ce with shaking hands and a heart still bleeding from a bond that should¡¯ve never been broken.
Months since I looked Ruben in the eyes and chose myself for the first time.
Months since I whispered goodbye to the girl I used to be, hoping Florence would give me the space to be someone new.
The city was everything the brochure had promised¨Csunlight dancing on cobblestone streets, narrow alleyways hiding cozy caf¨¦s and gterias, and a ever¨Cpresent perfume of old books, roasted espresso, and blooming jasmine.
But while everything outside me felt warm and alive, I remained a silent, flickering shadow within.
People here knew me as the quiet girl. I rarely spoke unless I had to. Not because I didn¡¯t want to, but because I didn¡¯t know how especially there¡¯s human and wolf around the university.
Thenguage was foreign to my tongue, and even though I studied hard and practiced in front of the mirror, fear always wrapped around my throat the second I opened my mouth.
What if theyughed?
What if I said something wrong?
What if they saw me for what I truly was¨Cjust a broken girl pretending to be whole?
So, I kept my distance. I smiled when necessary, nodded a lot, and let my silence be my armor.
My ssmates were kind, most of them, most of them was human, I am the only she¨Cwolf in there, but kindness didn¡¯t bridge the ocean of difference
between me and them.
While they went out for pizza and gto, or wandered the city withughter echoing between ancient stone walls, I workedte shifts at the university library¨Cstacking books, scanning returns, shelving endless pages of human knowledge.
It wasn¡¯t morous, but it was peaceful.
Books didn¡¯t expect conversation.
They didn¡¯t ask questions I wasn¡¯t ready to answer.
They let me be invisible, and for now, invisible felt safe.
I only stayed with Patricia and Louis for three weeks before moving into the university dorms. Not because I didn¡¯t appreciate their warmth, but because I didn¡¯t want to intrude.
They had already done more than enough¨Carranging my paperwork, helping me settle in, even filling my tiny fridge with fresh fruit and leftovers I pretended I didn¡¯t cry over.
Still, Patricia visited often, always bringing pastries or thick soups that smelled like home¨Clike love. Her gentle knock at my dorm door always brought a small smile to my lips.
¡°You¡¯re too thin,¡± she¡¯d say in that soft motherly tone. ¡°You need to eat more.¡±
I¡¯d nod. Promise her I would.
Then I¡¯d return to my quiet room and sip her soup in silence, letting it warm the cold corners of me.
16:49 Sat, 12 Jul T GO.
I painted when I could. Not as much as I wanted¨Cbetween sses and work, time was scarce¨Cbut I always kept a sketchpad with me. I¡¯d sit by the Armo River or in the shadow of the Duomo and draw whatever called to me¨Cstray cats sunning on terracotta tiles, old women selling violets on the corner, couples kissing in the park.
And sometimes, I drew Mika.
Not how she used to be¨Cradiant and proud¨Cbut how I remembered her in my dreams: curled up in the shadows of my heart, eyes dim, fur dulled with grief.
I missed her like I missed a part of my own soul. Because that¡¯s what she was.
I tried to reach her. Every night. I¡¯d close my eyes and whisper her name like a prayer. But she didn¡¯t answer. Not yet.
Sometimes I wondered if she was gone forever.
Sometimes I wondered if I deserved that.
But then I¡¯d remember Maria¡¯s voice, soft and fierce all at once-¡°You need to get away from this, from the pack,¡±
So I kept going¡
I woke up every morning and made my bed.
I went to ss.
I showed up for my shifts, even when exhaustion clung to my bones.
I said ¡°buongiorno¡± to the elderly librarian who reminded me of my old English teacher, and ¡°grazie¡± to the barista who gave me extra biscotti when he thought I looked sad.
I didn¡¯t smile often, but when I did, it was real.
And slowly¨Cso slowly it almost hurt¨CI began to feel like I was still alive.
Not whole. But alive.
Sometimes I¡¯d find myself watching the other studentsughing, flirting, shouting across campus in their easy Italian¨Cand wonder if I¡¯d ever be like them. Unburdened. Light. Free.
But freedom had a different meaning for me now.
It wasn¡¯t dancing at midnight or falling in love in a foreign city.
It was waking up without the ache of being unloved.
It was taking deep breaths and realizing they didn¡¯t burn.
It was knowing Ruben ck would never be mine¨Cand finally, finally being okay with that.
He didn¡¯t want me.
He never did.
And that was his choice.
But rising from the ashes of what he left behind? That was mine.
One afternoon, while restocking poetry books in the library, I stumbled across a worn copy of ¡°The Prophet¡± by Khalil Gibran. I flipped it open and read a line that struck me like lightning:
10.49 Sat, 12
?
¡°Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.¡±
I didn¡¯t know if I was strong.
But I knew I had scars. And I knew I wasn¡¯t ready to give up.
That night, I lit a candle on the small balcony outside my dorm window. I watched the me dance against the twilight and whispered into the wind.
¡°I¡¯m still here.¡±
It wasn¡¯t much. But it was enough.
And I knew Mika heard me.
Maybe not ready to return, but listening.
I could feel her¨Clike a distant heartbeat echoing beneath the surface.
Waiting¡ Like me.
So I gave her time. I gave myself time.
And with every sunrise over Florence, I chose to stay.
To heal. To live.
To paint the pieces of myself into something new.
I didn¡¯t know what fate had nned for me. Whether love would find me again. Whether Mika would evere back to me whole.
But I knew this: I wasn¡¯t that trembling Neen¨Cyear¨Cold girl anymore.
I was Eine Rollin.
And even if the world never called my name, I would write it in the stars myself.
Because I had survived the breaking.
And I was learning to be new me. The stronger version.
Still His 5
¡°A pack meeting?¡±
I frowned at the unexpected announcement, blinking up at Patricia as she leaned against my dorm room door with her usual warm smile and a steaming mug of tea in hand. I had only been in Florence for a 8 months now, and while I was slowly adjusting to the rhythms of my new life¨Csses, work at the library, and quiet evenings spent sketching or walking through the old stone alleys¨Cthe word pack still made something inside me flinch.
Patricia must¡¯ve seen the hesitation on my face. ¡°It¡¯s a memorial gathering,¡± she exined gently. ¡°Today would¡¯ve been the Luna¡¯s birthday.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± I murmured, unsure what to say.
Wait a minute¡
¡°The Luna¡ was dead?¡±
The pain in her expression told me all I needed to know. Patricia nodded, her eyes distant with the weight of memory. ¡°She died years ago. The Alpha¡¯s
mate.¡±
That caught my attention more than anything.
I¡¯d never heard of an Alpha surviving after the death of.their fated mate.
Every story, every whispered warning, always ended with the same conclusion: death followed.
It was a bond too sacred to be severed without consequence. Fated mates were life itself. When one half died, the other didn¡¯tst long. They couldn¡¯t.
But apparently, he had.¡±
¡°Alpha Francesco Totti Lycaon,¡± Patricia added quietly, her voiceced with something that felt like reverence and pity. ¡°He hasn¡¯t been seen by the pack
in almost a decade.¡±
I tilted my head in confusion. ¡°So¡ who runs everything?¡±
¡°The Beta. Alfonso,¡± Patricia answered. ¡°He¡¯s the one you met when you arrived. Most days, he¡¯s the only one allowed near the Alpha¡¯s quarters.¡±
I remembered the tall,manding man with kind but tired eyes who had weed me upon arrival and exined the basics of my stay. He¡¯d felt like a leader, not a ceholder.
But now it made sense.
A shadow passed through the room as Louis stepped in, carrying a basket of fruit and bread like he always did when Patricia visited. His gray¨Cstreaked beard twitched slightly as he snorted. ¡°You¡¯reing to the gathering, El. No one skips the Luna¡¯s birthday.¡±
¡°But ¡°I hesitated, unsure if I had the right to intrude. I was still new. Still unknown. ¡°I barely know anyone. Do I even have to go?¡±
¡°You¡¯re a wolf. You live in this territory. You have to,¡± Louis replied, setting the basket down on my small wooden table with a gentle thud. ¡°Besides, it¡¯s good for you to be seen. And you should hear the stories. Everyone needs to know who she was. Who they were.¡±
The reverence in his tone made my curiosity burn hotter.
I sat down slowly. ¡°So the Alpha¡ hasn¡¯t spoken to the pack since¡ she died?¡±
¡°He tried to die with her,¡± Patricia whispered, not looking at me. ¡°But he couldn¡¯t.¡±
My brows drew together. ¡°Why not?¡±
Louis looked at me as if the answer were obvious. ¡°Because he¡¯s not like us. He¡¯s not just a wolf.¡±
1/4
I blinked. ¡°He¡¯s a Lycan?¡±
The words felt foreign in my mouth. Ancient. Powerful. Dark.
I never knew it still exist.
Louis nodded, and I saw Patricia cross herself unconsciously, as though just speaking the word invoked something sacred-
-or cursed.
¡°He¡¯s thest,¡± Louis murmured. ¡°A descendant of the old bloodlines, Lycaon family. From the time when Lycans ruled the forests and bathed in war. Ruthless. Unforgiving. More beast than man.¡±
¡°But I thought¡ Lycans couldn¡¯t have mates?¡± I asked softly, struggling to reconcile the stories I¡¯d grown up with.
¡°They weren¡¯t supposed to,¡± Patricia replied. ¡°The moon goddess never intended it. Lycans were born from chaos. From war and death. She only gave mates to werewolves. But somehow¡¡± She looked up at me with a tremble in her voice. ¡°He found her. His one.¡±
I sat back, stunned.
A Lycan who found love. And then lost it.
What kind of torment must that be?
¡°They say he went mad the day she died,¡± Patricia continued. ¡°He tore through the woods for days. Couldn¡¯t speak. Couldn¡¯t eat. When they found him, he had nearly torn himself apart. But he wouldn¡¯t die. His blood was too strong. His beast wouldn¡¯t let him go.¡±
I swallowed hard, feeling something tighten in my chest.
Pain recognized pain¡
No, my mate hadn¡¯t died. But Ruben might as well have. He¡¯d chosen someone else. Rejected the bond. Abandoned me.
And though I was still standing, my soul had splintered.
I hadn¡¯t seen Mika since that day. The ceremony. The vow. The moment the bond snapped and took my wolf with it.
I still felt her, faint and aching. Like a whisper in a hurricane.
But she never spoke anymore.
And now I was here, in and far from home, learning that even an Alpha, even a Lycan¨Csomething more powerful than anything I¡¯d ever known- couldn¡¯t escape the agony of losing their mate.
¡°Okay.. I¡¯ll go,¡± I said quietly. ¡°To the gathering.¡±
Patricia gave me a small smile. ¡°Good.¡±
That evening, the pack house grounds were filled with soft lights and murmuring voices.
Wolves from all parts of the territory had gathered, dressed in modest finery, carrying flowers or trinkets to ce at the memorial altar near the old tree at the heart of thepound.
But I didn¡¯t see or sense the Alpha. Didn¡¯t he supposedly here?
I stood alone near the back, a simple ck dress hugging my frame, my fingers nervously toying with the edge of a scarf Maria had given me before I left.
I felt out of ce.
I always did.
10:49 Sat, 120
TGO
No one here knew my story. No one knew the reason I couldn¡¯t bring myself to smile or why I flinched at the sound of vows and
And I wanted to keep it that way.
I didn¡¯t need their pity. I didn¡¯t want their sympathy.
Ruben ck had already taken everything from me, and still, I had survived.
They didn¡¯t know that. And I liked it that way.
The Beta stepped forward to speak, his voice deep and calm. He told stories about Luna Anastasia¨Chow kind she¡¯d been, how fierce she¡¯d fought beside her mate, how herughter had filled these very halls with light. He spoke of the day she died, and how the Alpha had never spoken a word tince.
I listened, silent tears streaming down my cheeks.
Grief was universal, it seemed. Whether by death or betrayal, loss hollowed out the soul the same way.
After the speeches ended, people began to ce their offerings by the altar.
I didn¡¯t bring anything. But I walked forward anyway,
As I approached, I looked up at the tree. It was tall and wide, its bark old and gnarled, as though it had been here long before even the pack itself. A silver que sat at its base:
Luna Anastasia Vallery Lycaon
Beloved. Remembered. Eternal.
I reached into my coat and pulled out a small folded sketch.
A drawing of a pair of wolves¨Cone with wings, the other with eyes full of sorrow.
It was the first thing I¡¯d drawn after the ceremony. After losing Mika. After losing everything.
I ced it gently on the ground.
¡°I hope you find her again someday,¡± I whispered, not sure if I was talking to the Alpha¡ or myself.
As I turned to leave, I felt something.
A shift¡
A presence.
My breath hitched as I nced up toward the pack house windows.
And there he was.
A figure standing in the shadows of the upper balcony. Tall. Broad. Still as stone. But his eyes¨Cgods, those eyes¡ªburned with silver fire.
Francesco Totti Lycaon.
The Alpha¡. The Lycan¡
He¡¯s alive¡ And watching.
Our eyes met for just a second.
And in that second, I felt something stir deep in my chest.
16:49 Sat, 1zZJU
Not a bond. Not love. But recognition.
I could see that he was broken.
Just like me.
ÁÏÀí
Still His 6
Chapter 6
A simple drawing¡
That¡¯s all it was supposed to be.
20
Just a drawing. I didn¡¯t think anyone would notice. I didn¡¯t want them to. It wasn¡¯t
Wasn¡¯t meant fo
anyone else¨Cit was just something I had to let out. A feeling
I couldn¡¯t exin in words, so I put it on paper instead.
Two wolves¡ªone etched with wings of light, the other crouched low with eyes full of sorrow, hollow and bleeding pain.
The moment I finished it, I knew what it meant. I didn¡¯t need to write a message or sign my name. The drawing itself was the message.
A message to someone I never met. Someone who had suffered in silence much longer than I ever could. Someone I thought would never see it, and if he did, would never care.
But I was wrong.
That morning, when someone knocked on my dorm door, I thought it was just one of the girls from the floor or the dorm manager. But when I opened it,
I froze.
Beta Alfonso stood there.
And beside him¨CLouis, looking just as confused as I was.
Three pack warriors nked the hallway behind them, standing tall and silent like statues, making it clear that this wasn¡¯t a casual visit.
¡°Beta Alfonso,¡± I blinked and nod my head in acknowledgment. ¡°It¡¯s¡ it¡¯s an honor, pleasee in.¡±
My voice cracked a little from nerves as I stepped back to let them inside. My heart beat so fast I could feel it in my throat.
Why was the Beta of the pack here?
Did I do something wrong?
I didn¡¯t even have time to process how strange this was. It was barely nine in the morning, and I had a ss in twenty minutes. Not that I¡¯d be going now.
Louis gave me an awkward shrug as he walked in behind the Beta/¡°I swear I didn¡¯t know we wereing to see you,¡± he said under his breath, giving me a tiny smile of reassurance.
¡°I¨CI don¡¯t understand,¡± I finally said once they were seated. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±
Beta Alfonso smiled kindly, but there was something serious in his expression too¨Clike he was holding something fragile in his hands and trying not to
break it.
¡°No, Eine, Nothing is wrong,¡± he said. ¡°Quite the opposite, actually.¡±
I blinked again. ¡°I don¡¯t follow¡¡±
¡°The drawing,¡± he said.
That¡¯s when it clicked.
Oh. My. God!
My chest tightened as my eyes dropped to the floor.
¡°You saw it¡¡± I whispered.
TA
He nodded. ¡°I did. But more importantly¨Che did.¡±
I swallowed hard. ¡°He.. Such as.. Alpha Francesco?¡±
¡°The memorial,¡± he continued: ¡°We check it often to make sure it stays clean. You¡¯re not the first to leave flowers or a token. But that drawing, it stopped
us in our tracks. We thought it was beautiful. Painful. Honest. But we assumed it was just from an anonymous visitor.¡±
He paused, his gaze steady on me.
¡°Butst night¡ for the first time in over three years¡ the Alpha spoke.¡±
My eyes widened in disbelief.
Louis gaped. ¡°Wait¡ wait, ¡°he talked*? To who?¡±
¡°To me,¡± the Beta answered, calm and steady. ¡°He said, ¡°It¡¯s beautiful. She understands.¡± That¡¯s all he said. Then he walked away.¡±
Silence filled the dorm room. My ears buzzed, like the world had muted everything else.
¡°He¡ he said that?¡± I finally asked, barely above a whisper.
The Bet¨¤ smiled gently. ¡°He did.¡±
My throat tightened¡ I didn¡¯t know what to say.
I¡¯d heard the stories, just like everyone else. The silent Alpha. The ghost of a man who used to rule like a shadow from behind his walls. After losing his Luna, he hadn¡¯t spoken a word. Some believed he¡¯d gone feral. Others thought he¡¯d gone mad.
And yet, my drawing¡ª*my* simple, sorrow¨Cdrenched sketch¨Cmade him speak.
¡°I just wanted to¡ express something,¡± I said softly. ¡°I know what it¡¯s like to lose something you thought wouldst forever. I didn¡¯t mean any offense. I didn¡¯t know if it would be seen¡¡±
¡°It wasn¡¯t offensive,¡± Beta Alfonso said gently. ¡°It was¡ healing. In its own way. And he needed that.¡±
Louis gave me a small grin. ¡°El, you made the Alpha talk. Do you have any idea how huge that is?¡±
I shook my head. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to cause trouble¡¡±
¡°Eine,¡± the Beta interrupted, leaning forward slightly. ¡°You haven¡¯t caused trouble. You¡¯ve done something rare¨Csomething meaningful. And while he may not say much, I believe the Alpha is grateful.¡±
That made my chest twist again, but this time with something warmer than dread.
Grateful?
¡°I¡¯ll let him know you meant it as a gesture of understanding, not intrusion,¡± the Beta added. ¡°But I wanted to thank you personally. And to tell you¡ that you¡¯re seen.¡±
*Seen.*
Such a simple word. But for someone like me¨Csomeone who¡¯d been invisible for most of her life¨Cit meant the world.
I nodded quickly, feeling tears sting behind my eyes. ¡°Thank you, Beta Alfonso.¡±
He stood, offering me a kind smile before heading toward the door.
Before leaving, he nced back at me onest time. ¡°Keep drawing, Eine. The world needs more truth like yours.¡±
16:49 Sat, 12 Jul T GO
When the door shut behind him, Louis stared at me, wide¨Ceyed.
¡°El,¡± he said after a beat, ¡°you ¡°broke the Alpha¡¯s silence.¡±
I couldn¡¯t hold back the overwhelmedugh that bubbled from my lips.
¡°Yeah,¡± I whispered, almost to myself. ¡°I guess I did.¡±
That night, I sat by the window of my dorm, sketchbook in myp, pencil in hand.
The Florence skyline stretched out beyond the ss¨Csoft golden hues blending into deep purples and blues as the sun dipped beneath the horizon.
I let the pencil move on its own this time.
I didn¡¯t think. I didn¡¯t n. I just felt.
Wings¡.
This time, not on wolves. But on a human form. A shadowed figure wrapped in grief, surrounded by thorns¡ but with a glimmer of light behind them. Like maybe, just maybe, something had started to shift.
Maybe healing was a quiet thing. A slow thing. Maybe it didn¡¯te all at once with loud promations or tears. Maybe it came through small gestures.. A kind word. A shared sorrow. A drawing left at a memorial.
And maybe, it didn¡¯t matter if you were a rejected she¨Cwolf or a powerful Lycan Alpha.
Pain was pain¡
Grief was grief¡
And sometimes, the only way through it¡ was art.
I smiled softly to myself and looked up at the stars beginning to bloom in the darkening sky.
Wherever you are, Francesco Totti¡ I understand.
And maybe that¡¯s enough for now.
Still His 7
Chapter 7
Another month had gone by, with total 10 months, almost a year and I¡¯d grown more used to the town, to thenguage, to the rhythm of life here Florence had begun to feel less like a stranger and more like a quietpanion¨Cone who didn¡¯t demand much but let me heal in silence.
And also, my birthday ising in couple of days. The day I hate the most and never eager
to
celebrate.
Still, I had no close friends. No one who knew me well. But maybe that was for the best. Some pain was easier to bear alone.
The money I¡¯d earned from my part¨Ctime job at the library had finally allowed me to move into a dorm room of my own. It was small but peaceful. Most importantly, I no longer had to worry about muffling my tears at night.
Because, truth be told, I still cried.
Nightmares came and went, some more vivid than others¨Cmemories of Ruben¡¯s rejection, the day I watched him announce his mating to another, the silent agony Mika left behind when she disappeared. I was still broken in ces I didn¡¯t show during the day.
On Sunday, the weather was mild, and I felt brave enough to step out on my own for something more than errands or sses.
I wandered the winding streets until I stumbled upon a small museum nestled between old buildings. It didn¡¯t look like much from the outside, but something about it drew me in.
Inside, it was quiet. Dusty. Forgotten.
I moved slowly from one artifact to another until I reached a back hallway hidden behind a velvet rope.
The air changed slightly¨Cmore¡ wolf¨Clike.
That¡¯s when I saw it.
A faded painting, nearly swallowed by time and shadows. It was tucked behind a cracked ss pane, in a dim corner most humans wouldn¡¯t think to
look.
But I wasn¡¯t just human.
The woman in the portrait had the kind of beauty you didn¡¯t forget. Her eyes held softness but strength, her posture regal even with the worn edges of
the frame.
She had deep honey¨Cblonde hair cascading in soft waves, a smile that could silence storms, and something about her presence made my chest tighten.
¡°Anastasia Vallery Lycaon,¡± came a voice behind me.
I turned and found an old guard standing nearby, his graying beard and soft eyes giving away more kindness than most strangers would show.
¡°She was our Luna,¡± he said gently, ¡°many years ago. The Alpha¡¯s mate.¡±
His words sent a chill through me.
His mate¡
¡°She was beautiful,¡± I whispered when studying her, it was the first I ever saw her and know why she could make the Alpha fall in love to her.
¡°She was¡
everything.¡± He smiled sadly. ¡°The humans never knew what or who she was. The werewolves, though¡ we all remember. That painting was hidden long ago after she passed.¡± He give me a sad smile before leaving me alone who keep staring at the beautiful old painting in front of me.
Without thinking, I sat on the cold floor, pulled out my sketchbook, and started drawing.
Something about her wouldn¡¯t let me walk away.
16:49 Sat, 12 Jul T GO
I had to bring her back to life on paper.
Time slipped through my fingers like sand. I didn¡¯t even realize the museum was closing until the guard returned, his footsteps gentle.
¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± His voice snaps me and I quickly look up to see him ¡°We¡¯re closing,¡± he said kindly.
¡°Oh! I¡¯m sorry,¡± I scrambled to pack up my things.
He only nodded, watching the beginning of the sketch with curiosity.
That night, back in my dorm, I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her. Anastasia. The Luna. The only woman the Alpha ever loved.
Without hesitation, I pulled out my painting supplies.
For six days, I painted.
I didn¡¯t sleep much. Between sses, work, and my own exhaustion, I still found time to paint her. Not the faded version. No. I painted her as she was- vibrant, powerful, breathtaking.
Her honey hair glowing under the sunlight I imagined shining on her. Her eyes, kind but fierce. She was a Luna, and wanted to show that.
I poured all of myself into that canvas.
And when I finished it, I rolled it carefully and returned to the museum. The old guard was there, surprised to see me again.
When I unfurled the painting, his mouth parted in shock.
¡°Moon Goddess¡¡± he murmured, gently touching the edges of the canvas. ¡°It¡¯s her.¡±
I only smiled, the exhaustion finally catching up to me. ¡°I hope¡ I hope it helps. I just thought the Alpha might want to remember her the way she truly
was.¡±
The guard looked at me then¨Cnot as a student or a visitor, but as something else.
He bowed slightly, not in formality, but in reverence.
¡°I will need to ask for permission before it¡¯s disyed,¡± he said. ¡°No portrait of the Luna has been touched since she died. The Alpha¡ he hasn¡¯t spoken her name in years.¡±
I nodded. ¡°I understand.¡±
I didn¡¯t expect anything toe from it. I didn¡¯t do it for recognition or praise.
But what I didn¡¯t know¨Cwhat I couldn¡¯t have known¨Cwas what this small act would stir.
Back at the Pack house, when the guard informed Beta Alfonso of the new portrait, the Beta raised a brow. ¡°Who did this?¡±
¡°The new girl who study art. It¡¯s her hand, no doubt.¡±
Beta Alfonso look surprise and mesmerize by the beauty of the painting she makes.
There¡¯s only one person, one she¨Cwolf, who study art here, Eine.
He now understands why she got the art schrship; her works is amazing and he just saw two of her works which turn more than amazing.
Looking up, to where the Alpha usually hide himself, he braced himself to go to show this to him. Knowing he must be stun like him when he sees this. When the Beta showed the painting to Alpha Francesco, silence stretched across the room.
16:49 Sat, 12 Jul
His fingers brushed the canvas, and for a moment, ne rad
¡°She painted her?¡± he said softly, voice low like gravel.
His gaze didn¡¯t leave the canvas for a long time. Not even when the Beta cated His name.
And that night¨Cthough no one would know why the Lycan Alphs owed Bath the meda,ng and lew urll the wees in the
silent in respect.
As for me, I returned to my quiet dorm.
I didn¡¯t hear anything back
But something in the air felt¡ different. Like a current had shifted. Like something sleeping for a long time had finally stirred.
}
Comment
Still His 8
The day had been a whirlwind of paint, presentations, andte¨Cnight shelving at the library. It was a way out to forget the day, my birthday, so I keep myself busy.
I was running on fumes, my limbs aching, and my brain foggy from staring at art history notes for far too long. If I had known what the right would bring maybe I would¡¯ve stayed in the library till sunrise.
I didn¡¯t even notice the tension in the air. The faint electric buzz that usually signalled something was off¨Ctoo tired, too distracted. When I finally pulled my phone out, I saw the message from Patricia waiting.
¡®Rogues spotted near Florence border. Be careful. Inform the warriors if you see anything. And DON¡¯T walk alone, El!¡®
I bit my lip, cursing under my breath.
Of course I was walking alone. At ten at night. In the middle of rogue warnings. ssic me.
My pace quickened. The streets were nearly empty, the lights dim, casting long shadows that twisted with the wind. I tucked my coat tighter around me and whispered to myself, ¡°Just three blocks. You¡¯ve got this.¡±
I hadn¡¯t even made it past the first block when I heard it.
A howl¡.
Low and guttural. Close. Too close.
Shit!
I froze. My breath caught in my throat. And that¡¯s when I remembered¨Cmy wolf. Mika.
She still hadn¡¯te back.
It had been months since Ist felt her presence. Ever since the bond with Ruben was shattered, Mika had gone silent, deep inside me, lost in grief or anger. I didn¡¯t know. All I knew was that I was human in a world of predators.
Panic surged through me. I clutched my bag tighter and ran.
My dorm wasn¡¯t far. Just a couple minutes if I sprinted. I ran like hell, dodging parked scooters and crossing empty intersections with reckless abandon.
The howl sounded again, closer this time. The pounding of paws echoed behind me¨Cno, around me.
I was being hunted.
And I was utterly defenseless.
¡°Just a few more steps,¡± I whispered to myself. ¡°Almost there, almost-¡±
BAM!
Something massive mmed into my side, sending me flying.
Ugh..!!! Perfect¡ I groan in pain.
I hit the ground hard, my body skidding against the pavement. Pain exploded through my ribs and knees as I struggled to breathe. I looked up just in time to see the rogue¨Chuge, matted fur, blood¨Cred eyes¨Csnarling as he got up from where he¡¯d also stumbled.
He turned and saw me. And smiled.
114
16:49 Sat, 12 Jul ¡ü GO
It was terrifying.
¡°Shit!¡± I whimpered, crawling backward. The rogue¡¯s gaze locked on mine, a deep growl rumbling from his chest. He stalked forward slowly, fear pouring off me.
¡°Hey!¡±
A familiar voice rang out behind him.
B¨¦ta Alfonso. Thank the Moon.
He stood a few feet away, already half¨Cshifted, his shirt torn, ws out, face dark with fury.
¡°You¡¯re done running, rogue,¡± he growled. ¡°Turn and fight.¡±
The rogue hesitated for a second¡ then turned toward me again.
No. No, no, no!
¡°Good job, Eine,¡± Alfonso called out. ¡°Now you shifted and blocked him perfectly. Hold your ground.¡±
What?
Shit, he didn¡¯t know..
¡°I¨CI didn¡¯t-¡± My voice trembled.
Alfonso frowned. ¡°You can shift, right?¡±
I shook my head frantically, panic rising. ¡°No! Beta¨CI can¡¯t! I can¡¯t shift!¡±
His face froze.
His expression shifted into something unreadable¨Cworry, maybe, or fear¨Cbut it was toote.
The rogue charged.
I screamed¡
Then a blur of gray shot past me like lightning.
A monstrous shape collided with the rogue mid¨Clunge, the impact loud enough to shake the earth beneath us.
The rogue yelped, then crashed into a tree with a sickening crunch,
I stared, stunned.
The creature that now stood between me and the rogue was huge¨Ctowering, broad, with silver¨Cgray fur that shimmered under the moonlight. E wasn¡¯t a werewolf.
That¡¯s¡ It was a Lycan.
The stories didn¡¯t do it justice.
un and scarred.
It was terrifying.
¡°Shit!¡± I whimpered, crawling backward. The rogue¡¯s gaze locked on mine, a deep growl rumbling from his chest. He stalked forward slowly, savoring the fear pouring off me.
¡°Hey!¡±
A familiar voice rang out behind him.
B¨¦ta Alfonso. Thank the Moon.
He stood a few feet away, already half¨Cshifted, his shirt torn, ws out, face dark with fury.
¡°You¡¯re done running, rogue,¡± he growled. ¡°Turn and fight.¡±
The rogue hesitated for a second¡ then turned toward me again.
No. No, no, no!
¡°Good job, Eine,¡± Alfonso called out. ¡°Now you shifted and blocked him perfectly. Hold your ground.¡±
What?
Shit, he didn¡¯t know..
¡°I¨CI didn¡¯t-¡± My voice trembled.
Alfonso frowned. ¡°You can shift, right?¡±
I shook my head frantically, panic rising. ¡°No! Beta¨CI can¡¯t! I can¡¯t shift!¡±
His face froze.
His expression shifted into something unreadable¨Cworry, maybe, or fear¨Cbut it was toote.
The rogue charged.
I screamed¡
Then a blur of gray shot past me like lightning.
A monstrous shape collided with the rogue mid¨Clunge, the impact loud enough to shake the earth beneath us.
The rogue yelped, then crashed into a tree with a sickening crunch,
I stared, stunned.
The creature that now stood between me and the rogue was huge¨Ctowering, broad, with silver¨Cgray fur that shimmered under the moonlight. But it wasn¡¯t a werewolf.
That¡¯s¡ It was a Lycan.
The stories didn¡¯t do it justice.
The aura that radiated from him was overwhelming, thick with power and ancient grief. His body was built like a warrior¡¯s, massive and scarred, and his glowing amber eyes burned with a rage that didn¡¯t belong in this world.
Alpha Francesco!!
16:50 Sat, 12 Jul T GO
The silent Alpha. The beast of Florence.
He didn¡¯t even nce at me. His entire focus was on the rogue who groaned and tried to stand.
Without hesitation, Alpha Francesco lunged again. His movements were brutal and graceful- like a dance of death. ws shed, jaws snapped. The rogue didn¡¯t stand a chance.
And when it was over, when the roguey unconscious and bleeding in a heap, the Lycan turned.
His eyes locked onto mine.
My breath caught. I couldn¡¯t look away.
His gaze wasn¡¯t gentle, but it wasn¡¯t cruel either. It was heavy. Like he could see everything inside me¨Cmy fear, my shame, my broken pieces. And for a second, I wondered if he recognized them because he had the same ones.
I swallowed hard, unable to speak.
¡°Alpha¡¡± Alfonso stepped forward carefully, his tone cautious. ¡°We¡¯ll take care of the rogue.¡±
The Lycan gave a small nod and then¡ shifted.
Right there in front of us, his body began to shift. But it wasn¡¯t like a normal werewolf transition. It was faster, smoother. His bones didn¡¯t snap; they reformed with a quiet grace, as if the world obeyed his will.
And then he stood there¨Ctall, bare¨Cchested, covered in dirt and blood and old scars. A man. A legend.
The Francesco Lycaon.
His eyes stayed on me. Even in his human form, they glowed faintly in the dark.
¡°Are you harmed?¡± he asked, voice deep, rough¨Clike thunder after a storm.
I blinked. ¡°No¡ Um I¡ I don¡¯t think so.¡±
He nodded once, then turned to Alfonso. ¡°Get her back. And make sure the borders are reinforced.¡±
¡°Yes, Alpha.¡±
Alpha Francesco didn¡¯t look at me again.
He simply walked away, disappearing into the trees as quietly as he had arrived.
Alfonso came to my side, helping me up gently, ¡°You okay?¡±
I nodded shakily. ¡°I¡ I didn¡¯t know he¡¡±
¡°Could care?¡± Alfonso smiled faintly. ¡°Yeah. Neither did we. He never shows up before unless it¡¯s important.¡±
I looked back at where the Alpha had disappeared, heart pounding for a different reason now.
He saved me. A Lycan¡
The one wolf I thought was too broken to care about anyone¡ had saved me.
And he didn¡¯t even know who I was.
He didn¡¯t know my past. My scars. My shame.
3/4
16:50 Sat, 12 Jul GU
Yet he came anyway.
Maybe not all bonds needed to be spoken.
Maybe some were just¡ felt.
Still His 9
Chapter 9
¡°Ugh!!¡± I groan in pain when I try to sit up from the cold, rough ground beneath me.
My body aches everywhere, a dull throb that pulses through my chest and limbs.
That rogue¨Che¡¯d knocked me over like I was nothing.
I had no wolf, no strength to fight back, and the only thing that saved me was the sheer size and power of the Lycan who had appeared out of nowhere.
Beta Alfonso looks down at me, his expression kind but tinged with concern and other that I can¡¯t tell.
He¡¯d been with me the entire time, making sure I was alright, but the weight of his gaze makes me feel exposed, like there¡¯s something I¡¯m not saying, something I¡¯m hiding.
His brow furrows as he kneels beside me, offering a hand to help me stand.
¡°Let¡¯s go to the healer,¡± he says, his voice soft yet firm. I nod, grateful for his assistance, but the exhaustion from the fight, the pain in my body, makes it
hard to focus.
I lean on him for support, letting him guide me through the courtyard towards the pack¡¯s healer.
As we walk, I try to steady my breath, but the words from earlier still echo in my mind.
¡°You can¡¯t shift?¡±
I exhale a shaky breath, forcing myself to speak, to tell him the truth I¡¯ve kept hidden for so long.
¡°I didn¡¯t think it mattered.¡± My voice is small, barely above a whisper. ¡°If I told anyone that, they¡¯d see me as weak, as someone who doesn¡¯t belong.¡±
Alfonso gives me a sideways nce, his eyes searching mine. ¡°Why hide it? You should have told us. I would¡¯ve arranged for someone to be with you.¡±
I wince at his words.
His kindness, his understanding, only reminds me how isted I¡¯ve be in the months since I left ckpine Pack.
I can¡¯t hide this forever, but telling them feels like a burden I¡¯m not ready to share. Not yet.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I say, voice tight with guilt.
¡°No wolf could go like that unless something horrible happened.¡± His tone is gentle but firm. It¡¯s as if he¡¯s already pieced it together.
I want to tell him everything, to exin that my inability to shift isn¡¯t just a physical ailment. It¡¯s the result of a rejection, a shattered bond that I¡¯ve spent months trying to bury. But I can¡¯t bring myself to say it out loud.
Instead, I give him a sad smile. The kind of smile that says I¡¯m broken, but not willing to admit just how badly. ¡°How about rejection? And seeing him mating another girl?¡± My words are low, barely audible, but they hang in the air between us, heavy and painful.
Alfonso¡¯s face shifts from gentle concern to something more solemn, as if he understands exactly what I mean.
He takes a deep breath, his lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he mutters, his voice thick with empathy. ¡°No one should go through that. How old are you, Eine?¡± Alfonso asks, his voice soft but steady.
¡°Twenty,¡± I answer, unsure why he¡¯s asking.
Yes, today I turn twenty years old, no one know, as always no one notice.
It feels strange to hear my age spoken aloud in this context, like it¡¯s a reminder that I¡¯ve barely begun to live.
¡°Damn,¡± he murmurs under his breath. ¡°Young and you have to go through that¡ I¡¯m sorry.¡±
The sympathy in his voice is enough to make my heart ache..
He doesn¡¯t know the half of it.
Losing your fated mate isn¡¯t just an emotional wound. It¡¯s a deep, crippling thing that lingers with you, eating away at your insides. And yet, here I am, carrying it alone.
We reach the healer¡¯s quarters, and Alfonso¡¯s gaze hardens slightly as he notices the healer standing at the front door.
The man is waiting for us, his posture stiff, his face serious.
¡°What¡¯s with you, Kurt?¡± Alfonso asks, his voice a little sharper than usual.
He seems¡ unsettled.
¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve ever received a direct order from The Alpha,¡± Kurt responds, his voice strained. His eyes flick to me, studying my face with a quick, searching nce. ¡°You¡¯re Eine?¡± he asks, and before I can answer, he¡¯s already moving toward me, gently helping me into the healer¡¯s room.
I nod, my mouth suddenly dry.
The mention of Alpha Francesco is enough to make me freeze in ce.
I hadn¡¯t realized how much attention I¡¯d drawn by just existing. I hadn¡¯t known the Alpha cared enough to have someone sent for me. My heart pounds in my chest, and I¡¯m suddenly self¨Cconscious under their gazes, wondering what the hell I¡¯m doing here.
I can feel their eyes on me, their silent questions swirling in the air.
But it¡¯s Kurt¡¯s touch that grounds me. His hands are surprisingly gentle, guiding me toward one of the beds in the center of the room.
The healer¡¯s quarters are simple¨Cwarm, calming, with herbs hanging from the walls and vials of potions lined up neatly on shelves.
But I don¡¯t see any of it.
My mind is fixated on one thing: why the hell is the Alpha sending orders for me to be treated? I was just another orphan in the pack. Why does he care?
Kurt sits me down on the bed, his hands careful as he checks my body for injuries.
His touch is professional, but there¡¯s a gentleness that makes me feel like I¡¯m not a burden. He asks me questions in a quiet voice, confirming that nothing is broken, but I can feel his curiosity, his uncertainty about me.
I want to tell them, to exin everything¨Chow I was abandoned by my fated mate, how my wolf, Mika, has been silent for months, how I feel like a stranger to myself. But the words stick in my throat. I can¡¯t voice the pain that is still so raw, still so fresh.
Alfonso watches from the doorway, his gaze never leaving me, as if he¡¯s trying to understand the depth of what¡¯s happening inside me. I feel exposed, vulnerable. His silent observation is almost too much, and I wish I could hide, wish I could retreat back into the silence of my dorm.
But I can¡¯t. I won¡¯t.
¡°You¡¯re going to be alright,¡± Kurt says softly, finishing his examination.
He stands back, and I can feel the tension in the room, the unspoken words that everyone¡¯s afraid to say.
¡°You¡¯re fine, Eine,¡± Kurt adds, his tone softening. ¡°No major injuries, just bruises and scrapes. But you should rest for an hour before leave.¡±
I nod, my mind still racing. The weight of everything that¡¯s happened feels like it¡¯s crushing me from all sides. I wanted to heal, to get away from it all, but I didn¡¯t expect the Alpha¡¯s involvement. I didn¡¯t expect this.
16:50 Sat, 12 Jul T
When Kurt leaves, I¡¯m left with Alfonso in the room, standing by the door, his arms crossed.
He doesn¡¯t say anything for a long time, just watches me with that unreadable expression. I want to ask him why he¡¯s here, why he¡¯s been so kind, but the
words don¡¯te.
Finally, he speaks.
¡°I¡¯ll go check everything before take you back to your dorm,¡± he says quietly, breaking the silence between us. ¡°You¡¯re not alone here, Eine. You don¡¯t have to hide.¡±
I look up at him, a small part of me wanting to believe him. But the truth is, I don¡¯t know how to stop hiding. I don¡¯t know how to let anyone in after everything I¡¯ve been through. And I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m ready to.
As he turns to leave, I feel something inside me stir. Something weak, but present. The smallest flicker of hope.
I might not bepletely broken. Not yet.
But I have no idea how to heal.
Alfonso¡¯s footsteps fade as he exits the room, and I¡¯m left alone with my thoughts. Alone with the overwhelming weight of everything I can¡¯t say.
And for the first time since I arrived here, I wonder if I¡¯ll ever find the strength to shift again.
Still His 10
Chapter 10
That night, after Beta Alfonso helped me back to my dorm from the hospital, I couldn¡¯t find it in me to sleep.
My body ached with every movement¨Canother curse of not having my wolf. Unlike other werewolves, my healing wasn¡¯t elerated. Without her, I was more human than anything else.
The moonlight spilled into my room through the half¨Cclosed curtain.
I sat on my bed, hugging my knees, the silence pressing against my ears. I sighed deeply, then stood and walked over to the window, slowly pushing it
open.
The night air was cold and sharp, but I weed it. I needed something to remind me I was still alive after what happened.
The night had a quiet magic to it. Crickets chirped in the bushes below, and a light breeze danced across my face.
I closed my eyes for a moment and let it calm my thoughts. But then I nced at the table where my sketchbook sat and felt a pull I couldn¡¯t ignore.
Reaching over, I picked it up and settled down on the floor beneath the window, cross¨Clegged.
I flipped past the sketches I knew by heart¨CPatricia¡¯sugh, Louis and his book, a fading memory of my wolf from when she used to talk to me¨Cand stopped at a nk page.
And then, my hand moved on its own.
I began to draw.
Not the gentle lines of a flower or the calm face of a friend.
No, this was something wild¨Craw.
The Lycan¡
Him¡
The creature I saw tonight wasn¡¯t like the ones in the old fairytales or horror books.
He wasn¡¯t some mindless beast. He was something majestic. Monstrous in size, yes, but regal. Powerful. Ancient.
His fur had shimmered beneath the moonlight¨Cdark gray with streaks of silver, eyes that glowed with otherworldly intensity.
I remembered the way he moved, the way his massive body crashed into the rogue like a thunderstorm, the earth shaking beneath his steps. And then¡
Then he shifted. And became him.
Francesco Lycaon¡
The Alpha. The elusive, enigmatic leader of this pack I had only heard his name beforeing here¨Cwhispers of a Lycan Alpha who rule and silence. But tonight¡ tonight I saw him with my own eyes.
And now I was sketching him.
1
strength
I traced the memory of his sharp features¨Chigh cheekbones, a strong jaw, lips that rarely smiled, and those haunting, piercing eyes. Eyes that had looked at me like they saw me. Not just the broken girl who couldn¡¯t shift, but someone more.
I shouldn¡¯t think like this.
I cursed myself quietly and bonked my own head with the palm of my hand, groaning when it throbbed slightly.
16:50 Sat, 12 Jul T G O¡¤
Stupid bruise¡
it hadn¡¯t healed properly yet, and all I¡¯d done was make it worse.
¡°God, what is wrong with me?¡± I muttered, biting my lower lip in frustration.
Drawing his face? Thinking about his voice? His eyes?
The deep rumble of his voice still echoed in my ears.
I shivered¡
Even remembering it made something twist in my stomach. Not fear, not exactly¡ something else. Something deeper.
Stop it, Eine!!
I was about to close the sketchbook when something cut through the night.
Howl¡
I froze. My blood turned cold.
Another howl¨Cbut this time, it wasn¡¯t like the others. It wasn¡¯t the desperate cry of a rogue, or the territorial growl of a warrior werewolf.
This one¡
This one was different.
It was deep, guttural. Powerful.
It resonated through my bones, and my body reacted instinctively¨CI stood up slowly, eyes wide, clutching the edge of the window for bnce.
A Lycan¡¯s howl.
My heart skipped a beat.
Even I, a wolf¨Cless girl, could feel the power in it.
Across the campus, in other dorms, I could hear stirrings¨Cfootsteps, whispers. The wolves in the pack felt it too. I saw flickering lights turning on in neighboring buildings.
And I wasn¡¯t the only one confused.
Miles away in the heart of the pack house, warriors were already on alert.
Beta Alfonso shot up from his seat in the meeting room. His eyes flickered gold for a split second as he locked eyes with the warrior beside him.
¡°That¡¯s the Alpha,¡± he said, disbelief in his voice. ¡°He¡¯s howling.¡±
¡°When was thest time he-?¡± the warrior began.
¡°Years,¡± Alfonso muttered.
Because a Lycan doesn¡¯t howl without reason. And Alpha Francesco? He never did it idly.
Something was happening¡
And Beta Alfonso could only guess the reason behind this involving the young girl that he helps hours ago.
16:50 Sat, 12 Jul TGD
Back in my room, I clutched the sketchbook tightly to my chest, trying to calm the tremble in
Why now?
Why was he howling?
I tried to rationalize it¨Cmaybe another rogue was spotted?
Maybe it was just a warning signal?
But deep in my gut, I knew.
That wasn¡¯t a warning. It was¡ a call.
my
hands.
A call from something old, primal, and aching. A call from something inside the Alpha that hadn¡¯t stirred in years.
A Lycan¡¯s howl wasn¡¯t just sound¨Cit was energy. It was felt through the soul.
And somehow, somehow¡ it felt like it was meant for me.
Don¡¯t be stupid, El, I scolded myself again, but the thought wouldn¡¯t go away.
I sat back down, flipping to a new page, and without thinking, I began to draw again. But this time, not his face.
His howl¡
The pain in it. The power. The loneliness.
Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as I drew sweeping lines and heavy strokes, letting the emotion in the howl pour through my pencil.
For the first time in a long time, I didn¡¯t feel entirely alone.
AD
Comment
Send gift
Still His 11
Chapter 11
It¡¯s almost a year for me since I came here.
And it¡¯s been a month since that night¨Cthe night a Lycan saved my life and the night I saw a glimpse of the man they call Alpha Francesco.
Sincest time, silence. No visits. No letters. Not even a passing mention from Beta Alfonso. It¡¯s like he disappeared again.
At first, I kept hoping, foolishly watching the dorm entrance every time I heard footsteps. I waited for another meeting, another excuse, maybe even a message. Anything?
But nothing ever came.
And now, I¡¯ve epted it¨Cmaybe I imagined it all. The intense stare, the warmth of his scent in the air after he left, the way his Lycan howled that night like the moon itself was mourning.
Maybe it was just me¡ my broken soul clinging to the only man who¡¯s ever looked at me like I mattered.
Stupid me.
¡°Move on, El,¡± I whispered to myself, standing in front of the mirror as I tied my hair into a messy bun. ¡°You¡¯re here for your art,¡±
There was a knock on my door.
I opened it to see Audrey, the warrior Beta Alfonso assigned to keep an eye on me. I still didn¡¯t understand why he insisted on assigning someone to ¡°watch over me,¡± as if I was a fragile ss about to break.
Scratch that¨CI am a fragile ss. A werewolf without a wolf.
Still, I crossed my arms and raised a brow. ¡°Still don¡¯t know why the Beta insists on giving me a babysitter.¡±
Audrey onlyughed as usual, slipping inside without bothering to answer. She never did, and I had stopped expecting one.
I grabbed my bag and followed her out as we headed toward the university. It was a cold morning, the mist curling around the pavement like ghosts refusing to leave. The silence between us was usual, but oddlyfortable.
Until I decided to make small talk.
¡°I heard there¡¯s an Alpha meeting this week?¡± I asked while we walked.
Audrey nodded. ¡°Yeah. Starts Friday. Packs from across Europe will be there.¡±
I nodded along, trying to act like I didn¡¯t care. It wasn¡¯t like it had anything to do with me. Until-
¡°Your Alpha and his soon¨Cto¨Cbe Alpha will attend, too,¡± she said casually.
My steps stopped.
¡°What?¡±
Audrey turned to face me, brow furrowed in confusion at my reaction.
¡°Your Alpha,¡± she repeated. ¡°From your old pack. Gregor and his daughter¡¯s mate. He¡¯s being trained as the next Alpha, right?¡±
Her words echoed in my mind like a cruel drumbeat.
Ruben¡ What he wants finally happen.
4ÔÈ72%
He¡¯s bing the Alpha.
My throat tightened as I stared at her. I wanted to scream, to run, to demand the moon goddess why she was doing this to me again.
But instead, I swallowed the knot in my throat and forced my feet to move again.
¡°Oh,¡± I managed to say with a shrug that felt like ss beneath my skin. ¡°Right. Of course.¡±
She eyed me suspiciously but said nothing.
I tried to focus during my sses, really tried. But my mind kept drifting¨Cimages of Ruben in that damn suit, Kaithlin at his side, smug and proud.
The same man who rejected me like I was a curse to be erased.
A weak, wolf¨Cless mate who couldn¡¯t serve his ambitions.
¡°Get it together,¡± I muttered to myself in the library that evening, flipping through my sketchbook. ¡°You¡¯ve moved on.¡±
But had I?
I flipped to a nk page, forcing my hands to move. I started sketching¨Ca mountain at night, a lone wolf howling beneath the moon. I shaded in the dark clouds above, letting the silence of the library be my escape.
But my thoughts betrayed me.
I didn¡¯t draw Ruben.
Instead, I drew him. Francesco.
His Lycan form, haunting and fierce. His human face, etched with pain and mystery. That same sadness I saw in his eyes the night of the rogue attack still lingered in my memory.
Why did he save me?
Why did he howl?
Why do I feel like there¡¯s something I¡¯m not seeing?
I closed the sketchbook sharply and shoved it into my bag. I needed fresh air.
The cool breeze outside hit my skin and brought a sliver of peace. I sat on the library steps, looking up at the stars, wishing for answers.
¡°Why does the past always find me?¡± I whispered.
had no wolf, no connection to my old pack anymore. I had no right to feel so broken by this.
But the ache was there, deep and pulsing.
And then there was him¨CFrancesco.
I remembered how the healer said it was the first time the Alpha had given a direct order for someone injured.
That memory alone was enough to bring warmth to my cheeks, shameful as it was.
¡°He probably just felt responsible,¡± I told myself. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡±
Yet I still waited. Hoped. Foolishly.
Back at the dorm, Audrey was already there, leaning on the kitchen counter while eating an apple.
16:51 Sat, 12 Jul T GO
¡°You okay?¡± she asked.
I shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m good.¡±
¡°You sure? You¡¯ve been spacing out a lottely.¡± She noticed.
¡°I¡¯m just¡ tired.¡±
She eyed me again, the way warriors do when they know you¡¯re lying but choose not to call you out.
As I poured myself a ss of water, she added, ¡°You know, I was there that night.¡±
I paused. ¡°What night?¡±
She nodded. ¡°The rogue attack.. I saw how fast the Alpha moved. No one¡¯s ever seen him like that. Like he¡¯d do anything to get to you.¡±
1 blinked.. Why suddenly she mentioned this?
¡°What are you trying to say?¡±
X3 72%
+28)
¡°I¡¯m saying,¡± she said, tossing her apple core in the bin, ¡°he didn¡¯t just show up because you were in danger. He showed up like he felt it. Like his instincts drove him.¡±
I stared at her. Not fully understand her.
¡°No one moves like that unless there¡¯s a bond,¡± she finished.
What? Bond?
No¡ It couldn¡¯t be.
Could it?
I shook my head. ¡°He doesn¡¯t even know me. He¡¯s never even spoken to me.¡±
¡°Doesn¡¯t mean anything,¡± Audrey replied. ¡°Wolves don¡¯t need years to form connections. Sometimes it just¡ happens.¡±
And with that cryptic note, she walked toward the door and left me standing there, shattered by the possibility I never dared to consider.
Francesco Totti Lycaon. The Lycan¡
Could he be¡? No!!
I refused to believe in hope again.
But then again¡ why did his howl feel like it reached deep into my soul?
Why did I feel seen, truly seen, for the first time when his eyes met mine?
That night, I didn¡¯t draw Ruben.
I drew him. Again.
And this time, I wasn¡¯t ashamed.
Still His 12
Chapter 12
The air felt heavier that morning, like the kind of day where something was meant to go wrong.
I felt it in the way the breeze brushed past the curtains.
Restless.
+28
Unsettled.
And then, Patricia¡¯s call came through.
r
Monica. Her daughter. Hurt in an ident. That alone would have made me worry, but it was the way Patricia¡¯s voice cracked¨Cnot with sadness, but something closer to fear¨Cthat made me grab my bag without even thinking. Audrey was already dressed and ready, as if she knew. Maybe she did. Maybe that¡¯s what happens when your wolf is intact. You just know.
¡°She lives in Bologna, right?¡± I asked as we got in the car, remembering how Patricia once mentioned Monica worked there as a nurse.
¡°Yeah. It¡¯s about a two¨Chour drive from Florence. Let¡¯s go to Patricia and Louis first,¡± Audrey replied, voice calm as always, but there was tension in her
jaw.
Something was off.
By the time we arrived at their modest home, the sun was already starting to rise behind the rooftops.
Knock. Knock.
Louis opened the door, his usually warm demeanor dimmed by worry. Without a word, he widened the entrance for us. Patricia was right behind him, and when she saw me, she wrapped her arms around me in a tight, desperate hug.
¡°Oh, El,¡± she whispered like my presence meant something.
The reason why I care for them, because they make me feel that I matter.
¡°I came as fast as I could. How is she?¡± I asked, ncing over her shoulder to Louis.
He ran a hand over his face and sighed. ¡°The human doctors said it was a car ident. But the healer we contacted from the city mentioned traces of
wolfsbane.¡±
I blinked. ¡°Wolfsbane?¡±
My heart dropped. That wasn¡¯t a car ident. That was an attack.
¡°Rogues,¡± Audrey murmured, her expression unreadable as she crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe.
Of course. I should¡¯ve known. A rogue attack disguised as something human.
Louis nodded grimly. ¡°There¡¯s an Alpha meeting happening in here this week. We think that¡¯s why. When so many Alphas gather in one ce, it bes an easy target for rogues to try and make a statement.¡±
I rubbed my arms, trying to ward off the chill climbing up my spine.
This wasn¡¯t just bad luck. It was a calcted move.
¡°They didn¡¯t go after the Alphas directly,¡± Audrey added. ¡°They went after someone unguarded. That tells us something.¡±
¡°They wanted to scare us,¡± I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. I nced at Patricia, who was holding back tears. ¡°They wanted to say ¡®we know where to find you.¡±¡±
10.31 Sat, 12 Jul
Silence hung in the room like fog.
We all knew that rogue attacks were never random.
They sent messages. They broke lines. And they made people scared enough to hide..
¡°Kurt said it would be safer to bring Monica here,¡± Patricia finally spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°But¡¡±
¡°I got a job down in the south perimeter,¡± Louis finished her sentence. ¡°And I can¡¯t leave Patricia alone. I won¡¯t let her go to Bologna alone either.¡±
It made sense¡
The perimeter was unstable.
The Alpha and Beta were both stretched thin, dealing with rogue threats and the uing summit. The rest of the warriors had been deployed strategically. There simply weren¡¯t enough hands.
Audrey¡¯s silence told me she already knew what I was about to say.
I looked up, thoughts whirling, and said it before I could second¨Cguess myself.
¡°How about Audrey and I go?¡±
Everyone turned to look at me like I¡¯d just grown another head.
¡°What?¡± Patricia gasped, and Louis nearly dropped the ss he was holding.
Even Audrey looked taken aback.
¡°El¡¡±
28
¡°No, listen,¡± I said, stepping forward. ¡°You said Monica isn¡¯t in critical condition. She just needs to be moved, right? She¡¯s awake? We¡¯re not going there to fight. We¡¯re just going to bring her home.¡±
¡°Still, El-¡± Louis started.
¡°I know I can¡¯t shift. I know I¡¯m not strong like the others. But I¡¯m not useless,¡± I interrupted, surprising even myself with the steel in my voice. ¡°Audrey is a warrior. I¡¯ll follow her lead. But someone has to go, and you both have more to protect here.¡±
Patricia looked like she wanted to protest but couldn¡¯t find the words.
She knew I was right.
Louis took a step forward, his face stern. ¡°Are you sure? This isn¡¯t just a walk in the city. If there¡¯s even a chance of rogues-¡±
¡°There¡¯s always a chance,¡± I replied, lifting my chin. ¡°But if we do nothing, Monica stays alone in a hospital with wolfsbane in her system and no one to protect her. That¡¯s worse.¡±
Audrey finally spoke, her voice even but cautious. ¡°I¡¯ll take her. I¡¯ll protect her. But El, once we¡¯re on the road, you follow everything I say. No exceptions.¡±
¡°I promise.¡±
and just like that, the decision was made.
We left early, just as the sun broke through the morning mist, turning the world golden and quiet.
I sat in the passenger seat, hands clenched on myp, heart oddly calm but mind racing. Audrey didn¡¯t speak much, which I appreciated. There was a silent understanding between us that the air didn¡¯t need to be filled with words when the weight of our thoughts already felt like lead.
16:51 Sat, 12 Jun
The road to Bologna stretched long and quiet, but every turn, every sh of headlights from oing cars, made me flinch internally.
It was strange how quickly fear became part of your daily rhythm¨Chow your body just epted it like an old coat in the winter. Necessary. Heavy.
Familiar.
+28
My thoughts drifted as the countryside passed by in a blur of green and stone.
The Alpha meeting¡
A part of me¨Csmall, hidden, but very real¨Cwas d to be far from Florence while it happened.
d I didn¡¯t have to be in the same building, the same air, as Ruben and Alpha Gregor. It had only been a few months since I left everything behind, and though I didn¡¯t cry for Ruben anymore, I wasn¡¯t sure if I was strong enough to face him without unraveling.
I wanted to believe I had moved on. That I was healing¡
But Mika still hadn¡¯t returned.
My wolf¨Cmy other half¨Cwas still silent.
Maybe that was answer enough.
As I stared out at the winding road, I found myself quietly grateful for the distraction.
For Audrey, who never asked questions but always showed up. For Monica, who needed us. For Patricia and Louis, who gave me a home when mine
turned to ashes.
And yet¡ somewhere back in Florence, something else was stirring.
Back at the pack house, when Louis and Patricia informed Beta Alfonso about Monica¡¯s condition¨Cand that Audrey and I had gone to bring her home- they hadn¡¯t expected a reactioning from the Alpha office.
A low, thunderous roar erupted from Alpha Francesco¡¯s office.
The sound sent warriors still as statues.
The walls themselves seemed to shake under the weight of it.
He hadn¡¯t even been part of the conversation, but of course, he¡¯d heard it. Alphas always did.
The silence afterward was heavier than his roar.
Something had cracked open.
Warriors whispered. They nced at each other with wide eyes.
The Alpha never raised his voice¨Cnever roared, not like that.
Not unless something, or someone, had truly shakert him.
Hope bloomed quietly in the minds of those who heard.
Beta Alfonso, meanwhile, only nodded slightly and sent word to the barracks. Five of their best warriors were dispatched without hesitation, ordered to follow the road to Bologna.
His lips twitched into a small, knowing smile as he watched them go.
Maybe, just maybe¡ his Alpha had finally found the one thing that could make him feel again.
Eine¡
Because he always shows emotion whenever she¡¯s involved.
Still His 13
Chapter 13
I didn¡¯t even realize 1 had fallen asleep.
It¡¯s been weeks since I dared to close my eyes without fear wing at me from the inside.
Most nights, I justy in bed and stared at the ceiling until exhaustion dragged me under.
But somehow, this time, I¡¯d slipped into sleep so quietly that even the pain hadn¡¯t warned me.
And then it came¡.
28
¡°Go away!! Don¡¯t go near me!!¡±
Ruben¡¯s voice, sharp and cold, echoed in the memory like a dagger carving through my ribs.
I saw myself again¨Cnaive, hopeful, just barely brave enough to confront the truth.
The night I realized he had known all along. That I was his fated mate. That he simply¡ didn¡¯t want me.
¡°You knew and did nothing?¡± I had whispered that night, hoping¨Cbegging¨Cfor a reason, an excuse, something that would make the pain a little easier.
He rolled his eyes, annoyed. Like I was some pest, not the one the Moon Goddess herself had tied him to.
¡°What do you expect? That I¡¯m going to madly fall in love with you when I have a perfect girl like Kaithlin? She can give me everything.¡±
I could still hear those words as if he had just spoken them. The coldness in his tone. The disgust in his eyes. It was a rejection beyond the sacred bond, a
brutal denial of who I was.
¡°I reject you, Eine Aurora Rollin, as my fated mate. Now¡ you better not say anything to anyone. Or else¡¡±
My breath caught.
I jerked upright, gasping, my heart pounding so loud I couldn¡¯t hear anything else.
The nightmare had torn open a wound I thought I¡¯d managed to bandage. But the truth was, it never really healed. It just festered beneath the surface, waiting.
Damn it!
¡°What¡¯s wrong, El?¡± Audrey¡¯s voice cut through the haze, calm but alert.
She had noticed me stir. I could feel her watching even if I couldn¡¯t meet her eyes. I grabbed the water bottle by my side and chugged it, trying to cool the burn in my throat and blink away the tears that threatened to fall.
¡°Nightmare,¡± I whispered, ashamed at how broken my voice sounded.
She said nothing for a moment. Just watched me, silently assessing.
Then, as if sensing what I needed, she said, ¡°There¡¯s a gas station up ahead. We can stop for a bit.¡±
The second she pulled over, I practically bolted out of the car to go to the bathroom.
Inside the bathroom, I copsed against the wall, the cold tile grounding me for a moment before the floodgates broke. I hunched over the sink and
16:52 Sat, 12 Jul T GO
threw up what little was in my stomach. My tears followed quickly, silent and relentless.
Why now? Why that memory?
Of all the terrible nights I could relive, why did my subconscious choose that one?
Hadn¡¯t I suffered enough?
I sobbed into my hands until my breathing evened out.
Sshing cold water on my face, I stared at my reflection.
You¡¯re okay, El. Just breathe. Breathe¡
+28
When I finally walked back outside, I tried to put on a neutral face, but Audrey noticed right away. She didn¡¯t push though¨Cnever did. That was something I appreciated about her. She gave space without withdrawingpletely. Like she knew just how much distance I needed without making me feel alone.
But then her head tilted slightly.
Her eyes zed over just a second¨Cshe was mind¨Clinking someone.
That small detail should¡¯ve been nothing. Except¡ her shoulders stiffened. Her lips parted ever so slightly in surprise, and then she quickly masked it
with calm.
Something just happened.
I squinted at her. ¡°Is something wrong?¡±
She shook her head too quickly. ¡°No. Nothing important.¡±
That was a lie¡
Before I could press further, the sound of engines pulling into the gas station made me turn my head.
Two dark SUVs pulled up beside us.
Audrey tensed beside me.
¡°What¡?¡± I asked, eyes narrowing as I watched several figures step out, all dressed in the ck¨Con¨Cckbat gear of high¨Cranking warriors.
¡°The Alpha¡¯s warriors,¡± Audrey answered shortly, confirming what I already suspected.
I blinked. ¡°They¡¯re here for us?¡±
¡°They¡¯ll be riding with us from here.¡±
That was all she said.
I stared at her, trying to understand. ¡°Why? Did something happen? Why send a whole team just to-¡±
But she was already helping the warriors load our bags into one of the SUVs, keeping her expression unreadable.
Confused and overwhelmed, I slid into the back seat of the second SUV with her beside me while they prepare the car.
But I couldn¡¯t focus.
Why now? Why sends warriors?
oul UK u
Chapter 13.
Was something happening back home? Was Monica safe?
Did it have something to do with the Alpha meeting?
Or¡
4371%
25
No¡ Surely not.
Was it him?
Was Alpha Francesco somehow involved?
No, that didn¡¯t make sense. Why would he care?
But the question settled heavily in my chest, refusing to go away.
I tried to keep still, tried not to overthink it. But my thoughts were racing faster than the wheels on the road beneath us. And Audrey still wasn¡¯t talking. That told me everything I needed to know.
They weren¡¯t just here by chance.
Someone sent them¡
But why?
Back at the pack, when they informed the news, a storm had erupted in the Alpha¡¯s office.
He had heard the conversation himself¨Chis Lycan hearing sharper than most¨Cand had been furious.
The warriors said it was the first time in years they¡¯d heard the Alpha raise his voice like that.
An order hade directly from him: ¡°Find her. Protect her.¡±
Five of his best warriors were deployed within five minutes.
And when Beta Alfonso saw the small, almost imperceptible smile forming on his Alpha¡¯s face after giving the order¡ he knew.
Hope. That¡¯s what this was.
They had all seen iting, even if I hadn¡¯t.
Even if I didn¡¯t understand it yet.
Alpha Francesco Totti, the cold and distant ruler of the territory, the man whose Lycan form had once saved me, the man whosete mate¡¯s portrait I had redrawn with my trembling hands¨Che was starting to care.
And I had no idea what that meant.
All I knew was that the shadows of my past were catching up to me.
But maybe just maybe¨CI wasn¡¯t alone anymore.
Still His 14
¡°El, this is Jeremy,¡± Audrey said, gesturing to the man at the wheel, who gave me a small nod without taking his eyes off the road. ¡°And Jonathan,¡± she added, pointing to the man in the passenger seat, who nced back and offered a polite smile.
¡°Have you eaten, Miss Rollin?¡± Jonathan asked kindly, his voice deeper than I expected, edged with concern.
Miss Rollin¡? It was the first time someone call me like that.
1 shook my head, offering a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±
Before either could respond, a dark¨Chaired man walked up to the side window and handed Jonathan a paper bag through the open crack..
¡°Luckily we picked something up on the way here,¡± Jonathan said, handing it back into the cabin. Audrey epted it and immediately opened the top, rummaging through until she pulled out a sandwich wrapped in brown paper.
Without hesitation, she extended it to me. ¡°Here. Eat something. You haven¡¯t touched a thing since we left.¡±
1 blinked, hesitating. ¡°I¨Cuh¨Cit¡¯s tuna.¡± I gave an awkward, apologetic smile, looking between her and Jonathan. ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t. I¡¯m allergic to fish. Like, really allergic.¡±
Their reactions were instant and dramatic.
Audrey¡¯s eyes widened in horror, and Jonathan¡¯s head snapped back toward me with rm. The casual warmth vanished from his face.
Without another word, Jonathan snatched the paper bag and immediately threw it out the open window.
My eyes flew open. ¡°Hey! You didn¡¯t need to do that!¡± I halfughed, startled. ¡°You guys could¡¯ve eaten it yourselves. It¡¯s not radioactive.¡±
But Jonathan was already shaking his head firmly. ¡°If it¡¯s dangerous for you, we¡¯re not keeping it near you. Ever. That¡¯s protocol.¡±
I blinked again. Protocol?
Audrey gave me a look I couldn¡¯t quite read¨Cequal parts amusement and something softer. ¡°Guess that¡¯s one note for your file.¡±
¡°My¡ file?¡± I echoed, confused.
Before I could press further, Jonathan handed me a cup of steaming coffee, the aroma rich andforting. ¡°Safe dunk,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°No fish in this one, I promise.¡±
Iughed, the tension easing from my shoulders. ¡°Thanks. That, I can ept.¡±
We drove in silence for a while.
I leaned against the window, letting the movement of the car lull me into a haze. But just as the quiet settled, Audrey and the other suddenly stiffened in
their seat.
¡°What is it?¡± I asked.
¡°There¡¯s a scent,¡± she muttered, then nodded to Jeremy. ¡°Slow down.¡±
The car eased as we reached the turnoff toward Monica¡¯s temporary safe house. But before we could get far, two shapes darted across the road ahead- dark, fast, and feral.
¡°Rogues,¡± Jonathan growled, already reaching for the weapon at his side.
Adrenaline shot through me like lightning. Audrey shoved open her door just as the warriors from the second car pulled up behind us. The team moved fast, coordinated like a dance.
The rogues didn¡¯t stand a chance.
123
I stayed in the car, heart pounding, watching the fight through the window. It was over in minutes. The wolves were taken down, restrained, and hauled away by the warriors, who murmured something about them being spotted heading toward the Alpha mansion area.
¡°Their trail leads straight to the Alpha summit,¡± Audrey confirmed grimly. ¡°They were after the Alphas¡±
¡°Yeah, but they will be meet with dead end¡± Jonathan said calmly before order the other in another car to go after them,
¡°Let¡¯s go and pick Monica then head back¡± Jeremy added and make the other two nodded their head
Audrey nodded ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
The rest of the drive felt surreal.
The city of Bologna passed in a blur; the tension still thick in the air when we passed the border, which have their own border guards from other pack.
I watch Audrey, Jonathan, Jeremy and the other talk with the guards from Bologna pack before they went to pick Monica.
What am I doing here if they do everything, I thought in solemn.
The trip back went faster, with Monica sleeping form on the back with Audrey while I am taking Jonathan seat beside the driver, trying hard not to fall asleep and just focus on the journey.
¡°We¡¯ll be there in five minutes,¡± Jeremy finally said after a while.
The estate gates loomed into view, and I recognized them immediately¨Cthe Alpha estate.
But this time, it looked different. Dozens of warriors stood guard along the perimeter, a clear sign that the Alpha meeting had just taken ce¨Cor perhaps just ended.
I truly hope theter.
As we rolled through, I saw unfamiliar luxury cars pulling out of the drive. One by one, the Alphas and their entourages were leaving¨Cwithout incident, it seemed. Whatever trap the rogues had nned never made it past the mansion¡¯s defenses.
Alpha Francesco¡¯s protection was absolute.
As our car stopped in front of the main entrance, Audrey turned to me. ¡°We¡¯ll check on Monica first, then talk with Louis and Patricia.¡±
I nodded, unbuckling my seatbelt¡ªonly to freeze halfway out the door.
Because standing a few feet from the steps¡ were two people I hadn¡¯t expected to see.
Alpha Gregor. And Ruben.
My breath caught in my throat. I stood frozen beside the car, unable to move.
Ruben¡¯s eyesnded on me almost instantly. His expression shifted from neutral to unreadable. I saw the flicker of recognition, the way his jaw clenched,
the hesitation in his stance.
Alpha Gregor raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
¡°Eine,¡± he greeted me with a cool nod and small smile, as if we were nothing more than acquaintances.
I managed a stiff bow in return. ¡°Alpha Gregor.¡±
Ruben said nothing.
123
His silence spoke louder than any insult. And yet, his eyes never left mine.
For a moment, the world stopped spinning. All the memories came rushing back¨Cthe rejection, the threat, the cruel way he looked at me when he said! wasn¡¯t enough. That I never would be.
I wanted to look away. I wanted to scream. But I didn¡¯t.
I stood there, unmoving, refusing to give him that power.
Audrey stepped beside me, a hand lightly brushing my arm in silent support. Like she knows something.
Ruben¡¯s gaze flicked to her, then back to me. His lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something¨Cbut didn¡¯t. Instead, he gave a short nod to Audrey, Jonathan and Jeremy, and turned his eyes on me.
¡°I see you doing well¡± Alpha Gregor greet me and I nod politely.
¡°I am, Alpha. Thank you¡± I answer softly with a small smile.
He nodded ¡°been a year, I hope you coulde to celebrate¡±
I raise my eyebrow in wonder.
What?
¡°What do you mean, Alpha?¡± I asked.
¡°Kaithlin pregnancy, we have pack celebration for that¡± He smile in happiness and I just froze on my ce.
What? She¡¯s.. Pregnant? I stunned.
Another crack across my already fractured heart.
¡°Father¡¡± A voice.. It was his voice who snap the Alpha when it¡¯s time for them to leave.
¡°oh yeah, farewell Eine¡± I keep nodding my head in polite when I see Alpha Gregor leaving, even though my tears almost fall again.
The two men walked toward their awaiting car in silence.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, willing the tears not toe. Not here. Not now.
¡°They¡¯re gone,¡± Audrey whispered once the car disappeared down the driveway. ¡°You okay?¡±
I can¡¯t speak, I just stood there frozen like a statue, don¡¯t know what to do.
Just when I was starting to feel better. Stronger. The news hit like a storm, tearing it all down. Again. Why does fate keep denying me peace?
¡°Eine?¡± I snap from my mind and turn my gaze to the worry Audrey.
I nodded once, trying hard to smile ¡°Let¡¯s go¡±
She knows something has happened but she just nodded with a look of quiet respect in her eyes.
We turned and walked into the mansion. The front doors closed behind us, sealing off the past I was trying to leave behind.
But even as I stepped forward, I could still feel Ruben¡¯s gaze on me. The shadow of what we could¡¯ve been.
I was no longer the same girl he left behind.
But today, it feels like I am the same broken girl like one ye
Still His 15
Chapter 15
¡°EL¡± Patricia called gently, her arms already extended before I even registered her voice. The soft warmth of her voice snapped me out of my thoughts, and I found myself walking toward her without hesitation.
She pulled me into her embrace, tucking my head against her shoulder, and I let myself breathe her in¨Cher scent familiar, maternal. Something unrecognizable stirred in my chest.
Safe. That¡¯s what it felt like. I am d she¡¯s here.
¡°You¡¯re alright,¡± Louis murmured beside me, resting a firm butforting hand on my back. ¡°We were worried.¡±
¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I replied, though my voice was just above a whisper. ¡°Monica?¡±
¡°She¡¯s resting. Healer Kurt is with her now. Still sore, but stable,¡± Patricia said gently. ¡°She¡¯s been asking about you.¡±
A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. ¡°I didn¡¯t really do anything¡ the warriors were the ones who saved her,¡± I murmured, guilt and shame tightening in my throat. ¡°I just¡ I don¡¯t know. I was just there.¡±
Patricia and Louis both shook their heads.
¡°If you hadn¡¯te, Monica wouldn¡¯t be back this quickly,¡± Patricia said firmly. ¡°You did more than you think.¡±
Their unwavering kindness did something to me. My eyes burned, and before I could stop it, a tear rolled down my cheek. Then another.
Patricia blinked, surprised, and Louis¡¯s brows furrowed in concern.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I mumbled, quickly wiping my tears away in embarrassment. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m crying.¡±
But I did know. It was because, for once, I wasn¡¯t invisible.
For once, someone looked at me like I mattered.
And that¡ that broke something open inside of me.
Audrey was still speaking with Beta Alfonso and the warriors when I followed Patricia and Louis into the mansion. The scent hit me the moment we stepped inside¨Crosemary and lemon polish, just likest time.
It was warm. Comforting.
I never thought the scent of an old Alpha¡¯s estate would feel like this. Calming.
I didn¡¯t ask if Alpha Francesco was here. I didn¡¯t want to know.
But as we passed one of the side halls, I caught sight of something that made me stop in my tracks.
My breath hitched.
That was my painting.
The one of Anastasia Lycaon¨Cthe woman whose portrait I had restored from memory, from that faint image in the museum, the one that had pulled something raw and aching from my heart.
It had been framed. Framed and disyed with care.
The easel stood in the corner of the main hall, surrounded by soft golden lighting. Fresh white roses sat in a tall crystal vase nearby, and flickering candles cast a reverent glow around the portrait.
16:52 Sat, 12 Jul T GO
¡°She was beautiful,¡± I whispered, almost to myself.
28
¡°She was,¡± Patricia replied beside me. ¡°I was surprised when Beta Alfonso told us it was you who painted her. But your portrait¡¡± Her voice softened, full of awe. ¡°It captured her better than anything I¡¯ve seen in years.¡±
I stared at the painting, heart pounding. ¡°Who¡ who put it there?¡±
¡°Beta said he gave it to the Alpha, but no one saw him hang it,¡± she said with a quiet smile. ¡°He just ced it there. Meaning it deserved to be seen.¡±
Alump formed in my throat.
I hadn¡¯t painted her for praise or approval. I hadn¡¯t even nned to leave it. I just wanted to offer something¨Ca small tribute to the woman she had been, and to the pain that still lingered in this house.
But to see it there¡
To see it honored like that¡
It meant more than I could say.
Later, they gave me a guest room upstairs to rest. Audrey insisted I stay the night in the mansion rather than return to the dorms. ¡°You need rest, El,¡± she said in a tone that didn¡¯t invite argument.
But rest felt like an illusion. Not after what I heard today.
Sighing.. I walk to the guest room. The room was beautiful¨Cmarble floors, soft ivory curtains that danced with the breeze, and a wide window that opened out to the gardens below. Moonlight spilled over the grounds like silver mist, casting shadows across the trees and statues. This is too grand and amazing for just a guest room.
I stood at the window, hugging my sketchbook to my chest.
It impossible for me to be able to rest now without having any nightmare. I couldn¡¯t sleep. Not when my heart felt so full and so heavy at the same time.
I decide to do something more than dwell in sadness. Take a look around the room I realize that it was the first time I had ever stayed here.
This ce is beautiful, I feel like being inside the different world.
Then I look out from the balcony to see the garden below which looked like something from a fairytale¡ªovergrown in ces, with old rose bushes climbing the iron fences and winding stone paths leading through thick patches of ivy. It was both wild and elegant.
That¡¯s a ce that I know I couldn¡¯t resist.
Slipping on my coat, I crept out of the room and padded barefoot down the hallway. Two guards noticed me by the stairs, and I gave them an awkward
smile.
¡°Can I go to the garden?¡± I asked softly.
They exchanged a nce, then nodded and offered to escort me.
We walked in silence until they opened the tall ss doors, revealing the night¨Cshrouded garden. I thanked them, and they bowed respectfully before stepping back into the shadows.
I wandered through the roses, careful with each step. The garden was beautiful, but time had left it a little wild. The bushes hadn¡¯t been trimmed in a while, and the grass brushed at my ankles. But it was honest. Untamed.
Just like me.
Then I saw it. A single blue rose.
Nestled among the others, its color glowed under the moonlight¨Cvivid and rare. My breath caught. I had never seen one in person before.
I dropped to my knees without hesitation, sketchbook open, pencil already dancing across the page.
I lost track of time, immersed in lines and curves, trying to capture the exact bend of the petals, the way the light kissed its edges.
So focused was I that I didn¡¯t notice him.
Not untill heard the soft scrape of a boot against stone.
I nced up¨Cand gasped.
Alpha Francesco sat on the bench nearby, arms resting on his knees, his piercing eyes locked on me.
¡°Oh my God, you scared me,¡± I blurted out, heart racing.
He didn¡¯t smile, but something in his expression softened. ¡°Apologies. I didn¡¯t want to interrupt.¡±
Oh God, I never thought he speaks again¡ That¡¯s he¡¯s going to make ament.
I thought people said he always silent and never show himself.
What is he doing here?
I scrambled to my feet, clutching my sketchbook. ¡°I didn¡¯t know anyone else would be here.¡±
¡°It¡¯s my home,¡± he said with a faint shrug. ¡°I oftene here when I need quiet.¡±
Shit, he was right, I was the imposter here.
I nodded, unsure what to say. ¡°It¡¯s¡ beautiful. The garden, I mean. A little wild, but I like it. Sorry for my sudden appearance in here without asking permission¡±
He just nodded without saying anything until he looked at the rose, I¡¯d been drawing. ¡°That one only blooms once every few years. Anastasia nted it.¡±
My chest tightened.
He noticed me draw it.
¡°It¡¯s.. It¡¯s beautiful. The blue rose, I mean¡± I try to reasoning, don¡¯t know what to respond.
He didn¡¯t reply immediately and just watch the blue rose carefully which make me turn my gaze to where his eyesnd there.
Silence embraces us for a moment, but shockingly it was calming..
¡°You painted her.¡±
I froze. Didn¡¯t know if he¡¯s talking to me or not, but when I turn my gaze back at him, I saw his eyes lock on me.
¡°Yes.¡± I nodded in shy.
Is he going to be mad? I don¡¯t know how his feel about it.
¡°So, it was you.¡±
I swallowed hard and nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to impose. I just¡ I saw the old painting in the museum and felt like she deserved better. I¡¯m sorry if t overstepped.¡±
He stood slowly, walking toward the rose. ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡±
16:52 Sat, 12 Jul T GO
My breath caught in my throat. What?
¡°I see her in that painting,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Not just how she looked. But who she was.¡±
A long silence passed between us,
Never in my mind thinking that I will have a conversation with the silent Alpha,
The air was cool, fragrant with roses and earth and moonlight.
¡°She must¡¯ve meant a lot to you,¡± I said gently.
He looked at me then, really looked at me. ¡°She was everything.¡±
I nodded, heart aching for him.
How does it feel to be everything to their fated mate? It must be amazing feeling to know someone could love you like he does.
¡°Your painting¡ It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen her and not felt only grief.¡±
I blinked rapidly, fighting the sudden sting of emotion. ¡°I¡¯m d,¡± I whispered. ¡°I wanted to give something back.¡±
He tilted his head slightly, voice lower now. ¡°You did.¡±
The silence stretched again, but it wasn¡¯t ufortable. It was full of things unsaid.
And for once, I didn¡¯t feel out of ce.
Not in the garden.
Not in his presence.
Not even in my own skin.
I wasn¡¯t invisible here.
Still His 16
Chapter 16
¡°I can see why they gave you the schrship,¡± Alpha Francesco said after a moment, his voice low but sincere.
let out a soft chuckle, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
¡°It was a way to run, really,¡± I admitted. My gaze drifted upward, drawn to the moon hanging high above us¡ªfull and luminous, a silent witness to my truths. ¡°A chance to disappear and not be questioned.¡±
He didn¡¯t respond, not right away.
When I turned back to him, I found his eyes already on me, unmoving and unreadable.
I should¡¯ve been nervous under that kind of scrutiny, but somehow, I wasn¡¯t.
He wasn¡¯t judging.
He was¡ observing.
¡®Young but hurting, he thought to himself.
And beautiful¡®, Lucas¨Cthe wolf within¨Cadded with uncharacteristic softness.
¡°I know what it means to run,¡± he finally said. ¡°And what it costs.¡±
The words felt heavier than I expected. And real¡
(+28)
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said softly, not even sure what exactly I was apologizing for¨Chis past, his pain, or the way my own scars were showing more than I intended.
He gave a slow shake of his head. ¡°Don¡¯t be. Some of us only find rity when we¡¯re far away from everything.¡±
I let out a shaky breath and look up to the sky, trying hard not to cry, not in front of him. ¡°I came here to heal. But healing isn¡¯t¡ linear. Some days I feel like I¡¯m getting better. Then other days¡ one nightmare and I¡¯m back where I started.¡±
¡°Nightmares,¡± he echoed, the word clipped, his tone shifting.
I nodded, looking away.
There was a pause, and then he sat back down on the bench, motioning for me to do the same.
I hesitated, then settled onto the far end.
Silence settled again, but this time it was less awkward and more¡ tentative. Like neither of us wanted to break whatever fragile thing hung in the air.
¡°I have them too,¡± he said suddenly.
I turned to look at him in surprise.
The moonlight caught the sharp lines of his face, and for a moment, I imagined what he must¡¯ve looked like before grief carved its ce into him. Before loss.
¡°She died in my arms,¡± he said, his voice t. ¡°And for the longest time, I believed the Moon Goddess made a mistake.¡±
¡°I¡¯m so sorry¡¡± I whispered, my fingers tightening around the edge of my sketchbook.
He didn¡¯t acknowledge the sympathy.
Instead, he stared out into the overgrown garden. ¡°There are days I can¡¯t breathe in this ce. And nights I walk just to feel the earth under my feet¨Clike
16:52 Sat, 12 Jul TG 6
it¡¯ll remind me I¡¯m still alive,¡±
Something cracked in my chest¡
Oh God.. I know how it feel
Not because of the tragedy of it. But because I understood it. I know how does it feel to just¡living.
¡°I was rejected by my fated mate,¡± I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. ¡°He said I wasn¡¯t enough. That someone else was better suited for him. That love was a choice, and he didn¡¯t choose me.¡±
He didn¡¯t flinch or look surprised.
He just looked at me¡ Make me look down in shyness.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said softly, and the words felt differenting from him.
Not empty. Not out of politeness.
I can feel that he meant it.
¡°I used to think the bond was everything,¡± I whispered. ¡°But now I don¡¯t know. Maybe¡ maybe it¡¯s not about being chosen by fate. Maybe it¡¯s about choosing yourself first.¡±
Francesco looked at me for a long moment, then slowly nodded. ¡°That¡¯s a lesson most don¡¯t learn until it¡¯s toote.¡±
A rustle in the distance went unnoticed by us, but not by the guards posted around the garden.
From behind the ss doors of the mansion, Beta Alfonso stood watching, arms crossed over his chest, his heart heavy and his mind racing.
It was the first time the Alpha had left his quarters at night without it being for training or patrol.
It was also the first time he had spoken this much in weeks.
The first time his eyes held anything other than grief.
And it was because of her.
Eine Aurora Rollin.
Young. Damaged. Quiet. But unlike anyone they¡¯d ever seen enter this house.
Alfonso¡¯s jaw tensed. He¡¯d lost too much to let his Alpha suffer another blow. And now¡ now it was clear.
The girl must be protected¨Cwith their lives.
He sent a silent mind¨Clink to every warrior stationed around the estate.
¡°Eine Rollin is now under elite protection. Round¨Cthe¨Cclock watch. No threat, no stranger, no shadow touches her without our knowledge.
Understood?¡±
¡°Understood, Beta.¡±
Back in the garden, I didn¡¯t know what forces were being set into motion around me. I just knew that this moment, this conversation, felt important.
¡°You put the painting¡¡± I said after a moment, breaking the quiet. ¡°You put it in the hall. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d keep it or put it there.¡±
He looked at me again, his face unreadable.
¡°I didn¡¯t keep it,¡± he said. ¡°I honored it.¡±
I blinked. How?
¡°You brought her back,¡± he continued. ¡°Not just her face. Her essence. You made me remember who she was, not just how she died.¡±
I didn¡¯t know what to say.
He understands why I draw her, why I painting her the way I am because I want people to see the true her, the way I capture her in my mind and put it in
the canvas.
¡°I used to believe no one would ever understand what it means to lose something that was part of your soul,¡± he said, standing slowly. ¡°But maybe¡ you
do¡±
He turned toward the path that led back to the house, and I felt my heart stutter.
He paused and looked over his shoulder. ¡°You can stay in the garden as long as you like.¡± Then he added, ¡°The roses bloom better withpany.¡±
I watched him disappear into the shadows, his figure slowly fading beneath the arch of the old stone gate.
I stared after him for a long time, hand pressed to my chest.
What was this?
A moment? A connection?
Whatever it was, it mattered.
I nced down at the sketchbook still open in myp. The blue rose was perfectly captured, delicate and soft on the page.
But now, I felt the need to add something more.
A figure. A shadow.
A silent Alpha sitting under the moonlight as a girl with too many scars tried to remember what peace felt like.
I sketched him from memory, cing him on the bench, the moon above, and roses around. Not as a leader. Not as a warrior. But as a man. A grieving soul who had, for the first time in a long while, chosen to sit with someone else in the dark.
And for the first time since arriving in Italy, I didn¡¯t feel broken.
I felt seen.
I didn¡¯t know what tomorrow would bring.
But tonight?
Tonight, I was exactly where I needed to be.
Still His 17
Chapter 17
The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was the smellvender and something faintly woodsy, like cedar warmed by sunlight. My mind, still groggy, took a few seconds to catch up to the fact that I wasn¡¯t in my dorm.
I was in the Alpha mansion.
In a guest room.
The sun filtered through sheer curtains, casting soft golden lines across the bedspread. Everything around me was quiet¨Cpeaceful. For a moment, I simplyy there, listening to the silence.
No nightmaresst night.
That thought stopped me.
I blinked at the ceiling, then sat up slowly, hugging my knees to my chest. My heart wasn¡¯t racing. My body didn¡¯t ache with the remnants of a scream held in my throat. There was no cold sweat clinging to my skin.
I¡¯d slept through the night.
And I remembered exactly why.
The garden. The blue rose. The sketch.
Him.
His grieve make me realize that I am not the only one who in pain.
My face heated, and I quickly shook my head as if the motion would shake the memory away.
Francesco Totti Lycaon had sat with me.
Spoke with me¡
There was a soft knock on the door before I could spiral too far. ¡°El?¡± Patricia¡¯s voice floated in gently.
¡°Come in,¡± I said, grateful for the interruption.
She peeked in with a warm smile and held a tray in her hands. ¡°I thought you might be hungry.¡±
My stomach rumbled in agreement, which made us bothugh.
¡°You didn¡¯t have to-¡± I started.
¡°I wanted to,¡± she said, setting the tray down and brushing her hand over my shoulder briefly. ¡°Monica is awake. Still sore, but she¡¯s asking about you.¡±
A knot loosened in my chest.
¡°I¡¯lle by after breakfast.¡±
Patricia smiled wider. ¡°She¡¯d love that.¡±
Patricia led me quietly through the hallways of the Alpha¡¯s mansion, her presence warm and grounding beside me. The memory of the garden still lingered¨Chow the moonlight wrapped the roses in silver, how he had watched me sketch in silence, how my heartbeat had shifted, unsure whether it was from fear or¡ something else.
I wasn¡¯t ready to think too much about that.
16:52 Sat, 12 Jul T GO
23
Monica¡¯s room was on the second floor, tucked between the guest quarters and the infirmary wing. A faint herbal scent¨Csomething earthy, maybe from the healer¡¯s poultices¨Cfloated in the air as we approached. Louis had said she was stable, just sore. But I needed to see it for myself.
Patricia gave a soft knock and pushed the door open, revealing Monica propped up with pillows, a gentle smile curling her lips. Her arm was in a sling and there were faint bruises along her jaw, but she looked more alert than I expected.
Her eyes lit up the moment she saw me.
¡°Eine?¡± she breathed, her voice rough but warm. ¡°You came.¡±
I hesitated, unsure of what to say. We¡¯d never actually spoken before, only exchanged polite greetings during my short stay at their home.
¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re alright,¡± I said softly, walking in.
Monica reached for my hand, her grip surprisingly strong. ¡°Thank you.¡±
My brows furrowed. ¡°For what? I didn¡¯t do anything. It was the warriors-¡±
¡°No,¡± she cut me off gently. ¡°You came for me. You didn¡¯t have to. But you did.¡±
That¡ meant more than I expected.
Her gratitude wrapped around my heart, something about it easing the ache I hadn¡¯t realized I was carrying today.
I gave her a small, hesitant smile. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±
We didn¡¯t talk long¨Cshe still needed rest¨Cbut by the time I left the room, something inside me had shifted. A quiet warmth settled in my chest. Maybe I couldn¡¯t change the past. Maybe I was still healing. But¡ I had made a difference. Even a small one.
As I stepped out into the hallway, ready to ask Patricia to call me a car back to the dorms, I stopped in surprise.
Audrey and Beta Alfonso were standing there, waiting.
I blinked. ¡°What¡ are you two doing here?¡±
Audrey offered a small smile and gestured to the hallway. ¡°We¡¯re taking you back.¡±
Beta Alfonso nodded. ¡°There¡¯s been a change.¡±
I followed them down the stairs, confusion twisting in my stomach. ¡°Change?¡±
Audrey cleared her throat, her voice casual¨Ctoo casual. ¡°Turns out your dorm is being reassigned. They needed the room for another student.¡±
I frowned. ¡°But I paid rent for the 2 years already.¡±
¡°We¡¯ve arranged something else,¡± Alfonso said smoothly. ¡°An apartment. A bit further out, but more private. Safer.¡±
Safer?
I paused mid¨Cstep. That word.
¡°What do you mean, safer?¡±
¡°Just a precaution,¡± Audrey said quickly. ¡°You¡¯ye been through a lottely. Alpha Francesco¡¯s territory is vast, and the city¡¯s been uneasy with the rogues sighted near Bologna. It¡¯s better this way.¡±
¡°And you¡¯ll be staying with me?¡±
¡°Nearby,¡± she said, offering a half¨Csmile. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯ve been reassigned for now. Watching your back.¡±
16:52 Sat, 12 Jul TGO
It should¡¯ve felt intrusive. It should¡¯ve made me feel like a prisoner.
But somehow, with Audrey there, it felt¡ okay.
A little strange, but not threatening
And the apartment, when we arrived, was nothing like I expected.
70%
428
A small, two¨Cbedroom ce tucked near the edge of a quiet neighborhood. Clean. Bright. A tiny balcony with potted herbs already growing. Someone had thought about this. Had taken care to prepare it.
Still, a thread of unease curled through me as I stood in the doorway.
¡°I didn¡¯t ask for this,¡± I said quietly.
¡°I know,¡± Audrey replied gently. ¡°But maybe it¡¯s okay to let people look out for you now.¡±
I didn¡¯t answer right away. I stepped further inside, the scent of lemon oil faint but familiar, echoing the Alpha¡¯s mansion in a strange,forting way. My sketchbook was tucked under my arm, and I set it on the kitchen counter, my fingers lingering on the worn cover.
Maybe it was okay. For now.
As Audrey disappeared down the hall to unpack, I sat on the edge of the sofa and closed my eyes.
Conversation with Francescost night is so unreal, howe I easily open myself to him. But he didn¡¯t leave either. He stayed, listening and sharing his own grief, he¡¯s like a silent guardian.
And I¡¯d felt seen.
Not as a broken thing.
But maybe¡ just maybe¡ as someone worth watching.
Still His 18
Chapter 18
The sunlight filtered through sheer curtains as I opened my eyes to the soft hum of birdsong outside the window. It was my first morning in the new apartment, and for the first time in a while, I didn¡¯t wake up with a racing heart or the remnants of a nightmare clinging to my skin.
Maybe it was the silence. Maybe it was the space. Or maybe, just maybe, I was starting to feel¡ safe?
The pregnancy news of Kaithlin should be break me, but shockingly it¡¯s not.
It¡¯s like deep down I am aware that this could happen, sooner orter, because they mated and I start ept it.
Audrey was already gone when I walked into the kitchen. A note on the counter read:
¡°Patrol early today. Call if you need anything. Left coffee. ¨CA.¡±
I smiled faintly, the warmth in my chest growing.
Audrey didn¡¯t say much, but her loyalty spoke louder than any words.
After a quick shower and a piece of toast, I gathered my bag and sketchbook and headed to the university. My art sses were still my anchor¨Cmy only true escape since I¡¯d arrived in Florence.
The campus was waking up as I stepped into the main hall. Students bustled past with half¨Czipped bags and sleepy smiles, and I moved through the crowd, unnoticed as always¨Cuntil I wasn¡¯t.
It started with a professor.
Professor Berardi paused in front of the ssroom, her brow furrowing as she looked at me before nod in acknowledgement.
It was strange how normal things had begun to feel.
I still walked to ss with my sketchbook tucked under my arm, still sat in the far¨Cleft corner of the Art Studio where the windows poured in light in the
I still barely spoke unless spoken to, and I still used the same excuse when ssmates asked me to join them for coffee after: ¡°I¡¯ve got workter.¡±
But something had shifted.
I couldn¡¯t quite ce it, but I could feel it. The air was heavier now,ced with something more aware.
Like I was being watched¨Cbut not in a menacing way. More¡ monitored. Tracked.
Humans at the university had no idea what I was. To them, I was just the quiet girl from another country, always sketching, always a little tired, always polite but distant.
But among the werewolves on campus, things had started to change.
Most werewolves here studied in more physical or political departments¡ªCombat Strategy, Shifter Psychology, Pack Law. I was the only werewolf student in the Art department. I¡¯d always thought that might give me space. A bubble to heal in peace.
Buttely, the bubble was stretching thin.
There were nces from across the courtyard¨Cjust a second too long. Conversations that paused when I walked by. A warrior student from Combat Studies who always happened to be at the library at the same time I was, even though he didn¡¯t seem to be reading anything.
One afternoon, as I packed my things after ss, I saw him again. The same tall boy with ash¨Cbrown hair and a strong build. He stood just outside the studio building, pretending to scroll through his phone.
16:53 Sat, 12 JUL O G (
When I stepped outside, his gaze flicked up.
We didn¡¯t speak. We never did.
But I noticed the subtle nod he gave me..
I didn¡¯t return it. Instead, I walked straight to the bus stop, my heart a little faster than it should be. Not from fear¡ but from not knowing why.
The changes were subtle, but constant.
Some of the werewolf students had started acknowledging me in ways they hadn¡¯t before. A nod here. A longer nce. A few even offered greetings now.
¡°Hey, El,¡± a student from the Shifter Law course called out one morning as I walked through the courtyard. ¡°Good luck with your sketch review today.¡±
I paused. ¡°Thanks¡?¡±
He smiled and walked away without exnation.
I stood there for a moment, unsure whether to feel grateful or unnerved.
It was strange to realize it had been more than a year since I arrived in Florence.
1 year 5 months since I stepped onto the campus of this university¡ªwhere humans and werewolves coexisted in careful harmony, most of them unaware of each other.
1 year 5 months since I chose to hide in the quiet corners of the art department, the only werewolf student enrolled there.
1 year 5 months since I had buried my name, my pain, my past¡ under canvases and charcoal and silence.
And somehow, it felt like the world around me had started to shift. Just a little.
I walked slowly through the stone paths of the university courtyard, a sketchbook tucked under my arm.
The morning air was cool, scented with early¨Cblooming jasmine from the garden near the student caf¨¦.
My sses were done for the day, but I found it hard to go straight to the apartment Audrey and Beta Alfonso insisted I move into. Not that it wasn¡¯tfortable¨Cit was. Too much, even. But sometimes the stillness inside made me restless.
I preferred the quiet noise of people. Theughter of students, the murmur of conversations in a dozennguages, the asional bark of someone¡¯s contraband puppy.
As I passed by the economics building, I felt it again¨Ca flicker of attention.
I turned slightly. A pair of students were lounging by the steps, one of them subtly watching me. A werewolf, I could tell by the way his energy hummed just a little louder in the air. I didn¡¯t recognize him. Maybe from the engineering department?
He looked away quickly when I caught his gaze.
It wasn¡¯t the first time something like that had happenedtely.
I¡¯d noticed it during lunchst week too¨Cwhen a tall werewolf from political science had offered me thest blueberry muffin with a sheepish grin, even though he had clearly picked it out first. And again in the library, when one of the guards who patrolled the shared campus space had nodded at me with a kind of quiet respect I didn¡¯t understand.
It was as if¡ someone had told them something.
But what?
Shrugging off the thought, I headed to my usual spot on the back steps of the Fine Arts building.
16:53 Sat, 12 Jul
It was a hidden little perch where ivy grew wild up the stone wall, and the sun hit just right in the afternoon.
I opened my sketchbook, flipped to a half¨Cfinished portrait of the rose I¡¯d seen in the Alpha¡¯s garden¨Cand began to draw again.
The curve of the petal. The softness of shadows.
Here, I could breathe.
470
I lost track of time, as always.
It wasn¡¯t until I smelled something warm and buttery that I realized someone was standing nearby. I blinked up to see a girl in a floral sundress Folding out a paper bag.
¡°Hey,¡± she said with a soft smile. ¡°I saw you here yesterday. You dropped your pencil when you left. I thought I¡¯d give it back¨Cand bring a croissant, just
in case.¡±
She handed me both before I could even answer.
¡°Oh¨Cthank you,¡± I murmured, surprised. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to.¡±
She waved it off. ¡°You¡¯re Eine, right? I¡¯m Lina. I¡¯m in pre¨Cmed.¡± Her tone was casual, but there was something in her gaze¨Ca flicker of curiosity. Respect. Maybe even caution.
I nodded. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡±
She stayed for only a moment longer, then offered a quick smile and left. I watched her go, unsure how to feel.
Kindness used to scare me.
Now, it only confused me.
When I returned to the apartment that evening, Audrey was already waiting in the kitchen.
¡°You were outte,¡± she said, not unkindly. ¡°Everything alright?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± I replied, kicking off my shoes. ¡°Just drawing.¡±
She handed me a warm drinkvender tea. My favorite.
¡°You¡¯re being noticed more,¡± she said after a pause.
I froze.
¡°What do you mean?¡±
She gave me a look¨Chalf fond, half amused. ¡°The younger wolves talk. Some of them have heard your name from their department heads. You¡¯ve got a reputation for being¡ quiet but talented. And they like that you don¡¯t act like you¡¯re better than anyone.¡±
I swallowed. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to get noticed.¡±
¡°I know. But sometimes, El¡¡± Audrey set her mug down and looked at me seriously. ¡°It¡¯s not about whether you want attention. It¡¯s about who you are- and how that can¡¯t be ignored forever.¡±
I didn¡¯t reply.
I didn¡¯t know what to say.
16:53 Sat, 12 Jul TGO
So I went to my room and curled up by the window instead, sketching the skyline until the stars blurred through my tears.
The next day, I found a small bouquet of wildflowers on my desk in the painting studio. No note. Just a quiet gift, wrapped in twine.
I didn¡¯t ask who left it.
I didn¡¯t need to know.
Some part of me was starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, I was allowed to be seen.
Still His 19
Chapter 19
¡°Create a group of three to four people to sculpt the statue as outlined in the guidebook. I¡¯ll give you two weeks.¡±
The professor¡¯s voice echoed off the tall stone walls of the studio before she snapped her sketchbook shut and walked out, heels clicking decisively on the linoleum floor.
Around me, the studio came alive with chatter. Students were already gravitating toward their familiar circles, calling out names,ughing, forming alliances. I stared down at the slightly smudged pencil sketch on my page, my stomach coiling into knots.
Join a group.
The words felt heavier than they should have.
I could mold y, I could paint life into stone. But this¨Cwalking up to strangers and asking to be part of something? That was the real challenge.
I didn¡¯t know anyone here.
Since arriving in Florence, I had managed to keep to myself. People assumed I was just shy. And yes, that was part of it¡ªbut the truth was far moreplicated. I was a she¨Cwolf, living among humans who had no idea of the world that pulsed just beneath the surface of their own.
Even among my own kind, I had been rejected, isted. So forging new bonds? Trusting again? It wasn¡¯t easy.
I bit the inside of my lip, keeping my head down as the sound of shuffling feet,ughter, and excited nning swirled around me. I could already hear groupings forming¨Cnames called out, promises made.
The minutes ticked by. The groups solidified. And still, I sat frozen.
The hardest task the professor gave wasn¡¯t the sculpture. It was this.
I was about to give up and do the project alone when I noticed movement from the corner of my eye. Three people walked toward me¨Ctwo girls and a guy. They weren¡¯t smiling or joking like the others. They looked hesitant, almost unsure, but then the first girl stepped forward.
¡°Oh, sorry,¡± she said gently, her voice light but not unkind.
¡°We don¡¯t mean to distract you,¡± the guy added, a shy smile tugging at his lips.
I straightened slightly in my chair, surprised anyone had even noticed me. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay,¡± I said quickly, awkwardly brushing a loose strand of hair behind
my ear.
¡°I¡¯m Ang,¡± the girl said, cing a hand on her chest. ¡°And this is Jose, and Katrina.¡±
¡°I¡¯m Eine,¡± I replied softly, raising my hand in a small wave. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡±
Ang smiled brighter. ¡°So¡ the professor said we have to work in groups.¡± She looked between her two friends, clearly searching for words. ¡°We were wondering if, you know, you¡¯d want to join us?¡±
¡°Me and Ang are decent at sculpting,¡± Jose added. ¡°Katrina¡¯s great at the details and proportions, but¡¡±
¡°No one in ss paints like you,¡± Ang finished, offering me a sheepish smile. ¡°We¡¯ve seen your pieces in the workshop. They¡¯re beautiful.¡±
I blinked, warmth rushing to my cheeks. They noticed me?
¡°Sure,¡± I said before doubt could creep in. ¡°I¡¯d love to join you guys.¡±
¡°Perfect!¡± Jose exhaled like he¡¯d been holding his breath.
The four of us huddled around one of the workbenches and pulled out our phones to sync up our schedules. We picked a few consistent hours each
evening to meet and work. That first day, I didn¡¯t say much, but I listened. And they let me.
Over the next several days, our sculpture began to take shape¨Cand so did something else.
A bond.
Ang was fiery and creative, Katrina soft¨Cspoken and meticulous, Jose funny and always trying to keep the mood light. And me? I painted in silence but felt myself smile more than I had in months.
Our statue, a symbolic piece called The Journey of Light, wasing together beautifully. We worked inyers, with Ang and Jose shaping the base, Katrina refining the finer lines, and me sketching ideas for the final coloration.
By thest weekend, it was almost finished.
On Sunday evening, the three of us¡ªKatrina, Ang, and I¨Cstayed behind to finish the remaining details. Jose had to work, so it was just us in the quiet studio, focused and determined.
We didn¡¯t realize howte it had gotten until Ang checked her phone.
¡°Guys¡ it¡¯s 9 PM,¡± she said, eyes wide.
¡°Oh crap,¡± Katrina muttered, brushing y off her hands.
¡°We better get going before the campus locks up,¡± I said, wiping my palms on a rag.
We stored our tools and carefully wheeled our sculpture back into the project room. The hallway lights were dimmed as we stepped outside, the cool night air brushing against our skin.
The streetlights cast long shadows across the cobblestone path leading back to the dorms.
We had barely walked ten steps when it hit me.
A change in the air.
A shift. A pawstep.
I stopped. My heart skipped. Though I hadn¡¯t shifted in months, my senses were still sharper than any human¡¯s. My ears caught a sound the others couldn¡¯t¨Csomething too soft for them to notice.
Then-
Help¡
A faint voice. A scream.
I stopped walking.
¡°What is it?¡± Katrina asked, turning around.
¡°I¨CI forgot my phone,¡± I lied quickly. ¡°You guys go ahead. I¡¯ll catch up.¡±
¡°You sure?¡± Ang frowned. ¡°We can wait.¡±
¡°I¡¯m okay! See you tomorrow!¡± I called over my shoulder and turned back, sprinting into the shadows.
I sprinted across the dark campus, phone in hand, heart pounding. I pulled up Audrey¡¯s contact and dialed.
She answered on the first ring. ¡®Yes?¡®
¡°Something¡¯s wrong.¡± I whispered. ¡°I heard a scream. It sounded distant but¡ real. I think rogues might be on campus.¡±
There was silence for half a second. Then her tone sharpened. ¡®Where are you?¡®
¡°I¡¯m heading toward the west wing¨Cnear the training halls-¡±
I stopped dead.
Two rogues.
In the middle of the hall. Shifting erratically between forms, their eyes wild. They wereughing¨Cmocking¨Cas they wed at the students from thebat ss. I recognized one of the students¨Che¡¯d said hello to me just the other day.
Blood pooled on the floor.
No.
¡°I see them,¡± I whispered. ¡°They¡¯re attacking students.¡±
*Eine, don¡¯t engage,¡® Audrey said firmly. ¡®I¡¯ve already sent warriors. Just stay hidden.¡®
But I couldn¡¯t.
My feet moved before my brain could stop them.
¡°HEY!¡± I screamed.
Everything froze. The rogues turned. Their yellow eyes locked on me.
SHIITTTT!!!!!
I turned and ran.
Let them chase me.
The injured students would have time to get away. That was all that mattered.
My breath tore through my lungs as I sprinted through the corridor/weaving between columns and staircases. But they were fast.
Too fast.
CRASH.
¡°AARRGGHHH!!!¡±
One of them tackled me from the side, mming me into the cold marble floor. Pain shot through my ribs, and I cried out.
I struggled, tried to crawl back, but he was over me, grinning, his ws raised.
Shit!
SHITTT!!!!!!
And then-
28- me.
One second, the rogue was grinning above me, ws mid¨Cair¨Cand the next, a massive force collided with his side, sending him flying across the hallway like a ragdoll.
???? ???
The impact cracked against the wall. Stone fractured. Dust flew into the air.
I gasped, my chest burning, and looked up.
There he stood. Alpha Francesto.
Not in his human form¨Cno. This was his Lycan form, towering, muscled, cloaked in moonlight and rage. His silver¨Cgray fur glistened under the hallway lights, his eyes glowing with an ethereal gold that seemed to pierce through flesh and soul.
The hallway trembled beneath his heavy paws. His lips curled into a vicious snarl, sharp fangs gleaming. His breathing was slow, but deep¨Ccontrolled fury simmering in every movement.
The rogue he had thrown groaned, twitching, struggling to stand. The second rogue¨Cstill crouched to my left¨Chesitated, clearly sizing up the Alpha.
They weren¡¯t stupid. Even they could sense the danger.
But they were desperate.
The second rogue lunged at Francesco, ws aimed straight for his throat.
Francesco sidestepped with inhuman speed, grabbing the rogue mid¨Cleap by the throat. He mmed him down¨Conce, twice¨Chard enough to leave blood on the marble floor. A sickening crack echoed as the rogue¡¯s shoulder dislocated under the force.
The rogue howled in agony, but Francesco didn¡¯t give him a chance to recover. He dragged him across the floor like a toy, then hurled him into the wall. with bone¨Cbreaking power.
I tried to crawl backward, my injured arm useless at my side.
My breath was ragged. My head spun. But I couldn¡¯t look away.
I¡¯d never seen a Lycan fight before. Not like this.
Francesco moved with terrifying grace¨Ceach movement a dance of brutality and precision. This wasn¡¯t just battle¨Cit was control, centuries of instinct and rage refined into perfection.
But the first rogue¨Cthe one Francesco had knocked away at the beginning¨Chad recovered.
I watched in horror as he rose behind Francesco, silent as a shadow. Blood leaked from his mouth, but his eyes were focused. Cunning. Determined.
No.
He¡¯s going to-
¡°Francesco!¡± I screamed, but my voice broke. Too weak. Toote.
The rogue was already lunging, his ws stretched wide to sink into the Alpha¡¯s unguarded back.
No!
Panic surged through me.
I didn¡¯t think. I just moved.
Using every ounce of strength I had, I forced my body forward. My legs were heavy, like moving through wet concrete. My lungs screamed. My injured arm dragged behind me.
But I reached him.
I threw myself at the rogue¡¯s side, mming into him with the full force of my body.
16:53 Sat, 12 Jun
He stumbled. Lost bnce.
But not before he turned. Not before he sank his teeth deep into my upper arm.
Pain exploded.
¡°AAARRGGHHHHHHH!!!¡± A hot, white scream tore through me.
I copsed onto the floor as blood gushed down my arm, staining the marble tiles beneath me. The rogue growled triumphantly, but only for a second.
Then Francesco turned.
What followed wasn¡¯t a fight.
It was a massacre.
A roar ripped from Francesco¡¯s throat¨Cso loud it shook the windows in their frames. His ws gleamed as he lunged at the rogue who had bitten me, eyes zing with fury.
The rogue turned to run.
He didn¡¯t make it two steps.
28
Francesco mmed into him, jaws sinking into the rogue¡¯s spine. I heard the bones crack, the scream that never finished. With a violent twist, Francesco tore him apart, throwing chunks of bloodied flesh across the hallway.
The rogue¡¯s body dropped in a lifeless heap, unmoving.
But Francesco wasn¡¯t done.
He turned to the first rogue¨Cthe one who had been crawling away, dragging his dislocated arm.
Francesco was a blur again.
He pinned the rogue beneath his massive paws and drove his ws straight through his chest. The rogue convulsed, coughed blood, then fell still.
It was over.
The only sound in the hallway was my ragged breathing, and Francesco¡¯sbored, furious panting.
A secondter, I heard the thunder of boots and paws¨Cwarriors flooding into the corridor in their human and wolves form, eyes wide at the carnage
before them.
¡°Alpha!¡±
They skidded to a stop.
But Francesco didn¡¯t respond. He was already beside me.
He shifted in front of my eyes¨Chis form copsing back into that of a man.
Kneeling next to me, he pressed his hands to the gash on my arm, trying to stop the bleeding.
¡°Eine,¡± he whispered, his voice hoarse, breaking. ¡°Stay with me.¡±
His hands were trembling. His eyes flickered back and forth across my face, panic behind that usually cold,posed expression.
¡°Hey¡¡± I tried to smile, but it was more of a grimace. ¡°You¡ showed up.¡±
16:53 Sat, 12 Ju
¡°You shouldn¡¯t have fight them alone,¡± he whispered, anger and fear blending in his voice.
¡°I didn¡¯t want them to hurt¡ the others¡¡±
¡°You almost died!!!¡± His voice cracked. He gritted his teeth, hands soaked in my blood.
¡°Eine,¡± he said again. Urgent. Desperate. ¡°Stay with me.¡±
His voice wrapped around me like a tether to the world.
And then-
Darkness.
A blur of silver¨Cgray exploded from the shadows behind
Still His 20
Francesco ¨C Alpha of the Italian Pack point of view:
4+281
¡°Alpha, you called?¡±
The familiar voice of Beta Alfonso pulled me from the haze of emotion clouding my mind. He stood at the doorway of my office, nked by Marlow, our Head Warrior¨Cever alert, always ready.
Today was the trigger.
The moment I could no longer run from the truth.
Lucas roared within me, his fury shaking the walls of my soul. I could barely hold him back.
¡®You let her bleed!¡® he snapped, his growl echoing in my skull. ¡®You let her get hurt! She should never have been in danger! That¡¯s on you!¡®
I winced at the usation, but it wasn¡¯t wrong.
Tonight, she stood alone¨Cbrave, selfless¨Cthrowing herself in harm¡¯s way to protect others.
She didn¡¯t hesitate. Didn¡¯t run.
She bled because of it.
¡®We should¡¯ve protected her. Not the other way around!¡®
I clenched my fists. My knuckles turned white. Lucas¡¯s anger was fueled by fear¨Can old, agonizing fear I knew all too well.
The moment Eine copsed in my arms, her blood staining my hands, it felt like history repeating itself.
Anastasia¡.
My chest tightened. We had failed her too.
And now, Lucas med me. Not for the rogues. Not for the danger. But for denying what I knew all along.
She¡¯s ours.
She¡¯s our second chance.
I¡¯ve known it from the moment I saw her eyes in the moonlight. That quiet strength, the pain she tried to hide.
The bond was there¨Csubtle but impossible to ignore. Still, I fought it. Told myself it was a coincidence. A trick of fate. A dangerous hope.
But I was wrong.
She¡¯s not just any she¨Cwolf.
She¡¯s mine.
¡°Alpha?¡± Alfonso¡¯s voice came again. He and Marlow stood silent, respectful, but concerned. They could sense the shift. The storm building in my chest.
I exhaled slowly, turning from therge oak desk.
My voice came low, roughened by the truth I could no longer bury. ¡°Eine Rollin¡¡±
20:01
They waited.
¡°She¡¯s my second chance.¡±
The silence in the room thickened. No one moved.
Then finally, Alfonso gave a short, solemn nod¨Clike he had expected this all along.
Marlow, however, looked shocked. He blinked. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡±
I looked between them and asked, ¡°You knew, Alfonso?¡±
He gave me a small smile, faintly amused. ¡°Alpha¡ these past months¨Cyou¡¯ve changed.¡±
My brow furrowed.
¡°You¡¯re colder when she¡¯s distant. Restless. And yet¡ softer when she¡¯s near. The Anastasia Roses? You never gifted them to anyone before let alone allowing anyone get closer to the garden.¡±
Marlow¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Wait¨Cthose flowers?¡±
Alfonso smirked and gave him a knowing look.
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the weight of realization settle like iron on my shoulders.
So even my Beta saw it before I dared admit it. Lucas huffed smugly.
¡®Told you. You¡¯re stupid Alpha Lycan!¡®
Lignored him.
¡°I was a coward,¡± I confessed. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to believe it. I didn¡¯t want to risk feeling again.¡±
Alfonso¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one afraid of pain, Alpha. She¡¯s healing from a rejection, too. One that nearly shattered her.¡±
I knew that. I felt that in every nce she tried to hide, every time she forced herself to smile while carrying invisible wounds. Even Mika, her wolf, was
still quiet. Still recovering.
¡°I won¡¯t force it,¡± I said, standing and walking to therge window that overlooked the guest quarters. ¡°She needs time,¡±
Marlow crossed his arms, his voice more practical. ¡°So what now? Will you im her?¡±
I shook my head.
¡°When she¡¯s ready,¡± I said firmly. ¡°I won¡¯t be another man.¡±
The room went still.
¡°She has to choose me¡ not because she¡¯s bound to me. But because she wants to.¡±
Alfonso nodded in agreement. ¡°Then we protect her. Like we protect you.¡±
¡°That¡¯s not a request,¡± I said, turning back to face them, my Alpha tone slipping into ce. ¡°It¡¯s an order. She¡¯s under our protection now.¡°¡±
¡°Yes, Alpha,¡± they responded in unison.
¡°She¡¯s still unconscious?¡± I sighed, thinking that because her wolf isn¡¯t there, the reason why she healed longer than any wolf.
¡°Yes. Audrey is watching her. She leaves only when you arrive¨Cjust as you ordered.¡±
My chest ached. ¡°Good.¡±
¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± Marlow said. ¡°She¡¯s strong.¡±
¡°She shouldn¡¯t have needed to be,¡± 1 muttered. ¡°She was in a neutral zone. That shouldn¡¯t have happened.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve already begun organizing security rotations,¡± Alfonso said. ¡°We¡¯ll fortify the borders without alerting the humans.¡±
I nodded, appreciating his foresight.
¡°We can¡¯t let this happen again,¡± I said, ¡°Not just for her¨Cbut for everyone who¡¯s caught between worlds.¡±
Alfonso gave a slight bow. ¡°We¡¯ll be ready.¡±
¡°You¡¯re going to see her?¡± Marlow asked as they turned to leave.
I nodded.
¡°It¡¯s the only thing that keeps Lucas and 1 sane.¡± I admit before turn to leave
It was nearly 9 PM when I reached the private wing of the healer¡¯s hall.
The corridors were quiet, lit only by the soft flicker of enchantednterns. Audrey nodded at me from the corner where she sat reading a book. She stood silently and left, her trust in me clear.
Inside the room, Einey still¨Cpale, but breathing steadily.
I approached slowly, careful not to wake her, but knowing deep down that even unconscious, she could feel me. My presence. My wolf.
Lucas settled slightly, his fury giving way to guilt and longing.
¡®She¡¯s here¡ she¡¯s safe. Thank the Moon.¡®
I sat beside her bed and leaned forward, elbows resting on my knees. I watched her chest rise and fall, each breath a reassurance that I hadn¡¯t lost her.
Not again.
I put thetest bouquet of Anastasia Roses¨Cblue, rare, and sacred that I brought on the small table beside her. She didn¡¯t know yet that I grew them myself. That no one else had ess to them. That giving her was more than a gift and Alfonso knows that.
Giving it to her is like a promise.
She¡¯ll know soon.¡®
Maybe.
I brushed a lock of her hair away from her forehead, fingers lingering for just a moment. Her skin was warm now. Stable. Healing.
But what about her heart?
What about the pain she still carried from being rejected, from believing she wasn¡¯t enough?
She was. She always had been.
¡°You don¡¯t have to be strong all the time,¡± whispered. ¡°Not with me.¡±
I didn¡¯t expect a response. But still, something changed.
27
??? ? ?????
Her brow furrowed lightly. Her lips parted.
A flicker of connection pulsed through me, faint but unmistakable.
Lucas surged forward, his spirit wrapping around her like a shield.
We¡¯ll wait as long as she needs.
I sat back, exhaling quietly.
For the first time in years, I wasn¡¯t haunted by the past. I was grounded in the present. And I was beginning to hope for a future.
With her.
Eine Aurora Rollin. My second chance.
Still His 21
Chapter 21
¡°I reject you, Eine Aurora Rollin, as my fated mate.¡±
No¡
The word slipped out of me in a whisper, but inside, I was screaming.
¡°Ruben?¡± I croaked, my voice trembling.
He turned his back to me¨Clike I was nothing. Like I was never something to him.
I stood there in the middle of the crowd, their faces blurring, their whispers piercing like ss shards. I couldn¡¯t breathe.
I watched Rubenughing with Kaithlin as they walked away together. Their hands were intertwined, their steps so light¨Clike they had been freed. Like shedding me had set them free.
¡°No¡¡± My voice cracked. ¡°Please¡ don¡¯t go.¡±
The more I reached for him, the faster they walked. The harder I ran, the further they drifted, until their figures vanished into the swirling mist.
¡°Why¡?¡± My knees hit the cold ground, and I wept. ¡°No¡ don¡¯t go¡ please¡¡±
My voice shattered. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me¡¡±
And just like that, I was alone.
Alone in the darkness.
The world around me was an endless void. The echo of my sobs was the only sound that remained, and even that faded into silence. I curled in on myself, trembling, the pain a dull roar in my chest.
I stayed like that¨Clost in the dark.
Until¡
¡°Eine¡¡±
A voice. Low. Comforting.
¡°Eine, I¡¯m here¡¡±
My body stilled. The voice was familiar, so achingly familiar.
¡°Who¡?¡± I whispered, eyes straining to find light.
¡°I won¡¯t leave¡ I¡¯m here¡¡±
That voice¡ I knew it. I felt it. It wrapped around me like a cloak, warm and safe. A voice full of strength and something else¨Cvulnerability.
¡®Promise?¡® I thought, too scared to say it out loud.
¡°Yes,¡± the voice said softly. ¡°I promise. I won¡¯t go anywhere.. I am here..¡±
And for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn¡¯t feel alone. I wasn¡¯t flying, but I was floating¨Ccarried by something stronger than despair.
His voice kept me tethered, and his presence¨Cthough unseen¨Cwas unwavering. Day after day, that voice kept the nightmares away.
??? ???u?
And then-
Beep¡ beep¡ beep¡
A rhythmic sound echoed in my ears, sharp and clear.
My eyelids fluttered open, heavy and sluggish, and the light stung. I blinked a few times, trying to understand where I was.
A blurry shape came into focus¨Cbrown eyes filled with tears staring down at me.
¡°Eine!¡± Audrey¡¯s voice broke as she leaned closer, touching my hand. ¡°You¡¯re awake¡¡±
She quickly stepped back, calling someone over. My heart thudded weakly in my chest.
¡°What¡?¡± I rasped, my throat dry. My gaze swept the room in confusion.
Who¡¯s voice is that?
And why did I feel like something horrible had happened?
I saw Beta Alfonso, Patricia, Monica, Audrey¡ and the guy. The one I remembered seeing before the chaos. The one the rogues had been after.
He stood at the foot of my bed, his face a mix of guilt and relief. Behind them, Healer Kurt scribbled notes on a clipboard.
Then the memories hit me like a flood.
The rogue attack.
The sculpture courtyard.
The screams.
He needed help.
The pain¡
¡°Rogues¡¡± I whispered in horror.
Audrey rushed to my side, her hand on mine instantly. ¡°Everything¡¯s okay,¡± she said gently. ¡°No one¡¯s hurt badly. Just you.¡±
I let out a shaky breath, the tension leaving my chest all at once. My body still ached, but at least no one else-
¡°I¡¯m Joshua,¡± the man said softly, stepping closer. ¡°Eine Rollin¡ thank you. I¨CI¡¯m sorry.¡±
I blinked at him.
¡°I should¡¯ve called the pack,¡± he continued, shame thick in his voice. ¡°I thought I could handle it alone. I was wrong. And because of that, you got hurt.¡±
I shook my head slowly, the motion making me dizzy. ¡°You¡¯re okay¡ that¡¯s what matters,¡± I murmured.
¡°Too kind,¡± Beta Alfonso muttered, shaking his head with a long sigh. ¡°Lucky she¡¯s okay, or your life would be in danger from your own Alpha.¡±
He smacked Joshua lightly on the back of the head, and the young man nodded solemnly.
I frowned, the words muddling in my tired brain. ¡°Why would the Alpha want to¡?¡± Ugh..
But I couldn¡¯t finish. My energy dipped. I leaned back into the pillow, trying to piece it all together.
16:54 Sat, 12301 T
20? ???
Why would the Alpha care so much?
Why did Beta Alfonso say it like that¨Cas if my safety meant something personal to Alpha Francesco?
Then I remembered something else.
¡°is the Alpha okay?¡± I asked, eyes wide. ¡°The rogues¡ they didn¡¯t hurt him, did they?¡±
For a moment, the room went quiet.
Thenughter.
Soft and knowing, like I had said something naive and sweet.
¡°What?¡± I asked, slightly embarrassed.
ÁϽð:70%Á¿
Audrey smiled and shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about anyone else, El. You¡¯re the one who was injured worst. He¡¡± She trailed off, exchanging a nce with Patricia and Monica.
Healer Kurt spoke next. ¡°Your wolf could¡¯ve elerated the healing process,¡± he said gently. ¡°But since she¡¯s not responding, you¡¯ll recover a bit slower.¡±
I sighed, eyes falling shut again. Mika¡ Where are you?
I shifted, turning my head to the side¨Cand froze.
There on the table beside my bed was arge, elegant bucket filled with pale blue roses. My breath hitched.
Blue roses.
Rare. Wildly expensive. Almost impossible to find unless¡
¡°Is that-?¡±
¡°From Alpha Francesco¡± Beta Alfonso said and make me turn my gaze to him ¡°The way he say his gratitude for saving him¡±
I know the beta sound formal but I knew what they meant.
They were called Anastasia Roses¨Cthey only grown in the Lycan Alpha¡¯s private gardens. A gift more meaningful than gold, more intimate than any spoken words.
My heart skipped.
SO is that mean he¡¯d been here.
He was here.
I remembered the dream. That voice in the dark. That promise.
Was that him?
Had he been the one who kept me grounded when I was falling apart?
A tear slipped from my eye, unbidden.
He hadn¡¯t spoken much before. Barely a few words exchanged, a nce here and there. But something about him had always pulled at me. His presence calmed my wolf. And now, knowing he hade¡
I turned my gaze back to the blue roses, heart beating a little faster.
10:34 Sat, 12 Jul
What did it mean? What did I mean to him?
The silence stretched around me, but this time, it wasn¡¯t lonely.
For the first time since Ruben¡¯s rejection, I didn¡¯t feel like I was drifting in the dark. I was still hurt, still healing¡ but not alone,
Never truly alone.
And maybe just maybe¨Cthis time, someone meant it when they promised they wouldn¡¯t leave.
Still His 22
Chapter 22
I was discharged three dayster.
70%
Physically, I felt better¨Cstronger¨Cbut something had shifted inside me. I was still trying to process everything: the attack, the voice in my dreams, and those impossibly rare blue roses that waited by my bedside like a silent vow.
Everyone was careful with me, walking on ss, it seemed. Audrey barely left my side. Patricia visited every day, sometimes bringing food, sometimes books, sometimes just sitting beside me infortable silence. Monica would drop in with those quiet little jokes of hers, trying to make meugh.
But I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about him.
Francesco. The Alpha.
The man who had sat by my side each night as I hovered between pain and unconsciousness.
The voice in the dark.
I hadn¡¯t seen him since waking up, but I felt him. In the nces exchanged between the pack members. In the tension when his name came up. In the way Beta Alfonso would stop mid¨Csentence sometimes, like biting back something important.
And then there were the roses.
4281
Still fresh, even after days. Still beautiful. Still impossibly blue.
I touched their petals every night before bed, wondering what he was thinking when he left them. Wondering if he¡¯d say anything the next time we met.
If he woulde.
If he¡¯d keep his promise.
The first night back in the dorms was strange.
The sculpture courtyard¨Cnow fully closed off and guarded¨Cremained quiet. Rumors were swirling around campus. Someone had vandalized the grounds, they said. The university wanted to keep the details vague. After all, most students were humans.
The official story was that a group of students had snuck into the courtyardte at night, and some sort of ident had happened. No names were
released.
They didn¡¯t mention me.
But word traveled fast in the supernatural world. Every werewolf on campus knew I¡¯d been involved. The Sculpture Guild members¨CJose¡¯s team¨Ccame
to see me the next morning.
¡°We¡ we got the top score,¡± Ang said awkwardly, wringing her hands. ¡°But we didn¡¯t know¨Cwhen they announced it¨Cwe didn¡¯t know you were¡ that you¡¯d been hurt. Professor Eliana told uster that you¡¯re hurt because of the vandalism but they didn¡¯t want anyone to now about it¨C¡±
Katrina stepped forward. ¡°We¡¯re sorry, Eine. Truly. If only we¡¯re going with you that night¡±
I gave them a small smile. ¡°I¡¯m d you did well. That¡¯s what matters.¡±
But the room went quiet. Even I could hear it in my voice¨Csoft, sincere, but distant, they know that I am still hurting and didn¡¯t stay long.
I looked at the three of them, seeing how genuinely shaken they were. They weren¡¯t like the others- they were human, and they didn¡¯t know the weight
of what it meant to be a werewolf, to face rogue threats or protect secrets most of their kind would never believe. But still, they cared.
Jose gave me a gentle pat on the arm before they turned to go.
16:54 Sat, 12 Jul TG OF
Later that night, I stepped out onto my balcony.
70%7
The moon hung low, fat and golden behind streaks of cloud. The night air was cool against my skin, a quiet balm for the invisible bruises I still carried.
I could feel the energy shifting in the air. My wolf, Mika, still hadn¡¯t spoken, but I could feel her presence now¨Ccloser than before. Watching. Waiting.
I wrapped my sweater tighter around my frame and leaned against the railing, staring out at the garden below.
And then¨CA sound¡.
Not footsteps. Not the rustle of wind.
Something¡ more.
A presence.
My breath hitched.
I turned slowly to see he was there.
Standing at the edge of the shadows near the courtyard path. Tall. Still. A silhouette outlined by moonlight and something deeper¨Csomething ancient and maic.
Francesco¡
25
He didn¡¯t speak. Didn¡¯t move closer.
He was watching me, just as I¡¯d felt him do for nights now.
And for reasons I didn¡¯t understand, tears stung my eyes.
I wasn¡¯t afraid.
I wasn¡¯t even nervous.
I was just¡ full. Full of questions. Emotions. Gratitude. Hope. Pain.
I stepped forward, slowly descending the stone steps, my slippers soft against the earth. The cool breeze tugged at my hair, but I didn¡¯t stop until I was standing a few feet from him.
¡°You know I always remember,¡± I whispered.
His eyes¨Cdark, stormy, beautiful¨Clocked on mine.
¡°remember your voice,¡± I said. ¡°In the dream. In the dark.¡±
Still, he said nothing. So, I kept going.
¡°You were there, weren¡¯t you? Every night. Not just at the infirmary, but¡ before that. In my dreams. When I was lost.¡±
His gaze softened. ¡°Yes,¡± he said quietly.
My heart clenched.
So, it was true¡ It¡¯s him.
¡°Why?¡± I asked, the word trembling on my lips. ¡°Why did you stay, Alpha?¡±
His expression shifted, something unreadable passing over his face.
16:54 Sat, 12 Jul T GO.
¡°Francesco.. Just Francesco.¡± he said, voice low. ¡°Maybe because I saw your pain¡ and it reflected my own.¡±
! blinked, startled.
70%
+28
He stepped closer, slow and deliberate, until I could see the tired lines around his eyes, the tension in his jaw, the weight of a thousand unspoken truths.
¡°You know I lost someone,¡± he said. ¡°My Anastasia. Long time ago.¡±
My chest tightened.
¡°But when I saw you¨Cwhen I felt you hurting¡¡± He paused. ¡°Something inside me stirred. Something that hadn¡¯t moved in years.¡±
He raised a hand, slowly, as if afraid I¡¯d flinch.
But, I didn¡¯t.
He brushed a strand of hair from my face, fingertips barely grazing my skin. ¡°You weren¡¯t supposed to mean anything to me,¡± he whispered. ¡°But somehow, you do.¡±
I looked up at him, the moonlight catching the silver flecks in his eyes.
¡°I don¡¯t know what this is either,¡± I admitted. ¡°But when I heard your voice, I didn¡¯t feel alone anymore.¡±
His hand dropped, and we stood there in silence, staring at each other.
Not awkward. Not heavy.
Just¡still.
Connected by something unspoken.
Something growing.
Something that terrified andforted me all at once.
Because I don¡¯t know what I feel right now
Still His 23
A week has passed since that night and I haven¡¯t seen Alpha Francesco again since that night.
I guess we just two people in pain who share same lone feeling, I can¡¯t disturb him just because I feel lonely. I am used to this loneliness.
I sat on the balcony of the small apartment I now shared with Audrey, legs pulled up to my chest, a nket loosely draped over my shoulders. The soft hum of the city had quieted down, reced by the asional rustle of wind and the distant hoot of an owl.
The moon, still days from reaching its full form, hung bright and ghostly in the sky, casting silver shadows on the buildings around us.
It had been several nights like this.
No sleep. Just me, the moonlight, and the growing ache in my chest.
Another birthday is near. The full moon. Two events that used to feel like milestones¨Clike something magical. Now, they were only reminders of the night everything changed. The night I got my wolf. The night I was rejected.
I clenched my nket tighter, the cold wind brushing against my bare feet.
I¡¯d tried everything to sleep. Tea, warm baths, books, even lying in bed with my headphones in. But nothing worked. My mind was too loud, filled with memories I didn¡¯t want, and pain I couldn¡¯t silence. Sol came out here instead, every night, to let the moon bear witness to my sleepless sorrow.
What I didn¡¯t know¨Cwhat I never noticed¨Cwas that I wasn¡¯t alone.
Across the rooftop from another shadowed forest, a pair of silver¨Cblue eyes watched me. Since that night, he alwayse.
Night after night.
He never interrupted. Never moved. Just sat there, his aura cloaked so carefully not even my wolf¨Csilent as she was¨Ccould sense him. He knew pain. He recognized it in the way my shoulders trembled when I thought no one could see, in the way I hugged my knees like I was holding myself together.
He knew because he¡¯d felt it too. But I didn¡¯t know that yet.
I hadn¡¯t slept in almost a week.
Not properly, anyway.
Each time I closed my eyes, I felt it¨Cher. The wolf inside me, Mik¨¢, still silent. Still unreachable.
And it was almost time.
Tomorrow was my birthday. The full moon would rise, casting its silver light across Florence, reminding every werewolf of who they were¨Cwhat they
were.
But not me.
Not since that day.
My birthday never mean excitement, even I spend it alonest year so this year will be the same.
Once I can¡¯t wait form my birthday toe, because it was the day I had dreamed of receiving my wolf for years, imagining her strong and graceful, our bond instant and powerful. Instead, I got rejection.
I got Ruben.
My hands trembled as I sat up slowly, pushing the nket off my legs and slipping on the light sweater I kept near the bed. The soft hum of the city at night floated faintly through the open balcony doors.
16:54 Sat, 1200
70%
478
The night air was cool against my bare legs as I stepped onto the balcony. The sky was clear, the stars bright, and the moon¡ªnearly full¨Chung above me like an all¨Cseeing eye.
I gripped the iron railing and let out a shaky breath.
It always started with a chill. A cold that had nothing to do with the breeze, but the echo of something deeper. Memory.
Pain. Loss.
¡°You don¡¯t belong here.¡±
¡°I reject you, Eine Aurora Rollin¡¡±
My fingers tightened on the railing, knuckles turning white.
I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the words to disappear. But they never did. Not truly.
Night after night, I stood here like this, watching the moon rise higher and feeling the weight of my broken bond like a bruise on my soul. And somewhere deep inside, I could almost feel her. Mika. Like the faint whisper of a dream. A presence lost in fog..
And still, she didn¡¯t speak.
Still, she remained quiet.
I didn¡¯t know I was crying until I tasted salt on my lips, mourning her.
There was no sound. No sobbing. Just quiet tears that slid down my cheeks and vanished into the wind.
Unseen. Or so I thought.
What I didn¡¯t know was that I was never truly alone.
Across from my building, in the shadows, someone watched. Always silent. Always still. A sentinel who never left when the moon rose and my light flickered on. He came each night like a phantom, slipping through the darkness unseen by others.
Francesco¡
Alpha of the Florence Pack.
The need to make sure her safety is his priority. Truth is he dislike the distance that he could just watch her, but he knew she need time, that he can¡¯t
make a sudden move. Not yet.
He needs to be patient until she¡¯s ready. That was what he told himself.
Something in her already called to something long¨Cburied in him just like what he realizes it now. Yet, she didn¡¯t understand the true meaning of it, her sadness put a barrier to the truth.
The first time he saw her cry beneath the moonlight, his breath had caught in his throat. The way she sat in silence, her shoulders shaking from emotions she wouldn¡¯t let anyone see. She tried so hard to stayposed in the day¨Csilent and strong¨Cbut at night, she unravelled. Then the way she bravery help him, not only him but putting herself in danger to safe everyone. He was in awe.
In her way she¡¯s stronger than she thought.
And every night, he stood in the shadows, watching. Because he couldn¡¯t look away.
GRAVAJIO
201
At first, he¡¯s watching because seeing her pain made his own quieter. Because her presence stirred something he had thought died with Anastasia only to realize that she is his second chance.
His chosen mate..
Tonight he just finds out that it¡¯s a night before her birthday¨Cbut it felt different. Deeper. Sadder.
Why?
He could feel it in the air, in the tremble of her fingers as she wiped her face, in the way her tears didn¡¯t stop. Her whole body shook as she leaned against the balcony wall, and her lips moved¨Cbut no sound came out.
He knows something must be happened on her birthday that make her in that grieve.
He took a step forward from the shadows. And then stopped.
Not yet. She wasn¡¯t ready.
But oh, how he wanted to cross that distance. To do something¨Canything¨Cto stop that pain from stealing her light.
Back to Eine point of view:
Inside, I sank to the floor of the balcony, curling into myself like I was trying to fold the pain away. My knees pressed to my chest, and the sob I¡¯d been holding in finally broke free.
¡°I just¡ I want her back,¡± I whispered. ¡°I want¡ me back.¡± How can I move on knowing my wolf still hurting?
The wind carried my words into the night, but something else answered.
A flicker. A warmth in my chest.
¡®Eine¡¡®
I gasped, sitting up straight. My eyes wide, heart thundering.
¡°Mika?¡±
There was no voice, not truly. But the feeling was unmistakable.
It was her!!
She was still weak¨Cfar away¨Cbut for the first time in months, I could feel her reach for me.
¡®I¡¯m here¡ I¡¯m sorry¡ I¡¯ve missed you¡¡®
I choked on a sob, my arms wrapping around myself. ¡°I thought I lost you.¡±
¡®You didn¡¯t. I was¡ healing. We both were. But I¡¯m still yours!
The bond shimmered like silver thread in my soul, faint but pulsing.
¡°I¡¯ve been so alone,¡± I whispered, tears falling freely now. ¡°I didn¡¯t know how to go on.¡±
¡®But you did.¡® Her presence was warm, steady. ¡®You¡¯re stronger than you think?
The warmth grew, not just from Mika, but something else. The awareness of another heartbeat. A second presence just beyond the edge of my senses.
16:54 Sat, 12 Jul T GO
Something¡ someone familiar.
And then I felt it.
Arms¡ Strong, warm arms around me.
I froze¨Cbut only for a second¨Cbecause everything in me knew.
I didn¡¯t need to turn my head to know who it was.
The scent of forest pine and rain.
The steady, grounding heartbeat. The feeling of safety.
Francesco¡
70%
He didn¡¯t speak. He just held me. Let me cry.
His arms were a fortress around me, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself fall. I buried my face against his chest and sobbed¨Cfreely, openly.
He didn¡¯t flinch. Didn¡¯t pull away. He simply stayed.
And in that stillness, I understood something without words.
He had been watching. He had seen me fall apart night after night.
But this time, he came. This time, he caught me.
When the worst of the storm had passed, I blinked through wetshes and looked up.
The moon framed his face in pale light. His eyes, golden and unreadable, met mine with a softness I had never seen before.
¡°Why¡?¡± I whispered.
His thumb gently wiped a tear from my cheek. ¡°Because no one should cry alone on their birthday.¡±
My breath caught.
¡°You knew?¡±
He didn¡¯t answer that directly. Just tilted his head slightly, his voice low.
¡°You¡¯re not alone, Eine. Not anymore.¡±
Still His 24
Chapter 24
Audrey sat in silence, her back pressed against her bedroom door.
The faint hum of the city outside did little to drown out the ache she felt through the walls.
Through thin ster and shared space, she had heard it all¨Cevery quiet sob, every shaky breath, every time Eine¡¯s voice broke in the night as she whispered into the moonlight.
For nights, Audrey had listened.
She didn¡¯t know what to do. Didn¡¯t know if knocking on El¡¯s door would help or only make it worse. Every time she reached for the handle, something stopped her. Not fear, but reverence¨Clike watching someone perform a sacred ritual of grief.
She could only sit quietly in her room, hand over her chest, and listen.
Audrey hadn¡¯t known much about Eine when she was assigned to protect her. She had trusted Beta Alfonso¡¯s orders without question, but even then, she never thought she¡¯d grow to care so much for the quiet girl who moved through their world like a fading shadow.
Now, Audrey was certain¨CEine wasn¡¯t just anyone. She was someone deeply important.
The kind of important that made grown Alphas silently rewrite the rules.
The kind that carried scars no one could see but still felt in every step she took.
Tonight, something was different.
She waited for the sound of tears. For the soft creak of the balcony door or the rustle of a nket. But there was only stillness.
Too much stillness.
Audrey stood up, heart pounding, and padded across the small living space. The door to Eine¡¯s room was slightly ajar. Light from the moon spilled across the floor.
And there¨Cin the balcony¨Cwas her Alpha.
Audrey froze.
Alpha Francesco stood with his back to her, silent as ever, his powerful frame barely making a sound. But what stole her breath wasn¡¯t just his presence-
it was what he held.
In his arms, wrapped in a nket, was Eine.
Sleeping. Peacefully. Head resting against his chest while he sat on the sofa there.
The Alpha held her like something precious. Like ss. One arm beneath her knees, the other curled protectively around her shoulders, his head slightly bowed as if the very weight of her needed his full attention. His entire body was rxed¨Cbut alert. Tenderness rippled off of him in waves, so unexpected it made Audrey¡¯s eyes burn.
She dropped to one knee without hesitation.
Her chest rose and fell with emotion she couldn¡¯t name. Francesco didn¡¯t speak. He simply acknowledged her with a brief nod before turn his gaze back to the sleeping form of Eine, where he gently, caressing her like she is his world.
The girl stirred once in her sleep, fingers twitching toward his hand. Without a word, the Alpha tucked the nket around her, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face but still didn¡¯t move from his ce with her.
He lingered a moment longer, gazing at her like she was the most sacred thing he¡¯d ever seen.
20
Know that she¡¯s disturb the peace she stood, slowly walk outside the room¨Cbut her eyes, can¡¯t stop watching the amazing scene that she never thought going to seeing from her Alpha.
Audrey has to drag her feet to move.
She watched in silence as she finally turned, casting one final nce at Eine and her Alpha, before stepping out without a word.
Outside, Audrey slowly raised her head.
And smiled.
She didn¡¯t need words. Didn¡¯t need an exnation. That single moment was enough.
Enough to know that her Alpha¨Csilent, stoic, feared by all¨Chad found something he hadn¡¯t allowed himself to feel in years.
Peace.
And maybe something more.
Eine Aurora Rollin, she thought. You are not no one.
You are everything. His mate.
Audrey stood, wiping at her cheek, surprised to find tears there. She walked out of the room, closing the door gently behind her, letting Eine rest in the warmth she hadn¡¯t had in so long.
In the living room, she took a deep breath.
Then she opened her mind¨Clink.
Audrey to Beta Alfonso.
There was a pause, then a sleepy voice echoed back. ¡°Yes?¡±
¡°You were right.¡± Her voice cracked. ¡°She¡¯s not just important. She¡¯s¡ she¡¯s his peace.¡±
She didn¡¯t know that beta Alfonso already aware of the news she send but he say nothing.
She sent an image through the link¨Cwhat she saw in that room. The Alpha cradling the girl like a whispered prayer. The gentleness. The silence filled with meaning.
There was no response for several seconds.
Then, just simple words from Beta Alfonso.
¡°Yes, she is¡±
And in those words, there was relief. Joy. Gratitude.
For their Alpha.
For the girl he had found.
For the future neither of them knew they were already building.
Still His 25
Chapter 25
The next morning, I woke to the soft rustle of fabric and the smell of warmvender and something else¨Cearthy and fresh, like the forest after rain. For a moment, I thought I was still dreaming, caught in the remnants of a memory I wasn¡¯t ready to let go of.
But then I felt it.
The warmth¡ His arms were still around me.
Francesco. He hadn¡¯t left.
So, it wasn¡¯t dream¡
We had fallen asleep there, on the balcony, with the moon as our only witness. I was curled against his chest, wrapped in his embrace like it was the only thing tethering me to the world. And maybe, in a way, it was.
My eyes fluttered open, blinking against the soft morning light spilling over the city. The sun hadn¡¯t fully risen yet¡ªjust enough to cast a golden glow over the terracotta rooftops of Florence.
Carefully, I lifted my head. My movements must¡¯ve stirred him, because his arms tightened briefly around me before rxing.
¡°Good morning,¡± he murmured, his voice low and rough with sleep.
I looked up at him, at the golden flecks still present in his eyes even in the dim light. He was watching me closely, like I might disappear if he blinked.
¡°You stayed,¡± I said softly.
He nodded once. ¡°Of course.¡±
We sat in silence for a moment, the city slowly waking around us. Somewhere below, a car honked. Birds began to chirp, as if announcing the arrival of
something more than a new day.
It was my birthday.
I hadn¡¯t forgotten.
But this time, it didn¡¯t feel as heavy. Not with him here. Not with Mika¡¯s faint presence still lingering in the back of my mind, like a flicker of hope.
¡°I felt herst night,¡± I said, more to myself than him. ¡°Mika.¡±
His gaze didn¡¯t waver. ¡°I know. I could feel the shift in your aura. You¡¯re not as alone as you think.¡±
A soft smile tugged at the corners of my lips. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was something.
This is something¡ New¡
Something that I never thought could happen to me.
He looked at me like he wanted to say more, but instead he gently reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
¡°Come,¡± he said after a moment, rising to his feet with a grace that reminded me just how inhumanly powerful he was. He held out his hand to me. ¡°I have something to show you.¡±
I hesitated. ¡°What about Audrey? She might-)
¡°She¡¯s safe. And she knows you¡¯re with me
My heart skipped at the certainty in his voice.
Itook his hand.
His fingers closed around mine, strong and sure.
We drove through the winding streets of Florence, the world slowlying alive as locals opened their shops and the scent of fresh bread and coffee floated through the air. I didn¡¯t ask where we were going. I didn¡¯t need to. I trusted him.
Eventually, we left the city behind, driving toward the hills that cradled Florence in their gentle embrace. The car climbed higher, the scenery changing from urban charm to sprawling vineyards and cypress trees.
Finally, he pulled into a hidden driveway nked by old stone columns, ivy winding up their sides like nature¡¯s paintbrush.
¡°Where are we?¡± I asked, stepping out.
He didn¡¯t answer right away. Just motioned for me to follow.
The path led to an old vi¨Cancient yet alive with quiet beauty. Terracotta tiles, wrought iron balconies, and gardens blooming with flowers that shouldn¡¯t have survived thete April cold.
We walked to the edge of the hill, where a low wall overlooked the valley below.
Wow¡ The view was breathtaking.
¡°This was Anastasia¡¯s favorite ce,¡± Francesco said finally. ¡°She used toe here when the world felt too heavy. It¡¯s been closed off for a long time, but¡ I think it¡¯s time to open it again.¡±
My chest ached at the honesty in his voice. ¡°Why bring me here?¡± I give him a small smile.
He looked at me then, and something shifted in the air.
¡°Because you remind me of her, and yet¡ you¡¯re not her. You¡¯re something else entirely. Something I never expected.¡±
The wind danced around us, lifting strands of my hair.
He stepped closer. ¡°You saved me, Eine. That day in the forest, and every night since when you sat under the moon, you reminded me that grief doesn¡¯t mean the end.¡±
I swallowed hard; my throat tight.
I never thought could hear beautiful wordsing from a man about myself.
It feels like I matter¡
¡°You saved me too,¡± I whispered.
He smiled then¨Cnot the polite, reserved smile I¡¯d seen before, but something soft and real.
¡°Happy birthday, Eine.¡±
I blinked then smile wider.
¡°Wait here,¡± he said.
He disappeared inside the vi, and I stood there, the wind tugging at my sweater, heart racing.
A few momentster, he returned carrying something delicate.
A bouquet of roses.
16:54 Sat, 12 001 T G D
¡°TGO
50970
(+28
But not just any roses. They were blue. The rare, Ethereal, it is Anastasia Roses.
I stared, breath caught.
¡°This is the original ce where it blooms beautifully,¡± he said, handing them to me. ¡°They haven¡¯t bloomed in years¡ªnot since she passed. But they started blooming again¡ after you came.¡±
Tears welled in my eyes.
¡°Really?¡± I whispered.
He reached out, brushing a thumb across my cheek.
¡°It¡¯s as if even Anastasia knew¡ you¡¯re my second chance, Eine.¡±
Time stopped.
I couldn¡¯t breathe.
My chest tightened with the weight of a thousand memories¨Cof rejection, of pain, of Ruben¡¯s voice telling me I wasn¡¯t enough. I wanted to believe him¡ª Francesco¨Cbut something inside me trembled, afraid to open that door again.
Then, I felt her.
Mika.
¨C ????????, ???
Her presence surged through me, radiant and whole.
¡®You¡¯re not broken, El. You were always meant to rise.¡®
Tears welled in my eyes as a warmth bloomed in my chest, softer than fire, stronger than steel.
¡°I¡¡± I hesitated, voice barely a whisper. ¡°I¡¯m scared.¡±
Francesco stepped closer, brushing a thumb gently across my cheek. ¡°So am I,¡± he said. ¡°But I¡¯d rather face the unknown with you than live another day without this¡ without us.¡±
My breath hitched.
A shimmer of silver light danced across my vision.
And then¨Cmy soul recognized his.
The bond clicked into ce.
Not with Ruben but with Francesco.
My knees buckled, but he caught me, arms sure and steady.
¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he murmured into my hair. ¡°I¡¯ve got you.¡±
I clung to him, overwhelmed by everything¨Cgrief, joy, hope, and something deeper, wilder.
Love?
Maybe not yet. But the seed had taken root.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, I believed it might bloom.
10:34 Sat, 12 Qui
I tilted my head, eyes catching the valley below. The golden sunlight kissed the hills, painting them in soft hues of rose and gold.
¡°I want to paint this,¡± I whispered.
He looked down at me, a gentle smile curving his lips. ¡°we can alwayse back. As often as you like!¡±
Still His 26
Chapter 26
When the day was almost over and the celebration came to a gentle end, the golden light of the setting sun slowly gave way to twilight, and I found myself standing quietly in the middle of the courtyard, watching as thest few guests made their way out of the vi.
Audrey gave me a tight hug before leaving, her warmth lingering even after she disappeared down the steps. Patricia and Louis waved from a distance, their smiles soft and proud. Monica mouthed a silent ¡°happy birthday again¡± before vanishing into the night with the others.
And just like that, theughter faded into silence.
Everyone had gone back to their homes. The birthday lights flickered above the courtyard, some of the petals from the roses scattered across the ground like pieces of a dream I wasn¡¯t ready to wake up from.
Deep down, I hated this part.
For the first time in my life, I didn¡¯t want my birthday to end.
Twenty¨Cone years old. It felt strange to say it, even in my mind.
I got Mika¨Cmy wolf¨Cwhen I was sixteen. It was supposed to be the best day of my life. I remembered the way she burst into my mind like a wildfire, proud and radiant. I remembered her joy, how she howled under the moonlight, full of hope and love.
And then Ruben rejected me.
Just like that, Mika¡¯s light dimmed. She grew weak. She fell quiet.
For three long years, I waited¨Cwaited for Ruben to realize his mistake, to look at me and see his mate. But he never did. I wasn¡¯t enough. Not for him.
Neen.
I had barely finished high school when Ruben and Kaithlin celebrated their union. I stood there like a ghost, watching the man who was supposed to love me tie his soul to another. That night, something in me shatteredpletely.
Iran.
To Italy. To Florence. To the unknown.
Broken, more than I¡¯d ever been.
And yet¡ look at me now.
Two yearster, I sat surrounded by blooming blue roses¨CAnastasia¡¯s roses¨Cbrought to life once more, not by a miracle, but because I had dared to exist, dared to feel, dared to live again.
I never thought someone could look at me and actually see me.
Not the rejected mate.
Not the girl who lost her wolf.
Not the broken, quiet student who barely fit in.
Because Francesco saw me.
Even knowing I was lost, even seeing the parts of me that still trembled in the dark, he saw something worth standing beside.
I sat alone in the middle of the rose garden, still within the vi grounds. Francesco and Beta Alfonso were a few meters away, deep in discussion. Their voices were low, serious. Pack business, no doubt. I had offered to step away, and though they told me I could stay, I knew better. These were matters for
28
alphas and their betas, not for someone like me.
And yet, they were here. Both of them.
They had made time for this¨Cfor me. It meant more than I could ever put into words.
I let my fingers brush over one of the petals, its soft texture like silk against my skin.
¡°Anastasia,¡± I thought silently. ¡°Your mate is incredible. Thank you¡ thank you for letting him find me.¡±
The rustle of footsteps made me lift my head.
Francesco appeared beside me without a word and sat down, folding his tall frame effortlessly onto the stone bench. Then, without hesitation, he slid his arm around my shoulders and pulled me gently against him.
¡°Why so serious?¡± he asked, his voice low, a little amused.
The warmth of his body seeped into mine, chasing away thest shivers of the evening chill. I couldn¡¯t stop the smile that tugged at my lips.
No one had ever done this before¨Cwrapped me up like I mattered.
Like I was worth staying for.
¡°Just¡ remembering,¡± I whispered, eyes still trained on the garden. ¡°I don¡¯t want today to end.¡±
The sky was darkening now. Stars began to blink into view, one by one. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, and somewhere in the distance, a lone howl rang out.
Peace. That¡¯s what this was.
Real, rare peace.
¡°This is just the beginning, El,¡± he said softly.
I turned to look at him, and he met my gaze with something warm and steady. He raised a hand to my cheek, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear before letting his touch linger.
My eyes fluttered closed.
For once, I didn¡¯t hold myself back. I leaned into his palm, breathing in the scent of pine andvender and something purely him.
¡°Thank you, Francesco,¡± I murmured as I opened my eyes again. Our gazes locked.
And in the next breath, he leaned in¨Cor maybe I did.
I don¡¯t remember who moved first. I only knew the world tilted slightly as his lips found mine.
It was soft. Warm. Like the brush of sunlight after a long storm. My breath caught in my throat.
My first kiss.
A small sound escaped me¡ªa gasp, maybe. I had imagined this moment in my quietest dreams, but nothingpared to the way it felt. His hand slipped to the back of my neck, anchoring me, steadying me.
I kissed him back.
Not because I felt I should. Because I wanted to.
And maybe, just maybe, I was finally beginning to understand what it meant to choose someone.
wall 12 JUL
When we pulled apart, his forehead rested lightly against mine.
Neither of us spoke. The silence was full of answers.
Somewhere far in the distance, another howl echoed¨Cthis one lower, deeper, like a song of belonging.
My heart thudded wildly, full of things I wasn¡¯t ready to name yet.
But I knew this.
I had found something here. Something real.
Not just with him.
With all of them. Audrey. Patricia. Louis. Even Alfonso with his mysterious eyes and quiet kindness.
Family.
I¡¯d thought I lost that.
Francesco leaned back slightly, his eyes roaming my face.
¡°You¡¯re glowing,¡± he murmured, brushing a thumb across my cheek. ¡°Like the moon finally remembered it was made of light.¡±
Iughed a soft, startled sound. ¡°That¡¯s so cheesy.¡±
¡°It¡¯s true,¡± he said, utterly unrepentant.
I shook my head, still smiling, as I nestled closer against him.
And for the first time in years, I wasn¡¯t afraid of tomorrow.
Because today had given me hope.
Hope that Mika could get stronger. Hope that I could build a life here. Hope that love, in its quietest form, had already begun to bloom.
Still His 27
Chapter 27
The next day I woke up with another smile stered on my face.
¡°You¡¯re happy.¡±
Mika!
69%
28)
Her voice¨Cher real voice¨Cechoed through my mind like the sweetest song. I nearly cried at the sound.
Sheughed in my head, bright and melodic. ¡°Happy to see you like this.¡±
Yeah¡ me too. I admitted.
I never thought I could feel this happy again. Not after everything. Not after Ruben. Not after the rejection that shattered everything I believed in.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Mika said, her voiceced with guilt.
For what, Mika? You¡¯re hurting too. I understand.
¡°But I should¡¯ve stayed with you. I was selfish. I left you alone when you needed me the most.¡±
I shook my head, sitting up in bed, hand pressed over my chest like I could reach her. No, Mika. The mate bond is different for you. I know that. Some wolves don¡¯t survive losing their mates. You were trying to protect both of us.
¡°Thank you, El,¡± she whispered, and for the first time in a long time, I felt whole again.
I smiled to myself as I got out of bed, walking to the small table by the window where the blue roses sat in a ss vase¨Cthe same ones Francesco had gifted me. Rare, delicate, impossibly vibrant. Like they shouldn¡¯t exist in this world, and yet, there they were.
My fingers brushed over the petals as I whispered, ¡°Thank you for this, Francesco.¡±
After my small morning ritual¨Cwatering the roses, pouring coffee, and enjoying the calm morning¨CI went to change into a soft cream blouse and navy pants, adding a cardigan for the still¨Cchilly spring air. Audrey was usually around by now, leaning against the kitchen counter or scrolling her phone by
the couch.
¡°Audrey?¡± I called, frowning when I didn¡¯t see her.
Nothing.
That was¡ strange. She never left without a note or a message, especially not since the rogue attacks. Maybe she was assigned an early mission? Still, a part of me felt uneasy.
Since I was already runningte, I grabbed my bag and headed out the door¨Conly to stop dead in my tracks.
He was there.
Standing tall and steady right in front of my door, like he¡¯d been waiting for me. Like he belonged there.
¡°Francesco?¡± I breathed, stunned. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±
His expression, unreadable at first, melted the moment our eyes met. That familiar warmth bloomed in his face as he took a step closer.
¡°Good morning,¡± he said, his voice deep and quiet, as his fingers brushed my hair away from my face. The gesture was so gentle, so intimate, that my heart nearly stopped.
¡°Good morning¡± I reply shyly.
He smiles warmly. ¡°I wanted to take you to campus.¡±
My heart skipped.
What?
He wanted to take me? To campus? In public?
I stared at him, blinking, ¡°Are you¡ sure?¡±
Because if he did that, it wouldn¡¯t just be humans seeing us. There were werewolves from several territories who studied here. And not all of them were part of his pack. If they saw us together¡.
He seemed to understand all of that without me even saying it. His smile was calm and sure.
¡°I¡¯ve never been more certain, Eine,¡±
Then he reached for my hand, wrapping his fingers around mine like it was the most natural thing in the world. His hand was warm, strong, grounding.
And I let him.
The moment his skin touched mine, a jolt went through me, not painful, just¨Creal. Like he was anchoring me to this new life I didn¡¯t dare believe in until
now.
He began walking, pulling me gently to walk beside him. I had to hide my face behind my free hand for a second because I was blushing furiously.
No one had ever treated me like this.
Not even close.
The walk was quiet, but it wasn¡¯t awkward. We passed by the small bakery near the university district, and he asked if I wanted a croissant. We shared one as we walked, and I kept stealing nces at him, trying to convince myself this wasn¡¯t a dream.
When we reached campus, people started to notice.
Of course, they did.
Some humans smiled at us, assuming we were just a couple. But the wolves¡ their reactions were different.
Shock. Recognition. Respect. Curiosity.
Francesco didn¡¯t flinch.
In fact, he kept his back straight and his eyes forward, as if he wanted them to see. As if he wanted the whole world to know who I was.
That I am his.
We reached the Art building, and I was about to pull my hand away, but he didn¡¯t let go. He held tighter.
¡°Francesco,¡± I whispered.
He leaned closer, his voice low so only I could hear. ¡°You¡¯re not alone anymore, El. Let them see that.¡±
I swallowed hard and nodded, unable to find words.
As we stepped inside, Audrey appeared from around the corner. She looked a little flustered, but gave me a smile.
¡°I am here!¡± she said casually, though her gaze flicked to Francesco with a silent message only they understood.
10.00 dj
He gave her a slight nod, then turned back to me.
¡°I¡¯ll wait outside after yourst ss,¡± he said.
Huh.. Wait?
Like¡ wait for me to finish ss?
I nodded quickly, still dazed. ¡°Okay.¡±
He gave me onest look that left my heart racing, and then he walked away, his long strides echoing down the corridor.
¡°Okay, my Luna,¡± Audrey said with a grin, nudging my shoulder. ¡°That was straight out of a fairytale.¡±
My heart stuttered.
Luna?
I wasn¡¯t ready for that word. Or maybe I was. I didn¡¯t know. But the sound of it¡ on her lips¡ it didn¡¯t terrify me anymore.
¡°Shut up,¡± I mumbled, my face burning.
The day passed in a blur.
My ssmates, who all of them human, kept whispering behind their canvases, maybe since I always alone so no one ever thought could see me with anyone, let alone a man as handsome as Francesco. Even my professor gave me a look of amused surprise when I walked in..
But nothing could touch the warm bubble I was in.
During break, Mika spoke again.
¡°He¡¯s changing everything, isn¡¯t he?¡±
I smiled. Yes. And I am d I¡¯m letting him. Give this a chance¡
For once, I wasn¡¯t scared. For once, I felt seen.
ss ended, and as promised, Francesco waited. The moment I stepped outside, he was leaning against his car, arms crossed, sunsses on.
Like something out of a movie.
My heart beating fast knowing he lock his eyes only for me, eventhough most of human¨Cmostly woman trying to get his attention but his eyes just looking at me.
walked toward him, trying not to trip over my own feet.
¡°How was your day, artist?¡± he asked, shockingly kiss my cheek before opening the passenger door for me.
¡°Surreal,¡± I admitted. Blushed.
He chuckled. ¡°Good. Get used to it.¡±
The ride back was peaceful. He didn¡¯t speak much, just rested his hand on the console, close enough for my fingers to brush.
I finally asked, ¡°Why did youe today? Really?¡±
His jaw tightened slightly before he answered. ¡°Because I wanted them to know you¡¯re protected. And because I wanted you to know I¡¯m not hiding you.¡±
My throat tightened.
16:55 Sat, 12 Jul GO
I can see that he meant every word.
I looked out the window, hiding my tears.
He saw me. Truly saw me.
And for the first time in years, I started to believe I might be worthy of being seen.
Still His 28
¡°Where are we going? This isn¡¯t the way to the apartment¡¡± I asked, eyeing the unfamiliar road winding away from the city lights..
Francesco only smiled, one of those quiet, knowing smiles that made it hard to argue with him. Without taking his eyes off the road, he reached for my hand andced his fingers with mine.
¡°Dinner,¡± he said simply.
Dinner.
1 blinked, leaning back into the buttery¨Csoft leather of the luxurious ck car seat. A dinner date. Another new
experience. My heart fluttered at the idea.
Looking around, I let my fingers trail lightly over the polished interior. It was sleek, elegant¡ expensive. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had this kind of luxury car,¡± i murmured.
He chuckled, eyes briefly sliding over to me. ¡°No one knows. It¡¯s hidden in the garage. I use it when I need to enter human territory¡ or pass through it.¡±
¡°Why?¡± I asked, curious.
A flicker of a grin touched his lips. ¡°Not for show, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking. It¡¯s about safety.¡±
Safety.
That word seemed to echo in the car, wrapping around me like a warm nket. Another thing I¡¯d learned about Francesco¨Che was always cautious, always thinking ten steps ahead. He didn¡¯t unt his power; he protected it. Protected me.
¡°How¡¯s school?¡± he asked suddenly.
I nodded, smile tugging at my lips. ¡°It¡¯s¡ good. The best decision I¡¯ve ever made wasing here.¡±
¡°I thought I was the best thing,¡± he teased, shooting me a mock¨Coffended look that made meugh.
God, he was different. Or maybe we were. This version of him¨Cthe one who jokes, who gently holds my hand while driving, who takes me on surprise dinner dates¨Cwas not the terrifying Alpha I¡¯d heard rumors about. He was still powerful, stillmanding, but around me¡ he was something else.
¡°What?¡± he asked, catching the way I was looking at him.
¡°You¡¯re different,¡± I said softly.
He smiled, this time slower, deeper. ¡°I guess¡ you¡¯re the reason.¡±
My heart caught.
Francesco squeezed my hand a little tighter. ¡°I always feel lighter when I¡¯m with you, Eine.¡±
¡®Kiss him.¡®
Mika¡¯s voice popped into my head so suddenly I nearly jumped. Shit, Mika!
¡®You want to. Don¡¯t lie to yourself.¡®
I bit my lip, looking away toward the window just as Francesco pulled into a narrow road lit only by warmnterns. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± he announced, killing the engine.
Before I could open my door, he was already there, reaching to open it for me like a true gentleman. I stepped out, the cool evening breeze brushing against my skin. The scent of wolves drifted faintly in the air¨Cguards, likely. He¡¯d brought warriors. For me?
10,00
20
¡°Where are we?¡± I asked, breath hitching as my eyes swept over the beautiful house nestled into the mountain¡¯s curve. It wasn¡¯t a restaurant. More like a private home. Cozy lights twinkled through the windows, casting a golden glow.
He took my hand again. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±
We stepped inside, and a round¨Cbellied man in a crisp white apron stepped forward, bowing deeply. ¡°Alpha,¡± he greeted respectfully.
¡°Lucio,¡± Francesco nodded. Then he turned to me, his eyes soft. ¡°Eine, this is Lucio. The best Italian master chef in the region. Lucio, meet my mate.¡±
The man¡¯s eyes widened slightly as he studied me. Then he bowed again, this time even deeper. ¡°So, the rumors are true. It is an honor to meet you, my
Luna.¡±
Luna.
That word felt so foreign in my ears, like it belonged to someone else. Someone stronger. Someone worthy.
¡°Likewise, Lucio,¡± I replied quietly.
Francesco led me through the quaint house until we emerged onto a balcony that made me stop in my tracks.
¡°Oh my Goddess¡¡±
The view was breathtaking¨Can endless stretch of mountains bathed in moonlight, a sea of stars above, and silence so profound it felt sacred. We sat down at a small candlelit table, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. He let me take it in, and I loved him for that.
¡°I wish I had my sketchbook,¡± I whispered, eyes sweeping the horizon.
When I turned to look at him, I found his gaze wasn¡¯t on the view¨Cbut on me.
¡°You¡¯re the most beautiful thing here, Eine,¡± he said quietly.
I didn¡¯t know how to respond. No man had ever looked at me like that. No man had ever seen me like that.
Was this¡ what it felt like to be loved?
¡°Thank you, Francesco,¡± I said softly.
He blinked, surprised. ¡°For what?¡±
¡°For being you. For showing me this. For making me feel like¡ I deserve it.¡±
He brought my hand to his lips, kissing it gently. ¡°This is nothing, Eine. You have no idea what I¡¯d do for you. With you.¡±
¡°I love that,¡± I said, and I meant it.
Dinner was served¨Chomemade pasta, truffle risotto, and grilled vegetables seasoned to perfection. But honestly, the food became background noise to our conversation. We talked and talked, unraveling eachyer of ourselves.
He asked about my hobbies
¡°Drawing,¡± I said, and he rolled his eyes yfully.
¡°I know that,¡± heughed. ¡°But what else?¡±
I paused. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡ I never really had time for hobbies. I just¡ lived.¡±
He nodded his head like he understood. Well.. I guess he do..
¡°Me too.¡±
16:58 Sat, 12 JO1
We stare at each other for a while before continue.
0975
Then, surprising ine, he confessed how he used to love riding motorcycles finding hidden ces, chasing sunsets. But he hadn¡¯t done it in decades.
¡°Maybe 1 could draw a hidden ce, and you could take me there,¡± I said.
47 take you to every hidden ce in Europe if you ask,¡± he replied without hesitation.
I told him I used to love cooking.
¡°Really?¡± he said, looking delighted. ¡°Then next time, you¡¯ll cook for me.¡±
¡°Only if you don¡¯t die from it,¡± I joked.
¡°Challenge epted.¡±
We lost track of time. Even after the tes were cleared, we sat there, learning about each other,ughing, falling into a rhythm that felt natural, easy.
Safe.
Iwas falling for him. There was no denying it anymore.
Meanwhile¡
Back in ckpine Pack, chaos reigned.
?, ? ?
Smoke filled the air as rogue wolvesunched a surprise attack. Screams rang out¨Cmothers shielding their children, warriors fighting to hold the line.
The Pack House burned, mes licking at the sky.
Ruben stood beside Alpha Gregor and Beta Mason, fighting with everything he had. But the numbers were too many. The rogues didn¡¯t want territory- they wanted destruction.
Then, bang!
A single gunshot cut through the night.
¡°DAD, NO!¡±
Kaithlin¡¯s voice rang out like a dagger.
All movement stopped.
Alpha Gregor stood frozen, an open wound blooming across his chest. Blood poured freely as he staggered forward, then copsed. The scent of
wolfsbane filled the air¨Cpoisoned bullets.
Cries erupted as warriors howled in grief. The rogues had done what they came to do.
They howled in triumph before vanishing into the darkness, leaving nothing but ash and pain behind.
Ruben dropped to his knees beside the fallen Alpha, eyes wild.
it was over.
Alpha Gregor was dead.
And the title of Alpha, byw and blood, now passed to him¨Cwhether he was ready or not.
3/4
Still His 29
When we stepped out of the room, the hallway was silent.
69%
Lucio was gone. No footsteps, no lingering scent, nothing but the faint echo of our breaths and the dim glow of wall sconces casting long shadows across
the corridor.
We walked in silence, side by side, toward where Francesco had parked his car. The night wrapped around us like a thick velvet curtain, soft and calm after the storm of emotions we¡¯d faced. I thought maybe this was it. That our night would end in that silence, with unspoken feelings tucked between us like hidden letters never sent.
But before we reached the car, Francesco¡¯s hand reached for mine¨Cstopping me gently.
¡°Do you want to go for a run?¡± he asked, his voice quiet, careful.
My heart skipped.
His eyes searched mine, as though he wasn¡¯t sure if it was the right thing to ask, as if he already knew what my answer might be but hoped, just hoped, for something else.
A run¡? He didn¡¯t just mean running. He meant shifting. Wolves. Us. Together.
Mika? I asked internally, a flicker of desperation in my voice. Can you shift? Can we do this?
¡°I¡¯m sorry, El,¡± her soft voice came, filled with remorse. ¡°My strength still isn¡¯t enough. I cant feel it trying to return¡ but I can¡¯t shift yet.¡±
I closed my eyes for a moment, swallowing the tightness in my throat. I didn¡¯t me her. How could I?
I looked back up at Francesco and whispered, ¡°Mika¡ she still can¡¯t.¡±
His gaze softened immediately, and his hand lifted to cup my cheek. Warmth poured from him like sunlight through winter frost.
¡°I understand,¡± he said. ¡°But you can still run with me.¡±
I blinked. ¡°What do you mean?¡±
A slow smile curved his lips, and in that moment, I saw the boyish side of him¨Ccharming, teasing, and entirely too confident.
¡°I want you to meet Lucas,¡± he said.
And then he began unbuttoning his shirt.
My face went red in an instant. ¡°Francesco!¡±
He chuckled, clearly entertained by my flustered reaction. ¡°Rx. I¡¯m not trying to seduce you. Not yet, anyway.¡±
I covered my eyes with a hand, halfughing, half¨Cdying inside. ¡°You know exactly what you¡¯re doing.¡±
He winked. ¡°Guilty.¡±
Momentster, his shirt dropped to the ground, followed by his trousers and shoes. Then, with practiced ease, he shifted.
It was breathtaking every time.
Where a man had stood, now a massive gray wolf with silver streaks stood proud. His fur shimmered under the moonlight, thick and regal. But it wasn¡¯t the size or the power that held my breath hostage.
It was his eyes.
19:00
Those same steel¨Cgray eyes that belonged to the man¡ were staring at me with something else now. Something deeper. Gertler.
Love.
69%
(+28
¡°Lucas¡¡± I whispered, as if the name alone would connect something within me.
The great wolf nodded his enormous head and stepped toward me. His gaze never wavered, his presence overwhelming and safe all at once.
I reached out, fingers trembling slightly, and touched the fur along his snout. He closed his eyes and leaned into my touch, a soft, rumbling whine escaping his chest.
He trusted me.
He wanted me.
A secondter, he lowered his body to the ground in front of me. Then, without warning, in one swift and graceful motion, Lucas nudged me up onto his back.
I yelped, startled. ¡°Wait-!¡±
But he took off.
Fast. Strong. Free.
Wind rushed past my face, pulling my long hair behind me in wild ribbons. I gripped his fur, instinctively holding on, but I wasn¡¯t afraid. Not even a little.
Instead¡ Iughed.
Laughed freely for the first time in what felt like years. The cold night air kissed my skin, the earth blurred beneath us, and for that moment¨CI forgot the pain. The fear. The rejection.
I was flying.
Hoooollll¡!
Lucas¡¯s deep, resonant howl filled the night.
I gasped.
It wasn¡¯t just a wolf¡¯s call¨Cit was a Lycan¡¯s. Commanding. Powerful. A force that rolled across the mountains and echoed through the trees.
But it wasn¡¯t about territory.
It was about me.
It was a deration. A im.
¡®He loves us,¡® Mika whispered inside me, her voice filled with awe. ¡®Truly. Deeply. He loves us, El.¡¯
Tears streamed down my cheeks as I nodded, unable to speak.
One day, you¡¯ll run with him too, Mika. I promise, I said to her in the quiet of my heart.
And almost like he heard her, Lucas howled again¨Clouder, stronger, more full of joy than anything I¡¯d ever heard.
Across thend, wolves responded.
A symphony of howls rose from everyer of his territory. Echoes of celebration. A chorus of eptance. Their Alpha had imed his Luna.
Me.
Lucas ran the entire perimeter of the territory with renewed energy, driven by the presence of his mate on his back. I could feel the pride in every step. the joy that poured from him in waves.
He didn¡¯t want it to end.
And neither did 1.
He was thanking the Moon Goddess in his own way¨Cfor bringing us together.
Hours passed. We ran under the stars, past quiet rivers and towering trees, over ridges and open fields. Until the horizon began to glow with the soft blush of dawn.
Eventually, Lucas slowed and returned to where the car was parked.
By then, I had drifted off¨Ccurled into his fur, warmth cocooned around me, lulled to sleep by the steady rhythm of his paws.
Francesco shifted back and gently lifted me into his arms.
I stirred faintly, feeling the cool morning air and the strong arms around me. My eyes fluttered open as he slid into the car and sat down, cradling me in hisp.
I didn¡¯t move away. I didn¡¯t want to.
I looked up at him. ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered.
He smiled down at me, brushing a lock of hair behind my ear. ¡°Always.¡±
For the first time in years, I felt like a girl again. Just a girl, happy and free. The night air still clung to my skin, my hair wild, my heart light. I hadn¡¯t felt that way since before¡ everything.
He leaned down, and our lips met¨Cslow, tender, and filled with everything words hadn¡¯t yet said.
The sun began to rise.
A new beginning.
But life never lets peace linger for too long.
Later that day, sometime past noon, we returned to my apartment. A ck SUV was parked nearby, and Beta Alfonso stood waiting in front of the door, arms crossed, his expression unreadable but tense.
As soon as Francesco parked, Alfonso stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
¡°I tried not to disturb you, Alpha,¡± he said gravely, ¡°but the matter couldn¡¯t wait.¡±
He turned his gaze to me.
My stomach dropped.
¡°There¡¯s news from your old pack, Eine.¡±
I stiffened.
Even the mention of ckpine brought back a storm of memories. Cold eyes. Harsh voices. Loneliness. Pain.
I took a breath and nodded. ¡°Go on.¡±
34 c!; ?????
Chapter
There was at ambush isst night, Alfonso said ¡°Alpha Gregor was killed. Polished with wolfsbane
Tome stopped.
The world fell silent around me.
Alpha Gregor dead?
No.
That meant¡
My heart clenched. ¡°Ruben¡±
Alfonso nodded slowly. ¡°Yes, He¡¯s the Alpha daughter husband so he¡¯s the new Alpha now.¡±
He had what he wanted all along.
Power. The title. Control.
109%
And as former member of the ckpine Pack, and once promised to their heir¨CI would be expected to attend the funeral¡ and his Alpha ascension ceremony.
I swallowed the scream wing at my throat.
The past¡ was calling me back.
Still His 30
Chapter 30
¡°Eine?¡±
Francesco¡¯s deep voice snapped me from the whirlwind of thoughts inside my head.
I blinked and turned toward him, only to find two sets of eyes¨CFrancesco¡¯s and Alfonso¡¯s¨Cwatching me in concern. Their gazes held unspoken questions, confusion swirling behind them. Of course¨Cthey didn¡¯t know. Not about him. Not about Ruben.
They didn¡¯t know that Ruben Severius ck, the soon¨Cto¨Cbe Alpha of my old pack, was once my fated mate.
The one who rejected me.
My heart twisted painfully. I forced a tight smile and shook my head, trying to dispel their worries. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I lied softly. ¡°I¡¯ll check my school schedule. Maybe¡ maybe I can go back to my old pack. Just for a short while.¡±
And before they could say anything more, I turned on my heel and practically ran inside.
No¨Cthat wasn¡¯t walking. It was running. Hiding. Escaping the moment I wasn¡¯t ready to face.
Inside, the warmth of the apartment wrapped around me like a shield, but it couldn¡¯t numb the turmoil inside me. I felt it¨CFrancesco¡¯s gaze burning into my back even as the door shut between us. His eyes¨Cthose piercing, unreadable eyes¨Chad locked onto mine as I walked away. Not with anger. Not even confusion. But understanding.
He knew¡
I could feel it. He knew that something¨Csomeone¨Chad shaken me to my core.
Inside my room, I leaned against the closed door, my chest rising and falling with each shallow breath. I should exin. He deserves that much.
He is my mate now, after all.
But what would he say when he found out? What would he think?
The thoughts chased me into the bathroom, where I stripped away the day¡¯s weight and stepped into the shower. I let the hot water pour down on me, scorching my skin, cleansing me. My fingers gripped the tile wall as I pressed my forehead against it, eyes closed.
You have to tell him. He deserves to know.
The memory of Ruben¡¯s rejection resurfaced¨Chis cold eyes, the way his voice tore through my soul, as if our bond meant nothing. As if I meant nothing.
And yet, here I am now: Still standing. Still breathing. Still healing.
When I finally stepped out of the shower, steam billowed around me, the mirror fogged over, hiding the reflection I wasn¡¯t ready to face. I wear the simple clothes and walked into the main room, intending to grab some water-
-and froze.
Francesco was there.
Sitting at the small dining table, a steaming mug in his hands.
Waiting.
Our eyes met, and time seemed to stop.
His dark brows rose slightly, his lips parting as if to speak¨Cbut he said nothing. He just stood, the chair scraping softly against the wooden floor.
Then, gently, he cupped my check, his thumb brushing my damp skin. ¡°You¡¯re burning,¡± he murmured, studying my face. ¡°Did you stand under that water forever?¡±
I gave him an awkward little smile, still clutching the towel to my chest. ¡°You made me coffee?¡± I asked, forcing a light tone, desperate to shift the
tension.
He didn¡¯t answer. Didn¡¯t need to.
I moved past him and picked up the second cup, sipping it more for the distraction than the taste. His eyes followed me, never wavering. I sat down across from him, heart pounding, avoiding his gaze.
He let me sit in silence, patiently, calmly¨Clike a man waiting for the dam to break.
¡°If you don¡¯t want to go back to your old pack¡ I¡¯ll understand,¡± he finally said.
The softness in his voice made me look up.
¡°I understand if you¡¯re afraid,¡± he continued, ¡°Afraid that if you go back, you might see him again¡ your-¡±
He didn¡¯t finish the sentence. He couldn¡¯t.
The hurt in his eyes was unmistakable.
He thought I was still holding on. That a piece of my heart still belonged to Ruben.
But he was wrong.
¡®Tell him, El, Mika whispered inside my mind, her voice urging, gentle but firm.
I reached across the table and ced my hand over his. He flinched slightly, and my heart cracked a little more. I did this. I made him feel insecure. Weak. Receable.
He wasn¡¯t any of those things.
¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± I said quietly. ¡°I¡¯m not scared. Not because of him. Not anymore. I have you, Francesco. It¡¯s just¡¡±
He leaned in. ¡°Just what?¡±
I took a deep breath, the words trembling on the tip of my tongue! ¡°Ruben¡ Ruben is the one who rejected me.¡±
His expression shifted instantly.
Shock¡
Disbelief¡
And then¨Cfury.
His hands clenched into fists on the table, the tension in his arms visible beneath the fabric of his shirt.
I saw it¨Cthe struggle not to give into the rage. His ws began to push through his fingertips, betraying his inner battle.
I stood slowly and moved around the table, climbing gently onto hisp. He didn¡¯t stop me. Didn¡¯t speak. Just wrapped his arms around me tightly as if grounding himself.
I cupped his jaw and leaned my forehead against his.
¡°I¡¯m not his,¡± I whispered.
BARATANI
69%
1 kissed his cheek. ¡°Not anymore.¡±
A kiss at the corner of his mouth. ¡°You are my mate now.¡±
Then, finally, I kissed his lips¨Csoft at first, then longer, deeper. Until he responded with a hunger that told me he had been holding back so much more than I ever realized.
When we finally pulled apart, breathless, he pressed his forehead to mine.
¡°You don¡¯t have to go back if you don¡¯t want to, Eine,¡± he said. ¡°Not for anything. Not for anyone.¡± He said firmly like he try to control his anger.
I give him a smile, is this how it feels to know you have someone on your back?
¡°I have to,¡± I said softly. ¡°Just once. I need to say my final thanks to Alpha Greror. And then¡ it¡¯s done.¡±
His eyes searched mine, concern still lingering, but he nodded. ¡°Okay. But not alone. You¡¯re not alone anymore.¡±
You¡¯re not alone anymore. He don¡¯t know how it means so much hearing him say that.
I smiled and kissed him again. ¡°I know. I have you.¡±
Hourster, after Francesco left with Alfonso to tend to pack matters and Audrey arrived for her usual guard duty, I found myself alone in my room.
The silence wrapped around me, but it didn¡¯t feel heavy anymore. Instead, it was reflective
Two years¡?
It had been two years since I came to this ce.
Two years of running. Hiding. Healing.
And then he came along. Francesco. The Lycan Alpha who made my shattered soul feel like it could be whole again. Who never pushed, never demanded, only waited¨Cfor me to be ready.
And now, finally¡ I was.
¡®We need toplete the rejection eptance, El,¡¯ Mika reminded gently.
I nodded. She¡¯s right.
I had never said the words. Not out loud. Not even in my heart. A part of me always thought Ruben would return, realize the bond, ask for forgiveness. But that fantasy was long gone.
This wasn¡¯t just about letting go.
It was about setting Francesco free from my past. Setting myself free.
I knelt beside my bed, the moonlight spilling across the floor like silver water. My voice trembled as I began.
¡°I, Eine Aurora Rollin¡¡±
The air shifted. A sudden breeze danced across my skin.
¡°¡ept Ruben Severius ck¡¯s rejection.¡±
My throat tightened.
16:56 Sat, 12 Jul TGO
¡°And with this, I sever our soul bond. Forever.¡±
4.69%•þ
A pang. No¨Cworse. A ripping, tearing sensation exploded in my chest, like something inside me was being violently torn away. I gasped and clutched my heart, a scream ripping from my throat.
Audrey burst into the room, panic in her eyes. ¡°Eine?!¡±
But I couldn¡¯t speak.
Couldn¡¯t move.
copsed, breathless, the pain beginning to fade¨Cbut not before it marked me forever.
And then, peace.
¡®Finally¡ Mika whispered with a sigh of relief. ¡®We¡¯re finally free.¡¯
A soft smile touched my lips, even as my eyes fluttered closed.
I did it¡
I was free.
Myst thought before the darkness imed me was a single name, soft on my tongue like a promise:
Francesco.
Still His 31
Chapter 31
The world was quiet when woke, the air soft and cool against my skin,
For a moment, I didn¡¯t move. My body still ached¨Clike something had been pulled from the very core of me. But the pain had dulled now, leaving behind only a strange emptiness and peace
I turned my head slowly, and there he was
Francesco.
Sitting beside my bed, elbows on his knees, hands sped together in front of his mouth like he¡¯d been praying. His eyes were shadowed with exhaustion, but the moment they met mine, they lit up with a flicker of relief so raw, so real, that it took my breath away
¡°Thank God,¡± he whispered, voice rough breaking with emotion.
Before I could speak, he reached forward and gently took my hand, pressing it to his lips as if grounding himself with the touch.
1 gave him a small, tired smile and reached up to cup his cheek with my other hand. His stubble brushed against my fingers, warm and real
¡°made you worry again,¡± I whispered, guilt tightening my throat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡±
He didn¡¯t respond immediately, just leaned into my touch, closing his eyes like he¡¯d been holding his breath this whole time. His silence said more than
words ever could.
Memories of earlier flooded back to me.
Audrey.
Her voice had been thest thing I heard before the darkness swallowed me whole. Panicked, sharp, almost trembling
I could still feel the way the band had snapped inside ma¨Cviolent and final.
I remembered Audrey rushing in, her warrior instincts thrown into chaos as she called out my name. The bond between us as protector and ward had pulsed with urgency, and then, with no time to spare, she mind¨Clinked the only person she knew woulde without hesitation.
Her Alpha.
Francesco
I nced back at him now¨Chis eyes still watching me like I might disappear again.
¡°I remember hearing Audrey¡. ¡°I murmured. ¡°She was panicking. She contacted you right away, didn¡¯t she?¡±
He nodded slightly, his jaw clenched. ¡°The moment I felt the shift in the bond, I knew something had happened. Fran here. I didn¡¯t care what I was doing I just¡ I had to get to you.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t mean to cause chaos,¡± I whispered, guilt washing over me again. ¡°I just I needed to do it. I needed to be free. I choose you too. You¡¯re my mate
only you.¡±
He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from myce, his fingers soft and trembling slightly. ¡°You didn¡¯t cause chaos, El. You caused a storm. You terrified me. But¡ you did what you had to do.¡± He paused, his voice dropping lower. ¡°And I¡¯ve never been more proud of you.¡±
My throat tightened, tears burning the back of my eyes. ¡°Even after knowing everything?
Francesco leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine,
¡°Especially after knowing everything,¡± he said. ¡°You chose to sever the bond. You took back your life. And now you¡¯re mine, Eine. Fully. Freely. No
more shadows between us.
I closed my eyes, letting those words sink into the deepest part of me,
And I wouldn¡¯t want it any other way.
But wait a minute¡
It took me a while to realize¡ this wasn¡¯t my room. The ceiling above me was different higher, with carved wooden beams and soft light filtering through pale curtains. There was a subtle scent in the air, something earthy and masculine,ced with pine and faint smoke.
Definitely not my apartment.
I blinked and looked around slowly, the plush bedding tucked around me unfamiliar. My heart skipped a beat.
¡°Where are we?¡± I asked, my voice hoarse with confusion.
Francesco nced around the room before meeting my eyes again. ¡°My room,¡± he said softly
My eyes widened in shock. ¡°What?¡±
He exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down his face. ¡°You were hurt, EL. Again, Lucas was furious. He med me, said I should¡¯ve never let you out of sight.¡± His voice was thick with frustration, regret, and something else¨Csomething more fragile. ¡°He said you needed to be closer. And I agreed. Sol brought you here. To our room.¡±
My breath hitched. Our room.
This mah¡ he didn¡¯t just protect me with his strength. He was sheltering me with his choices. With his heart.
Treached up again, stroking his cheek lovingly, feeling the warmth of his skin under my fingertips. The way he looked at me¨Cas though I mattered more than the entire world¨Cwas almost too much to bear
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered again, guilt rising like a tide in my chest.
But he shook his head, gently catching my hand in his ¡°Don¡¯t ever say sorry to me again,¡± he said, voice firm yet tender.
He paused, the weight of something unsaid hanging in the air
¡°Alpha Gregor¡¯s burial will be in two days,¡± he said finally, his tone shifting, heavier now. ¡°The council has arranged everything.¡±
My eyes widened again, sorrow twisting inside me at the mention of thete Alpha. ¡°I hope I¡¯m strong enough to go,¡± I murmured, my voice barely audible.
He turned to me with a look like I¡¯d just grown a second head. ¡°With your condition?¡± His brows furrowed, and his voice rose a fraction, ¡°Eine, you¡¯re not going
I sighed, bracing myself ¡°Francesco¡ª¡±
¡°No,¡± he cut in quickly. ¡°You¡¯re still weak Your soul needs at least a week to stabilize ter what you did. I won¡¯t risk you getting worse.
I gave him a small smile, the one I knew always disarmed him. ¡°You¡¯ll take care of me though, right?¡±
He let out a groan, tilting his head back in dramatic frustration. ¡°You¡¯re going to kill me, donna mia..
ou¡¯re so unfair.¡±
I couldn¡¯t help but giggle softly, knowing I am winning.
¡°But fine,¡± he said atst, clearly defeated. He leaned closer, brushing his knuckles down my arm. ¡°If you must go¡you go with me. And you neverye
2/3
my side.¡±
¡°I never thought of it,¡± whispered, smiling wider,
And I meant it
The news about their Alpha will be go with me gone wild.
Beta Alfonso, who was usually the calmest among us, looked utterly overwhelmed.
Stacks of papers cluttered his desk, his brow constantly furrowed as he muttered under his breath about deadlines and protocols
Most of the Alpha¡¯s human documents had long expired and needed to be renewed immediately¨Cpassports, identification, clearance papers everything. Because we were using human transportation, Francesco had to officially exist in the human system again¡
It was strange seeing it allid out like this this quiet chaos surrounding the Alpha Lycan¡¯s sudden re¨Centry into the world.
I¡¯d never seen Alfonso this rattled. Not once.
But I suppose it made sense. This would be the first time in over two decades¨Cyes, more than two dekados¨Cthat Alpha Francesco Tom Lycaon would leave his territory. Some said he hadn¡¯t even let his room in all that time. Most of the Alphas ruling today had never even soon his face, only heard of his legend in whispers and war stories. They¡¯d likely forgotten what a Lycan Alpha even looked
They were in for a shock.
Even the ckpine Pack had been left stunned when they learned the Alpha Lycan himself would be attending Alpha Gregor¡¯s burial. What they didn¡¯t know¨Cwhat no one knew was that he wasn¡¯t justing as a leader. He wasing as my mate.
Our bond remained a secret, something only our closest circle understood. For now.
We would travel as a group of six Francesco and I at the center, nked by his trusted protectors Head Warrior Marlow and Jeremy¨Cand by mine, Audrey and Monica. Though officially they were all there for both of us, I know the truth. With my weakened condition, they were mostly there to protect me. Monica, with her medical background, was brought as my personal nurse, ready to care for me at the slightest sign of distress.
Francesco didn¡¯t leave anything to chance,
Alfonso, meanwhile, had been tasked with leading the Halian pack in Francesco¡¯s absence. It wasn¡¯t an unfamiliar role for him¨Che had always handled much of the Alpha¡¯s affairs, ohen acting as the bridge between Francesco and the outside world. But this time, the responsibility felt heavier, Francesco was leaving his sanctuary, his solitude, his silence¨Cand everyone, especially Alfonso, know what that meant.
It meant something had changed.
And it had. Everything had changed,
Still His 32
Chapter 32
Fight ck SUVs were lined up outside the estate, engines humming softly like loyal beasts waiting to move. It was a calcted more ¨C Beta Ant¨® te decided at thest moment that we needed more warriors. Not just for show, but for protection, In total, ten people would apany in to the ckpine Park,
It shocked their Alpha, of course. At first, he hesitated, clearly not expecting such a heavy escort. But in the end, he agreed, recognizing that Allonso¡¯s instincts were never wrong¨Cespecially when it came to Francesed,
After all, this was the first time Alpha Lycaon had left his territory in more than two decades.
No one wanted to take chances. Especially not Beta Alfonso,
The drive to the airport was quiet, the tension thick with anticipation. I stared out the window, watching the world blur past as we left thefort of home behind.
When we arrived, the atmosph¨¨re shifted instantly.
Humans couldn¡¯t stop watching us. From the moment we stepped out of the SUVs, heads turned. Whispers rippled through the crowd like waves. Some were in awe, others clearly intimidated. I couldn¡¯t me them. This was nothing like when I first arrived in Italy. Back then, I had depped off the ne unnoticed, a silent girl with nothing but a duffel bag and broken plecos of her heart. No one had cared. No one had looked.
But now¡everything was different.
Now, I walked beside the Alpha Lycan
Even Francesco Brew attention¨Chis presence alonemanding respect. His tall, powerful frame, dressed sharply in ck, exuded dominance. But it wasn¡¯t just his looks that stunned people¨Cit was the way he moved, Like a force of nature that had suddenlye to life.
And yet, even with all eyes on us, he stayed close, subtly shielding me with every step,
Francesco kept holding my hand, never letting it go¨Cnot even for a second. His grip was gentle but firm, like he was afraid I might disappear if he loosened it. That small gesture said more than words ever could.
I felt the eyes on us as we moved through the airport. Especially from human women. Their stares were thick with envy, not just because of how Francesco looked¨Cbecause let¡¯s be honest, the man could stop traffic¨Cbut because of how he treated me. Like I was the center of his entire world. Like nothing and no one else mattered
He was mine. And I was his. Even if no one else knew the full story, they could feel it.
We made our way to a sleek ck private jet that waited just beyond the runway, its engines already purring to life. I stopped in my tracks for a moment, blinking in disbelief. That¡¯s ours?
Francesco gave me a small smile, clearly amused by my surprise.
Of course he owned it. What else should I expect? He was a Lycan Alpha¨Cnot just powerful, but ancient, wealthy beyondprehension. A private jet was probably as basic to him as a car.
Still, it stunned me.
A tall man in a dark uniform stood at the base of the stairs. His scent gave him away instantly¨Cwerewolf. The pilot bowed his head slightly in deferenc the moment we approached.
¡°Alpha,¡± he greeted respectfully. Then his eyes shitted to me, curious but respectful.
Francesco said, his voice deep, steady, and proud.
-This is my y mate,¡± F
I stiffened slightly at the title, even though I already knew it was true. He had never introduced me like that to anyone before. But he said it so naturally.
Chapter 32
so confidently, that something in my chest fluttered and settled all at once.
The plot nudded again, his expression unreadable. ¡°Wee, Luna¡±
Francesco helped me up the steps and inside the ne, his arm never straying far. The interior was hurious¨Ccream leather seats, pots lighting. Every detail screamed elegance, but I barely noticed any of it. All I could feel was his hand in mine and the way he looked at sit beside him
For the first time in a long white, I felt something I hadn¡¯t felt since leaving home.
Sale. Warm. Chosen.
Despite everything¨Cdespite the uing meeting, despite the presence of Ruben¨CHound myself smiling. Not out of politeness or habit, but because t genuinely felt it.
This trip, for once, didn¡¯t feel like a mission or a punishment.
It felt like a beginning.
And even if I had to face my
by past¡ I knew I had already let go.
Thad nothing left for Ruben, Because my heart was already in the hands of another.
When we arrived, it was already night.
The soft hum of the jet¡¯s engine had lulled me into sleep somewhere mid¨Cflight, and I didn¡¯t even realize we hadnded until I felt a shift¨Cwarmth, movement, the gentle sway of strong arms beneath me.
Francesco didn¡¯t wake me.
Instead, he carried me off the ne in silence, his steps measured, powerful, and careful not to jostle me. I stirred only slightly, my cheek pressed against his chest, breathing in the faint scent of pinewood and earth that always seemed to cling to him. I didn¡¯t speak. I didn¡¯t need to. Even half¨Casleep, I trusted himpletely.
Down below, the ckpine Pack waited in the cool night air. Word of Alpha Lycan Francesco Totti¡¯s arrival had spread through the ranks like wildfire. Of course, it had. A visit from the Lycan Alpha was nothing short of legendary. Most of them had never seen him in person¨Cnot even during the wars. For more than two decades, Francesco hadn¡¯t stopped out of his territory. Some of the younger Alphas likely wondered if he was just a story used to keep rogue wolves in check
But now he was here. In theirnds.
And they had prepared ordingly
A formal weing ceremony was already underway, with banners bearing the crest of ckpine nking the lit pathway leading from the runway. The ceremonial torches cast flickering shadows across the gathered crowd, highlighting the reverent expressions of pack members lined up to greet him. Everything had been arranged to honor a powerful guest, believing Francesco came because of his old ties with thete Alpha Gregor.
Ruben stood at the front, dressed in traditional Alpha ceremonial attire, nked by his most trusted warriors. His face wasposed, but tension was visible in the tight set of his jaw. He was preparing to extend the hand of friendship and alliance, to secure a bond with the Lycan Alpha A strategic move for someone on the brink of taking full control¡
But whatever thoughts or ns he had unraveled the moment he saw who Francesco carried in his arms.
His body stiffened.
Shock rippled through the gathered warriors like a stone tossed into still water
All eyes fell on me.
And more importantly, on the way franceson held me
It wasn¡¯t just that he canied men. It was how he caused me.
His expression wasn¡¯t cold o
for divoadable, like most expected from the reclusive Mpha Lycan, fio, it was anything fest. His features are soft with affection, protective in a way that made even the most hardened warmers exchange nces. He didn¡¯t carry me like a possession
He cradled me like something cherished.
Like something precious.
From afar, even without words, people could feet it. The bond. The truth that had yet to be spoken aloud.
And that truth h hit Ruben like a thunderbolt.
The woman in the Lycan Alpha¡¯s arms¡ was the
His rejected mate. His past.
And now, clearly¡someone else¡¯s future.
1 blinked my eyes when I smells the scent and sound in my mind¨Clink¨Cone i hadn¡¯t felt in years¨Cit echoed again in my mind like a forgotten melody suddenly reyed.
My old pack¡¯s link. The ckpine Pack. And they have awakened me.
It stirred something deep within me, dragging me from sleep to awareness with a sharp pull. The familiar hum of a connection I thought was severed
forever.¡±
gasped softly.
Francesco noticed immediately. His grip on me tightened protectively as I blinked up at him, eyes still hazy from sleep. But he didn¡¯t say a word¡ªhe just helped me slowly to my feet, steadying me as I tried to adjust to the overwhelming wave of memories crashing down on me all at once.
And just like that, we were there.
Standing right in front of the ckpine Pack, led by none other than Ruben ck.
He stood tall at the center of the weing party, posture perfect, shoulders squared, his mate Kaithiyn beside him, warriors nking them in ceremonial formation. But nothing could mask the sh of emotion that crossed his face the moment he saw me¨Cwide eyes, parted lips, the smallest: step forward before he stopped himself
I could feel the stares. The whispers. The shock rippling through the crowd like a thunderp.
Everyone in the ckpine Pack knew who I was
Eine Rollin¨Cthe orphaned daughter of George and Joselyne Rollin, the brave warriors who had died protecting this very pack when I was only so. I¡¯d grown up under Alpha Gregor¡¯s care, trained with the warriors, yed with the other pups in the training field, and disappeared quietly after graduation with a schrship and no goodbyes.
They had all watched me grow up¡ and then watched me vanish.
Now I was back. Not as the quiet girl from the warrior¡¯s wing¨Cbut in the arms of the Lycan Alpha himself
Carned like something sacred. Held like something treasured
Francesco didn¡¯t falter. His expression was unreadable, cool andmanding, yet his arm around me was nothing but gentle. He didn¡¯t bow or break
stride. He walked straight toward the ckpine Park with a regal grace that made everyone else feel¡small..
This wasn¡¯t just an Alpha visiting.
This was Alpha Lycaon returning to the world.
Even Kaitlyn¡¯s mask cracked for a second. Her polite smileltered, a flicker of confusion passing through her eyes as she tried to piece the scene together¨CFrancesco¡¯s artical, me in his arms, the weight of affection in every one of his movements.
She didn¡¯t know
None of them knew.
Not about the bond I had once shared with Ruben, Not about how he had rejected me beneath the pines on a cold winter morning when we both turned eighteen. How he had chosen power. Politics. Kaithlyn. He had never told anyone about our bond. Neither had.
And now it didn¡¯t matter.
Because I wasn¡¯t his anymore.
I was Francesco¡¯s mate.
And as we stood before the stunned ckpine Pack, I let the weight of my past settle quietly behind me.
No more shame. No more secrets.
Just truth¨Cshining in the way Francesco looked at me like I was his entire world.
?
Ìï
Still His 33
Chapter 33
There was a beat of silence. Heavy Suffocating
No one dared speak
The warriors from ckpine exchanged confused nces, unsure if they should how, move, or their gaze instinctively, the primal instinct of submission too strong to resist.
even breathe in front of the Lycan Alpha. Some dropped
Francesco stopped only a few feet in front of Ruben and Kaitlyn. His grip around me remained secure, even as he finally set me down gently, keeping one protective arm at my back as steadied myself,
It was Ruben who broke the silence first.
¡°Alpha Lycaon,¡± he said with a slight bow, his voice tight, formal. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to have you here. My pack wees you.¡±
Francesco didn¡¯t move. Didn¡¯t blink
¡°Thank you, Alpha Ruben,¡± he replied, voice low but deep,manding without trying. ¡°I came to pay my respects to Alpha Gregor. A true leader. One of the few ever trusted.¡±
Ruben nodded, jaw light. ¡°We¡¯re grateful for your presence.¡±
Then his eyes flicked to me.
The mask cracked.
¡°Eine.¡± His voice sohened, barely above a whisper. Like the sound of a ghost. ¡°You look¡ well
I stared at h
at him, not unkindly, but not with the warmth he might¡¯ve hoped for either. ¡°I am,¡± I said simply.
Kaitlyn¡¯s smile twitched at the corners. She stepped forward slightly. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Eine, Wee home.¡±
Home.
It didn¡¯t feel like home anymore.
But I nodded politely. ¡°Thank you, Luna Kaitlyn¡±
She blinked at the word ¡°Luna.¡± It hit her before anyone else, thad acknowledged her as the pack¡¯s Luna, which meant I had let go. Fully. Irrevocably.
Francesco¡¯s hand slid lower to rest at the small of my back as if anchoring me
The small gesture didn¡¯t go unnoticed
And then Ruben finally asked the question everyone had been dying to say aloud.
-She is your¡?¡±
Francesco didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°My mate.¡±
A hush fell over the entire crowd. Even the night air seemed to pause.
Mate. Not guest. Not consort. Not ally. But Mate
Ruben¡¯s throat
moved as he swallowed hard. He wasn¡¯t ready. None of them were.
¡°I didn¡¯t know,¡± he murmured, eyes clouding. ¡°I didn¡¯t think..
1/3
Frou didn¡¯t ask, Francesco sand coldly, the sharp edge in lifs voice sitering any furtherment. ¡°But if no longer matter whee protection now. I expect that to be respected,¡±
There was no rooin for argument in that voice. The Lyran had spoken.
Marlow approached from behind us, stepping forward to present the papers and formal preetings on behalf of the in territory. He bowed foul handing the ckpine beta a sealed envelope. His eyes flicked to Huben once, then away
The weing ceremony proceeded quietly after that, subdued and cautious, fut the ripple effect had already begun
Whispers would spread, Questions would be asked
Eine Rollin, the girl they once pitied, had returned as the male of the most feared Alpha lycan in existence.
And Ruben? Ruben would have to stand beside his Luna and pretend it didn¡¯t kill him to watch the woman he rejected, now treated like a queen by the one man no one dared dely.
Too long standing made my knees buckle slightly, almost fell.
Luckily, we had just begun moving out of the airport.
Francesco noticed it instantly. In one swift motion, he scooped me up again in a bridal carry, drawing gasps from several onlookers Shocked murmurs rippled through the ckpine pack members who followed the procession.
¡°Seriously?¡± I heard someone whisper behind us.
Ruben¡¯s voice cut through the tension, smooth butced with mockery.
¡°I didn¡¯t know you were that spoiled, Eine. Making your mate carry you all the time.¡±
It was framed as a joke. A light jab. But the bitterness behind it was unmistakable. I opened my mouth, ready to respond, but I wasn¡¯t fast enough.
Someone else beat us to it.
¡°Our Luna isn¡¯t well,¡± Audrey¡¯s voice rang out, clear and proud, ¡°but as herst act of respect to Alpha Gregor, she insisted oning here. Even if it meant pushing herself¨Cand our Alpha¨Cto do so. I¡¯m sorry if her condition isn¡¯t what you expected.¡±
She didn¡¯t raise her voice. She didn¡¯t need to
Every word carried weight. Especially one.
Luna
it echoed in the air like a soft drumbeat.
She had called me Luna.
Not Miss. Not Eine. Not the Alpha¡¯s mate Luna.
Ruben¡¯s eyes widened just slightly. Kaitlyn¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, her fingers tightening around his arm. The entire ckpine weing up seemed to freeze, like time had stalled for a breath,
Before anyone could respond, Francesco stepped forward.
¡°We should move,¡± he said coldly, his voice making even the wind pause. ¡°Let your Beta show us to the ce we¡¯ll stay. Thank you for the wee- we¡¯ll speak again tomorrow.¡±
11:03 Mon, 14 Jul
Beta Mason quickly stepped forward, giving a sharp, and turned to guide us
I simply nodded at the gathered group, barely lifting my head, before resting it back against
Let him take me away hom it all.
From their judgmentsi stares. From the past I left behind.
| released a breath I hadn¡¯t realized I was holding. My limbs felt too my
Damn, I really
y wasn¡¯t okay¡
¡°You okay?¡± Francesco¡¯s voice was low, worried.
Topened my eyes and looked up to meet his gaze. ¡°Just tired,¡± I whispered.
¡°I¡¯ll make thevender tea with a little potion, Monica said as she walked past us, always alert. ¡°She needs a real rest tonight.¡±
The difference in treatment from the ckpine pack and my own people¡ it was night and day. Here, I was a burden. There, I was cherished
I didn¡¯t know what ckpine was thinking now, watching all of this. Watching Francesco hold me like I was the most precious thing in the world. Watching warriors call me Luna like I already wore the title on my skin.
Francesco¡¯s arms tightened around me, just a little.
Like he felt my thoughts.
Like he wanted to tell the world that I was his, and he wouldn¡¯t let me fall. Ever.
I leaned my head closer to his chest, letting the rhythm of his heartbeat drown out the whispers behind us.
I didn¡¯t care what they thought anymore.
Thad found my ce. And it wasn¡¯t here
?
AD
Comment
Still His 34
Chapter 34
It was nearly 9am, when I finally stirred awake, sunlight spilling through the curtains and gently warming the room. I bonked a few times, tryl gather my bearings
As I stretched under the soft nket, I realized the dormitory felt unusually quiet. Frowning, I turned my head and saw Audrey siling casually by the window, sipping her coller and reading a book. Monica was sprawled out on the couch,zily scrolling through her phone.
¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone wake me?¡± Lasked, my voice still thick with sleep, half expecting to be scolded for oversleeping
Audrey only chuckled and set her coffee down. ¡°Alpha¡¯s orders.¡±
¡°We can¡¯t fight him,¡± Monica added with a grin, not even looking up from her phone, as if the very idea wasughable.
I stared at them, hall annoyed, hall touched. Francesco really hadn¡¯t let anyone disturb me. Even though we were guests here, in ckpine teritory where appearances mattered, he had chosen me over protocol.
A sigh escaped me.
Deep down, I knew what this would look like to the others spoiled, pampered, weak. Whispers would spread faster than wildfire in a pack as tightly
wound as this
Damn IL
Knock, knock¡
The sound of knocking cut through my frustration.
Audrey Immediately stood, smoothing down her clothes before heading to the door. She cracked it open, revealing Jonathan, who looked a little out of breath, as if he had hurried over.
¡°I¡¯m sorry to disturb you,¡± he said respectfully. ¡°But¡ there¡¯s a woman outside. She brought something for the Luna, says it¡¯s one of her favorite things from when she lived here.¡±
blinked in confusion.
Someone from here? Bringing me something?
I shook my head slightly. That made no sense. I had no friends. No one who cared enough.
Audrey turned to look at me, raising a questioning eyebrow, but I could only frown and shrug.
Until Jonathan spoke again.
¡°She said her name is Maria¡±
The name hit me ke lightning.
I gasped audibly, the room spinning slightly as my breath caught in my chest.
Maria
Memories flooded my mind ¨C warm smiles,te¨Cnight stories, secret hugs after my nightmares Maria had been the only one who truly cared for me at my parents¡® deaths. The head servant who had be a mother figure when I had no one else.
I felt my eyes sting with the rush of unshed tears.
Audrey, noticing my reaction, nodded quickly and stepped aside, signaling for Jonathan to let her in.
The poor opened wider.
And there she was
Maria.
Older now
the years had etched lines of wisdom around her eyes and scattered silver into her once dark hair. But nothing nothing could dull the kindness radiating from her.
She stood frozen in the doorway, staring at me as if I were a ghost from a long forgotten dream.
¡°Eine?¡± she whispered, her voice trembling, raw with disbelief.
¡°Maria. I choked out her name.
And then I was moving.
Before Audrey or Monica could even react, I was out of bed, sprinting across the room barefoot.
I flung myself into Maria¡¯s arms with a broken sob, the floodgates bursting open all at once.
She caught me immediately, just like she used to when I was small and scared, cradling me tightly against her chest.
1 buried my face into her shoulder, breathing in the familiar,forting scent ofvender and old books. Memories rushed back so vividly it hurt.
The nights she stayed up with me when I couldn¡¯t sleep.
The whispered stories about my parents when I missed them so much it ached.
The quiet strength she gave me when no one else even saw my pain.
¡°My sweet girl¡¡± she murmured into my hair, her voice cracking. ¡°You¡¯re home¡ you¡¯re finally home.¡±
I clung to her as if I could absorb all the years we had lost, the loneliness, the abandonment.
Audrey and Monica exchanged nces but didn¡¯t interrupt. I think they understood that this moment wasn¡¯t just important ¨C it was sacred.
After a long while, I pulled back slightly, wiping my tears with the back of my hand, embarrassed by how much i had cried.
Maria cupped my cheeks gently, her thumb brushing away a lingering tear.
¡°You¡¯ve grown into such a beautiful young woman,¡± she said, pride and sadness tangled in her voice. ¡°Talways prayed the Moon Goddess would bring you back safe.¡±
sniffled, smiling weakly. ¡°I missed you so much, Maria. I thought¡ I thought everyone forgot about me.¡±
¡°Never,¡± she said Bercely. ¡°You were my daughter in all but blood. I could never forget you.¡±
My heart twisted painfully at her words.
Gently, she pulled something out from the bag she carried¨Caworn leather journal, tied carefully with a blue ribbon.
¡°I kept this,¡± she said, handing it to me with trembling fingers. ¡°It¡¯s your mother¡¯s journal. She wrote letters to you¡ dreams she had for you. Ithaht you should have it now.
I gasped softly, reverently taking it from her hands.
It felt like holding a piece of my past I never thought I¡¯d recover.
Fresh tears weiled up again, but this time they were softer, sweeter
¡°Thank you, Maria,¡± (whispered, my voice cracking. ¡°Thank you for everything.¡±
She only smiled, brushing my hair back affectionately. ¡°No need for thanks, my darling. You were always meant for mate by your side too. You¡¯re not alone anymore.
I nodded, clutching the journal tightly to my chest
i also brought something I know you love,¡± Maria teased, a yful glint in her eye.
peatness. And now you have your
Before I could even react, Audrey quickly stepped outside the room and returned a momentter, carrying a small box with a knowing smile, as if they had all been in on the surprise
My eyes widened the moment I caught a familiar, mouth watering scent drifting from the box.
¡°Cheese tarts?!¡± I gasped, my voice rising with pure shock and happiness.
Mariaughed warmly at my reaction. ¡°No one makes them like I do, right?¡±
She was right. No one could ever beat Maria¡¯s cheese tarts light, creamy, and slightly sweet with that perfect golden crust. The memory of sneaking bites in the kitchen,ughing with herte at night, rushed back and wrapped around my heart like a warm hug
We ended up sitting and talking for over an hour, catching up on everything and nothing, like no time had passed at all. Maria even waited patiently while I took a quick shower and changed into the beautiful clothes Monica hadid out for me.
The outfit was simple yet elegant- a soft ck blouse tucked into a flowing ck skirt. It wasn¡¯t mine, I realized as I ran my fingers over the silky fabric. Brand new. Monica had gone out of her way to prepare something special, and my heart squeezed with gratitude.
When I stepped back into the room, Maria¡¯s eyes shone with pride.
¡°You look every bit the Luna you were meant to be,¡± she said, squeezing my hand warmly.
Hand in hand, we left the room together. Audrey, Monica, Jeremy, and Joe followed close behind, forming a loose protective circle around us.
Maria leaned closer as we walked, ¡°I heard about what happened this morning¡± she said in a hushed voice. ¡°Your Alpha made it clear to everyone that you were injured because you pushed yourself too hard during Alpha Gregor¡¯s memorial. He made sure everyone knew how much you sacrificed out of respect.¡±
She gave a littleugh, shaking her head. ¡°Not that anyone would dare say anything against you now,¡± she added, her tone light and teasing.
Her words filled me with a strange
nge sense of pride and relief.
As we approached the outdoor dining area, I couldn¡¯t help but tug
but tug Maria
va along with me, not wanting to let go of her just yet,
Francesco sat at a several other Alphas and their Lunas, including Ruben and Raithlyn.
The moment Francesco caught sight of me, his head titted slightly, an amused, almost fond smile ying on his lips. With quiet authority, he stood up- from his seat a gesture that immediately made the other Alphas nce up too.
I felt a dozen pairs of eyes watching me, but somellow, with Maria¡¯s hand in mine, I didn¡¯t falter.
I stepped closer, giving a polite bow of my head. ¡°I apologize for being small breath, I turned to introduce her. ¡°Alpha Francesco, this is Maria. She¡¯s she¡¯s like a mother to me.¡±
For a moment, Maria seemed stunned, as if umure she belonged in the presence of so many high¨Cranking wohes. But then Franceson stepped forward, offering her a warm and genuine smile the kind that reached his usually cold eye
¡°it¡¯s an honor to meet you, Maria,¡± Ise said, indining his head with unexpected pooltenes. ¡°Aynine who holds ane dear is honored by me as well
Maria¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief before she quickly bowed her head deeply, clearly moved by the respect he
led me with
I couldn¡¯t stop the wide smile that bloomed across my face. Seeing her treated with such kindness such dignity¨Cfilled me with a fierce jy
After a few more soft words and a promise that she would visit again soon, Maria gave my hand onest squeere before she hid her goodbye, returning to
her duties.
I stood there for a moment, watching her leave, feeling the bittersweet ache of having her so close and yet knowing she would always belong to another part of my life.
With a quict inhale, I turned and took my seat at the same table as Francesco, Truhen, and Kaithlyn
At the Alpha table.
As Luma of Lycaon.
Something no one-
not even myself¨Ccould have ever imagined just a few short months ago.
And yet, here I was
No longer broken. No longer invisible. And no longer alone.
Still His 35
Chapter 35
From theer of my eye, I saw Haben tense, his jaw clenching ever so slightly.
I met his gare for a brief, cutting moment.
There was nothing in me that trembled anymore.
No longing No sorrow. No regrete
He searched for cracks, but there were none.
Francesco¡¯s subtle movement brought me back he shifted closer, his hand resting profectively on the smalt of my back.
A silent message: Lam here. You are safe. You are mine,
Before Ruben could find words, Alpha Gregor¡¯s Beta announced the beginning of the ceremony, forcing everyone to return to their ces.
One by one, voices rose into the air¨Csoft, reverent, and tinged with grief. Leaders from all corners of the allied packs stepped forward to say their farewells, offering gratitude, memories, and final words to Alpha Gregor.
The air hung heavy with mourning, a shared sorrow that pressed into every heart.
Yet beneath it, a quiet resilience simmered, a current of strength that wave its way through the gathering like an unseen thread, reminding all present that the legacy of a true Alpha never fades
Kaitlyn moved to the front once more, this time cradling a small, delicate bundle wrapped in a pale blue nket
A baby.¡±
My breath caught. My heart clenched, squeezed painfully before I could stop it. For one disorienting moment, the world tilted.
The infant purgled softly, his tiny fingers curling into the nket as if reaching for something unseen.
A memory
y surfaced¨CGregor¡¯s radiant pride when he told me the news of Kaitlyn¡¯s pregnancy, his warm invitation to celebrate the new life soon to bless the ckpine Pack. He had spoken of the future as if he could already hold it in his hands,
And now, that future was here. In Kaithlyn¡¯s arms. Fragile and new! A beacon amid the ashes.
Emotion surged in my chest, a knot rising in my throat. I swallowed hard, grounding myself, forcing my lungs to expand.
I saw clearly then- and what I saw w
was not pain.
Not bitterness.
Only eptance
They had found a way forward. And so had L
Ruben no longer lived in the center of my universe! He was a closed chapter, a distantecho, a name that no longer held power over me,
1 turned slightly, instinct guiding my gaze toward the one who did hold that power now.
Francesco was already watching me.
His expression held no demand, no question¨Conly a quiet, overwhelming pride. It settled over me like a second skin, warm and grounding
He reached for my hand, his fingers wrapping around mine with gentle certainty. Then he lifted it, pressing a kiss to my knuckles, his thumb drawing
Chapter 35.
slow, steady circles against my tien
leaned into him, allowing his touch to anchor me. My heart beat calm and true. My soul felt lighter than it had in years.
The ceremony closed with a final chorus¨Ca solemn chant that rose from the throats of does of wolves, echoing through the stone bati
Torches were lowered.
A bell tolled,
And then everything shifted.
The energy in the room changed the moment Francesco stood tall beside me, his presence unmistakable.
The Lycan Alpha¨Clong thought a myth¨Chad truly arrived in ckpine.
And with him, his newly imed mate
Whispers bloomed like wildfire, weaving through the crowd, Curiosity shone behind respectful eyes.
One by one, Alphas and Lunas came forward¨Cnot just to honor Gregor, but to glimpse the truth for themselves,
The moment realization struck¨Cthe moment they knew Francesco had imed his second¨Cchance mate¨Ctheir gazesnded on me with new intent
Lunas approached first
Their smiles were warm, their touches soft¨Ca hand on my arm, a brush of fingers across mine, words offered in low, gracious tones.
Not because of who I had been. Not out of pity.
But because of who I had be.
of them saw the broken pieces I had once carried. None knew the ache of rejection that had once defined me.
None of t
They saw only the Francesco¡¯s Luna.
And for the first time, I let that truth in¨Cnot as a mask to wear or a role to y, but as a truth I had earned.
I stood tall beside him, not as an impostor, not with shame¨Cbut with pride.
The meeting finally adjourned, and as the room slowly emptied, the weght of the day descended over me like a worn, familiar cloak. I slipped away without a word, my guards¨CJeremy and Joe¨Calong with Audrey and Manica, falling into step a few paces behind, silent and respectful.
Outside, the cool evening air greeted me like an old friend.
The sky had begun to darken, stars emerging one by one¨Ctiny, defiant mes against the deepening blue.
I walked without direction, past the courtyard and through the edge of the garden, until I found myself standing alone beneath the open sky.
I wrapped my arms around myself and tilted my head up. The scent of pine and damp earth filled my lungs. The breeze kissed my cheeks, stirring loose strands of hair around my face.
This ce, once full of painful memories, now felt like something else entirely.
Home, Renewal.
I closed my eyes. This is real. I¡¯m here. I survived.
Not as the girl who had once fled in shame, hollow and afraid. But as the woman who had returned whole. Reimed.
A rustle behind me made me tum.
Francesco stood at the edge of the path, hands in his pockets, his dark eyes feed on mine. He didn¡¯t speak, and he didn¡¯t need to
In three long strides, be closed the
stance between us. His hand reached up t
forfork a stray lock of hair behind mys, his touch leather
¡°You did well today,¡± he said, his voice low and rough with emotion. ¡°I am so proud of you
I blinked, tears rising not from sadness, but from a gratitude so profound it stole my breath
I remembered when he had first found me, beken and afraid, hiding behind paintings and silence. I had finched from touch had questioned every kind word. Thad forgotten how to be seen.
And yet, he had seen me. Even then.
ip me in his warmth
Without another word, Francesco opened his arms, I stepped into them without hesitation, letting him wrap
My cheek pressed against his chest, where his heart beat steady and sure. We stood like that for what felt like forever, beneath a canopy of stars and
silence.
A soft crunch of gravel interrupted the moment.
Kaitlyn approached quietly, the baby still in her arms, her expression softer now, full of something that looked like peace
She stopped beside us, offer
offering a small nod to Francesco before turning her eyes to me.
¡°He has your eyes,¡± she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. ¡°That quiet strength, Gregor saw it in you, you know. Long before the rest of us did
I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond.
She stepped closer, gently shifting the nket so I could see the baby¡¯s face more clearly. He blinked up at m
focused and serene.
My hand moved on instinct, brushing lightly over his tiny hand. He grasped my finger which make something inside me unraveled. And then rewOve itself, thread by thread.
You were never just a girl in the shadows, Eine, Kaitlyn whispered. ¡°You were always meant to be more
She left me with those words, walking back toward the warmth of the building, leaving me and Francesco alone beneath the night
For a moment, neither of us spoke. There was nothing more to say.
The stars shimmered above us, ancient and constant
I looked up at Francesco. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll ever understand?¡±
He tilted his head. ¡°Who?¡±
¡°The others. What it took to get here.¡±
He was quiet for a heartbeat. Then he said. ¡°They¡¯ll write songs of your strength one day. But none will ever truly know how much it book to walk into that room with your head high.¡±
He leaned closer, resting his forehead against mine. ¡°Buti do¡±
I closed my eyes, letting his words anchor me
This was it. Not an ending but a b
a beginning, for us. For me.
For whatever came next.
15
And I was ready.
?
Still His 36
Audden alert howl from the guard perimeter crackled through the warriors
Rogues Spotted near the eastern border
Within seconds, the calm shattered into swift, decisive action.
The Alphas moved immediately, their wares following without hesitation.
Francesco didn¡¯t waste a breath¨Che gave a few sharpmands in his deep,manding voice, summoning his Fourth Warrior to his side.
Meanwhile, six of his elite warriors remained close, circling protectively around me and the other Lunas gathered inside the Alpha mansion
Despite the walls and the number of trained fighters surrounding us, a prickle of unease traced down my spine. It was a dangerous situation
But more than fear for myself, my heart ached with worry¡ for him. For Francesco,
I knew he was powerful¨Cstronger than any Alpha here- but i had just found him. I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of losing him now, not when we had barely begun.
The tension in the air was palpable. Lunas huddled closer, whispering prayers or sending silent mind links to their mates. The warriors stood at full alert, their bodies tight, ears straining for the faintest hint of threat.
Through the windows, I caught glimpses of movement¨Cshadows darting among the trees, snarls cutting through the stillness
The robes must have caught wind of the gathering of Alphas and sought to unleash chaos
But what they didn¡¯t know what they couldn¡¯t have known¨Cwas that among these gathered leaders was a force far beyond their reckoning
A Lycan Alpha.
A monster¡ a storm cloaked in wolf skin.
Francesco Totti Lycaon¡
And tonight, they had made the fatal mistake of endangering his Luna.
Something ancient and primal stirred in the air¨Ca shift so palpable it made every werewolf in the mansion stiffen.
A low, vicious growl, bigger than usual werewolf, echoed from the battlefield.
Francesco had joined the hunt.
I pressed my hand against my chest, feeling the fierce rhythm of my heart as the band between us pulsed stronger than ever.
His fury radiated through the link, a white hot ze that promised devastation to any who dared Lay a threat before me
Outside, the battle had already turned. ¡±
Those rogues hadn¡¯t prepared for what they faded.
Francesco moved like a phantom among them a blur of raw, terrifying strength. One after another, the rogues fell, barely having time to realize thin
end hade. His ws were longer, sharper. His speed was unmatched. His roar shook the very ground
The other Alphas, seasoned warriors in their own right, could only watch in stunned awe as Francesco tore through the enemy ranks with brutal
Now they say
They saw why, once, he had been called the Monster Alpha
Why, once, even the basest warriors had bowed their heads when he passed.
Why the Moon Goddess had created a fated one for him to tame the storm, to soften the beast.
Because without that anchor, Francesco was unstoppable. Dangerous not just to his enemies but to the world itself.
Three hours.
That¡¯s all it took. Three hours to sweep the territory clean, to tear apart everyst rogue foolish enough to step foot into ckpinends tonight
Francesco¡¯s scent¨Csharp,manding, uniquely Lycan- lingered thick in the air, a warning no sane creature would dare ignome
As the final rogue fell, silence nketed the forest,
And then¡
A sound split the night sky.
A powerful, victorious howl¨Cdeep and resonant, carrying across the mountains and valleys
It was Francesco.
iming his triumph. Dering his dominion.
Every werewolf instinctively dropped to their knees, heads bowed low in reverence. Even the Alphas themselves could not resist the pull
They howled back
an answer, a submission. Acknowledging the true king among
on them
Inside the mansion, I stood near the window, my hand trembling slightly against the ss.
Tears blurred my vision, but they weren¡¯t bom from fear
No. They were tears of awe.
Of pride. Offierce, overwhelming love
He was mine. And I was his
Behind me, the other Lunas whispered in stunned amazement, their warriors murmuring prayers of gratitude for having someone like him among their
ranks.
But amidst the triumph, one figure stood isted consumed by bitter despair.
Ruben.
I caught sight of him across the room, his face pale, twisted with something between rage and helplessness.
He had seen it too. He had witnessed with his own eyes the sheer force of the being I now belonged to. A power he could never match.
A mate he could never be. And he hated it.
He hated knowing that I had found someone stronger. Better.
|_ Someone who would protect me, levar me, and destiny anything that dired farm me
chadlost. Truly andpletely.
And for the first time in what fell like forever, Tumiled.
I quickly turn my head the moment the front doors of the mansion creaked open, every sound in the room seemed to vanish,
My beat lurched violently in my chest
And there he was. Francesco¡
He stepped inside, towering andmanding, every inch the victorious Lycan Alpha.
His ck shirt was torn at the shoulder, works ripped across the fabric, and streaks of blood¨Cnot his own¨Cstained his hands and arms.
His hair was disheveled, his sharp jaw set hard, his golden eyes burning with a raw, feral light that hadn¡¯t yet dimmed.
And yet¡ when his gaze found me across the room, something shifted.
The fury melted away, reced by something achingly tender. A low, rumbling growl vibrated from deep within his chest¨Cnot of anger now, but of need. Ofrelief.
Without thinking, without caring who watched, Iran to him.
The warriors around me parted instinctively, sensing the urgency between us. I crashed into his chest, my arms wrapping tightly around him.
He caught me effortlessly, lifting me off the ground as he buried his face in the crook of my neck, breathing me in like I was the only thing keeping him
QURE
¡°I¡¯m here,¡± I whispered, tears slipping down my cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m safe,¡±
His arms tightened around me until it was almost hard to breathe¨Cbut I didn¡¯t care. I clung to him just as fiercely.
He pulled back just enough to look at me, onerge hand cradling my face with such gentleness it shattered something inside me.
His thumb brushed away my tears,
¡°You are mine,¡± Francesco rasped, his voice horse and heavy
y with emotion. ¡°No one¡ will ever touch you, harm you. Not while I breathe¡±
The bond between us pulsed like a living thing, thrumming with fierce love, pride, and overwhelming possessiveness
Around us, the world blurred.
It didn¡¯t matter that dozens of Alphas, Lunas, warriors were still present.
In this moment, it was just us.
Francesco leaned in, his forehead resting against mine, his breathing ragged.
fought like a madman tonight,¡± he confessed in whisper meant only for me. ¡°Because the thought of you being afraid it drives me insane, Luna
Esmiled through my tears, tracing the line of his jaw with trembling fingers.
¡°I wasn¡¯t afraid.¡± I said softly ¡°Because I know you¡¯de back to me.¡±
A broken, almost relievedugh escaped him,
3/41
He filled my chin ug and pressed a kiss
And in that moment, tommande more ghosts of the past.
kiss be my forehead ¨C slow, reverent like he was anchoring himself bark to earth through ma
e lingering scent of blood and victory, wrapped safely in his ames, trent something.
This was heine. Francesco wat my home. And together, we were unstoppable.
Still His 37
Francesco didn¡¯t say a word.
He just took my hand ¨Crge, calloused, warm ¡ª trembling faintly with the remnants of the battle, and led me away from the others.
No one dared stop us.
The presence of the Lycan Alpha moving through the halls was too overwhelming, toomanding. The warriors and Alphas stepped aside, bowing their heads, understanding that this moment was not meant to be interrupted.
men for a second.
away if he let go men for a
His grip on my hand was firms but careful, as it afraid I might slip aw
The hallways blurred past as we dimbed the grand staircase of the ckpine mansion, the world blurring around us, his pace urgent but careful, like he was barely holding himself together until he reached the private guest quarters reserved for him¡ªa heavy oak door at the end of a deserted hall.
Francesco pushed it open with one hand and pulled me inside, closing the door with a quiet but final thud.
Silence fell. Heavy, charged.
We just stood there, facing each other. Breathing heavily. Eyes locked.
The adrenaline from the fight still crackled in the air around him, mingling with the intense, primal pull between us¨Cthe ancient call of mates finally about to be fulfilled.
Francesco took one slow, deliberate step toward me, then another, until he was standing so close that I could feel the heat radiating from his body
He reached up and gently cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs brushing away the silent tears that had escaped down my cheeks.
¡°You are mine, Eine,¡± he said, voice rough and broken. ¡°I cannot¨Ci will not let another day pass without you knowing it¡ without the world knowing
His forehead pressed against mine, and we stayed like that for a moment¨Cbreathing each other in, grounding ourselves in the reality of what was about
to happen.
¡°I will never let anything harm you again,¡± he whispered fiercely. ¡°I will protect you with myst breath, I will cherish you until the end of time.¡±
A sob escaped my throat, my heart aching with the sheer depth offove in his voice.
¡°And I will stand by you, Francesco,¡± I whispered back, my fingers tangling in the front of his shirt. ¡°I will be your strength when you are weak. Your light when the darknesses. Always.¡±
A low, deep sound rumbled from his chest¨Cpart growl, part sigh¨Cas he pulled me into him, crushing our bodies together.
His mouth found mine, and it was nothing like the sweet kisses we had shared before.
This kiss was desperate, devouring, iming.
He kissed me like a starving man, like he had been drowning for a lifetime and I was his only breath.
I gasped against his mouth, my fingers threading into his wild hair, tugging him closer, needing him closer
He kissed me with the full force of everything he felt ¨C desperation, devotion, reverence
my back, gripping my waist possessively before fifting me easily off the floor.
Francesco¡¯s hands roamed down my
I wrapped my legs around his waist instinctively, my body melting into his, as he carried me toward the massive four¨Cposter bed in the center of the
rooth.
1A
Cheplecat
was something precious, and hovered bear me, his wid golden eyes fact, nemys
¡°Tell me to stop,¡± he said hoarsely, his entire body trembling with restraint ¡°Tell me now, or I won¡¯t be able to
reached up, cradling hisce between my hands.
¡°don¡¯t want you to stop,¡± whispered fiercely. ¡°I want to be yours. Truly. Completely.¡±
Thest thread of his control snapped.
He kissed me again, slower this time, deeper, his hands moving reverently over my hotly as he undressed me plece by piece worshiping every inch at exposed skin with his lips, his hands, his whispered words of devotion in Italian,
¡°You are perfect divina¡ bellissima.¡± (divine¡ beautiful)
When he bared my neck, his breath hitched audibly, and he leaned down, brushing his nose along the sensitive skin where the mating mark would be.
His Lycan growled low in his throat, the sound vibrating through me, awakening every nerve ending in my body
¡°You are mine,¡± he growled, voice rough and priital And Fam yours.¡±
He needed me
not just physically, but soul¨Cdeep.
He stripped off his own torn battle clothes with shaking hands, revealing the full expanse of his powerful body¨Cbroad chest marked by scars of battles fought long before I knew him, muscles coiled with barely contained strength a warrior¡¯s body, fierce and breathtaking..
But his eyes¡ His eyes were soft. Vulnerable. Full of worship,
Francesco lowered himself over me, our bare skin meeting, sparking an explosion of heat and electricity.
He lowered himself over me, his warmth enveloping mine, and kissed me again¨Cslower now, deeper, pouring all his emotions into it.
When he finally entered me, it was with a groan torn straight from his soul¨Cslow, careful, giving me time to adjust, giving me time to ept him fully.
I gasped at the feeling¨Cof fullness, ofpletion ¨C as he moved inside me with a rhythm that spoke of love, not just lust.
Our bodies moved together in a dance as old as time, and the bond between us crackled to life, bright and overwhelming
I cried out, not from pain, but from the overwhelming flood of emotions as he moved inside me with agonizing slowness, murmuring words in Italian against my skin!
Ti amo¡tiamo, mia lunasi il mio destino. love you
I love y moon¡you are my destiny¡
you, my
Each thrust, each kiss, each whispered vow stitched the shattered pieces of my heart back together.
Theld onto him, meeting every movement, matching every kiss, until the world blurred and only the two of us remained.
When I was close, when my whole body trembled under him, I forgot how to breathe, my nails digging into his back, Francesco lifted bis head and looked deep into my eyes.
¡°Let me mark you,¡± he pleaded, voice breaking. ¡°Let me make you mine forever.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Igasped. ¡°Yes. Francesco, Always¡±
With a deep, guttural growl, he sank his fangs into the curve of my neck
¨C
not enoughen hurt, but enough to im me irrevocably.
A searing heat rushed through me, the bond snapping fully into ce, flooding my mind with Francesco protectiveness.
his emotions, his love, his fierce
11:04
y mate,pered fiercely y
And then that him ¨C marking him with it
Francenem let mut a deep, broken rem, his
The bond red even brighte
ng ut snel in soul
(Guns Foreve
He rolled u
ed us gently, cradling g me on top of him, hit massher hands running soothingly up and down my hack,
Team streamed down both our faces as we held each other tightly, our bodies still trembling from the force of the
¡°You are my everything. Eme,¡± he whispered into my hair, voice thick with emotion ¡°My Luna: My mate. My
¡°And you are mine, Francesco,¡± whispered back, pressing my lips to the fresh mark on his peck¡°My Alpha My mats M We stayed like that for what felt like eternity¨Ctangled together, hearts beating in perfect synchrony, our souls atst whole
Outside, the moon rose higher, casting its silver light over us like a blessing
We were no longer broken pieces.
We wereplete. Two halves of one whole
Bound by love. Sealed by destiny.
?
Still His 38
The soft rays of the morning sun filtered through the heavy curtains, casting warm pools of golden light across the room
Iwake slowly, the feeling of Francesco¡¯s body still wrapped around mine, grounding me like a lifeline to something solid, something unbreakable
His arms were around me, one hand resting over my heart, as if he could feel the steady rhythm of my pulse in sync with his own. His breath was soft and even, his chest using and falling beneath me in a peaceful rhythm I had never thought I¡¯d experience. After everything¨Cthe battles, the pan, the rejection
this quiet moment with him felt like a world of calm, a dream i never wanted to wake from
Hited my head slightly to look at him. His features were scher in sleep, his wild golden eyes hidden behind closed lids, the usual tension in his jaw reced by the tranquility of slumber. His lips were slightly parted, as if he were still lost in some distant dream.
My fingers traced the outline of his jaw, the rough stubble scratching softly against my skin. I marveled at how reall this all felt, how whole I felt in his arms. I didn¡¯t have to look over my shoulder in fear anymore, didn¡¯t have to worry about rejection or pain. Here, in the quiet of the morning light, it was just us¨Cjust Francesco and me, the band that tied us together a living thing between us.
movement seemed to stir Francesco from his sleep. His eyes fluttered open
Ishifted slightly, the coolness of the room meeting my skin, and that small m slowly, that golden light flickering as they focused on me.
For a long moment, he just stared at me, as if he were memorizing every detail of my face. His expression softened into something almost tender, and he raned a hand to cup my cheek, his thumb gently brushing away the stray tear i hadn¡¯t even realized had fallen.
¡°You¡¯re here,¡± he whispered, his voice rough from sleep. ¡°You¡¯re really here.¡±
Familed, my heart swelling at the words. The magnitude of everything¨Cthe bond, the love, the promises we had made to each other¨Cstill took my breath away.
¡°I¡¯m here, Francesco,¡± I whispered back, my voice barely audible as I leaned in to press a gentle kiss to his lips. It was soft, slow, a stark contrast to the force passion ofst night, but it was no less intense for it. This kiss, this moment, was about connection, about the quiet intimacy that followed a night
Francesco deepened the kiss, but this time it was slow, tender, as if he were savoring hair, pulling me closer, and I let myself fall into thefort of his embrace.
After a long moment, he pulled back just enough t voice thick with emotion, ¡°You¡¯ve always been¡±
essence of me, of us. His hand moved to thread through my
amy eyes, his forehead resting against mine. ¡°You are my everything,¡± he murmured, his
My heart skipped, and a wave of emotion surged through me. I didn¡¯t have the words to respond¨Cmy heart was too full, too overflowing with everything I felt for him. So, instead. I just hold him tighter, pulling him against me as if I never wanted to let go
And for the first time in what felt like forever, I didn¡¯t need to say anything. We just were together, in this moment, in this space that felt like it was
carved just for us.
Francesco let out a sigh, content and at peace ou make everything feel right, Eine. I never thought I could feel whole again, but you you¡¯ve changed everything¡±
I smiled softly, resting my cheek against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. ¡°I feel the same way.¡±
The world outside seemed so far away, as if it had paused just for us. The threats, the dangers, the uncertainties of the future¨Cthey were all there, yes, but in this moment, they didn¡¯t matter in this room, with Francesco holding me, I wasplete. And nothing else could take that from me
He brushed his over my forehead, his breath warm against my skin. ¡°Whateveres,
|face it together. Always¡±
And asy arms, with the world still spinning outside, I know he was right fogether, we could face anything
d by the sound of footsteps outside the door, a subtle reminder that we weren¡¯t alone in this space.
The soft,forting silen
ce we¡¯d carved out for ourselves, and the outside world wan arting to creep bar
unctuary wed found
each other
Francesco groaned lowly, his voice thick with exhaustion and frustration.
He squeezed in tighter for a moment, as if he were trying to hold onto this fleeting moment ju
fleeting moment just a little longer, before he slowly pulled away.
~Stay,¡± he murmured, his hards still gentle as they stid over my skin, tracing the curve of my spine. His golden eyes, clouded with a max of emotions, met mine. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of you.¡±
With a sigh, I nodded, I knew what he meant. The battle had left its marks on both of us, but my body was feeling the foll of everything¨Cespecially the newness of our bond. Helt tender, vulnerable, but it wasn¡¯t in a bad way. It was just real. The first of everything, the beginning of our new life together
Francesco moved quickly, standing and pulling me up gently. His arms were like iron around me, strong yet tender
Without a word, he guided me to the en¨Csuite bathroom, the soft glow of the bathroom lights casting a warm, calming ambiance that seemed to mirror the care he was giving me.
t, the warm water immediately soothing my
The bath was already prepared, steam rising from therge, luxurious tub. Francesco helped me lower into it, aching muscles, the heat easing the tightness in my joints.
He knelt beside the tub, watching me carefully, his expression unreadable, as if making sure I was alright. His hands were soft, but his eyes¡ªhis eyes were fierce, full of love, full of a depth that felt overwhelming at times.
¡°Lean back,¡± he said, his voice a low murmur. ¡°Let me help you, Eine. Just rx.¡±
I did as he asked, sinking back into the water, the warnith surrounding me like a gentle embrace,
He sat behind me, pulling me onto hisp, his strong arms wrapping around me, holding me tight against him. My back rested against his chest, and closed my eyes, letting out a sigh as his hands began to move over my body, tenderly working through the tension and soreness I was feeling
His fingers were gentle as they ran over my skin, massaging away the lingering ache, and I melted into him
The soft sounds of water and the rhythm of his touch calmed the storm in my chest. For a moment, I forgot about everything¨Cabout the world outside, about the weight of our responsibilities, and the battles we had yet to face.
I leaned back further, resting my head on his shoulder, and his lips brushed my temple. His breath was warm against my skin, steady, and soothing
¡°I¡¯m here, Eine,¡± he whispered, his voice low and full of warmth. Til always be here.¡±
I turned my face toward his, looking up into those golden eyes that were both tender and fierce. ¡°I don¡¯t want this to end,¡± I whispered, my voice barely
audible
for
Francesco¡¯s hand slid into my hair, cupping the back of my head, pulling me gently closer. ¡°It won¡¯t end,¡± he sind softly, his voice full of certainty. ¡°Not fo us. We¡¯ll build something here. Together. No matter what happens out there
But the reality, the truth of the situation, tugged at my heart. We couldn¡¯t stay hidden away forever. There was a world out there¨Cone that we would have to face. The danger, the responsibility of being with him, of being his mate, of being a part of his world¡ it was all looming just outside the door.
I closed my eyes again, pressing into his chest, letting the heat of the water and the warmth of his embrace full me into a peaceful moment of quiet.
Francesco¡¯s lips brushed over my neck, the tender such a soft reminder that we had just imed each other¨Cbonded in a way that nothing could undo
¡°I will never let anything take you away from me Eine,¡± he said fiercely, his voice full of a protective promise ¡°Not even the world itself¡±
Irested my hand over his, the weight of it grounding me in this moment. I believe you whispered back, squeezing his fingers. ¡°Always¡±
In that moment, as the water gentlypped at our skin and the world outside felt like it no longer existed, I realized that even though this quiet moment would eventually end, we would carry it with us. No matter what came next, we had this¨Cthis time, this band, this us
11:04 Mon, 14 Jul
Audrey and Monica moved quickly
packing my things willi hurried, slightly armeyed notions
I could see in their light sms, in the way they personal items.
sy kept throwing pointed nces my way, their hands a blur
they folded clothes
They thought I was pushing myself too hard, too fast.
But I wasn¡¯t. I was getting better, Stronger,
Still, I couldn¡¯t me them for worrying¨Cnot after what had happened. Not after Francesco, my Alpha, my mate, had given in to the primal instincts
ruled him
His need to im me, to mark me fully as his, had been overwhelming And I had weed it weed him with open arms, heart,
But it had also cost me. Again¡
Yes, I had been weakened again, my body needing time to adjust, to heal from the intensity of our bond solidifying in a way that no ceremony, no public deration, could ever match.
I wasn¡¯t angry with him,
How could I be, when every time I looked into his golden eyes, I saw nothing but devotion, guilt, and an endless, burning love?
He knew he had acted on instinct. He knew he should have waited.
And the epted the silent judgment from the two guards assigned to me, who wore their anger and protectiveness like armor.
He didn¡¯t reprimand them for the res, the curt tones, the way they hovered at my side. He respected it
Their loyalty to me was a loyalty to us. A loyalty to the future Francesco and I were building together.
When it was finally time to leave, the entire mansion buzzed with a strange, solemn energy.
Everyone gathered warriors, omegas, betas, visiting Alphas.
A final breakfast together, a quiet moment of unity, before we each returned to our own territories and duties. No one said it aloud, but it hung in the air like inconse: Respect. Fear, Awe
Afterst night¨Cafter witnessing what Francesco was capable of as a Lycan Alpha¨Cno one in their right mind would dare challenge him now.
Not after seeing the way he had moved, a living storm of power and fury, crushing those who had dared to threaten me
No,
Francesco was no longer just a respected Alpha among Alphas. He was a force of nature. An Alpha no one would dare to cross.
I was fastening thest sp of my traveling cloak when a soft knock at the door startled me.
Knock Knock..
Monica turned, frowning, and one of the guards immediately stepped forward
The door creaked open¨Cand there he stood. Alpha Ruben.
My heart gave an odd little lunch. Not pain. Not longing. Just¡ a strange, bittersweet ache for a girll no longer was, and the boy he no longer could be
He stood there awkwardly, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides, his eyes¨Cnot as bright as I remembered flickering withplicated
emotions.
¡°I wanted to speak with you,¡± he said stiffly. ¡°Mone
A low growl immediately rumbled from the guards nking mom, both stepping closer with cle
No, one of them said tly ¡°The Luna does not meet anyone alone. Not argmore.¡±
The word wrapped around me like armor. I didn¡¯t flinch. I didn¡¯t break, I simply stood straighter, taller.
I felt Francesco in the back of my mind his anger ring at the unexpected visit, his jealousy a hot pulse¨Cbut also his understanding
Closure
We both needed it. We both needed to choose our own paths with clear, final steps.
¡°Mind¨Clink me if you need me, Francesco murmured, his voice a growl of possessiveness and reluctant trust.
1 nodded subtly, reassuring!
¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± I said calmly to the guards, my voice carrying the kind of quiet authority I never thought I¡¯d have. ¡°Stay close. You don¡¯t have to leave.¡±
The guards hesitated, clearly torn between obeying and protecting, but finally took a few steps back, still tense and alert.
I faced Ruben fully feeling none of the old trembling, none of the self¨Cdoubt.
This was not the broken girl he had rejected. This was not the weak she wolf he had once turned away in favor of ambition. This was Eine Aurora Lycaon now, Luna of the Italian Pack, fully mated to a Lycan Alpha.
And I was ready to hear whatever he needed to say¨CBut nothing he said could change who I was now
20
AD
Comment
Send gift
No Ads
Chapter 39
Still His 39
The door i
estepped into the pond, tention thickening Hu
Tor a long moment, we simply tared at each other, the part stretching and fraying hotarem un tika as did,
Ruben was the font ta berak
He lecked down, rshaling sharphy, before raising his eyes to meet mine¨Ceyes that ones held promises and dream, now filed with regran
¡°You¡¯ve changed,¡± he said, voice low and rough,
A statement, not apliment¡
ted my head slightly. ¡°So have you¡±
He winced, a muscle ticking in his jaw
¡°thought I was doing the right thing¡± he said, almost pleadingly ¡°I thought rejecting you was for the best. For the pack For our future
¡°And was it?¡± asked softly, no venom in my tone, only curiosity
Hefaltered. The answer was written all over his face.
¡°No.¡± he whispered. ¡°It wasn¡¯t¡±
I crossed my arms loosely over my chest, fooling oddly detached as if I were observing this from a distance.
Onion, hight have crumbled hearing that,
Once, I might have clung to those words like a lifeline.
But now? Now they meant nothing
¡°You didn¡¯t just reject me, Ruben,¡± I said gently, ¡°you broke me. You humiliated me. You made a choice¨Cnot for the pack, but for yourself. For power
He opened his mouth, then closed it again, swallowing hard.
¡°I see that now,¡± he admitted. ¡°I was selfish, Stupid.¡±
He took a step closer, and instantly the guards behind him tensed, but I held up a hand to keep them still
¡°I don¡¯t expect you to forgive me,¡± he said, his voice cracking slightly, ¡°I just needed you to know I regret it. Fregret everything
A part of me wanted to feel satisfaction¨Cto see him hurting, to relish it. But all i felt was a profound, peaceful emptiness.
¡°used to hate you, Ruben. but not anymore¡± I said quietly. ¡°Now, I don¡¯t even pity you.¡±
ards settle in the space between us, heavy and final.
Het my words settle in
¡°I just don¡¯t belong to you anymore, I never really did.¡± I added firmly.
His face crumpled, years of guilt and longing crashing down on him,
¡°You love him,¡± he said, more a statement than a question.
I smiled a soft, genuine smile that surprised even me
Chapter 39.
With everything am.¡± I whispered.
A shuddering breath left him, as if that truth cut deeper than any de.
But he nodded, eptance¨Ctitter and grudging¨Cshadowing his features.
¡°He¡¯s a lucky bastant,¡± he muttered.
The door behind him opened slightly, and there, leaning casually against the frame, was Francesc
Not intervening. Not growling or asserting dominance. Just watching, golden eyes calm and steady, his presence enough to fill the undeniable power.
to fill the room with rank,
Ruben stiffened immediately, instinctively bowing his head in submission, recognizing that he stood before not just a rival¨Cbut a superior
Francesco said nothing. He didn¡¯t need to
The message was clear: She is mine. And you will respect that
Rubens turned back to me, shoulders squared with an effort that spoke of pride barely hanging on.
¡°I wish you happiness, Eine,¡± he said, voice hoarse. Then, almost brokenly, he added, ¡°You deserve it. And I am sorry, for everything¡±
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away, the door clicking softly behind him
The moment he was gone, I sagged slightly, the weight of the encounter finally pressing down on me.
I stood there, unmoving, staring at the spot where he had just been.
it was strange how quiet my heart was. No pain. No anger. No longing. Only peace.
Francesco didn¡¯t rush me. He simply waited, his presence wrapping around me like a silent, steady shield.
His scent, so deeply familiar now, lingered in the air¨Ccedarwood, leather, and the primal spice that was uniquely him
Slowly, I turned to face him. The moment our eyes met, something inside me cracked open. Not in sadness¨Cbut in overwhelming elit.
¦°¦¥
Without hesitation, I crossed the distance between us. Francesco caught me the moment I reached him, his strong arms wrapping securely around my body, lifting me off the ground just enough that my toes barely touched the floor.
I buried my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply, letting myself sink into the sanctuary that only he could offer.
¡°You did good, p luna,¡± he murmured into my hair, his voice low and filled with pride. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you.¡±
Asmall, shakyugh escaped me.
¡°I thought I would feel¡ something, Anger. Griet
et Regret. I pulled back slightly to look at him, my fingers brushing against his jaw. ¡°But all I feet is from.¡±
His golden eyes softened, molten with warmth and something deeper¨Csomething eternal.
¡°You broke thest chain that tied you to your past,¡± he said, his thumb brushing a stray tear from my cheek. ¡°Now you are truly mine. As I am yours¡±
His words wrapped around my heart like silk
Mine. As he was mine. There was no hesitation, no doubt.
1 leaned up and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth, feeling the way his body tensed slightly, always so careful with me now, treating ine like something precious¨Cfragile, but not weak.
*I love you,¡± I whispered
Francesco¡¯s eyes darkersed, his
Istining just beneath the surface
love you more than fate itself, amore mio,¡± he growled, the raw possessiveness in his voice seraling shivers down my prim. ¡°I would b
you
then¨Cdeep, slow, and iming
A kits that told me without words that I was safe, cherished, adored beyond reason
When we finally broke apart, the quaids still stationed nearly had tactfully looked away, pretending not to notice the dis
smed, feeling warmth bloom in my chest. Our family. Our pack. They were mine now, boo,
Audrey appeared at the door with Manica, beth of them pretending to be annoyed but their eyes betrayed their affection
¡°Are you two done?¡± Audrey a
y asked, hands on her
her hips.
¡°Some of us would like to leave before the next century
Monica elbowed her with a grin
agrin. ¡°Give them a break. They deserve it¡±
Francesco chuckled, setting me gently back on my feet.
¡°We¡¯re ready,¡± he said, his hand never leaving the small of my y back. A constant, grounding touch.
The pack grounds were buzzing with quiet, respectful activity as we made our wa
r way outside:
Dozens of pack members had gathered, lining the main road, heads bowed in farewell. It wasn¡¯t just respect for their Alpha¨Cthey were honoring met Their future Luna. Their protector¡¯s heart.
Tears pricked at my eyes again, but this time they were happy tears. Gratitude swelled inside me, so fierce it almost hurt
Francesco helped me into the sleek ck SUV waiting at the front, Audrey and Monica climbing in with us.
The engine purred to life, and with one final look at the grounds that had been my temporary home¨Cand would always be a home to me¡ªwe drove away!
The journey back felt surreal. The countryside rolled past the windows¨Cfields bathed in golden morning light, sleepy viges with cobblestone streets, forests draped in mist
For a while, we rode infortable silence,
Francesco¡¯s hand found mine, his thumb tracingzy circles against my skin, as if grounding himself in me.
Heaned my head against his shoulder, feeling his warmth seep into me.
¡°You¡¯re quiet,¡± he murmured after a while, pressing a splt kiss to my hair. ¡°Tired?¡± ¡±
I shook my head. ¡°Just_thinking¡±
¡°About?¡±
Thesitated, then smiled. ¡°About how I never thought I would have this. Love. Freedom. A future that feels like mine.¡±
He turned his head to look down at me, a rare vulnerable tenderness in his gaze. ¡°And you deserve it all, p. Every dream, every happiness. And I will make sure you have it.¡±
I swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the ingensity of his promise.
With Francesco, it wasn¡¯t just words, it was a vow Annath written in blood and soul
The rest of the drive passed in a dreamy barn.
The trip back to Florence passed faster than remembered.
?
Still His 40
I slept the entire line after that, wrapped in a deep, dramless haze
Francesco, Audrey, and Monica make sure no one could didn¡¯t disturbs me, no one make any sound. It was as if they understood the weightill cared the exhaustion that ch??ng to my h?nes after everything that hail happened. They let me have
i didn¡¯t even wake when wended
Francesco conied me through the terminal, his strong arms cradling
protectively fint once did heeamin. Not once did he even hesitata, despita the cusies and sometimes adoring nces from those who witnessed the sight of an Alpha carrying a woman as if she were the most precious thing in
The world
It was all a blur. A warm,forting blur.
When I finally stirred, it was to the familiar, subtle scent of sandalwood afort of a bed that felt almost too lusurious to be real.
rain¨Cascent that clung to Francesco and this ce¨Cand the deep, rich
1 blinked slowly, the heavy velvet curtains filtering in the soft morning light. My fingers curled instinctively around the nkets. They were heavy, warm, cocooning me in a safety I hadn¡¯t known I needed.
Francesco¡¯s room.
His scent was everywhere, wrapping around me in invisible threads offort. Yet he was not there beside me.
For a briel, disoriented moment, sadness pricked at my chest.
taria, their faces alight.
But before the feeling could grow, the door cracked open and in bustled Patricia, Monica, and¨Cmuch to my surprise and delight¨CMaria with wide, genuine smiles.
A cartden with trays of food rolled in behind them, filling the room with the rich, mouthwatering aroma of warm bread, sweet fruits, and rich coffee
¡°I heard a voice,¡± Maria said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. ¡°Our Luna is finally awake.¡±
I pushed myself upright, my muscles still heavy from sleep but my heart lighter than it had been in days..
¡°How are you feeling?¡± Monica asked quickly, her voice tinged with the frantic edge of someone who had clearly been worrying too much
¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± I said, stifling augh, even as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. ¡°I just slept¡ a lot. Seems like that was the n, huh?¡± teased,
raising an eyebrow at her.
Monica only grinned in response, not even pretending to deny it
We spent the next hour talking andughing, eating breakfast from thefort of the massive bed, Maria, who was still adjusting to life here, listened with wide eyes as Patricia and Monica recounted funny stories about life in the Italian pack
There was something about the warmth of this ce that felt different.
At ckpine, even kindness had felt sharp around the edges, burdened with expectation and hidden agendas. Here, it was softer. Simpler Genuine
And as I looked at Maria¡¯s face¨Chow her wrinkles softened and her tired eyes gleamed with wonder¨CI knew had made the right choice in bring
here.
Lucio. I smiled to myself, remembering the secret call I had visited once, hidden away from the busy streets of Florence. Lucio ran it like a secret kingdom, offering peace to anyone lucky enough to find it.
I would bring Maria there. Maybe fate would do something beautiful for her, too.
Chapter 40
In the Alpha office, other ce of the west wing, Francesco paused, his sharp lycans heating catching the faint sound of myughter
It was soft at first, like the chinking of a distant bell, but it grew,
A smile, rare and breathtaking, broke across his face.
hallway with life.
Beta Alfonso, who¡¯s inside with him, caught the change immediately. So did Marlow and the other warriors who is join the meeting. They saw the smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Areal sm
smile. One that reached his golden eyes, melting the hardness that had encased them for so long-
Beta Alfonso noticed first, exchanging a look with Marlow and the other warriors nearby.
¡°The Luna is awake,¡± Alfonso said quietly, a small, knowing smile on his lips.
The others nodded, understanding without the need for more words.
Because their Alpha¨Ctheir fierce, feared Alpha¨Cwas different now.
The cold, unapproachable wall that had stood around him for two long decades was cracking. Light was pouring in.
And they all knew the reason
Their Luna.
She had done what none of them could.
Inside the room, I finished my breakfast,ughing as Monica dramatically retold the story of her first encounter with Marlow¡¯s wolf form, which apparently had involved a lot of screaming and aical attempt to climb a tree
I didn¡¯t realize how much I had missed this kind of simple, silly happiness.
Maria caught my hand at one point, her old fingers squeezing mine.
¡°You are home now,¡± she said softly, her voice filled with a kind of quiet conviction that made my eyes sting. ¡°Really home¡±
I smiled through the sudden, burning emotion in my chest.
We had only been gone for four days. Four days
And yet, somehow, it felt like we had been away for months.
Maybe it was everything we went through. The battles, the farewells, the closing of an old chapter and the tentative, hopeful opening of a new one. After the long, heavy sleep I had taken upon returning, I felt refreshed. Rejuvenated. Stronger. Even Mika sounded different inside me¨Cher voice str deeper somehow, as if she too had grown during our time away
I could finally breathe again.
That night at dinner, I brought up the topic casually, thinking it would be a simple conversation.
¡°I think I should return to campus tomorrow,¡± I said between bites of pasta, trying to sound casual but determined. ¡°Eve already been absent for a week I can¡¯t fall too far behind.¡±
The words had barely left my mouth before a low, dangerous growl nimbled from across the table.
¡°No,¡± Francesco said immediately, his golden eyes shing with Alpha authority,
blinked at him, mouth slightly agape ¡°What do you mean, not
He set down his fork with exaggerated patience. ¡°You are still recovering. Eine.. - e. Absolutely not.¡±
I sighed heavily, already feeling the walls closing in around me, I should have known this would be his response
The entire table¨CPatricia, Monica, Maria, Alfonso, Marlow¨Ctried and failed to hide their amusement. Smiles tugged at their lips, and a few exchanged nces that clearly said: Here we go again.
Francesco, stubborn, possessive Alpha that he was, leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his broad chest. His expression was one of unshakable resolve
¡°But I have so much to do!¡± I insisted, trying to keep my voice even. ¡°I can¡¯t afford another absence. I¡¯ve already missed sses, assignments, my paintingpetition prep
He simply shook his head once, slow and final.
¡°Let¡¯s take another week before you even think about going back.¡±
I stared at him, horrified. ¡°What?¡±
He nodded solemnly, not budging an inch. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to get tired again. You¡¯re still healing, even if you feel better. Your body needs more time.¡±
I pushed back my chair and stood up abruptly, hands on my hips. ¡°Now I am tired,¡± I snapped, ring at him.
He frowned, confused. ¡°What, are you okay?¡±
I narrowed my eyes, feeling the rebellious spark inside me ignite.
¡°No, I am tired of you!¡± I shouted dramatically before storming out of the dining room.
The entire table erupted¨Cfood and drink nearly spilling as they broke intoughter Alfonso nearly choked on his wine, while Marlow pped the table. guffawing loudly. Patricia wiped tears from her eyes, and Maria covered her mouth in shock and delight.
Only I could get away with talking to their Alpha like that and not be instantly thrown over someone¡¯s shoulder and carried off for a very punishment.
y different kind of
¡°Ele on¡ El, don¡¯t be like that,¡± Francesco called, hurriedly pushing back his chair and jogging after me, his deep voice full of disbelief and reluctant amusement.
I walked faster, a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.
¡°Eine¡±
I could hear the sound of his bare feet on the polished marble floor as he chased me, and it only made me move quicker, ducking around a corner.
Behind us, Alfonso shook his head with an exaggerated sigh, watching the two of us like an exhausted older brother tired of babysitting
¡°She¡¯s going to make him lose his mind one day, Alfonso muttered.
¡°But at least he¡¯s smiling while losing it,¡± Monica pointed out with augh.
And it was true.
Because behind Francesco¡¯s stubborn scowl, behind his fierce Alpha fa?ade, there was something different now¨Csomething lighter, warmer.
And that something¡ Was me
I gasped loudly when i suddenly felt strong arms wrap around my waist.
Before I could react 1, Francesen hoisted me up like a sack of potatoes, effortlessly tossing me over his broad shoulder.
A shrick tore from my lips, echoing down the marble halls. ¡°Francescot Put me down!¡±
My fists pounded against his back, but he onlyughed a deep, rumbling sound that vibrated through his entire body and into mine.
¡°You little devil,¡± he teased, giving my hip a yful p that made me yelp again, ¡°You knew exactly what you were doing back there, didn¡¯t you?¡±
I grinned mischievously despite myself, hanging upside down while he carried me through the mansion like I weighed nothing at all.
Together, weughed, forgetting for a moment about the weight of titles, responsibilities, past betrayals, and future dangers.
We were just¡us.
A stubborn she wolf and her equally stubborn Lycan Alpha, finding joy in each other¡¯s defiance, in each other¡¯s presence.
When he finally set me down, it wasn¡¯t with anger or scolding. He kept his hands firmly on my waist, anchoring me to him.
¡°You drive me insane,¡± he murmured, lowering his forehead to mine, his voice rough but affectionate.
¡°Good,¡± I whispered back, breathless withughter. ¡°You deserve it for being so stubbom.¡±
His golden eyes softened, a rare smile tugging at his lips. ¡°You¡¯re trouble, mia luna¡ but you¡¯re my trouble now.¡±
We stayed like that for a moment, just breathing each other in, letting the bond between us hum quietly, steadily, wrapping us both in a sense of safety and belonging neither of us had truly felt in years.
The cold, proud halls of the Italian territory, once solemn and formal, now seemed warmer, alive withughter and love.
A new life.
New memories.
New beginnings.
Meanwhile
Far beyond the safety of our territory, across misty woods and forgotten ruins, a shadow stirred.
A dangerous wolf one whose name was spoken only in hushed, fearful whispers¨Csat alone by a crumbling hearth, sharpening a crual looking de.
He had heard the rumors
A powerful Lycan had risen. A Lycan who had destroyed entire squads of his n
is men like snapping twigs underfoot.
Impossible.
No Lycan had been seen in over two decades, not since he had shattered thest one by killing his mate. By ensuring his bloodline ended with grief and
rage.
do the wolf
Fsnarl low in his throat
The thought alone made
It can¡¯t be him.
He had watched the once great Alpha Lycaon fall into madness and ruin. He had watched him disappe
Yet¡ the whispers continued.
A Lycan who fought like a demon. A Lycan with a mate.
if it was truly him, then something had changed.
And if it was a different Lycan¡.
He needed to know.
Either way, the well thought, standing and gripping his de tighter, there was only one solution. Find the mate. Find the Lycan. And finish what he started.
The hunt had begun.
AD
Still His 41
The next morning. The sum brake themigh soh clouds, spiling golden fight over the baile.
1st by the window in our bedroom, already dressed, my gaze lingering over the silver olive groves that doited the tand the ancient guardiani, u sketchbooky open on myp, pencil in hand¨Chut it had chilled there twenty minutes and
So much had changed.
itsrge hostenny and thick velvet curtains, but
Since bing Francesco¡¯s mate his Luna¨Cthis manor had be my home. Not just the room with it! the air itself, the stone finers, thend.
Everything whispered his scent and presence.
Everything epted me
And in
| yet, I still didn¡¯t know what to do with it all.
Audrey and Monica had practically be my personal assistants¨Cthough they¡¯d scowl if I called them that, Guides, really Guardians. And not just them¨CJeremy, Jonathan, and even Joshua had all been pulled into this silent, unspoken duty of¡ watching me. Protecting me
Yes, Joshua.
d your mate¡¯s spy wasn¡¯t as subtle as they hoped. He wasn¡¯t bad at blending in, but it was hard Turns out, having a ssmate who¡¯s secretly a warrior and your to ignore how he always popped up wherever I was on campus. It felt weird. Not in a bad way. Just¡ odd. Like I had this invisible security bubble around me, and they were the operators
Not that I could me them.
No one had ever cared about me this much. Not just one person¨Ca pack. Francesco, most o with him, forming a wall of unshakable loyalty around us. Around me.
ist of all. It was like the moment he imed in
the pack shifted
I guess they liked seeing their Alpha smile. Liked that he didn¡¯t walk around like a ghost anymore.
I nced over my shoulder,
Francesco was still in bed, or maybe pretending. His arm drapedzily off the side of the mattress, chest bare and hair tousled like a storm had passed through. He looked younger in sleep, almost boyish, except for the faint scar near his corbone¨Ca reminder of battles i hadn¡¯t been part of
I stood and quietly packed my things into my bag, Sketchbook, pencils, water bottle. I was almost out the door when a familiar hand snaked around my waist and yanked me back against a warm, solid chest.
¡°Not going to happen, Luna mio, Francesco murmured against my neck.
I groaned. ¡°Francesco. Please, really have to go to campus.¡±
He opened one eyezily, but didn¡¯t let go. ¡°And miss our morning bath ritual? How cruel
¡°I¡¯ll bete,¡± argued, trying and failing to squire free. ¡°Be reasonable.¡±
His grip tightened with yfulness, lips brushing my cheek, I know that look. I was losing this battle.
So I deployed my only weapon puppy eyes.
¡°Don¡¯t you dare look at me like that, woman he growled half¨Cheartedly, but I could hear the crack forming in his will.
I pouted more, just for effect ¡°Pleaseee,¡± I whispered, brushing my lips over his jaw in the softest way
Inside my mind, Mika Ackled with plen, Even Lucas, steren¡¯t woll, was already melting.
¡°F¡± he finally huffed. ¡°Bat-
There it was. The infamous Ind
you agree to all conditions I may throw in.¡°¡±
I nodded quickly, knowing full well i was signing a vague, ambiguous contract of Alpha proportions, but then he scooped me up effortlessly anded me straight to the bath I didn¡¯t resist. His bughter, deep and unrestrained, echoed off the marble wall, and i found myself Laughing too.
Later, Audrey walted beside my ck Mercedes, her armis crouted and a smirk tugging at her lips.
¡°So, she said act approached, ¡°de I like this version of Alpha Francesco mere¡ or the fern lying pre you version?¡±
Irelled my eyes and grinned, handing her my bag. ¡°Don¡¯t start.¡±
From behind us, Jonathan and Jeremy loaded their car in silence, shadows as always. Audrey raised a brow as she overheard Francesco¡¯s voice barkingst¨Cminute instructions through the mind¨Clink.
¡°Shadows following us. Seriously?¡± she muttered, sliding into the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°You¡¯re not a queen. Yet,¡±
I snorted, ¡°Don¡¯t give him ideas.¡±
The campus looked the same as always¨Cstudents milling about, the buzz of life uninterrupted¨Cbut the air felt different.
Heavier.
Every nce lingered longer than it used to. Every whisper felt aimed in my direction. The werewolves among the student body knew. News had traveled fast through the supernatural grapevine.
Eine Rollin was no longer just the quiet she¨Cwoll studying art.
She had been med. Not by any woll By the Alpha Francesco Totti Lycaon.
And with that knowledge came distance.
Some stared with awe in their eyes, as if I were suddenly sacred. Others looked away quickly, almost afraid. I didn¡¯t me them. To them, I had gone from an outsider to someone important
Someone¡ untouchable.
Thated it
But there were three souls who hadn¡¯t changed¨Cbecause they didn¡¯t know.
Jose, Ang, and Katring waited near the dorm building. Human. Blissfully unaware of pack politics, mate bonds, or rogue threats.
¡°Damn, girl,¡± Ang blurted as soon as I stepped qut ¡°Are you dating a sugar daddy or something?¡±
I froze mid¨Cstop. ¡°Excuse me?!¡±
Katrina giggled, ¡°Don¡¯t pretend. Fancy car. Designer bag. And rumor has it someone bought you an apartment.¡±
¡°Then rumor has it you left the apartment, Ang added. ¡°So spifl
I nearly doubled over. ¡°You think I¡¯m dating some rich old man?¡±
They shrugged. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t me you?
I shook my head, still grinning.
If only they knew Francesco wasn¡¯t an old man in t
like cardboard cutouts.
Iman in the way they thought. Chronofogrally!
natty? He made mortali
The rest of the school day was peaceful enough. He drama. No rogue attacks. Just overly curious stares and whispered questions
Then, near sunset, I stepped out of ss to find him leaning against my car in the parking lot.
My Francesco¡
Wearing a sleek ck jacket, his golden eyes hidden behind sunsses, exuding pure Alpha energy that had half the campus swooning¨Cand the other half trembling.
He smiled as I walked up. ¡°You look happier,¡± he said, brushing a kiss over my cheek before opening the passenger door,
I couldn¡¯t stop giggling. ¡°You need to hear what my uman friends said about me.¡±
He arched an eyebrow, walking smoothly to the driver¡¯s side. ¡°Oh?¡±
¡°There¡¯s a rumor,¡± I began as he started the engine, ¡°that I¡¯m dating a sugar daddy¡±
He turned to me with a stunned expression, then burst outughing a realugh, deep and warm. ¡°You are¡± he said casually
Iswatted his arm. ¡°Hey!!¡±
¡°I¡¯ve been called many things, he murmured. ¡°But, that¡¯s a first.¡± He grabbed my hand and kissed it. ¡°You¡¯re my mate. You¡¯re everything¡±
We drove in silence for a while, his hand never leaving mine.
¡°It¡¯s weird.¡± I said softly, staring out the window. ¡°That someone ke me gets this life.¡±
¡°What do you mean!¡± he asked, voice genuinely confused.
¡°I¡¯m just¡ me. Ordinary. And you well, you¡¯re Francesco Lycaon¡±
He pulled the car to a stop at a quiet overlook just outside the city. Then he cupped my face with both hands and looked straight into my soul.
¡°You¡¯re not ordinary, Eine, you¡¯re extraordinary¡Please don¡¯t ever say otherwise. You have no idea what you¡¯ve done to me.¡±
My heart twisted.
Hopened my mouth to respond, but he leaned in and give me a longing kisses to shut me.
¡°I never believed someone like you could exist. But now that I have you, I¡¯ll do anything to keep you safe. And happy.¡± He continue
Tears pricked my eyes.
¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered.
He pressed a kiss to my forehead, and I leaned into him, letting his warmth seep into my bones. ¡°Always¡±
Meanwhile¡
Far outside Florence, under the cloak of night, danger stirred.
A figure cloaked in ck moved thanugh
1 the trees, his scent masked, his intent deadly. Around him, nig
olum prowled ¨C lean, hun
The hunter¡¯s de glinted in the moonlight.
The protection is too tight,¡± he preaded to his pack¡± ¡°What is he hiding?¡±
Francesco Lycan. The Alpha once shattered by the death of his mate, Anastasia Broken, Silent Barely clinging to e
Now? He had risen. Stronger. Fiercer, Like a beast reborn
Why?
¡°Could it be true?¡± the hunter muttered, eyes narrowed. ¡°Another mate? Impossible.¡±
And yet¡ everything about the Alpha¡¯s movement suggested it.
¡°Find out everything.¡± he ordered coldly. ¡°Who she is. Where she lives. Who protects her. We¡¯ll find the weakness in their fortress. And when
His wolves growled low and eager
¡°¡Me strike.¡±
E
Still His 42
Chapter 42
The storm rolled in without warning.
Thad just finished organizing thest of my sketches, the ones I nned to submit for the Florencepetition, when the first crack of thunder rattled the windows of the Alpha maner
Rainshed against the ss panes, wind howling through the ancient corridors like a pack of lost
Francesco wasn¡¯t home. He had left with Beta Alfonso to investigate rogue activity near the southern border, and though he had kissed me goodbye with promises of returning before midnight, a strange unease twisted in my stomach.
I stood near the window in our bedroom, arms wrapped around myself.
The storm felt different¨Cwild, like something was string just beneath the surface of the world.
Lightning shed, illuminating the olive trees that dotted the hills beyond.
That¡¯s when I felt it.
A tug¡
Not physical, not even a mind¨Clink. It was more like a calling. A whisper in my bones
My feet moved on their own, down the grand staircase, past the darkened halls of the manor. I didn¡¯t call Audrey or Manica. I didn¡¯t alert the guards. Something told me this moment wasn¡¯t meant for anyone else.
The pull led me to the west wing
A part of the manor rarely used, cloaked in dust and silence.
Thad only passed by it once before, told by Patricia that the rooms there were sealed for years¨Cremnants of the old Alpha and his grief.
A heavy oak door stood at the end of the corridor, marked with runes I couldn¡¯t read. The air shimmered around it, like heat waves on summer asphalt. But it wasn¡¯t hot. It was freezing.
My fingers hovered over the handle.
The moment I touched it, the runes red¨Ca dull blue glow¨Cand the door creaked open slowly, groaning like it hadn¡¯t moved in a century.
Inside, the air felt charged.
It was a room untouched by time. Shelves lined with spellbooks, dried herbs hanging from beams, a crystal mirror cracked down the middle.
in the center, a worn velvet chair sat in front of an arched window, and beside it, a single silver locket rested on a
a small wooden table.
I stepped inside..
As soon as my foot crossed the threshold, the door mmed shut behind me.
Candies lit themselves one by one.
The storm outside hushed into a strange stillnes
Then saw her.
Afigure materialized in the chair¨Cslowly, like mist gathering into form
Long silver¨Cblonde hair fell over her shoulders, her eyes a solt violet, plowing faintly.
She was beautiful in a timeless, fragile way. Not terrifying, but tragic.
¡°You came,¡± she said, her voice like the echo of wind through trees. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting, ine
My heart thadded in my chest. I knew, without her saying, who she was
¡°Anastasia,¡± breathed
She nodded, her fingers resting on the locket. ¡°There is much me. I¡¯ve held on longer than I should, tethered here by magic and regret. But now, the veil is thinning. And you need to know the truth,¡±
Tswallowed. ¡°Why me?¡°;
She smiled, sad and soft. ¡°Because you are the one who was meant to break the spell. The one who was meant to love him. Truly¡±
Lightning shed again, but the sound was distant now, like it belonged to another world.
Anastasia litted her hand, and the mirror behind her shimmered. ¡°Let me show you.¡±
Visions began to swirl inside it. I saw a younger Francesco¨Cbrooding, powerful, but clearly lost. Then, Anastasia¨Centering his life in a cloud of smoke
and seduction.
was sent by the rogue leader,¡± she said, voice distant, ¡°to spy on him, to win his trust and destroy him from within.¡±
I watched in disbelief as the visions showed her weaving enchantments around Francesco, gently drawing him in.
But something changed¡
¡°I fell in love with him,¡± she whispered. ¡°He was meant to be my mark, but I couldn¡¯t go through with it. So I betrayed the rogue leader. I gave up everything to protect Francesco¡±
The mirror red with violent red light.
¡°He found out,¡± she said. ¡°The rogue leader. He killed me¨Cnot just in body, but in spirit. He cursed me to remain here, trapped between this world and the next, a reminder to all witches what happens when we betray our kind.¡±
She looked at me then, her eyes shimmering with a mix of pride and sorrow.
¡°But that wasn¡¯t the worst part,¡± she continued. ¡°The spell cast¨Cthe one that mimicked the mate bond¨Cit worked. Too well. Francesco believed I was his. He never questioned it¡±
My breath caught in my throat.
Oh, my God!
¡°But you, Eine,¡± she said, standing slowly, her feet barely touching the floor, ¡°You are his true mate. His fated one. The one the moon created for him.¡±
Tears welled in my eyes.
¡°don¡¯t know if I¡¯m strong enough,¡± I whispered. All of this¡ it¡¯s too
co truchTM
Anastasia drifted closer, ¡°You are more than strong enough, Eine. You have already changed him more than I ever could. I softened the man. You¡¯ve awakened the Alpha,¡±
She led the locket and pressed it into my palm. ¡°Keep this. It holds a fragment of my magic. Should you ever need rity again, open it.¡±
The candles began to flicker. The wind picked up
2/3
Mon,
¡°My time is ending. But I¡¯m d I could tell you this before acted Please love him fiercely. Protect him in ways I could not. And when you stand by hy side, do not let the past make you doubt your ce.¡±
Istepped forward instinctively, reaching out to her, but my hand passed through air.
Anastasia¡¯s form was already dissolving, like mist under sunlight.
Her final smile was full of peace,
¡°Thank you for loving him,¡± she whispered, and then she was gone.
The candles snuffed out all at once.
1stood in darkness, the locket cold in my hand, my heart pounding,
I didn¡¯t know how long I stayed in that room.
When I finally stepped out, the storm had ended.
The sky was just beginning to blush with the first colors of dawn.
as soon as I stepped inside, Francesco looks up from his seat like he¡¯s waiting for me.
I walked back to our room in a daze,
but as so
His arms wrapped around me before I could say anything.
¡°Luna mia,¡± he murmured worriedly, ¡°You¡¯re cold. Where were you?¡±
I hesitated, resting my head against his chest.
¡°Just rediscovering a piece of your past,¡± I said softly,
His arms tightened around me. ¡°Are you alright?¡±
I looked up at him, brushing my fingers over his jaw. I could feel the bond between us buzzing with new intensity. Stronger. Realer.
¡°I am now.¡±
He didn¡¯t ask more. He just held me, our heartbeats syncing, and for the first time, I felt like I truly belonged
I wasn¡¯t in the shadow of another. I wasn¡¯t a recement.
I was his
And
d he was mine.
Forever
Still His 43
Chapter 43
The cand on my nightstand had long since melted into a pool of wax, but hadn¡¯t moved from the armchair by the window.
sketchbook was open in myp, though the page was still nk
Outside, the moon hung low over the rolling hills, casting soft silver over the olive groves. The Alpha Manor was quiet. Peaceful. But inside me..
everything had changed.
Anastasia hade to me.
Not in the way ghosts usually haunt stories¨Cnot with flickering lights or icy winds¨Cbut in a dream so vivid left the scent ofvender and burnt herbs lingering in the air when I woke
She was beautiful..
Not just in the way people describe the dead¨Cforever youthful glowing¨Cbut truly radiant. Tall, with dark auburn hair, piercing violet eyes, and an expression that carried centunes of
¡°You¡¯re stronger than lever was
I through the cypress trees.
¡°I¡¯m not trying to rece you¡¯d whispered in the dream.
A small smile tugged the pure not recing You¡¯re fulfilling ¡±
And then.
Not with words.
sured through ima lika bra and water. Her mission. Her betrayal. Her unexpected
in who couldn¡¯t help herst And the price she paid for that
She died for that betray
But she never h
Francesco nevnt
That she was the dagger meant for his heart, wrapped ink and spets. That he was only ever a
I held my head in my h
What did with th
sid him, it would destroy hus
I carry it alone. Not out of fear. But out of love
memory with a sacred silence we never dared break. And now carry this truth
Monica peeked in, still in her soft knit sweater and jeans, her brown curls falling freely over her shoulders, ¡°Wipha Francesco¡¯s still in the meat? Council. Jeremy and Audrey are downstairs. I thought you might want to take a walk.¡±
Inodded gratefully. ¡°Yes, please.¡±
The air outside was brisk, the scent of early spring clinging to the breeze. We didn¡¯t say much at first. Just walked the long stone path that wound through the southern gardens, past the rosemary bushes and the abandoned ss greenhouse.
¡°How are you really? Monica asked gently.
Thesitated. ¡°Tired.¡±
Her lips curled into a knowing smile. ¡°You mean the kind of tired that sleep can¡¯t fix?¡±
I gave a smallugh. ¡°Something like that,¡±
She stopped and looked at me, her gaze serious now. ¡°You don¡¯t have to carry everything alone, you know.¡±
I wanted to believe her. But how could I
Some truths weren¡¯t meant to be shared.
So, I just smiled and looked up at the sky. ¡°Sometimes we¡¯re given burdens because we¡¯re strong enough to carry them.¡±
She didn¡¯t push further.
Just took my hand and gave it a soft squeeze.
Later that evening, Francesco returned..
He found me in the library, curled up in the window seat with a book it hadn¡¯t really been reading.
¡°There¡¯s my Luna,¡± H
¡°he murmured, bending down to kiss my forehead.
He smelled of pine and smoke. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing the tattoo on his forearm¨Cthe mark of his bloodline.
¡°You¡¯rete,¡± I teased, closing the book.
¡°The Council always is. And they¡¯re growing uneasy.¡±
I sat up straighter. ¡°Because of the rogue sightings?
He nodded and sat beside me, his golden eyes dark with worry. ¡°They¡¯re organizing. More coordinated than before. Moving in patterns. We suspect¡
kadership
I swallowed hard. ¡°You think someone¡¯s leading them again?¡±
His jaw tightened ¡°They¡¯re looking for something. Or someone.¡±
I looked away quickly, masking the ripple of fear in my chest. I knew they were.
I¡¯d seen it. In Anastasia¡¯s memories.
¡°The witches¡¡± I whispered. ¡°Could they be involved?¡±
His eyes narrowed. ¡°We haven¡¯truled it out,
Inodded, saying nothing more. I couldn¡¯t tell him what I¡¯d seen.
Not yet¡
Instead, I rested my head against his shoulder and closed my eyes, listening to the sound of his heartbeat,
would protect him. Even from the past.
Over the next few days, I threw myself into my studies and painting
I even volunteered to help organize the cultural exhibitioning up at the university, pretending everything was fine.
Francesco watched me with quiet admiration and the asional raised brow when I came home covered in paint, ink, or ancient paper dust.
But the weight never left.
The rogue movements grew bolder. The patrols were doubled. Francesco grew more restless, though he hid it well behind his calm Alpha mask.
Then, it happened again.
Another dream.
Another visit
Anastasia came to me, this time not in soft words or gentle memories¨Cbut in warning
¡®He¡¯s searching. The rogue leader. The one who killed me. He remembers me. And he knows something has changed.¡±
I looked at her across the dreamscape¨Cthe same ancient forest as before, twisted with magic and memory,
¡°He wants revenge!¡± Tasked.
¡°He wants control,¡± she said. ¡°And he thinks you are the key to it.¡±
¡°Why?¡±
¡°Because you¡¯re fated, she whispered. And you don¡¯t know it yet, but your presence is healing what was broken. He fears that.¡±
The dream ended with a sh of silver eyes and a shadowed figure turning toward me with a growl.
I woke up gasping
The next morning, I requested ess to the restricted section of the old university library.
Monica covered for me. Joshua helped slip me past the guards, under the pretense of researching ancient werewoll rites for my project,
In truth, I needed answers, Mika, my wolf, was stirring more and more urging me to be ready.
The dusty tomes whispered secrets as flipped page her page. I found mentions of soul¨Cbonds, of second mates, and even ancient covenants between witches and Lycans.
And there¨Chalf¨Cburied in a crumbling book¡ªwas a symbol I recognized.
The same one I¡¯d seen in Anastasia¡¯s dream.
It¡¯s the sigil of the rogue witch circle that had sent her.
Itraced it with my finger, dread pooling in my stomach,
11:05 Mon, 14 Jul
They weren¡¯t gone.
They were waking
And they woulde for Francesco
I closed the boo
This was no longer just about history of heartbreak. This was wat
When I returned to the manor, Francesco was waiting for me in the study.
He stood with his back to the firece, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
¡°Where were you, my luna he asked quietly.
Thesitated. ¡°The library¡±
He tilted his head. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me?
¡°I didn¡¯t think I needed to,¡± I replied softly.
He walked toward me slowly. ¡°EL¡¡°,
My heart ached at the way he said my name. Gentle. Tired.
* just want to protect you,¡± he said. ¡°From everything¡±
I stepped into his arms and rested my head on his chest. ¡°I know.
He looked down at me, startled
And I smiled up at him. A secret smile. A knowing smile.
He didn¡¯t ask more. And I didn¡¯t offer
Some truths are meant to stay hidden
For now.
?
. But maybe¡ maybe I need to protect you
too.
Still His 44
:11:05 Mon.st
Chapter 44
The night air was warm, humming with anticipation, asughter and conversation filed the university¡¯s grand art hall
Candles flickered in ornatenterns, casting golden glows on the stone walls.
The Florence Annual Exhibition had always been a prestigious event, but this year, it felt different for me, at least I wasn¡¯t just a student anymore. I was the Luna of the Lycan Alpha, even if most of the humans Mound me didn¡¯t know what that meant
I stood quietly beside my painting, dressed in a soft navy gown that Audrey insisted made my eyes shine like moonlight.
Around me, professors, critics, and art patrons milled about.
The painting¨Cmy finalist piece¨Cdepicted a wolf beneath a moonlit waterfall, staring at its reflection in the water. A lone silver thread shimmered from the sky down to its heart.
When I painted it, I hadn¡¯t known it would capture so much of my truth.
Tonight was supposed to be peaceful. Celebratory. But even as I smiled politely atpliments and answered questions about my technique, something twisted in my chest. Aflicker of dread. My wolf, Mika, stirred restlessly.
¡°Do you feel that?¡± she whispered in my mind.
I stiffened. I did.
Aforeign presence slithered through the crowd, like a cold breath of wind in a sunlit room, nced toward the entrance,
At first, I saw nothing. But then, near the shadows of the archway, a man stood watching me.
He was tall, cloaked in a dark coat that brushed the floor, and his skin was too pale for a normal human.
But it wasn¡¯t his appearance that unsettled me it was his eyes. They gleamed red under the candlelight, like blood caught in a prism.
Rogue!
veil that blinded the humans to his danger
My breath caught. Around him, no one seemed to react. It was as if he wore a veil
¡°He¡¯s masking himself with magic, Mika growled. ¡°Old magic. Witch¨Cbom?¡±
Before I could react, he started to move, weaving smoothly through the guests, eyes never leaving mine
Fear gripped me, but I refused to freeze. Not now. Not here.
¡°Eine?¡± Jose¡¯s voice called out from my right, breaking the moment.
I turned instinctively toward him, and that split¨Csecond distraction was all the rogue needed
The lights shattered.
Screams erupted. Power burst through the gallerylike a thunderp ss flew. Candies extinguished. Shadows expanded unnaturally, and pu scrambled in panic.
The rogue was already moving, pushing toward me
I turned and ran¨Cnot away, but toward the back of the gallery. I needed space to shit, to breathe, to think. But Mika hissed, ¡°You won¡¯t shift in time. He¡¯s fast. Too fast. And we never shift for too long ¡±
Shit! She was right.
1/4
Immed open the gallery doors and stumbled into the courtyard garden behind the building, gasping for air. The stars overhead biked banind clouds, and my heels scraped against cobblestone as spun around.
The rogue stepped through the broken doorway, slow and deliberate, as if he had all the time in the world.
¡°Line Bodin,¡± he said. ¡°Or should I say¡ Luna of Lycaon.¡±
shil
His voice was oily, sweet with mockery, ¡°Your scent matches. Strang, Untouched by corruption. He must treasure you.¡±
He knows¡
I didn¡¯t answer. I clenched my fists.
He tilted his head. ¡°I wonder how quickly he¡¯d lose control.. ifitore you apart right here.¡±
My body pulsed with heat.
Mika was snarling, but still not strong enough to shift, Damniti
Then suddenly, a different energy stirred within me¨Cdeeper, older, unfamiliar.
What is this¡. Magic?
The moment I acknowledged it, it roared to life.
Blue mes surged from my hands.
The rogue paused, startled, but not afraid, ¡°Ah,¡± he whispered, ¡°You are the one. The second moon bond. The witch¡¯s failure. So she passed her gift to you. Curious¡±
¡°What do you know of Anastasia?¡± I demanded.
¡°she betrayed us,¡± he snarled. ¡°She was supposed to bind him, destroy him. Instead, she fell in love, Pitiful. And now she hides behind death. But we know he¡¯s no longer broken. Because of you.¡±
His words were a dagger, meant to twist guilt into my spine.
But all they did was ignite the storm inside me.
With a scream, I raised my hands and the fire leapt
The rogue deflected it with a wave of his own dark energy, but not all of it. Part of the me licked across his coat, catching the fabric.
He snarled and lunged
I dodged, barely, rolling across the garden gravel
My dress tore. My palms burned.
But I pushed forward, striking again with fire and force. The magic obeyed¨Cnot clumsy or wild¨Cbut focused.
Like it had always been there, waiting for me to call it,
From the shadows behind us, more figures appeared
MUI
Jeremy Jonathan Audrey and many more.
Weapons diawn, then eyes glowing gold in their wolves form
My fingers burned with a strange sensation warmth, power, Not from Mika. From something else
Anastasia¡¯s memories. Her legacy.
lifted my hand without thinking. Light pulsed from my palm. Not bright. Not blinding. But strong enough to send one rogue stumbling backward, yowling like a beast scalded by holy fine.
The crowd was scattering. Monica had returned, a silver dagger in hand, shing toward the rogue nearest a
1 turned back to the one who called me nut,
His eyes were fully golden now, but not werewolf Feral, Poisoned.
¡°You should¡¯ve stayed hidden, he bossed, ¡°He¡¯ll find you
¡°What I demanded.
est a group of frightened students
But he didn¡¯t answer, Instead, he charged, and I raised my hand again. This time, the light was brighter, Stronger.
It hit him square in the chest.
He screamed, convulsed, then copsed, twitching. Not dead. But incapacitated.
was shaking Not from fear. From the aftermath of what I¡¯d done
Magic
Raw and untamed. But mine.
Audrey rushed to me, eyes wide. ¡°What was that?¡±
Flocked at her, lips parted, but no words came
We all turned as campus security and more warriors arrived, followed closely by¨CFrancesco
He pushed through the crowd, golden eyes locked on mine, body tense
¡°EI?¡± he breathed.
I nodded. ¡°Tm okay.¡±
He pulled me into his arms, holding me close, not caring who watched.
But I knew, this was only the beginning
The rogue leader knew existed now. Knew I was more than just a student. More than a girl who¡¯d been rejected and left behind.
He woulde for me.
And I had to be ready
Even if it meant embracing both my wolf¨Cand the magic. I never know I caied.
Still His 45
The night when the exhibition attack det like it stretched forum
1st by the window of my new room at the Lycan state my room now, App Mantly weappeti my skin from the healing bath.
with the started beveride
The moonlight bathed the room in silver, and I could see the guards pacing the perimeter outside, shadows flicketing along riv gardenwall, reuna, E was quiet, warm, safe. But my heart was anything but will
Francesco hadn¡¯t let my side since the moment he arrived
He¡¯d held me as the campus chaos reveled, his arms fight around me, shielding me from more than just - It was at if he needed to confirm i was real, alive, breathing. And once we returned to the estate, he sat beside me through every medical check, every heerst every debrief with hi?
warnons
Now, he was asleep on the couch across the room, hisrge frame curled ufortably against the cushion, mit in his far short and bonts. His cost had been draped over me earlier, before i slipped out of bed to clear my thoughts.
I looked at him. The Alpha
But here, this, he was just Francesco
Mine
Not Anastasia¡¯s.
I shivered, even though the room was warm.
Not from fear, but from the weight of what I¡¯d learned. What the rogue had said. What I¡¯d felt in my own body¨Cmagc
Old magic. Wich¨Cborn,
Anastasia¡¯s magic. But passed to me?
My reflection in the window flickered, and for a moment, I saw not myself, but the blue fire dancing in my hands.
Was this truly who I was now?
Asoft rustle made me turn.
Francesco stimed, groaning low as he sat up, running a hand over hisce. His hair was a tousled mess. His shit clung to his chest, and the exhaustion etched into his features pulled at something deep in me
He looked at me then, eyes hary but focused. ¡°You should be in bed.¡±
I smiled faintly. ¡°So should you.¡±
He rose and walked over, wrapping the cost tighter around my shoulders. His hand lingered there, warm and solid.
¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± I murmured.
¡°Neither could. He replied quietly.
There was a long pause.
Then I turn my game back at him before ked, ¡°Did you know Anastasia was a witch!¡±
11:05 Mon
He stiffened.
Just slightly, but enough for me to feel it.
¡°I suspected,¡± he said quietly. ¡°But she never confirmed it. And I never
Tilt my head ¡°Why?¡±
He looked out the window with me, ¡°Because I didn¡¯t want it to change bowl saw her. And because love can make fools of even the strongest of men.¡±
The silence that followed was heavy. Not awkward, but thoughtful.
¡°She did love you,¡± said softly with a small smile forming on my
He turned to me, surprise flickering in his game. ¡°How do you know that?¡±
She showed me.¡± I whispered with a shrug. ¡°Or maybe her magic did. Her memories. When used that fire felt her. And her sorrow. She betrayed the rogue leader because she chose you. But it started as a lie.?
Francesco closed his eyes for a long moment.
He sighed ¡°I know,¡± he finally said. ¡°I didn¡¯t back then. But after she died. I began to wonder. Especially when the rogues didn¡¯t stop.
see¡.Yes, he must notice.
¡°Do you hate her?¡±
The answered without hesitation. ¡°But it was never what I feel for you, ine. That was youth. Hope. What I feel for you is something else. Deeper Stronger. I think it always has been¨Ceven before admitted it to myself,¡±
My heart tightened by the way he want to exined even though I know but still.. hearing from him, means a lot.
leaned into his side, and he pulled me gently into his arms.
We stood like that for a while, wrapped in each other, until sleep began to pull at the edge of my mind.
The next morning, I woke in his bed, the spot beside me empty but still warm.
A tray of warm tea and croissants waited on the nightstand, along with a folded note:
Gone to the council meeting. Stay inside the estate. We doubled the guards. I¡¯ll be back before lunch
I smiled at the scrawled signature, then moved to the window. The garden outside looked peaceful. I felt strangely drawn to it, like the first time Ie into the Alpha manor, but something feel different since I get this magic things inside me
Later that morning, her confirming with Audrey that fd be safe within the grounds, I ventured outside.
The garden stretched wide and wild, roses blooming in spirals and ivy climbing up marble columns. But at the far end, near the oldest part of the estate, noticed something strange¨Cgate I hadn¡¯t seen before.
It was rusted, covered in vines, and partially hidden behind a willow tree
My fingers brushed over the irontch
Magic shimmered faintly.
A memory Anastasia¡¯s?-shed behind my eyes. This gate had been sealed. By her
1 pressed my palm to the metal
Blue light pulsed,
The wines withered befor the pate creaked open.
Inside was a hidden gaiden¨Cevergrown but beautiful Wild herbs and moonflowers swayed under the morning light.
At the center stood a stone pedestal with a crystal nib resting atop it.
I stepped forward¡
The moment my fingers touched the orb, it lit up, and a projection shimmered to be before me
Anastasia¡¯s image.
Not solid. It¡¯s a memory. A message.
¡°Eine,¡± she said, voice echoing softly. ¡°If you¡¯ve found this, then the bloodline has epted you. The bond has chosen. Francesco¡¯s heart belongs to
you now
I never meant to fall in love with him. But I did. And for that, I betrayed the one who created me. The one who sought to destroy the Lycan bloodine.
You are more than a Luna. You are the second me the bridge between magic and moon. The one who can end what I began, I¡¯m sorry. I hope he forgives me. And I hope you forgive me, too¡±
The vision faded.
I stood free
The second me.
A Luns. A witch. A wolf.
I didn¡¯t know what it meant yet, but I knew one thing: I couldn¡¯t tell Francesco. Not now. Not yet. It would hurt him to know Anastasia¡¯s love began as a lie ¨Ceven if it ended in truth.
So, I turned and left the hidden garden, sealing the gate behind me
For now, I would carry the secret. For him. For
And when the time came to face the rogue leader¨Cthe one Anastasia once served¨CI would be ready.
Because I wasn¡¯t just Francesco¡¯s Lund anymore.
I was the fire born under moonlight.
And I was done hiding.
12
Still His 46
Chapter 46
it had been a week sin
The humans, unaware of the existence of werewolves, had scrambled to make sense of what happened. The official story spread like wildfine a group of vandals and gang members had broken onto campos during the night, destroying property and injuring several people before vansing into the woods.
To protect the students, the university board suspended all sses for a month¡
To me, it felt like the world had quietly fallen apart¡ªand no one realized it but me.
The memory of the rogue werewolves, of that guashing, chaotic energy thatered me like prey, still boned in the back of my mind. I had nearly died.
Francesco hadn¡¯t appeared when he did.
I would¡¯ve been a name in the news. A girl gone missing.
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the Lycaon estate¡¯s dining hall, casting golden rays across the long wooden table where breakfast had beenid.
The scent of rosemary infused bread, fresh eggs, and strong Italian coffee drifted in the air, Laughter and casual chatter echoed softly against the high stone walls as warriors, pack members, and household staff enjoyed the rate moment of calm.
Isat beside Francesco at the head of the table, surrounded by Beta Alfonso, Marlow¨Cthe pack¡¯s grizzled head warrior¨CAudrey, and a few key gus had returned with us from the night before.
After the chaos of the exhibition, a calm morning like this should have felt like a blessing. But it didn¡¯t¡
My hands trembled slightly under the table. Not from fear, From the storm building inside me, but I had made up my mind.
¡°Before we continue,¡± I said, voice clearer than I expected, have a request
Forks paused midair. Coffee cups stopped halfway to lips.
Francesco turned his head toward me, his expression softening immediately, as it often did when he looked at me. ¡°Of course, EL What is it?
I stood slowly, cing my linen napkin on the table.
I didn¡¯t want to do this seated, like a child asking for permission. I needed them to hear me. To see me as more than the quiet gel they were still learning
to understand..
¡°I want to train,¡± I said clearly. ¡°Properly. As a warrior.¡±
The silence that followed was sharp, cutting through the room like a knife
Marlow blinked. Alfonso straightened. Audrey choked slightly on her juice.
Francesco¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Train!TM
I nodded, ¡°Yes, I want to learn how to fight. Strategize. Defend myself¨Cnot just rely on others to save me.¡±
¡°EL,¡± he said gently, ¡°you already have protection, You have me, You have Audrey. You have an entire pack willing toy down their lives for you!
¡°know,¡± I replied, my voice steady, though my heart pounded. ¡°And I¡¯m grateful. Butst time proved that I can¡¯t always wait for someone to save me. That power¡ªI don¡¯t even understand it fully. want to learn not just to use it, but to be strong with or without it.¡±
Francesco¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°You nearly died.
¡°That¡¯s why.¡± I said quickly, before he could continue. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why.¡±
Marlon shihed in his seat, exchanging a quick nce with Alimaso.
want to train with the warriors, I continued, locking eyes with Marlow. ¡°I know I¡¯m behind. I¡¯ve never been taught boten why
can wake up at dawn, Iran do the drills. I just need someone to give me the chance.¡±
Francesco stood slowly, towering beside me ¡°No¡±
His voice was firm. Final
A flicker of pain pierced through my chest, but I stood my ground. ¡°Why, France1¡±
He looked at me as if the answer was obvious. ¡°Because you¡¯re the Luna.¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± I said with a firms nodded. ¡°That¡¯s why need to be strong
¡°You¡¯re not a soldier, You¡¯re not a weapon. You¡¯re my ¡°He caught himself. ¡°You¡¯re mine to protect.¡±
I hated how much those words made something inside me ache.
I know, he meant th
them with love. But they weren¡¯t what I needed to hear.
¡°I don¡¯t want to be caged behind your protection,¡± I said quietly. ¡°I want to stand beside you. Equal Capable, You weren¡¯t there when I felt helps and small my whole life. You weren¡¯t there when I was rejected, thrown aside like I was nothing. I¡¯m not asking for power. I¡¯m asking for freedom.¡±
The room had gone still. Even the warriors didn¡¯t dare speak
Marlow cleared his throat ¡°Alpha¨Cif I may-
Francesco shot him a sharp look. ¡°Marlow.¡±
¡°She has potential, Marlow said, voice low but firm. ¡°Magic or not. She has the instinct. She¡¯s already proven that
Alfonso gave a subtle nod. ¡°And the rogues know who she is now. They won¡¯t stop
¡°She will always be guarded,¡± Francesco replied coldly. ¡°That is not up for discussion.¡±
I clenched my fists
Calm down, I convince myself that I need to keep calm ¡°You can¡¯t fock me in a golden cage, Francesco. I won¡¯t survive that.¡±
His eyes met mine¨Churt, frustration, fear shing in their golden depths.
But, I have to keep firm with my request.
¡°This isn¡¯t about control,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s about you. About keeping you alive.¡±
¡°I know that,¡± I said, quieter now. ¡°But this is about me, too. My choice, My growth. You said I was more than what they made me believe. Let me prove
He looked away, jaw tight, hands clenched at his sides.
¡°I can help her,¡± Audrey offered gently. ¡°Train herin private. At least teach her the basics. I know what it¡¯s like, Francesca. To grow up underestimated.¡±
There was a long silence.
y and sat back down.
Finally, Francesco exhaled sharply a
¡°No weapons,¡± he said.
Iblinked¡ What¡.
¡°No field missions. No unsupervised sessions.¡±
My heart skipped.
Oh God¡.
¡°But¡¡°I try to speak and immediately shut it when he looked at me again, eyes still stormy, but softer. ¡°But you can brain. With supervision. At the estate grounds. With Audrey. And Marlow¨Cif he agrees¡±
Marlow gave a respectful nod. ¡°She¡¯ll be treated like any recruit. Early hours. Hard drills. No exceptions¡±
I did it
I swallowed hard. ¡°Thank you.¡±
Francesco didn¡¯t respond. He looked down at his te, untouched.
I took my seat again, heart racing,
The tension didn¡¯t leave the room. But something shifted.
I wasn¡¯t the same girl I¡¯d been when I arrived in Florence I wasn¡¯t just a rejected she¨Cwall trying to find herself in a foreign country. I was a Luna A Sighter A woman finally choosing her own path.
And even if the road ahead would be rough, I would walk it..
With or without fear.
And with Francesco¨Ceven if he didn¡¯t like it¨CI wouldn¡¯t walk it alone,
I know he will always be with me.
AD
Comment
Still His 47
Chapter 47
The training groundsy just beyond the forest fine a t open field surrounded by trees and old stone pirs that get the feet of in smoar
The first day, I barelysted an hos
Warmups alone left me breathless. Marlow backed neders like a drill sergeant while Audrey gently corrected my posture, bnce, and stances.
¡°You¡¯re leading with your shoulders,¡± she said, adjusting my arm again. ¡°You need to move from your open)
¡°I don¡¯t have a core,¡± I wheezed. ¡°it died sor
sed somewhere back in the jumping jacks.¡°
Marlowughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I rise from the grave eventually.¡±
Sweat dripped into my eyes. My legs shook. My body, so used to quiet routines¨Cpaint, books, walks¨Chad no clue how to respond to this sudden war zone regimen.
But I didn¡¯t give up.
Every time I fell, I got back up. Every time I made a mistake; I asked for the correction. I wanted to know where I was weak¨Cso I could be stronger
Francesco didn¡¯te down.
But I felt him.
Each morning, as the sun crested the trees, I¡¯d sense a presence near the edge of the forest Mika, my wolf, always whispered: He¡¯s watching. And somehow, that made the ache in my muscles worth it
This wasn¡¯t just for me anymore.
It was for the girl who never had the chance to train, to grow, to fight back
It was for the Luna I was trying to be
And for the pack who needed to see what I was made of
Even if I had to bleed to prove it.
Go to Francesco ¨C Alpha of Italian Pack point of view:
I shouldn¡¯t be watching her.
Not like this. Not every day. Not from the shadows liko¡¯some half¨Cbroken ghost
But I can¡¯t help it¡.
Every morning without fail, my senses pull toward the edge of the training grounds. I tell myself I¡¯m just checking her progress. That as to be informed.
But that¡¯s a lie.
Ie because I need to see her.
My Luna. My mate. My ine..
1/4
ha, I need
She moves awowardly¨Cher stance to open, her fiets too tight¨Cbut than¡¯t find in her Abarca, unrelenting fire that bu?ng Blight? trained beside
She¡¯s never learned to fight, never shifted, never been given the fadly to suniya in this brutal world, and yet here she is, bedring a blistering her feet, just to take back some control.
And thate it
Thate that she needs this
I hate that someone made her feel this powerless.
Lucas growls low in my chest, restless, furious. ¡°Why must she do this? We are strong for her. We protect her. Why is that not arough?
Because she¡¯s not the girl who waits in towers for rescue.
She¡¯s the one who breaks the door down herself.
And deep down¡ know even Lucas and I can¡¯t cage her spirit.
¡°Alpha Beta Alfonso¡¯s voice pulls me from my thoughts
I nce toward him, realizing I¡¯ve been standing at the balcony window of my office for far too long, arms crossed, eyes locked on the field below where she trains with Marlow and Audrey
¡°You should go down there,¡± he says casually. ¡°Say hi Or growl like an overprotective wolf, Either works.¡±
I smirk, but I don¡¯t look at him. ¡°She¡¯ll get nervous if she sees me.¡±
¡°You think she hasn¡¯t noticed you watching her every day?¡±
¡°She¡¯s focused,¡± I mutter. ¡°I don¡¯t want to distract her.¡±
He falls silent, and for a moment, t the only sound is the distant bark of Marlow¡¯s voice instructing her to fix her stance again.
¡°Are you a
alright? A
Alfonso asks gently.
He knows me too well,
Lexhale slowly, pinching the bridge of my nose. ¡°Just¡ worried.¡±
He steps beside me, following my gare ¡°it¡¯s strange, isn¡¯t it? After everything¡ after so many years of silence in your heart¨Cthen shees. And turns
rentire world upside down.¡±
I grunt. ¡°With her stubbornness, gods above,¡±
He chuckles. ¡°Yet here you are, letting her fight. Letting her get bruised and battered.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t say no to her,¡± I munur. ¡°Even when I war to. She¡¯s my everything¡±
We fall into a heavy silence
And then he speaks again, quieter this time. ¡°Have you told her about¡ the other thing?¡±
He doesn¡¯t finish the sentence because he doesn¡¯t need to. We both know what he¡¯s talking about.
Chapter 41
The surge of power that radiated from Eine during the rogue attack. The unnatural warmth in the air. The shoe gi?is the like light bending to her will Not wolf. Not fully
¡°She¡¯s something else, Alfonso murmurs.
I don¡¯t answer, Alfonso knows, he always knows from long time ago about her truly are, even when the tries to hide it from everyone
Anastasia¨Cmy former mate, a witch who died far too young and left a mark on this world too deep to forget
But somehow, some way, the essence of her magic¨Cthest remnants of her strength¨Care now shining inside my ine. A connection I don¡¯t understand. A legacy neither of us asked for.
¡°She¡¯s changing.¡± Alfonso says.
¡°She¡¯s awakening,¡± I correct, my voice low
And I¡¯m terrified.
Not of her but of what the world might try to do once they discover who she¡¯s bing
So I do what I¡¯ve always done.
I train¡.
Yes, every night, after meetings and briefings, after pretending to rest, I disappear into the dark forests behind the estate the ce only and the spints know.
I shift. I fight phantom enemies. I push my body until it aches. Until I copse. Until the Alpha was¨Cthe warrior I was bom to bees back sharper, stronger
Marlow and Alfonso have tried to stop me: Pleaded, even,
But I can¡¯t stop¡ Because if I am stronger, then Lucas will be too.
And if Lucas is strong¡ then we will be strong enough to protect her.
From anything. From everything
And maybe, just maybe, I¡¯ll be able to breathe again.
That night, I sense her before I see her.
The door creaks open slowly, and there she is¨CEine, dragzing her fact into our room, cheeks flushed, hair tied messily, her clothes damp with sweat
and dust from the Geld.
She doesn¡¯t say a word. She looks half asleep on for feet.
I¡¯m across the room in seconds.
¡°Eino,¡± I whisper, gently taking her hand before she copses. ¡°You pushed too hard again.¡±
She tries to shake her head, but even that movement seems to drain her. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she mumbles.
Stubborn!!!
ry her into the bathroom, and tum on the warm water.
I don¡¯t argue her, instead, 1scoop her up in fly arms, carry
She leans into metilently as I wash the dirt from her skin, brushing hair from her forehead and wiping away sweat and prime with a general i didn¡¯t know I possessed
Her eyes flutter closed
By the time I dry her off and carry her to bed, she¡¯s barely conscious, her hand dutching the front of my
¨C tho¡¯s afraid I¡¯d disappear
I tuck her incarefully, sitting beside her for along while, brushing my fingers through her hair.
¡°Rest,¡± I whisper, pressing my lips to her forehead. ¡°Tomorrow will be better¡±
Because I¡¯ll make sure of it.
No matter what storm ising
She won¡¯t face it alone. Never when she has me.
AD
Still His 48
Chapter 48
I woke
sup in pain.
The kind of pain that throbbed deep in my bones, like I¡¯d been trampled by a herd of buffalo or worse, Beta Alfonon. Every inch of me was sore, tight, aching. My limbs were sluggish, hemy like stone. Even turning my head on the pillow made me wince
But still¡ I smiled.
Because the pain wasn¡¯t empty. It wasn¡¯t from fear or grief or heartbreak. It was earned.
I had trained.
Thad chosen this pain.
And somewhere beneath the difort, I could feel something else. Something pulsing faintly in the background of my mind. Ap
presence
It¡¯s Her - a. My well.
Mika,
The connection wasn¡¯t fully restored, not yet. But she was closer than she had been in years. She didn¡¯t feel like a distant echo anymore she was real, tangible, humming in my bloodstream.
¡°You¡¯re doing good, El,¡± she whispered, her voice low, warm, proud.
Tears pricked the corners of
s of my eyes
¡°I missed you,¡± I murmured into the empty room.
¡°Me too¡± I felt the warmth ripple through my chest, like sunlight after winter.
I dragged myself upright, groaning as my spine cracked and popped. Every muscleined, but I weed the ache like an old friend. I nced down at my arms. Faint bruises bloomed like violet petals beneath my skin, and I could still feel the sting of yesterday¡¯s exercises¨CMarlow hadn¡¯t gone casy on me.
Good, I didn¡¯t want easy.
All my life, I had been hidden. Sheltered. Left behind.
Only twice had I ever shifted into my wolf form¨Cboth times alone, beneath the moon, trembling with lear that someone would see me in ckpine, was invisible. A nobody. The daughter of a died warrior who had no say. I was never allowed near the warriors, never invited into anything beyond the bare minimum.
And after Ruben rejected me¡ I lost everything.
Including Mika
The heartbreak had to me open, and with it, Mika had slipped into silence. I¡¯d tried¨Cgods, I¡¯d tried¨Cto call her back. But she had faded, just like I did.
Now I understood why.
Mika wasn¡¯t gone. She had been wounded, just like me. Rejection, betrayal, grief¨Cit had drained her power. And mine.
¡°You¡¯re special, Eine,¡± she had whispered paintly the night before, when I copsed after training
-Special how?¡±
But she didn¡¯t answer. She never did,
Maybe she didn¡¯t know Di maybe. It wasn¡¯t time yet.
I forced myself out of bed, slipping into loose clothes and pulling a hoodie over my sore arms. I tied my hair back, ignoring the suffe
and left the room with quiet determination.
Today would be another hard day
But I would face it.
Ast approached the dining hall, I expected the usual suspects¨CBeta Alfonso, Audrey, maybe a few warriors who always made fun of how much toast!: ate. I braced myself for teasing and aching muscles
What I didn¡¯t expect
Was him. Francesco.
Sitting at the head of the long table, coffee untouched, eyes locked on the hallway like he had felt meing
My feet stalled
He looked too good for this early in the morning. A ck long sleeved shirt clung to his frame, rolled at the sleeves, exposing his strong forearms. His dark hair was still damp from a shower, pushed back carelessly. He looked like he belonged in a ck¨Cand¨Cwhite painting timeless, watchful, dangerous.
And yet¡ his eyes softened the moment theynded on me.
-Morning,¡± he said quietly,
standing
early.¡±
¡°Hi,¡± Treplied, stunned. ¡°You¡¯re up e
¡°I¡¯m here for you,¡± he said simply.
Iblinked. ¡°What?¡±
He stepped around the table and walked straight to me. ¡°I¡¯m joining your training today.¡±
My jaw fell open. ¡°Wait¨Cyou¡¯re training with me?¡±
¡°Supervising,¡± Marlow called from his seat. ¡°Hovering, Being annoying¡±
Francesco ignored him.
¡°You don¡¯t have to,¡± I said softly, unsure how I felt about it. A part of me was ttered. Another part terrified,
His gaze locked onto mine. ¡°I want to.¡±
But
¡°I¡¯m your mate, ine. I want to be by your side, not watching from a distance.¡±
And just like that, he erased every doubt swirling in my chest.
He reached out, took my hand, and tugged me closer. And right there, in front of everyone¨CBeta Alfonso, Marlow, Audrey and the rest¨Che kissed me
It wasn¡¯t rushed or hesitant.
It was iming.
A kiss that said mine, and I¡¯m proud of you, and I¡¯ll be here every step of the way.
Behind us, someone groaned,
¡°For monit¡¯s sake, can you not to this before I finish my eggs?¡± Audrey muttered.
Allenso chuckled, ¡°Do I need to confiscate your Eps, Alplsa?¡±
Francesco
puffed away with a smirk, but his eyes stayed locked on
They¡¯ll get over it
I couldn¡¯t help the smile spreading across my lips. My cheeks burned, but for once, I didn¡¯t shrink under the attention.
Because I had never felt this supported in my life.
And yet. As we made our way out to the training grounds, walking hand in hand under the morning sun, I caught the glint in Francesco¡¯s is the one that made my stomach twist.
Shit! He was definitely nning something.
Marlow and Alfonso exchanged a look as we passed. Audrey whispered something that made them both chuckle, but neither of them wamed me.
Traitors
I swallowed hard, trying to convince myself I was ready.
But something told me¡ Today was going to hurt.
The sun had barely risen, but the training grounds were already buzzing with life. Warriors jogged in formation, weapons nged in drills, and the scent of sweat, steel, and earth filled the air,
And in the center of it all¡ was him
Francesco¡ My mate. My Alpha. And now, apparently, my personal tormentor.
¡°Are you sure you¡¯re ready for this?¡± he asked, standing a few feet from me, arms crossed, a stern look recing his usual softness.
No smirk. No teasing.
Just¡ the Alpha.
y, even if my muscles still trembled from yesterday.
¡°I want this,¡± I said firmly, even i
His jaw tightened. ¡°That¡¯s not what I asked.¡±
I swallowed. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m ready¡±
He nodded once, sharp and decisive. ¡°Then today, you¡¯re mine.¡±
i blinked. ¡°What?¡±
¡°For training,¡± he rified. ¡°You¡¯ll spar with me. One¨Con¨Cone¡±
Marlow, who had beenzily stretching on the edge of the field, nearly choked on his protein bar
Audrey snorted. ¡°Should we call the med tam now or wait until she copses?¡±
¡°I¡¯m right here, you know,¡± I muttered in annoyance.
Francesco¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°They¡¯re just worried. I¡¯m not going many on you?
lifted my chin ¡°I don¡¯t want easy¡±
He studied
Ime, and something, flickerd
his eyes. Pride, maybe. Or rch
luctance. Or both.
¡°All right,¡± he said.
He stepped onto the mat and waited.
My pulse quickened.
The first few moves were simple, Defensive blocks, footwork corrections, strikes. He moved with terrifying grace, sach him to hold my own, but he was faster, Stronger.
Still, I didn¡¯t stop
Sweat beaded on my forehead. My body screamed. But I pushed forward.
¡°Focus your stance,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re leading too much with your left. Center your weight.¡±
¡°Okay.¡± Ipanted, adjusting
He circled me again.
ated I tried to mitos
This time, he struck faster. A sweep of his foot knocked me off bncended hard on my back, gasping as air rushed out of my lungs.
He stopped closer. ¡°Again.¡±
I blinked. ¡°Wha
¡°Get up, Luna¡±
His voice was calm, but there was steel in it. Not cruel, butmanding Distant, Like he had pulled the mate away and let only the Alpha. I forced muse
I myself up.
Again. And again.
And again¡
Each fall hit harder. Each mistake cost me more. My pride, my bnce, my strength.
But
the never stopped.
He demanded everything.
And I gave it.
Because this was why I came here. To stop being afraid. To stop being small. To reim the strength that had been taken from me.
My body ached. My knuckles were raw. My legs barely held me up.
And then he stopped.
He didn¡¯t say anything at first. Just stood there, breathing hard, sweat glistening on his brow as he looked at me like I was a puzzle he couldn¡¯t solve
Then, quietly: ¡°Why are you really doing this, Amore mio?¡±
Whatz
The question hit harder than his fists.
I blinked at him, surprised. ¡°Hold you
I want to be stronger.
¡°No,¡± he said. ¡°You want something more. You¡¯re chasing something
1 bit my lip. Shit! He knows me better now.
He stepped closer. ¡°Talk to me, El
Thesitated, heart pounding Then I whispered: ¡°I want Mika back,¡±
His eyes widened.
¡°I miss her,¡± I said, voice cracking, ¡°I miss me, I was never allowed to be strong before. And when I finally started to believe I could be..he. He rejected - me.
Francesco¡¯s jaw clenched.
¡°I¡¯ve only shifted twice,¡± I continued. ¡°Mika used to be strong. Loud. But after the rejection, she¡she weakened. I couldn¡¯t feel her anymore, just her
voice.¡±
He reached out, gently brushing my cheek with the back of his hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry
¡°I want her back,¡± I said again. ¡°And I think¡ if i get stronger, maybe I¡¯ll find her again. She it stronger too if I am strong.¡±
He looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time.
Then he pulled me into his arms.
No one dared say a word, everyone falls silent but i could sense something, proud? No one judgeme
He held me tight, his heart thundering against mine. ¡°You¡¯re already stronger than you know, Eine. And Mike¨Cshe¡¯s still in there. I can feel her. Even Lucas can feel her. She¡¯s watching. Waiting
I nodded, pressing my face against his chest,
He held me a mement longer, then leaned back. ¡°Okay¡ And that¡¯s enough for today.¡±
¡°But¡¡°When I just opened my mouth to protest.
He silenced me with a look. ¡°Don¡¯t argue, Luna Mio. You need rest¡±
I didn¡¯t push. I was too tired to win, anyway.
Francesco scooped me up in his arms without warning, ignoring the amused whistles from the warriors nearby
¡°Alpha, seriously?¡± Audrey called.
¡°I¡¯m not risking her walking when she looks like she¡¯s going to fall over,¡± he said simply, and carried me off the held.
Back in our quarters, he drew a warm bath. He didn¡¯t speak as he carefully removed my hoodie and sweats, helping me into the tub like I was made of ss.
I could barely move. My limbs shook. My eyes stung with exhaustion.
He washed me gently, his touch reverent, quiet. Like I was something sacred.
Afterward, he carried me to bed, dressed me in one of his shits, and tucked the nkets around me like a coron
As I drifted off, he kissed my forehead.
¡°Sleep, amore mio. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll try again, And I¡¯ll be right beside you,¡±
And this time, Mika¡¯s voice was a little louder.
¡°He¡¯s good for us,¡± she whispered,
¡°I know,¡± I whispered back before tightened my embrace to the man in my arms.
And finally¡ I slept,
AD
Comment
Still His 49
Chapter 49
When I woke up, my body felt like it had been trampled by a dozen warriors,
Every muscle screamed. My back, shoulders, legs, even my fingers ached. Just the act of turning my head felt the lifting a mountain.
I groaned and curled deeper into the warmth of the sheets, trying not to whimper like a wounded pup. Goddess, what kind of man made her love train
like that?
But of course, Francesco wasn¡¯t just any man
Almost like he¡¯d anticipated the pain I¡¯d be in, I found a tray waiting for me by the side table¨Cfragrant, warm, and filled with the kind of nourishment only a pack mother could create. Maria¡¯s signature touch. Warm honey oat porridge with berries, soft herbal bread, bone broth tea
I barely sat up before Francesco walked in, carrying a soft bundle of clothes and a mischievous smile.
¡°Good morning, amore mio,¡± he said, leaning down to kiss my forehead gently. ¡°You¡¯re not moving today, are you?¡±
I gave him a pitiful, grumpy stare in response. He chuckled.
¡°Come on, let me help you dress, Maria went all out for your breakfast. She even made jam from those berries you liked¡±
I didn¡¯t argue couldn¡¯t. Every limb felt like it i brushed my hair back with gentle fingers
filled with molten lead. He helped me sit up, held the shirt open so I could slip my arms in, and even
Spoiled
That¡¯s
And let him
¡°You need to rest for two,
sured as he buttoned up the front of my shirt. ¡°Your body needs time to recover. It will get better,
Lopened my mouth to protest, but he was.
is already stroking my cheek with his knuckles,
¡°Don¡¯t be sad,¡± ¡°hei spered, reading my
abook. ¡°You¡® be stronger when you¡¯re better. Trust me?
His lips Brushedimine¨Csoft at first, then deepening unit forgot the ache in my body. His hand cradled my neck, the other curled at my waist, holding me steady like i was something precious.
He¡¯d changed.
Since I told him the truth¨Cthat I wanted Mika back, that my wolf who had been weakened by rejection¨Chard changed.
i
i thought he might feel pity or guilt.
Instead he stood taller. Firmer Fiercer in the way he looked at me, like I was bing something worth guarding with his life.
my weak connection to the pack mind¨Clink trembled with voices, Cheering me on. Wishing me well. They weren¡¯t clear¨Cmy wall enough¡ªbut I felt them
Their support Hope Loyalty.
And I vowed.ng
to let any of them dow
The next two days passed in a quiet blur, Francesco inade sure I ate evlry meal. He sal beside me while Trapped someti
y curled against his chest, his heartbeat my buby.
He delegated his Alpha duties to Beta Allen, who I was sure was grumbling through every meeting, fut somehow, everyone dill supported Francico¡¯s decision. The warriors smiled at me when I passed. Even the nmegas offered extra help.
And in that peace, found time.
Time to open the sketchbook Thadn¡¯t touched in days.
The pages smelled faintly of charcoal and old dreams. I stared at the nk sheet for a long while before picking up my pencil.
Then, with trembling hands, I began to draw.
Lucas came first¨Cmajestic, broad, proud. Francesco¡¯s Lycan wolf had this ancient, powerful aura that always made the air crackle when he stood nearby.
And then¡ Mika.
My beautiful, elusive white wall. It had been so long since I¡¯d seen her, but I remembered her eyes. Silver like moonlight, rimmed in frost. Her coat shimmered like winter snow under the stars. She¡¯d always looked out of ce in ckpine, like something too wild and rare for such a cold¨Chearted ce.
1 painted them both¨CLucas howling into the night, and Mika, standing beside him, silent but unbowed, as if waiting for her time to rise again,
Third Party Point of View:
in the crumbling remains of an abandoned monastery deep in the mountains, the rogues regrouped, their eyes burning with frustration and disbeliet The air looked of old blood, fear, and failure:
Thest attack should¡¯ve been simple Quick. The girl had no pack, no formal training. The campus was supposed to be an easy target¨Cfull of humans, fragile and unaware
But instead¡ she had burned them.
Not with fire. Not with ws.
With magic.
¡°She shouldn¡¯t have that kind of power,¡± one of the rogues spat, his voice hoarse as he clutched a singed arm that still pulsed with residual pain. ¡°She didn¡¯t even shih¨Cbut she threw me back like a damn child.¡±
¡°I saw her eyes,¡± another muttered, his expression unreadable ¡°They glowed¡ silver. Not a wolf¡¯s glow. Witchlight. Like
¡°Don¡¯t say it.¡± The rogue leader stepped into the room like a shadow, his voice sharp and cold.
But it was already too . The name had taken root in every mind in the room.
Anastasia,
Thest known witch to ever stand beside the Lycans. A Luna. A legend. A woman whose power was said to have died with her in the fire of betrayal and grief.
¡°Tell me again,¡± the leader said, narrowing his eyes as he paced before them, ¡°What exactly did she do?¡±
didn¡¯t run. She didn¡¯t scream. She closed her eyes.
One of the scouts stepped forward, hesitation thick in his voice. ¡°When weered Whispered something i couldn¡¯t hear. And then it hit me the force. Like a wall. My wolf whimpered before even touched her.¡±
Jenzhar uddet ¨C
The n Bepan
To find out
be Lydan tas inne
of the Lycan kon
Glowed. ¡°Even betty
The firelight tickered,
Still His 50
urrounded by humans Easy
Ub ¨C Mon, 14 001
Chapter 50
It¡¯s been three weeks since 1 first stepped onto the training grounds with trembling knees and aching doubt.
Three weeks since I gasped for breally, unsure if my legs could carry me through one morep, one more push¨Cup, one more round of sparring under Audrey¡¯s sharp eyes and sharper tongue.
And now?
Now Irun.
racross the field, hair loose in the wind, boots pounding the earth with a rhythm that feels¡ free. Fast, Alive.
I¡¯m not the strongest. Not yet. But I¡¯m better¨Cstronger than I¡¯ve ever been. More than ever believed I could bej
¡°Amazing, El!¡± Audrey shouted this morning after our thirdp around thepound¡¯s outer ring. Her hands rested on her hips, breath slightly short but ?yes bright. ¡°You¡¯re fast¨Ccrazy fast. I thought I was the fastest in the pack.¡±
Iughed, breathless and giddy, my cheeks fushed from more than the running ¡°I thought I was slow.¡±
¡°You were,¡± she said with a wink. ¡°But not anymore
Even Francesco, who had insisted on watching every session for thest week, couldn¡¯t hide his pride. He stood at the edge of the field, arms folded, jaw rxed, his dark eyes never straying from me. When I stumbled toward him at the end of our drills, he always caught me in his arms, holding me like something precious but powerful
And every time, without fail, he would murmur into my hair, ¡°I¡¯m proud of you, amore mio.
And oh, how I lived for those words.
He didn¡¯t coddle me. Not anymore. He encouraged. He protected, yes¨Cbut not like before. Not in a way that smothered. He gave me space to grow, fight to fall and rise again.
He saw me not as something to shield¨Cbut as something rising
And I knew he felt it too¨Cthe shift. Not just in my speed or stamina or how quickly I could disarm Jonathan now in a sparring match. But in my energy
Something inside me had changed.
Mika
My wolf stirred more than ever these past few nights. Sometimes, I¡¯d be brushing my teeth or sketching in themon room, and I¡¯d feel her¨Ca soft nudge in the back of my mind. A quiet hum of breath against my spirit.
I¡¯m here, she¡¯d whisper. Finally.
I remembered her eyes¨Ccrystal blue like the winter skies back in ckpine. I remembered the two times I had secretly shifted when I still lived there, long before rejection crushed my world. The first time, I¡¯d nearly fainted. The second, I hid under the old bridge near the woods for hours, too afraid to shift back until the moon dipped low and the pain faded.
Mika had told me once, before everything shattered: You¡¯re special. You carry more than a wolf.
And then Ruben rejected me
Everything everything¨Cbroke
But now¡
11:07 Mora
Chapter 50:
Now, something inside the was being rebuilt,
1 could feel it in the way the earth responded to my steps. The way my instincts sharpened. How could sense Francesco before taki
room, or feel a lie under someone¡¯s tongue like a wrong note in a song.
Even my skin glowed a little wanner under the moon.
I wasn¡¯t just recovering, I was awakening
The wind was softer today, almostry as it swept across the hills beyond the training rounds. I sat on the grass, legs stretched out, sketchbook open beside me, though I hadn¡¯t drawn a single line.
The Tuscanndscape spranded ahead¨Cgolden hills, olive groves, vineyards tangled in green. I stared at it, yes unfocused, heart full.
Tomorrow, I thought, school starts again.
Myst semester. Graduation was so close, I could practically feel the cap on my ?
yhead.
I never thought I¡¯d make it this far.
I¡¯de to Italy broken¨Cheart aching, soul shattered, hiding behind books and paint and silence. I had dragged my pain with me like luggage I didn¡¯t knew how to unpack,
But now?
Helt different. I was different.
I was no longer the girl who cried under the full moon, begging her wolf to speak to her
I was bing someone now. Someone whole
Footsteps approached behind me¨Csteady, deliberate
I didn¡¯t turn. I didn¡¯t need to.
know it¡¯s you,¡± I mumsured with a smile.
A low chuckle
Heavy boots stopped beside me, and then the grass dipped slightly as Francesco sat down. He didn¡¯t say anything at first¨Che just pulled me close until i leaned naturally into his side, my head resting against his shoulder. His arm wrapped around my back, warm and steady.
For a while, we just watched the wind move through the trees.
Then he asked, ¡°Why so serious, Amore Luna!¡±
I smiled into his shirt, wrapping one arm around his waist. ¡°Because I¡¯m happy¡±
I tilted my head up to look at him ¡°Truly Deeply, Happier than I thought I could be again.¡±
He studied my face, then lifted his hand to cup mycheek, his thumb brushing lightly under my eye.
¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me,¡± he said gently. ¡°¡®s an honor to have you in my life¡±
His voice, raw and real, wrapped around me like silk.
¡°And you¡¯re right¡± he added after a beat, his gaze drifting out across the field, ¡°Knowing you¡¯re stronger it puts me at ease.¡±
beamed, pressing a kiss to his jaw. ¡°Soo? You don¡¯t have to worry all the time.¡±
He chuckled, low and warm¡± will always worry, amore¡¯s in the job description¡±
Trolled my eyes, nudging him yfully know. But you know what I mean.
¡°I do, my Luna, ¡°he said, vorce tott but fem.
After a pause,
, he asked, ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s the beginning of your final semester. How does it feel
Let out a long, thoughtful sigh. ¡°Surreal, Like it flew by. But I¡¯m happy. Really happy¡±
He nodded. ¡°Keep your eyes open. Stay aware?
¡°will¡± promised ¡°always do now¡±
He kissed the top of my head. ¡°That¡¯s my pl
The next morning arrived with golden light and the faint scent of coffee from the manor kitchen.
Audrey stood by the car with that confident smirk
weighed nothing
wore so well, dark sunsses hiding her watchful eyes. She tossed my bag into the back seat like t
¡°Ready to take on the world, graduate to be?¡± she asked.
*ALIT ever be,¡± I grinned, smoothing the front of my jacket.
Joshua and Jeremy were already waiting in the ck SUV a few paces behind us¨Cmy shadow guards, as they¡¯d been nicknamed. Always nearby. Always
QUIEL
Together, we made our way into the city.
The moment I stepped onto campus grounds, Tfalt it¡ªayes on me.¡±
But it wasn¡¯t fear this time. Orpity. It wasn¡¯t even distance.
It was recognition.??
Warm greetings. Familiar smiles. Human ssmates waved as I passed, asking how my break had been. A fewplimented my new haircut. Someone even offered me a pastry from the little caf¨¦ stand
It was¡ normal
And I didn¡¯t shrick from it
Jose, Katrina, and Ang were already lounging on the dorm steps when I approached. They looked up, -eyed and dramatic as always
¡°Ell¡± Ang squealed, ¡°Where have you been? You¡¯ve been ghosting us!¡±
Katrina grinned. ¡°We were about to file a missing persons report¡±
Josejust smirked. ¡°You look different Glowing. Like someone¡¯s been working out¡or
L.. or making out.
I burst intoughter, cheeks pink, i missed you guys¡±
We hugged, joked, and made our way to ss. It felt like the best kind of homing
Even if they didn¡¯t know the whole truth¨Cabout who I was now, what I was bing they still saw me. And somehow, that was enough.
Later that afternoon, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirrored ss outside the art building.
11:07
Mon, 14 Jul
Hair tied in a high ponytail Light jacket Combat bootsy
And for the first time. I didn¡¯t look away.
This is whom.now
cand muddy from morning drill Confidence in my stride. Fite in my eyes
Not just a student. Not just a werewell. Not just someone¡¯s fated mate.
But a survivor.
Afighter.
Aluna
And this?
This was only the beginning.
Still His 51
Chapter 51
It was another ordinary ammoon on campus. The sun Mitered gently through the courtyard frees, their branches dancing in the breed like low wate on a quiet sea. The burr of coversation andughter from students filled the air, blending with the tter of trays in the outdoor cafeteria sabeneath a shaded umbre with Jose, Angels, and Katrina, our tes nearly empty, the table covered with opened books and notes Finals wereing, and even ourzy lunches had be study sessions
¡°I swear, it Professor Bianchi adds one more reading to the sybus, I¡¯ll just melt into a puddle of exprdue assignments Jose muttered, flipping a page in frustration.
Ang and Katrina weren¡¯t paying attention:
¡°Oh my God, that¡¯s him That¡¯s hill¡± Ang squealed, nearly dropping her fork.
Katrina practically bounced in her seat. ¡°He¡¯s even hotter up close!¡±
Jose and looked up from our textbooks in confusion. ¡°Who?¡± Lasked.
¡°That¡¯s Mario.¡± Katrina whispered with starry eyes. ¡°The new student exchange guy who arrivedst week. From Spain, I think? Or Brasil? Anyway, that ent, that jawline¡
Jose rolled his eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. ¡°Yeah, yeah, the new guy everyone¡¯s obsessed with. It¡¯s like campus has turned into a Mario fan club overnight.¡±
I followed their gaze. There, just a few tables away, sat a guy I hadn¡¯t noticed before. Tall, lean, with sun¨Ckissed skin and dark, slightly tousled hair that seemed to fall perfectly without effort. His clothes were stylish but understated he didn¡¯t try too hard. He looked around with a calm ease, his lips tugged into a gentle smile as he nodded at someone who waved at him
He looked normal. Human
But something about him made me pause.
¡°He smells like rogues, Mika¡¯s voice suddenly echoed in my mind, sharp and protective.
My stomach tightened.
What? asked silently, my eyes narrowing.
¡°I know that scopt. Masked¡ faint¡ but I¡¯m sure. He¡¯s not what he appears to be¡±
I nced again, trying to keep my face neutral. He looked up night at that moment¨Chis dark eyef met mine.
My heart skipped.
Not out of attraction
Out of instinct.
His gaze lingered a bit too long. A flicker of something unreadable passed across his face. It quickly looked down at my notebook, pretending to reread a sentence. When I peeked again, he was no longer at his table.
there, a voice came from my left.
I turned and nearly jumped. There he was Standing beside our table. So close I could see the flecks of gold in his brown eyes.
Ang and Katrina frog in ce, their mouths parted in silent glee. Jose sighed under his breath.
¡°Mario,¡± he greeted stiffly
1/4
Mario nodded politely to the group, but his pre fixed on
slike a ma.
¡°I don¡¯t believe we¡¯ve met,¡± he said, his voice smooth, linged with a faint European it. ¡°I¡¯m Mario, New here¡±
Thesitated, unsure. Mika prowled faintly in the back of my mind.
¡°ine,¡± I said cautiously
¡°ine,¡± he repeated, like he was testing the feel of my name on his tongue. ¡°Beautiful name. Is it Italian?¡±
Katrina practically swooned. ¡°She¡¯s an art student. Super talented.¡±
¡°Tfigured,¡± he said with a smile that didn¡¯t quite rearly his eyes. ¡°There¡¯s something ¨C thoughtful in your face.¡±
Iblinked, unsure how to respond. His gaze made me ufortable¡ªnot in an overtly threatening way, it was too observant. Too focused. Like he wasn¡¯t admiring me. Like he was studying me.
should go.¡± I said quickly, collecting my things.
Just then, as if summoned by the tension thickening around us, I spotted Audrey walking across the courtyard. A wee sight.
¡°Time to head to the library,¡± I added, slipping my bag over my shoulder ¡°See you guyster.¡±
Mario stepped slightly to the side to let me pass, but he didn¡¯t move away. As I brushed past him, I could feel the weight of his eyes following me. I didn¡¯t turn back.
But something told me this wouldn¡¯t be thest time we crossed paths.
The days that followed only proved Miks right.
Mario was¡persistent.
He started showing up at the library, always in the same general area studied, offering smiles and casual hes. When I walked to ss, he somehow happened to be heading the same way. One day, I found him waiting outside the studio after my painting workshop, iming he was curious about art and ¡°wanted to see what inspired me.¡±
He never crossed any obvious lines. Never touched me. Never raised his voice.
But his interest was too sharp. Too curated. Like someone with a n.
¡°I think he likes you,¡± Ang whispered one afternoon as Mano waved to me across the hallway.
¡°He¡¯s cute, and honestly, kind of sweet,¡± Katrina added. ¡°You could give him a chance.¡±
-didn¡¯t know how to exin the dread curling in my stomach every time he was near,
¡°He¡¯s watching you, El. Not just with eyes. With purpose, Mika warned one night.
I trusted her. My instincts had rarely failed me before
But how could I exin to my human friends that charming, well¨Cdressed, apparently human guy was setting off rms in my head?
Especially when he was s
was so.. normal?
Everything changed the day Francesco came.
it was subtle presence. But to someone like me, it was like a force field had entered the courtyard. The moment his car parked at the edge of the university square, the energy shied. Students didn¡¯t know why they suddenly stood straighter or grew quiet. But I knew.
11:08 Mon, 14 Jul
So did Mario
I saw him stiffen just slightly as froncesco stepped out of the ck cas, dressed in casual elegance but AT THE
lound mine.
He didn¡¯t smile. He didn¡¯t need to
Francesco didn¡¯t waste a second walking across the courtyard. He didn¡¯t stop for the curious stres. He moved
queen.
Mario stood horen nearby, books in hand, still pretending to wait near the benches where loften passed.
I felt his gaze burn into the side of my face as Francesco reached me¡
¡°Eine,¡± Francesco¡¯s voice was low, only for me, ¡°Heady!¡°¡±
Inadded
He gently ced his hand on the small of my back and guided me away, without a second nce at Mari
Students watched with wide eyes and whispered questions. They didn¡¯t know who Francesco was They only kne important. Untouchable. The kind of man who changed the atmosphere of a room by simply existing
And he hade for me.
But even as we walked away, I made the mistake of ncing back
Mario was still fore
But he wasn¡¯t watching Francesco.
He was watching me.
And for the first time, the warmth was gone from his eyes.
in its ce was a sharpness. A sh of something now.
Something dangerous
Later that nighty in bed, staring at the calling, trying to piece everything together.
think he¡¯s hore, Mika?¡± I asked quietly.
¡°Why do you think he¡¯s
¡°He¡¯s not a rogue. Not exactly. But he¡¯s connected to them. Hiding in in sight. I think he came here for you!
I swallowed hard.
But why?
What did I have that someone like him wanted?
Whatever it was, Maris had masked himself wish. The campus loved him. He blended into the human world ke he belonged. No one else suspected a thing. Not even Audrey, who had brushed him off as ¡°just a student.¡±
But i¡¯d seen his face when Francesco appeared
And Francesco I wondered if he had sensed it too,
IMONIA
Somehow, I knew this wasn¡¯t over.
Mario wasn¡¯t just some guy with a crush
He was watching
Waiting
And beneath that polished smile and charming voice¡
Was a threat no one else could see.
Tel.
?
AD
Comment
Still His 52
Chapter 52
The at history ss dragged on longer than usual, the professor lost in a passionate rant about 14th century frescoes and forgotten techniques ofyered pigments. I tried to forss¨Creally, I did but my mind kept drifting to the group project we¡¯d been assigned arber that week. To my midortune ¨C¨C or perhaps Tale¡¯s cruel joke Thad been grouped with Jose and Mario.
¡°Tresco mural project due next Friday,¡± the professor reminded, waving his notes in the air as the students packed their things. ¡°Presentations in pairser trios. Use visuals. Be creative¡±
Creative Right
I shoved my sketchpad into my bag, trying to suppress a sigh.
¡°L¡± Jose called out, jogging up beside me as we neared the door. ¡°Mario and I were thinking¨Cmaybe dinner tonight to brainstorm? There¡¯s that cafe off Via Lorenzo, near the bookstore. Quiet, good light, good food.¡±
Thesitated.
y with it, of course.
No pressure.¡±
¡°be added.
Mario was already walking toward us, his over present soft smile painted across his lips. ¡°Only if you¡¯re okay i his tone light and considerate.
From the hallway, Audrey gave me a look. She never stood far, never more than a few steps behind. My loyal shadow, guardian, and friend. One raised eyebrow was all it took to ask You sure?
¡°I¡¯m fine with it,¡± I said finally, forcing a polite smile. ¡°See you there?¡±
Mario nodded. ¡°Seven. I¡¯ll reserve a table.¡±
That evening, I arrived at the caf¨¦ ten minutes early.
Audrey entered silently behind me and chose a corner seat where she could observe every entrance. Her posture was rxed¨Cbut I knew her senses were fully alert
The call was small, cozy, bathed in warm amber lights. The smell of roasted coffee beans and fresh bread filled the air, and a slow jazz tune dritted from hidden speakers. It felt sade. Normal.
I picked a table near the window and opened my sketchbook, flipping to the nk pages I¡¯d saved for this project. A soft pencil rested in my fingers. untouched.
Minutes ticked by
7:10 p.m. No sign of either Jose or Mario.
I checked my phone. Nothing.
7:20. Still nothing. My fingers hovered over the screen before I finally typed a messaga.
¡°Where are you?¡±
Jose responded almost instantly.
¡°I thought we canceled? Mario texted me. Said you had somethinge up.¡±
My brows furrowed. A chill ran down my sping!
¡°What the hell?¡± I muttered, lowering my phone.
Audrey¡¯s eyes locked with mine. She rose from her seat, every muscle in her body tensing
11:08 Mon, 14 Ju
¡°Something¡¯s wrong¡± she said quietly, her voice calm but sharp like a de.
And I felt it, ten
The air shifted.
Not with the scent of wolves but something darker.
men entered the cal
One by one. From separate doors. All dressed casually¨Choodies, denim jackets, scuffed shoes. They looked like students, maybe travelers. But they moved like predators. Too smooth. Too synchronized,
To the untrained eye, they were harmless.
Tous¡not even close.
Istood up, my heart beginning to pound. Audrey did the same.
One of the men reached into his coat.
¡°Move Audrey barked
Chaos erupted.
Screams pierced the air as patrons ducked beneath tables and sprinted for exits. One rogue lunged at me, but Mika surged within me. I spun, ducked under his arm, and mmed my elbow into his ribs. He hit the floor with a groan, smashing a nearby chair.
Another charged Audrey, only to be flipped midair by a swift movement. Her silver dagger shed in the low light, precise and deadly
Three down in seconds
Two more rushed me, I dropped low, sweeping one¡¯s legs and mming my palm into the chest of the other, sending him flying back into a table.
Still no shift. Just sheer instinct and raw strength, Mika lent me enough
Audreyered thest one, disarming him before he even blinked.
Then, a shout came from the kitchen door
¡°Stop!
It was Mario.
He stumbled into the room, hair messy, face pale as death.
¡°What the hell is going on?¡± I growled, chest heaving av stared at him. ¡°You lied to us
¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± he shouted, hands in the air. ¡°I swear, I didn¡¯t n this! I didn¡¯t even know who they were until they threatened my family. They told m canceled tonight¡¯s meeting, you¡¯d be safe. That they just needed a name.
Audrey¡¯s de gleamed in her hand, ¡°What name?¡°¡±
¡°They¡¯re looking for someone. A girl. A wolf. I didn¡¯t know it was you. I swear I didn¡¯t I didn¡¯t even know werewolves were real until a week ago I was ju a student on an exchange program. They found out where I was staying¨Cmy little brother and sister¨Cplease, I didn¡¯t want to hurt anyone.¡±
He was shaking, eyes wide and terrified. I could smell the fear. It was real
¡°You¡¯re human,¡± I said softly, more to myself than anyone else. ¡°And you¡¯re just a pawn.¡±
Mario nodded helplessly. ¡°I thought it was over. That they¡¯d leave you alone i
But even as he said it, Mika howled leside me.
Behind you!
Ablur moved outside the window. A figure¨Ccloaked, swift, withs
I turned toote¡
A sharp pain exploded in my side,
I gasped.
A syringe.
Injected.
The figure vanished into the shadows before anyone could react.
¡°Eine!¡± Audrey caught me before i fall, her grip strong. My knees buckled.
¡°What¨Cwhat wa
didn¡¯t show up.¡±
Mario stood frozen, horror etched across his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t know didn¡¯t know¨Coh my God..
¡°What the hell did they inject her with?!¡± Audrey yelled, her voice cracking with fury.
¡°I swear I don¡¯t know!¡± Mario cried. ¡°They didn¡¯t tell me. Just said it would weaken her. That¡¯s all I know
Suddenly, a familiar voice thundered through the mind¨Clink.
¡®Audrey. What is happening?¡±
Francesco
Audrey¡¯s thoughts sharpened. ¡°Caf¨¦ off via Lorenzo. Rogues attacked. She¡¯s been injected¨Cshe¡¯s weakening
I¡¯ming. NOW!
Momentster, the windows trembled.
A ck SUV screeched to a halt outside, doors flung open before the engine stopped. Francesco stormed in, golden eyes zing with raw fury with his high warrior. His presence consumed the space like a wildfire.
All eyes turned to them. Even the unconscious seemed to inch.
He didn¡¯t pause.
His eyes locked on me.
And in two long strides, he was beside me, scooping me into his arms as if I weighed nothing
¡°What did they do to her?¡± he growled, barely containing the beast beneath his skin.
¡°Syringe,¡± Audrey reported. ¡°Unknown substance. She¡¯s going under fast¡±
Ime consciou
My head lolled against his chest. Everything was spinning. Francesco¡¯s scent the forest, the storm, the safety¨Cit was all that kept me
Psiuu!
Another syringe fired¨Cthis time aimed at Francesco.
But he dodged it with terrifying speed.
Then¡ a voice echoed in my mind.
¡®Deathly toxin.¡¯
Anastasia¡¯s voice.
What¡?
They weren¡¯t targeting me.
Their real aim-
Was Francesco.
AE
-ment
Send gift
No
$ 11:08 Mon, 14 Jui
Chapter 52
¨C kill them, he whispered. His gaze snapped to Mario, ¡°You¡ HUMAN,
¡°No.¡± I managed to whisper,
His eyes returned to me, shocked at my interjection.
¡°A trap¡¡°Trasped.
¡°What?¡± Francesco frowned.
A sudden bowl tore through the air.
¡°IT¡¯S A TRAP!¡± 1 screamed-
form, sending the remaining human patrons into a frenzy of shricks and panic.
just as more rogues burst in, this time in wolf fo
Psiuu!
Another syringe fired¨Cthis time aimed at Francesco.
But he dodged it with terrifying speed.
Then¡ a voice echoed in my mind.
¡°Deathly toxin.¡±
Anastasia¡¯s voice.
What¡?
They weren¡¯t targeting me.
Their real aim-
Was Francesco.
Still His 53
Chapter 53
Smoke still lingered in the shattered caf¨¦, curling in tendrils through the broken ss and overturned tables. The scent of blood, adrenaline, and scorched magic iching to the air like a storm that refused to pass.
Francesco cradled me protectively, crouched beside a fallen table as Audrey and the pack warriors moved in tight formation around us. Thest of the rogues were being subdued¨Csome unconscious, others too injured to move. The head warrior Francesco brought, a towering Lycan named Darlo moved like a force of nature. His de shed silver under the amber lights, his growls echoing like thunder. No rogue stood a chance under his feral
anught
But even as order returned, my instincts scrdamed that something wasn¡¯t right
It was too easy.
And then¡.he arrived.
A gust of windswept into the cafe as the front door creaked open, and with it came the presence hadn¡¯t sensed until it was toote. Every wamnor in the room turned to face the neer, wrapons drawn, growls building in their chests.
He wore a long dark cloak, hood up, his face partially veiled in shadows¨Cbut his aura was unmistakable. It wasn¡¯t just power. It was personal.
Francesco froze
His grip on me tightened ever so slightly as his eyes widened¨Cnot in fear, but disbelief.
¡°Luca?¡± he breathed, voice low and strangled.
The man stepped into the light with a cruel, knowing smile. ¡°Long time no see¡Francesco
For a moment, no one moved. Even Dario hesitated, his de poised mid¨Cair.
Hooked up at Francesco, whose expression had turned to stone. His golden eyes¡ªalways so steady¨Cnow flickered like a fire close to losing control Rage. Pain. Memories too old and too sharp to dull.
¡°You¡¯re supposed to be dead,¡± Francesco said quietly, voice heavy with the weight of betrayal.
¡°Dead?¡± Lucaughed, a bitter, hollow sound. ¡°Oh no, fratello. You only let me for dead. There¡¯s a difference.¡±
Audrey¡¯s eyes darted to Francesco. ¡°You know him?¡±
¡°I did,¡± Francesco muttered. ¡°Once.¡±
Luca stepped forward, and I saw the madness in his eyes. ¡°I was the head of your warriors. Your right hand. Your brother by bond, remember? Until you chose your title over me. Until you left me in the ruins of the Eastern Bordends while you chased your precious diplomacy, just because they said your going to be the king, the Lycan king¡±
¡°That was a war zone,¡± Francesco growled. ¡°You choose war and allied with rogues and killing innocent people¡±
¡°Lies¡°Luca¡¯s voice cut through the ¡°You forgot the the moment your throne called. But I didn¡¯t forget you, Alpha, because know i am better than you, always, Ideleat you once¡ by sending a woman witch¡ Your AnastasiaTM
He look surprise when Lucaugh like a devil
Then he pulled something from beneath his cloak¨Ca small, silver¨Ccapped syringe. The same kind that had been used on me.
¡°Now, I could beat you again,¡± he said, holding it up. ¡°This isn¡¯t meant for her. It never was. You were always the target, Francesco. You¡ and everything you love.¡±
1011:08: Mon, 14 Jul
Chapter 53
With inhuman speed, Luca builed the syringe straight at Francesco,
¡°No¡± cried out, but Francesco reactedst.
with one swift motion, he pped the syringe away, sending it flying toward the floor. But instead of shattering harmlessly, it exploded mid¨Cair with a sodden pulse of violent, green light.
BOOM
The shockwave knocked over tables and sent a few warriors stumbling Acloud of thick, dark vapor histed into the room like a serpent uncoiling
¡°Francesco!¡± I cried, struggling in his arms as he recoiled. His body jerked once¨Ctwice¨Cand then he began to cough. Harsh. Deep. Each convulsion wracked his broad frame.
¡°Run, my sweet Alpha,¡± Luca sneered, tunsing on his heel. ¡°I¡¯ll be seeing you again¡±
And like a shadow slipping through smoke, he vanished out the broken door and into the night.
¡°GET HIM¡± Audrey screamed, and Dario was already moving, hot on his heels, several warriors in tow. But I knew¨Cdeep down¨CI knew Luca wouldn¡¯t be caught. Not now. Not yet
My attention snapped back to Francesco. He was on his knees now, one hand braced on the floor, the other still holding me tightly as if letting go would shatter him
¡°Francesco,¡± I whispered, cupping |
his face. ¡°Talk to me. Please¡
His pupils were dting fast, the golden irises flickering between wolf and man. His breathing was erratic.
¡°L.. I¡¯m fine,¡± he gasped. But he wasn¡¯t. Not even close.
Audrey knelt beside us. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a normal toxin. El, help me get him up. We need to get him out of here.¡±
¡°No¡¡± Francesco tried to protest, but he couldn¡¯t stay upright. His legs buckled again.
And that¡¯s when I felt it.
Not through sight or sound¨Cbut through our bond.
Something was attacking him from the inside.
Dark. Corrosive. Cold.
Polson¡ced with dark magic.
The moment I touched his chest, I felt it creeping along his veins like tendrils of shadow, fighting his woll, trying to suppress the Alpha within him. It wasn¡¯t meant to kill himst, it was meant to unravel him,
Tears welled in my eyes.
¡°No. No. No¡¡± What should I do?
Anastasia, help me¡
¡°He needs to get back to the estate,¡± Audrey snapped. ¡°NOW I¡¯ll signal the second team. We¡¯re not sale here.¡±
Awarrior arrived at her side. ¡°Backup¡¯s five minutes away.¡±
¡°Too long,¡± she growled. ¡°We go now.¡±
within moments, Francesco was lifted into the back of the SUV, Felimbed in with him, refusing to leave his side. His body trembled in my ama, what slicking his brow, breath growing shallow
¡°Stay with me.¡± I whispered, stroking his hair. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare leave me. Not now, Not ever.¡±
His eyes fluttered open briefly.
¡°EL¡don¡¯t cry
¡°You¡¯re poisoned, idiot,¡± I snapped, voice cracking ¡°Tm allowed to try¡±
A weak chuckle escaped his lips. ¡°Still beautiful¡ when you¡¯re mad.¡±
Then he passed out.
¡°GO!¡± Audrey shouted at the driver, mming the door. ¡°Take us home!¡±
The SUV roared down the road, headlights slicing through the night. I didn¡¯t let go of him the entire ride, not even when we reached the estate and the medical team swarmed us, I was ushered out only when Darin himself, covered in cuts and burns, pulled me back with strong but gentle hands.
¡°You need to let them help him, he said firmly.
¡°I can help too,¡± I insisted. ¡°Please.¡±
His gaze softened. ¡°You already are. Just stay close.¡±
Inodded, trembling.
The healers worked for hours.
They cut away his shirt, revealing the burn where the syringe had exploded near his ribs. ck veins spread from the point of impact like poison hy Magical runes glowed faintly over the mark
¡°Dark alchemy,¡± one of the healer muttered. ¡°This isn¡¯t just poison, it¡¯s like a cursa,
The lead healer, an older woman named Mother Lira, stepped forward. ¡°She¡¯s right. We can slow it down. But not move it. We need help from a powerful wizard¡±
¡°Who?¡± I demanded.
¡°We don¡¯t know¡± Lira said grimly. ¡°The one who created this curse. Only they¨Cor someone bound to them¨Ccan undo it.¡±
A deadly silence followed.
fists clenched
So this wasn¡¯t just an attack. It was a deration. A message carved in venom and fire.
They hadn¡¯t juste for me. They¡¯de for Francesco,
Because I mattered to him.
Because he mattered to them.
That night, I sat at his bedside long after everyone else had leht. His body was still, his breathing shallow. The monitors flickered softly beside him, tracking the faint shythm of a warrior brought low
But not broken
73Äê
Not yet.
¡°I¡¯m not losing you.¡± I whispered, brushing a damp lock of hair from his brow ¡°I don¡¯t care what poison they used. I don¡¯t care how powerful Luca is. B find a way to save you.¡±
And in the stillness, a whisper echoed in my mind.
Not my own
Not Mika
But¡
hers.
Anastasia
¡®Find my old book about Potion and Herbs¡±
¡°What does that mean?¡± asked aloud. ¡°Where?¡±
But no answer came
Only the rustle of wind outside the window¡ and the sound of Francesco¡¯s breathing.
Book?
Which mean the old library?
Without hesitation, I ran toward the ce where I had first sensed Anastasia¡¯s essence, clinging to the hope that i¡¯d find something¨Canything¨Cthat.
could help
?
Still His 54
in the old edat
etched is
Tied my old book about polion and MIL
It was her voice, faint and fading, had pierced through the fog of panic just moments a drepes, mor
A piece of her soul that left behind
Francesco needed help. Not just any help¨Cmagh, from the old world from the one who had once been mated to th
Fighting for his side
I pushed open the massive oak doors of the Ebrary with both hands. They groaned in protest, revealing spilled in through tall, arched windows, luminating the dust motes that danced in the air like tiny stars
Books, lined invery wall.
i
stacked to the ceiling, others scattered on ancient tal
hed by modern time. Moonlight
hundred year ago and never returned. Shelves, creaked
the weight of forgotten knowledge fomes of werewolf Gege
the moon, forbidden alchemy.
My heart pounded
I had no idea what I was looking for
But something would lead me. Had to lead me¡
I walked through the aisles, fingertips brushing spines cracked with age. Nothing felt right¨Cuntil reached a darkened
A tapestry hung across the wall, tattered and faded. I moved it aside¨Cand there, tucked into a shallow alcove, was a shelf built i Covered in a thin vell of cobwebs, and ayer of time.
On book stood out. ck leather cover. No title. No markings. But the moment I touched it, a jolt ran up my arm¨Cwarm, thrumming with energy
I pulled in free, heart racing
Inside, delicate script flowed across yellowed pages¨Cnotes scribbled in haste, careful diagrams of roots, powders, runes. And there, on the fourth pas in, a sketch of the same silver¨Ccapped syringe that had nearly killed Francesco
Beneath it: ¡°Antara Venom. Dark poison of corrupted bonds.¡±
I clutched the book tighter
This was what Luca had used. And this might be the only way to save Francesco,
But the antidote¡
wasn¡¯t easy
The ingredients were rare, dangerous even.
Wolfsbane flower in its purest form,
Blood root soaked in moonlight
Phoenix ash¨CGood God, how was I supposed to find that?
And one final ingredient, scrawled with a trembling hard,
¡°The essence of the one who bears the
Thand
Is that¡ Me.
I swallowed hard,
A sound startled me soft footsteps behind.
I turned swiftly, heart jumping into my throat, but it was beta Alfonso, his massive frame backlit by the hall¡¯s torches
¡°You shouldn¡¯t be alone,¡± he said gruffly
¡°Thad to find this,¡± I replied, holding up the book. ¡°I think it¡¯s Anastasia¡¯s She¡ told me,¡±
The beta stepped closer, frowning at the cover. ¡°That book hasn¡¯t been touched in decades. Only she knew it existed
¡°I think¡ she left it for me.
He studied me for a moment, then nodded, ¡°if it can help him, you¡¯ll have the full support of the pack
am d he trust me without thinking I am useless and just wasting my time ¡°We¡¯ll need to gather the ingredients. Some of them are dangerous. And
He nodded again ¡°alert the scouts. The healer. Whoever we need. But you¡ His voice lowered, ¡°You¡¯ll stay safe. He wouldn¡¯t forgive me if something happened to you.¡±
I give him a small smile before nodded my head. ¡°I¡¯m not staying behind, Alfonso. I won¡¯t leave him.¡±
He didn¡¯t argue because he know how stubborn I am,
Over the next two days, the estate became a whirlwind of movement.
The healers continued trying to stabilize Francesco, but the ck veins kept spreading slowly¨Cdark vines snaking across his chest and neck, pulsing with sick magic.
Mother Lira, who is the healer who know magic, quite surprise when she saw the book in my hand, she never saw anything like that or know it¡¯s exist
I guess, Anastasia truly try to act like human when she¡¯s here, no one know anything about her power, I thought and try to keep focus.
Each night, I stayed by his side, reading Anastasia¡¯s book, memorizing every step of the potion that could save him.
This is new for mee, I never knew something like this exist either and scare off do something bad that could harm my mate.
No, I know Anastasia will lead me, I keep trying to positive.
Help me, Anastasia¡
The wolfsbane was secured first¨Cfresh, harvested under the full moon, as the book required.
Blood root proved harder. Only one grove in Northern Italy grew it under the right conditions: A scout team left immediately to retrieve it.
Phoenix ash¡ That was nearly impossible.
ording to Anastasia¡¯s notes, it could oply be obtained from an eternal me in the ruins of Castello del Fuoco¨Can abandoned stronghold once ruled by a council of magical creatures before it was destroyed in a power struggle.
Only fire bonded brings could
Audrey volunteered to lead the mission
¡°I¡¯ll get the ash,¡± she told me b?fore leaving. ¡°Stay alive
1 I¡¯m back. Both of you!
She winked, but her eyes were seriout..
And then, there was the final ingredient
Me¡ Or I hope I was right.
¡°The essence of the one who bears the new bond,¡± I whispered o
through him.
night, sitting at Francesco¡¯s side, our hands
pite the pain coursing
i think she means blood, right?¡± I continued softly. ¡°My blood. But not just that. Something deeper. Amitment. A choice.¡±
y God, what if I made mistake!
My
Please guide and help me, God
I watch how his eyelids fluttered, but he didn¡¯t wake.
I brushed a kiss against his forehead.
¡°I choose you, Francesco,¡± I whispered into the silence. ¡°Even if fate brought us together through pain and loss. I choose to love you. I choose to fight for you. Every time¡±
And then, something incredible happened.
A golden shimmer¨Ctaint, barely visible¨Cbegan to glow around our joined hands. It was warm. Pure. And as it pulsed softly between us, Francesco
stirred
Is that my power? I thought shockingly and hope that with this hand I could save my mate
Then, his eyes opened slowly. Bleary. Pain¨Cfilled.
The he turn his eyes to meet mine,
I choked on a sob. ¡°I¡¯m here. I never left,¡±
His thumb moved weakly over my hand. ¡°The dreams¡ I kept seeing you. Your voice¡ it kept me tethered.¡±
Heaned down, tears spilling onto his chest. ¡°You¡¯reing back to me. Just hold on a little longer, my love.¡±
He smiled faintly. ¡°Always beautiful even when you cry.¡± And then he drifted off again, his breathing slow and shallow.
I cupped his cheek, feeling the heat of the fever still burning through him.
This has to work.
I will save you, Francesca.
Still His 55
Chapter 55
The next morning. Audrey returned¨Ccovered in sont, her clothes tom, her arm wrapped hashly in gauze and visibly burned. Her steps were uneven, her expression was triumphant.
In her pouch: a small vil filled with glowing orange powder that shimmered like dying embers.
¡°Phoenix ash,¡± she rasped hoarsely, just before copsing into Beta Alfonso¡¯s arms. ¡°That ce¡ it nearly killed us. But we got it.¡±
Gasps of awe and disbelief echoed around the room.
Phoenix ash was believed to be a myth, a relic of ancient times when witches still walked openly among us,
the final ingredient.
But Audrey had done it. She¡¯d returned with
With all the rare and perilousponents finally gathered, the healers and I set to work, brewing the potion described in Anastasia¡¯s forbidden grimoire. No witch alive hadid eyes on such a recipe for centuries. Perhaps Anastasia had truly been thest of her kind
Which only deepened the question that gnawed at me: how did Luca get
pt his hands on
on this kind of magic?
As we worked, I tried to stay focused, but questions swirled in my mind. I was learning piece by piece, that my role in this world was bigger than i thought I had trained to be stronger, faster¨Cmore capable of defending myself. But magic¡ that was a different beast. A power I barely understood, yet knew I needed to master. I couldn¡¯t allow anything like this to happen again, Not to Francesco, Not to anyone I loved.
I made a mental note to revisit the ancient texts. There were still books in Anastasia¡¯s collection¨Cbooks I hadn¡¯t yet dared to open, Maybe they held the
answers.
The potion took hours to brew. We infused the herbs under moonlight, stirred the phoenix ash in careful spirals, and heated the cauldron with enchanted
fame.
I stood with the healers the entire time, refusing to leave Francesco¡¯s side for even a moment. My hands trembled, but my resolve held firm. I prayed silently, over and over, for the Goddess to guide us.
Finally, the potion reached its final stage. Lira, the lead healer, turned to me,
I held out my arm without hesitation
Thest thing¡
¡°My blood,¡± I said firmly. ¡°it¡¯s time.¡±
Lira hesitated. ¡°Once this bond is sealed, it cannot be undone.¡±
¡°It already is,¡± I replied. ¡°I¡¯m his. He¡¯s mine¡±
She nodded¡
A clean de nicked my skin make me wince a bit, and a few drops of my blood mixed with the potion¨Cturning it from amber to gold.
It shimmered like dawn.
We rushed to Francesco¡¯s bedside.
He was weaker than ever now¨Chis skin cold, hd body barely responsive. Panic clutched at my chest. But I refused to believe we were toote.
Lira carefully poured a small dose of the pation onto his lips.
When the golden potion touched his lips, his body arched. A low growl escaped him¨Cferal, defiant.
The veins pulsed¨Cance, twice¨Cand then slowly began to retreat, fading like smoke against sunlight.
Everyone, including nie held their breath.
Oh God, please make it work!
I keep my eyes locked on him, wondering if its going to work or not.
He stilled.
And then..
I watch when he opened his eyes.
Clear
Bright gold.
¡°Eine?¡± he whispered, voice raspier than usual but stronger than before.
His gaze met mine, and I saw recognition. Warmth, Life.
Tears burst from my eyes as I copsed into his arms, sobbing openly, ¡°Oh God¡ you¡¯re okay. You¡¯re really okay¡
He wrapped his arms around me weakly but firmly. ¡°What? Amore Luna¡you saved me
I pulled back just enough to cup his face. ¡°You saved me first. This was just payback.¡±
He let out a softugh. It was hoarse, but it was the most beautiful sound I¡¯d ever heard.
Relief washed over everyone in the room. Lira and the other healers approached to check his vitals, then connected the remaining potion through an W toplete the healing process. Lira looked stunned at how quickly his condition stabilized. The toxin that had once consumed him was now gone, and Francesco¡¯s body¨Cstrong as ever¨Cwas fighting its way back.
Beta Alfonso, Marlow, Dario, and the rest of the high¨Cranking warriors stepped forward, each offering a respectful bow to their Alpha, Relief was etched across their faces.
Alfonso tapped my shoulder, nodding in quiet acknowledgement. He had seen my sleepless nights, my silent tears, my desperate prayers. He knew what this had cost me.
And now that it
tit was finally over¡ the adrenaline Fatigue hit me like a crashing wave.
Francesco gently pulled me beside him in bed, his arms wrapping protectively around my waist. I didn¡¯t resist. I let myself rest against him, led by the familiar rhythm of his heartbeat.
Sleep imed me almost instantly-
Later that night, as the pack celebrated his recovery, Francesco pulled me aside and led me to the quiet balcony of his chambers. The moon hung low in the sky, casting silver light across his features.
He looked tired¨Cbut alive. And more importantly, whole
¡°I owe you everything¡± he said softly, his voice carrying over the quiet. ¡°Everyone keeps telling me what you did. How you never gave up. Thank you, E.¡±
My heart swelled with emotion
¡°I can¡¯t imagine life without you,¡± I whispered. ¡°I had to do everything I could.
He nodded and took a step closer, wrapping his arms around me from behind.
We stood in silence, watching the moon togriber ¡°Luca and I¡ We were clock. Not by blood, but closer than brothers because of power we ham
Dangerous power¡±
I was shock when thear hint start speaking and stood there while listening without saying anything ¡°We did terrible things together. Things I regret every single day. At first, I thought we were the same. But then I saw the way he smiled while torturing innocents¡I knew I had to stop him
listened silently, heart heavy but open
¡°I thought he was dead. After Anastasia came, after everything that happened¡ believed he was gone. I wanted to believe it. But deep down, l¡¯always feared¡ and now I know. He was behind all of it.¡±
¡°So, these time with the rogues is all him.¡± I madement.
He nodded ¡°Anastasia too¡ He was the one who order her to¡ he stopped.
I turned to face him, cupping his cheek gently. ¡°Then let hime.¡±
Francesco¡¯s eyes searched mine. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid? Not even after everything I just told you?¡±
¡°I was,¡± I admitted. ¡°But not anymore. I have you. And you have me. That makes us dangerous.¡±
He smiled then¨Cslow, genuine,ced with pride and longing before leaned in, pressing his forehead against mine. ¡°My moon and stars¡±
I give him a smile ¡°My Lycan Alpha,¡± I whispered.
We leaned in, our foreheads resting together, a promise spoken in silence.
The night was quiet, filled only with the sound of distantughter and wind rustling the trees.
But far beyond the hills and forests that surrounded Florence, something darker stirred.
Luca was still out there.
And the war wa
war was far from over
AD
Comment
Still His 56
Chapter 56
Francesco¡¯s headaches started two days ago.
At first, I thought they were just from stress or exhaustion. After everything he¡¯s been through, who wouldn¡¯t feel overwhelmed? But when he told me the pain was sharp¨Cpounding like drums echoing in a stone chamber¨Cand that strange Images came with it each time, I knew something was wrong.
¡°I see shes,¡± he said yesterday, rubbing his temples with trembling fingers. ¡°ces I¡¯ve never been. People I don¡¯t know. Voices¡ whispering things can¡¯t quite understand, but somehow they feel familiar, Like I¡¯m remembering something that was never me.¡±
His eyes were distant, haunted. Even Mika, who had remained quiet during our interaction, stirred ufortably inside me.
The healers gave him a potion. One that had never been used before¨Can experimental brew designed to stabilize his energy after receiving blood. My Hood.
No one knew how his body would react. Francesco was, after all, not an ordinary Alpha. He was the Lycan Alpha. Even the healer admitted they were treading uncharted waters. This potion is dangerous,¡± she had warned. ¡°It may help, but it may also awaken things that should remain dormant.¡±
Despite her concerns, he took it. For me.
But deep down, something gnawed at my insides. A quiet, wing dread that wouldn¡¯t leave me. Something was wrong
And I was starting to feel it too
I didn¡¯t say anything. I couldn¡¯t. Francesco had too much on his shoulders. Thest thing wanted was to be another burden. But with each passing day, could feel my energy slipping away¨Clike grains of sand falling through my fingers. I was weaker than usual. Dizzy, lightheaded, and cold no matter how manyyers I wore.
I brushed it off as fatigue from school or stress.
Until Mika finally spoke.
¡°Your body still has toxin, Eine
I nearly dropped the brush I was using to paint. My hand trembled as I leaned back from the easel. ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked my wolf aloud, my voice barely a whisper.
¡°You got hit by the syringe, remember? Right before Francesco. I can feel it. It¡¯s still inside you!
My heart stopped.
The syringe
Juca had shot me first¨Cbefore he turned his weapon on Francesco. In the chaos, I¡¯d forgotten All I could think about then was saving my mate. My blood was the only thing that could stabilize him¡ and I gave it to him without hesitation.
My blood.
Contaminated.
Tainted.
¡°Shit,¡± I whispered, stumbling backward and fading to my knees on the wooden floor of my dorm room
Had I unknowingly transferred the poison to him?
¡°Maybe that was his intention all along ka reasoned calmly. He knew you¡¯d offer your blood to save Francesco. He knew you wouldn¡¯t think twice.
Chapter 56
Panic surged through me like a waye crashing on jagged rocks.
I bolted to my feet, grabbed my satchel, and sprinted back to the library without stopping. The shelves blurred past me as reached the far end, the
section with the oldest tomms¨Cmany of them dusty and forgotten,
There had to be something here. Anything-
Something that could help me understand what was happening to us
¡°Come on,¡± I muttered, fingers running over cracked leather spines. ¡°Give me something¡¡. Please¡±
My hand trembled as I reached for another book, knocking a smaller one off the shell It hit the floor with a loud braakk
I turned my head sharply and rushed over.
It was an old, faded green book with gold¨Cembossed letters barely legible.
Healthy with Potion and How to Use Herbs.
With shaking hands, I flipped through it, scanning for anything useful. My breath caught when i found a section titled:
How to Detect Poison in Your Bloodstream Using Natural Ingredients.
Ginger.
It said a ginger based test could reveal hidden toxins if your blood reacted to the infusion, didn¡¯t hesitate. I gathered the ingredients from the school¡¯s alchemy room, locked myself in my studio, and began testing my own blood¨Cagain and again¨Cuntil the exhaustion nearly dropped me
I skipped lunch. I ignored calls. I didn¡¯t care.
This had to be done fast.
By the time someone knocked on my door, I was barely conscious. I tried to sit up, but everything spun. My vision swam
It was Beta Alfonso
He burst into the room and froze when he saw the vials of blood, herbs, and open books scattered everywhere.
¡°What the hed¨CEine? Are you okay?¡±
I swayed where I sat, sweat glistening on my forehead. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m fine,¡± I lied.
¡°You¡¯ve drawn too much blood. You¨Cwhat¡¯s going on?¡±
thanded him the book with trembling hands and whispered, ¡°Forgotten Poison.
His face went pale.
¡°What?¡±
¡°I was hit with the syringe before Francesco. I forget about it. There was no time. I gave him my blood. It must have carried the toxin.¡± I paused to catch my breath, my voice barely audible. ¡°That¡¯s why he¡¯s seeing things¡ why his head is pounding.¡±
Alfonso looked horrified. ¡°You mean¡ that popon¨Ci
-it¡¯s in him now?¡±
I nodded slowly. I tested it. It reacts to ginger. The poison¡ it¡¯s ancient Almost no records. But this book¨Cit described the symptoms perfectly. Francesco¡¯s losing parts of himsell¡±
His eyes darkened. ¡°Losing¡..?¡±
¡°His memories,¡± whispered. ¡°He¡¯ll forget. Me, Anastasis. Everything that makes him him. And Luca¡ Luca wants that. He wants the old Francesco back. The one he could manipte. The one who walked through blood without blinking.¡±
Alfonso sat down hard beside me, trying to process the weight
eight of it.
¡°How long do we have?
¡°The book said¡ five days before the full effect kicks in. This is da
1 day four¡±
His expression turned grim. ¡°Then we only have one day to make the antidote.¡±
I pushed the open pages toward him. ¡°The recipe¡¯s here. But we need help, I can¡¯t do this alone.¡±
Without another word. Alfonso stood and activated the mind link. Within minutes, the trusted few arrived Marlow, Harry, Dario, Joshua, Audrey, and Monica. Each one of them looked at me with concem etched across their faces.
¡°We need to move fast, Alfonso told them
The antidote.¡± I said hearsely, ¡°needs four ingredients¨Ceach rare, each specific
I pointed to the list
Moonroot flower, which only blooms under the full moon.
Phoenix bark, found deep in the mountain forests.
Ashes of firethorn, burned under the light of sunrise.
Ginger Blood of the one who loves him the most
Everyone paused at thest one.
¡°I¡¯ll give mine,¡± I said before anyone could argue.
Audrey stopped forward. ¡°You¡¯re already weak, Eine. Are you sure?¡±
I met her eyes. ¡°There¡¯s no one else
We split the tasks. Marlow and Joshua lett for the forest. Harry and Dario began preparing the frethom. Audrey and Monica helped me stay conscious, feeding me broth while we worked on grinding the dried herbs.
Night bled into morning.
By the time the ingredients were gathered, the sun was just beginning to rise. We only had hours before it would be too , shiting from emerald green to soft silver.
The final sign it was ready.
Audrey ced a hand on my shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll bring it to him. Rest now
¡°No,¡± I said, grabbing the vial with trembling fingers. ¡°I¡¯ll do it¡±
Still His 57
The vial in my hand felt heavier than ss and liquid¨Cit carried myst shed of hope.
As I walked through the corridor toward Francesco¡¯s chambers, I held it tightly, afraid that if loosened my grip, my resolve would crumble with it. Each step echoed with uncertainty, and every breath I took wasced with fear.
I prayed silently, desperately¨Cthat the potion would work
That it would bring him back.
That it would d bring tus back.
I couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Francesco forgetting me.
Our first encounter under the storm, when he towered like a god cloaked in moonlight. The way! That night, I thought I was about to die. Instead, I met him. And life has never been the same since
wy his eve
eyes met mine¨Ccurious, wary, and strangely tender.
My first painting I gave him¨Cthe portrait of the woman. Anastasia, Histe mate. I thought I had overstepped, but instead, he saw me. Saw my heart, my soul, in every brushstroke
And then¡our first real conversation. Standing by the blue rose bush in the garden, beneath the soft twilight. The same roses that only bloom for him. We didn¡¯t say much that day, but everything changed after it. Something unseen sparked between us. Fragile, new, and yet undeniable
Now, to imagine him forgetting all of that? Forgetting me!
it was a thought sharp enough to carve wounds in my soul.
Be brave, Eine¡ I whispered to myself, it won¡¯t happen. You¡¯ve got this.
But no amount of inner encouragement could slow the hammering of my heart,
When I arrived, Francesco was seated by the tall, arched window in his chambers. He sat inplete stillness, staring out at the grave of ancient trees that bordered the estate. His posture was tense but regal, like a statue carved from living shadow. The sunlight poured through the panes behind him, casting a golden hue around his figure, but he seemed untouched by it¨Clike the light no longer recognized him.
And when he turned to look at me, my world copsed.
His eyes, once sp fierce and soulful, held no trace of recognition
No warmth. No spark.
Just confusion and emptiness.
¡°China¡¡± I breathed, the words falling
My body moved on instinct.
g like ash from my lips.
¡°Francesco,¡± I whispered, stepping forward as gently as I could. I didn¡¯t want to startle him.
He blinked but he didn¡¯t smile.
Didn¡¯t stand. Didn¡¯t reach out.
Didn¡¯t say my name.
¡°Francesco, Itried again. ¡°It¡¯s me. Eine¡±
11:09 Mon 14 Jul 6X90
He didn¡¯t respond. Only his brows furrowed slightly as if trying to make sense of something just beyond his grasp
¡°brought something for you,¡± I said uhly, holding out the small, iridescent val ¡°Please. Drink it.¡±
He eyed it with suspicion. ¡°Who are you?¡±
Those words. Who are you?
They hit me like a de between the ribs.
My heart cracked¨Cshattered into pieces so small I wasn¡¯t sure I could ever put them back Ingether again.
But I didn¡¯t let the pain show on my face.
Instead, I walked slowly to him and knelt before him, holding the vial in both hands,
¡°I¡¯m someone who loves you,¡± I said, voice trembling. ¡°Someone who won¡¯t let you go without a fight.¡±
For a second, just one fleeting second, his eyes flickered. A spark. A shadow of recognition. A flickering candle in a dark, storm¨Ctossed room.
It was enough.
Juncorked the vial, brought it to his Eps.
And he drank.
At first, nothing happened.
He sat still, blinking, confused. Then, all at once¨Che gasped, clutching his head in agony. His back arched as light burst from the center of his chest like a shockwave. Shadows twisted along the walls, curling ke tendrils of smoke. The room pulsed with energy¨Cchaotic, ancient, wild.
His body trembled, teeth clenched, eyes wide.
And then¨Che copsed
¡°No!¡± I screamed, lunging forward just in time to catch him before his head hit the floor.
¡°Francescol
His body felt like lead in my arms. Heavy Lifeless
I pressed my ear to his chest¨Chis heartbeat was there, faint but steady. I exhaled a breath I didn¡¯t realize I¡¯d been holding
He was alive. But unconscious.
Iid him down gently on the cushions and sat beside him, brushing the damp strands of hair from his forehead. My hands shook as I cradled his face, his skin still warm under my touch.
I didn¡¯t know if the potion worked. I didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d ever open his eyes and see me again.
But I would wait.
I would wait!
for him for as long as it book.
An hour passed.
Then two
Knock Knock
A quiet knock at the door drew my attention.
Beta Alfonso stepped in silently, followed by Monica. Their expressions were grave, their eyes immediately scanning Francesco¡¯s sleeping form
I shook my head quickly. ¡°He¡¯s stisleep. No change yet
They nodded solemnly. Monica stepped forward and ced a small cup filled with a warm, golden liquid beside me.
¡°Ginger and wildflower she whispered. ¡°To help your strength¡±
I give him a sad smile
mile ¡°Thank you
(you,¡± I mummured, my voice barely above a whisper,
They left without another word.
I stared at the cup for a moment, then took a long sip. The warmth spread through my chest, slightly calming the tremble in my hands.
And then¨Chis fingers twitched.
My eyes widened. I set the cup down quickly and rushed back to his side, grabbing his hand.
¡°Francesco?¡± I whispered, afraid to hope. Alraid to breathe.
Slowly, painfully slowly, his eyelids fluttered.
And then-
He opened his eyes.
Those beautiful eyes, filled with storm and fire.
They blinked at me once.
Twice.
And then, ¡°Eine?¡±
He said my name.
My knees gave out beneath me as tears flooded my eyes. I buried my face in his hand and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m here. I¡¯m right here.¡±
He pushed himself up slowly, his movements sluggish. He cupped my face between his trembling hands, his gaze searching every inch of me as it anchoring himself in reality.
¡°What¡ what happened?¡± he asked, his voice hoarse
¡°You forgot,¡± I whispered. ¡°But you came back.¡±
He didn¡¯t speak. Instead, he pulled me into his arms with such fierce desperation that it stole my breath. I wrapped my arms around him in return, holding him just as tightly, afraid to let go.
Because he was here.
He was himself again.
Because love was stronger than any poison.
And I had almost lost him. Twice.
The sun had begun to set outside the windows, casting the room in a solt orange glow. I helped him sit morefortably against the pillows as he drank
water slowly, still disoriented.
¡°I remember shes,¡± he murmured. ¡°Your face. Your voice. The roses. Your painting.¡±
A tear slipped down my cheek. ¡°That¡¯s more than mough.¡±
He looked at me again, something fierce and protective burning behind the weariness in his eyes.
¡°Whoever did this,¡± he growled, ¡°they will pay!
Inodded, fingers, brushing along the edge of his sleeve. ¡°But for now, you need to rest. You¡¯ve only just returned.¡±
Francesco¡¯s hand found mine, and he brought it to his chest. ¡°I thought I was drowning in shadows,¡± he said, his voice a soft rumble. ¡°But even in the dark¡ I felt you?
His words stole the air from my lungs.
¡°I¡¯ll always find you,¡± I whispered. ¡°In every lifetime, in every shadow. I¡¯ll alwayse back for you.¡±
His thumb brushed against my knuckles. ¡°And I¡¯ll always wait.¡±
We sat in silence, not needing to say more.
Outside, the night deepened.
Inside, the bond between us strengthened¨Creborn through low, memory, and unyielding faith.
Whatever came next, we would face it together.
And no pation, no darkness, no curse would ever be strong enough to erase what we had.
Because Francesco remembered.
Because he came back to me.
let him go
And I would never let him go again.
Still His 58
Go to Francesco Point of View
The echo of
town voice surged through the forest,
PROQUESTI
The word rang out like
Panic stirred in the air like a brewing storm. I could hese the chaos unraveling and the distant cries of frightened children being escorted into the safebojone
just beyond t
the nuch of Fum
¡°Why do they dare toe into our territory ¡± Bata Alfonso bellowed, his voicemanding yetced with disbelief Hemedy to the pack wartion, already shouting orders. ¡°Secure the perimeter) Get the women and children to the bunker¨Cnow?¡±
Butt
I knew exactly why they
Because of
Because they thought I was vulnerable¨Cstripped of memory, w weakened, exposed.
But not anymor
I stepped out of my chambers, my feet slow but firm against the cold stone
floor,
The moment I appeared at the entrance of the hall, all heads turned toward me¨CAlfonso, Marlow, the guards nearby. Their expressions shitted rapidly from shock to awe, disbelief to recognition
Honso¡¯s voice broke slightly, cautious, unsure,
He was wondering¨Cwas I whole again?
I didn¡¯t hesitate. I gave him a strong nod, lifting my chin. ¡°Tam here. Thank you, Alfonso For everything¡±
Relief flooded his
His shoulders finally dropped from their tense frame. Marlow exhaled a quiet, shaky breath. The others¨Cwaters, staff¨Cstood a little straighter.
Because I was me again.
Not a shell. Not a ghost of memory
I was Francesco Totti Lycaon, Lycan Alpha Protector of this territory. Mate of Eine Rollin
-The potion¡ Alfonso murmured, as though still trying to believe it himself.
¡°She seeded,¡± I replied before he could ask more. ¡°My mate¡ my Luna¡ let her sleep. She¡¯s earned it.¡±
A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes. Respect. Admiration.
And something deeper¨Cloyalty to her.
ever gave up.¡±
¡°She fought hard for you,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Even when we were unsure. She never
¡°I know,¡± I replied, my voice rough ¡°She gave everything and now it¡¯s my
The moment I said it, a deep growl stirred in my chest. My wolf¨Crestored and furious. He remembered. We both did
The visions came back in waves¨Cthe cruelty Luca tried to inflict, the mind games, the poison, the hallucinations, but more than the¨Cmembered her.
My ine.
Her vrice. Her trembling hands offering the vial. Her face streaked with tears. Her scent¨Cvani and wildflowers¨Cwrapped around me like a balm,
Someone who loves you, she said.
Someone who w
won¡¯t let you go without a light.
My heart clenched. No one had ever fought for me like that before. No one but her
And now!
Now I would fight for her. For us. For this pack.
¡°They came to see if you were one of them now.¡± Alfonso stated, already understanding theyers beneath this rogue attack. ¡°If their n worked, would stand down.¡±
¡°No,¡± I said coldly. ¡°They came to die.¡±
His lips curled into a grim smile. ¡°Then let¡¯s give them what they came for.¡±
I stepped forward and turned toward the west perimeter¨Cthe thick tree line where our defenses were strongest. My eyes narrowed as i saw the figures moving between the shadows¨Cmore than twenty rogues, lean and wild¨Ceyed, Filthy. Desperate. Not just here to test us.
Hore to destroy.
¡°They thought I was weakened,¡± I said, my voice a low shart. ¡°Let¡¯s show them why I¡¯m Alpha
¡°Understood,¡± Alfonso said. ¡°No one leaves alive.¡±
Inodded, satisfied
¡°Let¡¯s remind them why thisnd remains untouched¡±
HOOWWWLLL!!!!
My howl tore through the night sky like lightning cracking open a ck canvas.
It was loud.
It was powerful.
And it carried something no enemy could replicate¨CAlphamand.
The energy rippled across the pack like a shockwave. Every warrior lifted their head. Every heart steadied. Every hand tightened around their weapon
Their Alpha was back
And they felt it
Even the rogues, just across the boundary, faltered. I could hear the hesitation in their footsteps, the fear now beginning to seep in
I didn¡¯t stop to gloat
I shifted.
Bones cracked, muscle expanded, fur exploded across my skin, Inded on four legs, towering and monstrous in my Lycan form¨Csleek ck for, eyes glowing silver. Energy surged through me like fire in my veins.
And then I leapt
We stormed the perimeter like a tidal wave. My warriors at my sides Marlow, Alfonso, the best among them. The rogues didn¡¯t stand a chance.
I saw the first one try to lunge, ws bared, but I moved faster. My jaws mped around his throat, crushing his windpipe before he even realized I was upon him. I threw his body aside like a ragdoll and spun, catching the next que mid¨Cair, ripping through his nk with my ws
They were scrambling¨Cattacking recklessly.
But we were focused.
United.
We fought with precision, with purpose. With vengeance.
Each scream, each dying breath of a rogue was a reminder this was my territory. My pack. And my Luna they dared to threaten.
Luca wasn¡¯t among them. Of course not. The coward wouldn¡¯t face me himself. He wanted to test the waters first, to see if I would turn against my own or
be too lost in fog to lead
Let him watch.
Let him see the carnage from wherever he¡¯s hiding.
Let him tremble.
We ughtered the rogues within minutes. The snow beneath our feet was soaked in crimson, the scent of death thick in the air.
I shifted back, breathing heavy but satisfied. My hands dripped with blood. My chest heaved.
¡°Status¡± barked.
¡°All clear, Alpha,¡± Marlow confirmed. ¡°No survivors
¡°Good¡± I turned toward the ridge overlooking the valley.
And Helt him.
Luca
Watching.
Hiding.
Plotting
But what he saw tonight was not weakness.
it was a warning.
I stared out at the trees, unblinking, letting the wind carry my scent to wherever he might be.
Come again, I thought, and I will burn your world down.
megranskar umire adaber for a motard before it softened. ¡°We¡¯ve secured everything. No injuries on our side. The
Tha¡¯s safe ton¡± i said quietly. ¡°That¡¯s all
tepped her
He nodded and stepped back, giving me spec
and walked slowly back to the manne, leaving behind the bloodshed and the chaos, letting the victory settle into the soil
eached the bedroom, dawn was peeking over the hills, casting a soft golden light across the room. iney curled under ther
So peaceful
eautiful
I stepped closer, unable to resist brushing a lock of her hair from her cheek. My hand trembled slightly, not from fear¨Cbut from love.
Thad almost lost her.
Once to rejection.
And now to this madness, this scheme to take me away from everything I am
But she fought for me.
She never give up.
Not even when I forgot her.
Who are you?
Those were the words I had once said to her
How much it must¡¯ve shattered her.
Wet she stayed
That kind of love? It¡¯s not given. It¡¯s earned. Cherished.
I knelt by the bed and pressed a kiss to her forehead,
¡°You saved me,¡± I whispered. ¡°Now I¡¯ll protect your Always¡±
She stirred, her lips parting s
and I smiled
Let her sleep. Let her dream of better days.
Because from now on, I would make sure that her nightmares were over. Her pain ended with me. And anyone¨Canyone¨Cwho tried to touch her again would find themselves beneath my ws begging for mercy that I would never give
Chapter 58
Trose and turned back to the window, watching the tun dise fully above the forest, painting the world in fight.
This was the dawn it a new chapter
For het.
For our pack
Let the roguese
Let Luca try again.
I was no longer lost.
I was no longer broken.
Twas Alpha Francesco Totti Lycaon
And I remembered everything
?
Still His 59
Chapter 59
Back to ine Poist of View
it began with a nightmare.
Darkness loomed, dense and suffocating
Tran through a battlefield soaked in blood and screams. Free licked the sky, ash and smoke choking the air around me. Trould see him. Frandsen standing tall amidst it all, draped in ck, his silver eyes glowing with something terrifying
The kind that made mountains tumble and wolves kneel
He was no Alpha here. He was the Lycan thest of his kind, the most feared creature to ever walk the earth
Beside him stood Loca, his head warrior. Their presence was overwhelming casting fear even into the hearts of their own kind. Blood dripp Luck¡¯s sword, and Francesco¡¯s ws were stained red. Innocents screamed for mercy, but none came
Francesto didn¡¯t speak. His gaze was ice, Cold. Unforgiving,
¡°This is what p
t power demands,¡± Luca¡¯s voice growled in my dream,ced with madness. ¡°This is what loyalty looks like.¡±
But then something shitted
A girl¨Csmall, no older than a child¨Cstood in front of Francesco, her eyes wide with fear. Luca raised his de.
¡°NO!¡°Trancesco roared, the first word he¡¯d spoken.
He stopped the de with his own hands, blood pouring from his palms,¡±
Luca turned to him, confused and furious.
¡°They¡¯re innocent,¡± Francesco whispered, realization crashing into him a tidal wave. ¡°You lied to me¡±
The betrayal wasplete. Francesco¡¯s eyes widened with truth.
And then the fire swallowed everything
Iblinked¡
A small moan escaped my lips. It was faint, but it was enough.
Gasps filled the air. A chair scraped. The room, once silent, burst with life.
+Eine
The voice I longed for.
Francesco
He was there in an instant, kneeling beside me, grabbing my hand like it was the only thing keeping him grounded. His eyes-wi with exhaustion¨Clocked on mine.
¡°Hey, mi Amore,¡± he whispered, his voice cracking.
id with emotion, fimmed
11:09 Mon 14-00
Tied a trembling hand to cup his cheek. ¡°Trancesco Toote okay.
His eyes shut as he leaned into my fouth, newhelmed.
¡°you,¡± he choked out. ¡°Why did you push yourself like this for me?¡±
A weak smile curved my lips. ¡°You¡¯re worth the tiredness.
His eyes filled with tears, awe and reverence recing the torment in his gaze
Behind him, Monica approached with urgency, her healer¡¯s instincts kicking in
Francesco moved aside, never letting go of my hand, as Monica checked my vitals and gently scolded me for scaring everyone
Lira, the witch healer, stood behind her, howning with concert.
¡°Her healing is slow because she cannot shift yet,¡± Lira exined, ¡°The experiment drained her. But Miks has returned. That¡¯s the most important part
I nodded faintly grateful.
¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered.
Francesco still watched me like I was a miracle. He hadn¡¯t said much more, but his silence was heavy with emotion.
Beta Alfonso stepped closer. ¡°We¡¯re d you finally woke, Luna Eine.¡±
Marlow gave a respectful nod beside him.
I offered them a soft wave before they excused themselves, leaving us alone.
As the door clicked shut, Francesco slumped beside me with a heavy sigh.
¡°You scared me,¡± he whispered.
His hand found mine again, gripping it like it might slip away.
I tugged gently at his arm. ¡°Come here. Lay with me.¡±
He hesitated only for a moment before climbing in beside me, pulling me gently into his embrace
I studied him
He looked¡ worn. Hollowed by worry,
You look tired, my Francesco. I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered.
He shook his head violently and drew me closer, clutching me like I was thest piece of his soul
¡°I¡¯m just d you finally opened your eyes, Amore Luna,¡± he murmured into my hair.
We stayed like that, our bodies pressed close, hearts slowly syncing
ime stopped. The nightmare, the pain, the war¨Cit all faded in that embrace,
Eventually, I broke the silence.
¡°I should tell you something¡±
He looked up.
Chapter 59.
¡°While was unconscious. I had a dreanu Anightmare, maybe. I saw your old self. With Luca¡±
His body teused
Treached up and traced his jaw, calming him.
¡°It felt so real. You were terrifying Powerful. But not hesitless, I saw the moment you changed. The moment you chose not to be him
Francesco sighed. ¡°Something I¡¯m not proud of¡±
¡°But you changed,¡± I whispered. ¡°You faced it. Even now,¡± you¡¯ve still facing it.
He gave me a sad, almost broken smile,
¡°That¡¯s because I have something to protect now. Someone to live for.¡±
I smiled: ¡°Mi Francesco. Hlove you.¡±
love you more,¡± he said, his voice raw, honest, heavy
He leaned down and kissed me¨Csoft and lingering, a kiss filled with unspoken pain, unshakable love, and the gratitude of a thousand lives.
We stayed like that, lips brushing, aus tangled, until I spoke again.
¡°What happened while I was out?¡±
He hesitated
Then he told me.
Three days ago, as I copsed from the magical experiment to shield him, Francesco had sensed something was wrong.
The rogues attacked the estate,
And leading them¡ was Luca.
Francesco had faced his old friend in the courtyard¨Cright outside my room.
The battle was brutal. Two powerful old wolves, a Lycan and strong Werewoll, almost equals in strength once, now divided by purpose.
Luca had taunted him, bringing up their past, mocking him for choosing love over legacy
But Francesco stood firm.
He fought for me.
For the pack.
For redemption.
And when the final moment came, Francesco didn¡¯t hesitate. He struck everyone down¨Cnot out of hatred, but mercy. A firm statement about his path.
The rogues scattered, and make the leader, Lucy run away from his hidden ce, away from the battlefield like a coward.
¡°I didn¡¯t want you to wake up to that world,¡± Francesco confessed, his voice cracking, ¡°I wanted you to wake up to peace.¡±
I pressed my forehead to his
¡°Then let¡¯s build that peace together¡±
He closed his eyes. ¡°You always know what to say the sighed.
I smiled, exhaustion lugging at my limbs, hot my heart full.
¡°Get sonte sleep¡± I murmured. ¡°You need it
He chuckled. ¡°Not unless you do too.
We shifted under the covers, and he cradled me in his arms like I was made of st
¡°Francesco
He hit his eyes to meet mine ¡°Yes, Amore?¡±
¡°We¡¯ll be okay, right?¡±
He kissed my forehead. ¡°We already are¡±
And for the first time in days, we both slept,
Together
Safe
In love.
?
Still His 60
Chapter 60
Third Person Point of View
Lucaran¡
His breath came out in shallow, rapped gasps as he pushed himself harder through the dense forest lining the outskirts of the Italian territory. The night was thick with mist, the scent of blood st lingering in the air. Behind him, silence stretched endlessly, but he didn¡¯t dare believe he was safe. Hot yet. Not until he was far away from Francesco¡¯s reach
He couldn¡¯t afford to be followed. Not now.
The route was familiar¨Can ancient, winding path known only to him. It led to a ce even the most desperate rogues feared to tread, a ce hidden for Over a century, Luca¡¯s sanctuary. His true fortress. The cradle of darkness he had built with his own hands when the world turned its back on him. A base for rogues, murderers, exiles-a monument to vengrance
¡°Damn it!¡± he growled under his breath, punching a tree trunk in rage as he passed it
They had failed. Worse, they had underestimated Francesco.
The warriors Luca sent were the best of his forces, killers forged in the darkest pits of the rogue world. And yet, they had fallen, One by one. ughtered.
He had trusted that his n has works. He had believed the Alpha was still weak at heart, because of the poison he gave. It could turn back him like he is ence, long time ago Francesco had been like him¨Cruthless, drunk on power, drowning in bloodlust. But something had changed. Luca had watched in disbelief as that very man, his once¨Cequal, turned merciful. Soft
¡°Damn it!¡± he shouted again, this time louder, starting nearby crows into flight
Francesco¡¯s strength was unmatched. He was thest of the pure Lycans, born under a blood moon with powers not seen in centuries. It was that strength, that terrifying ferocity, that made Luca once loyal to him. But now, all of it had been twisted, tamed by love and kindness.
¡°Stupid Lycan,¡± Luca spat as he came to a halt at the edge of a cut. Below, hidden behind thick vines and an ancient illusion spell, was the entrance to his hideaway.
He thought he had a n.
He thought Anastasia¨Cthe woman who once held Francesco¡¯s heart¨Cwould lead him back into the dark. He had hoped her presence would fracture Francesco¡¯s resolve. And for a moment, it almost worked. But love ruined everything.
Francesco fell in love with her. And worse¨Cshe loved him too.
¡°But she betrayed me Luca whispered, voice shaking. ¡°She was supposed to help me.¡±
But in the end, Anastasia had protected Francesco. She gave him strength, perhaps even left him secrets he wasn¡¯t meant to
As he entered the underground hideout, brushing past the curious stares of his subordinates, he didn¡¯t stop to exin. They could feel his Bury. They knew better than to question it. They had seen the casualties. The best of them were dead, lost to Francesco¡¯s wrath¡
Luca mmed the door to his private study and grabbed the worn leather¨Cbound book from a hiddenpartment behind the shelves. Anastasia¡¯s grimoire. The one filled with her poisons, spells, enchantments¨Cmagic forbidden even by the oldest covers.
He fipped through the pages in a frenzy.
¡°How did he recover so quickly? He should have been crippled for weeks!¡±
His eyes scanned every ingredient, every ritual. Then a thought struck him like lightning.
¡°Could it be¡she left another book with him? Or worse¡ To his new mate..
They said her name Eine¡. The new mate of hin
Luca froze
There was something different about her. He had sensed it. Not just her connection to Francesco, but her power. She radiated something ancient, something familiar,
Was she¡ truly like Anastasia?
Was she connected to her?
He mmed the book shut, pacing the room like a caged animal
¡°If she has inherited Anastasia¡¯s abilitie
then she is the one aiding him now. She¡¯s the reason he¡¯s not falling¡±
He clenched his fists.
¡°She¡¯s his weakness.¡±
He turned and roared, ¡°KELLAN!¡±
Within seconds, a tall, the man with sharp features entered the room. His eyes gleamed with cunning, and a grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
¡°Yes, Leader Luca.¡±
Luca finally allowed himself a small smile. ¡°I need every piece of information on the girl. I want to know where she sleeps, who she speaks to, what she eats. I want to know her nightmares. Check the human we send to spy on her, where is he now?¡±
Ken bowed. ¡°Consider it done¡±
Luca returned to his desk,his expression cold.
¡°Just wait, Francesco, he whispered. ¡°This time I will make sure you¡¯re lose
Back at Francesco¡¯s Alpha Manor
Eine¡¯s Point of View
I wasn¡¯t used to this.
The warmth. The kindness. The attention.
Maria, Audrey, and Monica had turned into mother hens the moment I stepped into the dining hall. A feast fit for royalty had beenid out, all of it for me. Fresh bread, seasoned meats, roasted vegetables, warm soup, cakes, and a giant bowl of strawberry pie¨Capparently my favorite now.
¡°Don¡¯t even think about protesting.¡± Maria warned, her eyes narrowing when I opened my mouth.
Audrey raised a brow. ¡°After everything you¡¯ve done for us, let us take care of you now.¡±
Francesco just chuckled beside me, leaning back in his chair like a king watching the chaos unfold.
I sighed in defeat, shaking my head as I reached for a spoon.
Thad never known this kind of care. Where I came from, I was invisible. An obligation. Here¡I was someone
I sniffled unconsciously, the emotions rising too fast to hide.
They all froze
¡°ine?¡± Monica rushed forward. ¡°Did we do something wrong?¡±
Maria put down the bowl she was carrying. Even Francesco leaned closer, his hand hovering
¡°No,¡± I said quickly, wiping my eyes. ¡°No, it¡¯s not that. I just¡¡±.
Hooked around at their worried faces, at the warmth in their eyes.
¡°You¡¯re all just so kind to me.¡±
Maria¡¯s lips parted in a a tender smile as she ced another slice of strawberry pie in front of me.
¡°Then don¡¯t make us worry again, dear,¡± she said, patting my hand.
I nodded, managing a smallugh. ¡°Not promise¡±
Francesco finally reached out and took my left hand in his. His touch was soft, reverent.
¡°You don¡¯t have to fight alone anymore,¡± he said.
The words sank deep into my heart.
mine
This man. He had changed everything. This ce. These people, He had opened a door to a new world, one where I was not just surviving I was living
I looked up at him, unable to contain the emotion in my chest.
¡°I am so happy because of you, you know that, right?¡±
He squeezed my hand gently.
¡°And I will do everything to keep it that way!¡±
As we shared a quiet moment in the middle of the bustling dining room, I didn¡¯t know that far away, deep in the shadows, someone was watching.
Plotting.
e storm was brewing.
The
But for now, in this sanctuary, I felt safe. Helt loved.
Still His 61
Chapter 61
Thete morning sun cast golden hues across the garden, shimmering through the dew speckled petals of the best had been days since i was strong enough to walk this far, but today, I finally stepped into the garden again with Francesco by my side.
His warm hand rested gently on my back, guiding me slowly across the stone path. My legs still felt flowers helped clear the lingering fog in my head.
weak, but the fresh air and set scant of
¡°Mario¡¯s here?¡± Lasked, frowning,
Francesco p
spave a slight nod. ¡°We can¡¯t take & chance they get to him first¡±
I paused for a second, heart tightening at the thought, ¡°He mentioned his family.
¡°Yeah,¡± Francesen sighed, his tone heavy. ¡°His little brother and sister were kidnapped. He said they were all he had left. The rogues used that against him
My fists clenched involuntarily. ¡°Cowards!
¡°That¡¯s Luca,¡± he muttered, jaw light. ¡°He¡¯ll do anything to gain control¡ even involve innocents. But we still need to get to the truth¡±
I nodded, my throat thick. Luca wasn¡¯t just a cruel leader; he was a maniptor. The worst kind. He used people¡¯s desperation against them.
¡°So Mario¡¯s staying at my old apartment?¡±
Francesco nodded. ¡°Same floor. But your room is still yours, in case you want to visit or study with your human friends.¡±
A smile touched my lips. ¡°Thanks for understanding.¡±
He looked down at me with a small smile before opening the garden gate and letting me stop through first.
We made our way to the stone bench in the center, the familiar spot surrounded by blooming blue roses. My breath hitched slightly, overwhelmed by their beauty. I had missed this ce. It was peaceful, like time had frozen just for us..
¡°I¡¯ll take you there when you¡¯re stronger, Francesco promised, referring to the apartment. I nodded, grateful
While we sat, I brought up something that had been tugging at me since I woke up.
¡°Francesco, I found another of Anastasia¡¯s books.¡±
He blinked in surprise. ¡°What book?¡±
¡°It¡¯s about magic¡ potions, enchantments. She hid it in the manor
His brows furrowed. ¡°I never knew she had anything like that, just know she loves being in the library and I allow her since thought she¡¯s human,¡±
¡°Yeah, no one know,¡± I added gently. ¡°Everyone thought she just liked the library and this garden. but she had secrets that she was a
awitch¡±
His face paled slightly, caught between shock and grief. ¡°I still didn¡¯t know how to feel about that.¡±
I looked toward the far corner of the garden¨Cthe shadowy patch partly hidden by overgrown ivy remembered the ce from the vision she had
with me.
¡°There,¡± I pointed. ¡°She led me through the hidden gate there.¡±
Francesco followed my gaze, frowning, then slowly approached, I stood beside him and reached forward, brushing my fingers along the densely wall My fingertips tingled, and then¨Ca warm pulse of energy.
Ashinimer passed through the leaves.
And then, like a curtain parting the by slipped away to reveal a hidden door
scesco staggered back in she ¡°What the
I took his hand, steady and sure. ¡°It¡¯s time you see it.¡±
He let me lead him through the doorway, into the hidden greenhouse like room behind it.
The air inside was still, yet charged with a familiar energy Crystals shimmered on the shelves Books lined the walls. Dried herbs dangled from the beams above. In the center stood a wooden worktable, stained with ancient runes and candle war. This was her sanctuary
¡°She showed me this in a dream¡± I whispered. ¡°This is where she practiced. Where the watched over you
Francesco tumind slowly, absorbing every detail. His expression was unreadable.
¡°she loved you, France. But she knew her time was short. She prepared this ce to protect you, and maybe for me too
His hands trembled slightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t she tell me!¡±
¡°She was afraid you¡¯d see her differently. But everything she did¡ she did out of love.¡±
He sat on the edge of the worktable, silent. Then he looked at me, eyes soft.
¡°You carry her strength, but you¡¯re nothing like her. You¡¯re stronger in ways even she wasn¡¯t
I gave him a sad smile. ¡°She was guiding me here, Francesco. From the very beginning,¡±
He reached out, pulling me gently into his arms. We stood there in the heart of the secret room, surrounded by the legacy of a woman either of us truly
know.
¡°This war with Luca¡ it¡¯s not just a fight for power. It¡¯s a fight for truth. For healing. For love,¡± I whispered.
He nodded against my shoulder. ¡°And I¡¯m not losing you. Not again.¡±
We stayed in that hidden ce for a while longer, breathing in the scent of driedvender and magic.
There would be war ahead, but today¨Cwe had peace. And secrets/waiting to bloom.
Later that evening, I returned to the manor with Francesco. Maria, Audrey, and Monica were waiting in the dining room, their arms crossed and eyebrowe raised as they spotted me walking in
¡°And where exactly have you been, Miss Recovery?¡± Audrey teased, hands on her hips.
¡°Fresh air,¡± I said quickly, smiling guiltily.
¡°Don¡¯t argue,¡± Maria scolded, cing arge bowl of soup in front of me. ¡°You¡¯re still healing Let us take care of you.¡±
Francesco chuckled as he sat beside me. ¡°You¡¯ve lost all control, Luna.¡±
¡°Apparently,¡± I murmured with a smile.
As we all sat to eat, a strange warmth settled in my chest. Despite the danger, despite the shadows lingering beyond the forest this pack had be my home.
And the broken she wall who once cried under moonlight alone had be someone worth fighting for.
Someone worth loving.
Because of them
Francesco took my hand under the table, and i knew no matter what came next, we would face
And Luca he would never break us.
Still His 62
Chapter 62
The next morning sun spilled through the tall windows of the Alpha¡¯s manor, golden rays warming the polished floors and gleaming softly against the dark wood of Francesco¡¯s office
I stepped inside, trailing just behind him. Something about this room¨Chis sanctuary always felt more solemn than the rest of the man. Maybe it was the scent of old paper, the heavy silence between the walls, or maybe¡ it was the weight of what we were about to do.
Francesco closed the door behind us. His eyes, intense yet thoughtful, met mine for a moment before he gestured toward the desk. ¡°Let¡¯s sit,¡± he said
gently.
He wanted to know more about her.
About Anastasia
About the power she once held, and the legacy she never dared to reveal.
I reached into the small satchel I carried and pulled out the thick leather¨Cbound book¨Cthe one that had nearly burned in my hands the first time touched it, the one that helped me save his life not long ago. The cover was worn, the edges frayed with age, but the aura around it was unmistakable. magic, old and patient.
I handed it to him.
He took it carefully, as if afraid to damage something sacred, and ced it on his desk. Slowly, he opened it, the pages whispering against each other. His brows furrowed as he read the inked markings, a mixture of Latin, symbols, and old dialects I hadn¡¯t yet deciphered. ¡°It¡¯s been more than a century since Theard about witches,¡± he murmured. ¡°And even then, it was always in whispers. Superstition. Caution. Never, this.¡±
His voice was low, almost pained. ¡°Never thought Anastasia was hiding something like this.¡±
Inodded softly I understood, How could I not? The woman he once loved, his fated mate, had kept something so monumental from him. A whole world she belonged to¡one he never know.
¡°She didn¡¯t know how,¡± I whispered, sitting beside him. ¡°That¡¯s why she had such a difficult time telling you. It wasn¡¯t just about hiding. She was¡
afraid.¡±
Francesco¡¯s lips curved into a sad smile. ¡°I understand her now he said after a pause.¡°I didn¡¯t before. But I do now¡ because I have you.¡±
The warmth in his voice made my heart ache. Treached across the table and ced my hand gently over his. ¡°This power¡it¡¯s part of me now. I don¡¯t know why, or how, but I need to learn it. To understand it. Maybe event¡ finish what she couldn¡¯t.¡±
He stared at me, something unreadable in his expression. Then he nodded, a quiet agreement between us. Not as Alpha and subject. Not even as mates. But as two people bound by fate and grief, and now, by hope.
¡°Never thought your path would intersect with hers,¡± he said, almost to himself.
I stood and walked around the desk, reaching for him. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why I¡¯m here,¡± I said sohly. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s why we found each other.¡±
He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. And I held him back¨Cnot just to reassure him, but to remind myself that no matter how heav new path was, I didn¡¯t walk it alone.
When he cupped my face and told me he was okay, I could see in his eyes that he meant it. That even if there was still pain in his heart, even if he still mourned the life he once imagined with Anastasia, he had made peace with it. Because now, there was us
And so, for the next two days, we worked together in quiet determination. From morning until evening, webed through every corner of the hidden garden room¨CAnastasia¡¯s sanctuary¨Ccollecting every book, scroll, note, and enchanted relic she had left behind. There were more than we expected. Books that hovered an inch above the ground, tomes bound in wines that only responded to my touch, and pages that whispered truths under candlelight
Francesco had a cab built inside his office just for them. It was Beta Alfonso who brought it in, grumbling at the strange request but too loyal to ask
questions, I caught his suspicious nce more than once, but he said nothing
We kept it betweenus For now.
Even Audrey and Monica began to grow curious. They teased me gently, asking if i was ¡°hogging the Alpha¡± and leaving Beta Alfonso drowning in paperwork. Iughed it off, telling them had university assignments that Francesco wat helping me with I saw the doubt in their eyes, but they didn press further. Maybe they sensed this wasn¡¯t something they should push
Still, I knew they were watching
By the third day, I finally ced thest book into the polisher
polished oak cab Francesco had cleared for me.
I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand and exhaled. ¡°Is that ar
Francesco, who had just finished arranging thest set of journals in the bottom row, turned to me. ¡°That¡¯s all of them?¡±
Inodded and handed him a ss of water I had prepared earlier. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s thest one.¡±
He took it, his hand brushing mine, and gave me a tired but genuine smile. ¡°Thank you.¡±
I turned toward the cab and let my gaze sweep across the collection. ¡°She hid all of this,¡± I whispered, more to myself than him. ¡°Not just the books- but herself. Hertruth. Her power.¡±
Francesco came to stand behind me. His hand gently pressed against my back, grounding me. ¡°She hid it with magic,¡± he said quietly. ¡°And you¡¯re the only one who could retrieve them. Without you¡ they would have stayed lost forever.¡±
I leaned against his chest, letting his arms wrap around me as we both stared at the cab. The weight of it all settled over me then¨Cnot just Anastasia¡¯s secrets, but the responsibility that now belonged to me. The echoes of a woman I never knew, who left behind a legacy of power and pain, and somehow¡ chose me to carry it forward,
¡°I should read them all, I muttered. ¡°God, how many is that?¡±
Francesco chuckled, amused by my groan. ¡°You¡¯re stronger than you think,¡± he said with a kiss against my temple. ¡°I know you can do it.
I turned my face toward him, halfughing, half crying ¡°God, help me
¡°I already did,¡± he murmured. ¡°He gave you to me.¡±
Those words settled deep in my chest, a warmth blooming beneath my ribs.
This was just the beginning. There would be fear. There would be questions. There would be danger¨Cespecially if Luca ever discovered the truth of what I was now capable of
But in this moment, I was safe. I was loved. And I was ready.
?
Still His 63
Chapter 63
Three days
Three whole days of dust coveted books, glowing runes, strange titles written in ancient ink, and Francesco¡¯s quietpany beside me. And finally, it¡¯s done
I stand in front of the tall cab he ordered for me¨Cwood polished smooth, the scent of pine lingering faintly, Inside, Anastasia¡¯s legacy warts, each beck humming with something Lean¡¯t exin. Magic. Memory. A warning, maybe.
¡°Thinking I should read it all¡ God, I groan, rubbing the back of my neck.
Francesco chuckles behind me, warm as wrapping around my waist. ¡°I know you could do it, he says against my hair. I roll my eyes, but I can¡¯t help the small smile that sneaks onto my lips.
¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Insutter ¡°What if one of these explodes or turns me into a bond?¡±
¡°You¡¯re beautiful even as a toad,¡± he says without missing a beat, and I elbow him gently
still,
I reach out. Let my fingers hover over the worn spines of books that haven¡¯t been touched in decades¨Cmaybe a century
And then it happens.
One of them glows.
A soft silverlight, pulsing beneath the cover like a heartbeat.
1 freeze. So does Francesco
¡°That¡¯s new,¡± he mutters
¡°I didn¡¯t touch it,¡± I whisper in shock.
The glow strengthens. The book¨Cthinner than most, with cracked edges and a faded title i can¡¯t read¨Crattles gently against the others, like it¡¯s calling - me.
My breath catches. My well, Hika, stirs within me
Touch it.
I reach out, fingertips brushing the leather. The moment I do-
The room disappears.
Darkness swallows me whole.
No scent. No sound. Only pressure, like I¡¯m underwater.
Then a flicker of candlelight appears in the distance, growing closer with every heartbeat. Shapes begin to form.
A room. Old stone walls. A circr mirror on one side. Books¨Chundreds¨Clining the shelves.
And at the center, a woman in a flowing white dress with raven¨Cck hair, her back to me.
She turns
Anastasia
She looks like the painting once restored in the museum, same like thest time i saw her in my dream. Only now, her eyes areve, stormy bite and deeply sad
¡°You came,¡± she says softly,
I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m breathing. ¡°Where am I?¡±
¡°Inside the book ¡°He voice is calm, echoing gently like a distant chime. ¡°A piece of me¡preserved for you¡±
the steps closer. ¡°My blood lives in you now. My gif. My curse
¡°I¡¯m not a witch,¡± I whisper.
Her eyes soften. ¡°Not yet.¡±
Anush of wind swirls around us, and suddenly images flood the air¨Cshes of her life. A younger Anastasia, barely twenty, running barefoot through the woods, robes torn and blood on her hands. Howling behind her, Rogues. She stumbles across a border carved with warding runes¨CFrancesco¡¯s territory
That was their first meeting
A memory flickers.
She lies unconscious, surrounded by warriors. Francesco, younger then, approaches her cautiously. Their eyes meet. And in that exact moment, she casts the spell
The borid. The illusion of fate.
Anastasia stands beside me now in the vision, watching her younger self weave the magic ¡°It was wrong,¡± she whispers. ¡°But I was desperata. They sent me for that purpose¨Cto make him fall for me. They were going to kill me if Itailed.¡±
More memories appear: Anastasia smiling sweetly at Francesco, touching his arm, whispering carefully chosen words. Magic humming behind every nce. He believed they were fated. He believed he loved hor
¡°I tried to make him fall in love with me,¡± she says bitterly, ¡°And maybe he did. But not in the way he thought¡±
Tears sting my eyes. ¡°You created a false bond.
¡°Yes. One built on survival. Not truth.¡± Her voice is raw. ¡°But in time, I think I loved him. I just never knew how to stop lying.¡±
She walks to the mirror. ¡°This is the truth you must face, Eine. Magices with a price. You must decide if you¡¯re willing to pay it.¡±
¡°What price?¡± I ask, a knot forming in my chest.
Anastasia raises her hand. The mirror begins to swirl with silver fog¨Cand then clears.
And what I see makes me fall to my knees.
Me. Covered in blood. Standing alone in the snowy, screaming a name I can¡¯t hear
Francesco, maybe?
Or someone else¡
¡°No, I gasp. ¡°That¡¯s not real.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a path,¡± she says. ¡°One of many, Power calls to those who took to twist it. If you open these books without understanding, you risk loung everything.¡±
Tears prick my eyes. ¡°Then why give it to me?¡±
¡°Because,¡± Anastasia whispers, kneeling in front of me, ¡°you have something I never did¡±
She smiles. ¡°Hope¡±
Light explodes,
The vision shatters.
And I¡¯m back¨Cgasping¨Cin Francesco¡¯s office.
¦°¦±
He¡¯s kneeling beside me in a sh. ¡°Eine! What happened?¡± He hold me tight
look at the book in my hands. It¡¯s no longer glowing. Just¡still. Like nothing happened at all.
saw her.¡± I whisper.
He stills. ¡°Anastasia?¡±
I nod, tears sliding silently down my cheeks. ¡°She left something for me. A vision. A warning¡±
Francesco wipes one tear gently. ¡°What did she say?¡±
¡°That this is a gift¡ but also a curse I look into his eyes. ¡°And that I have a choice.¡±
He¡¯s quiet for a long moment, and then he stands and helps me to my feet.
¡°You won¡¯t face this alone,¡± he says, voice low and firm. ¡°Whatever¡¯s in those books¨Cwhatever future you saw we change it. Together¡±
I throw my arms around him, burying my face in his chest, the things that I saw in my head is so real that bring tears fall more from my eyes.
But I believe him.
Because even though my fate now carries a forgotten witch¡¯s magic and secrets darker than moonless nights¨CI have
And maybe that¡¯s enough.
him.
For now.
E
Still His 64
Chapter 64
Knock Knock¡
A sharp knock sliced through the silence.
The door creaked open before either of us could respond, and in walked Beta Alfonso¨Chis sharp eyes narrowing the moment he stepped into the room.
He paused, his gaze locking onto us. His brows furrowed, thick and dark above his tense face, the kind of expression he wore when something wasn¡¯t
right
I was still trembling slightly in Francesco¡¯s armis, nestled on the floor beside the open book that had just nearly swallowed me into a world of magk and memory, Francesco was kneeling beside me, protective and unyielding, one arm braced behind my back while the other pressed over my hand like an anchor.
Neither of us moved when Alfonso walked in.
¡°What happened?¡± Alfonso¡¯s voice cracked through the air, sharp and edged with panic. He crossed the room in a few fast strides, eyes scanning for danger. ¡°Is there another threat? Did she use magic again?¡±
The moment he asked, Francesco¡¯s jaw tightened, a flicker of something stormy darkening his face.
Gently, he scooped me into his arms with practiced case and carried me toward the couch as though i weighed nothing at all. I didn¡¯t resist. My limbs felt weak, my mind still half¨Ctrapped between this world and the echoes of Anastasia¡¯s memory.
Heid me carefully on the cushions before settling beside me. One of his hands never left inine.
¡°You knew?¡± Francesco asked, his voice quiet, but heavy it wasn¡¯t truly a question¨Cmore like an usation.
Alfonso stopped just in front of us, breathing hard. Then he let out a dramatic sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.
¡°I was there,¡± he muttered. ¡°When she nearly copsed just to make sure she got the potion for you, Alpha. Of course I knew.¡±
He looked at us both, a glint of betrayal Eashing in his eyes.
ng his arms with the ir of someone truly wounded.
¡°The way you two keep trying to hide things from me is, honestly, heartbreaking,¡± he said, crossing ¡°After everything I¡¯ve done, after everything I know¡.you¡¯re still keeping secrets?¡±
I let out a quietugh despite myself
This is rich seeing Beta Alfonso act like an offended older sibling was strangelyforting. The weight in my chest lightened.
Francesco sighed, ncing away. His thumb ran slowly over my knuckles.
¡°We just wanted to be sure,¡± he murmured. ¡°We didn¡¯t want to say anything until we understood what we were dealing with.¡±
¡°Magic isn¡¯t something people can easily ept,¡± I added, my voice still hoarse from the effects of the spell and the memory. ¡°Even I¡¯m not sure what it
all means yet.¡±
Alfonso rolled his eyes with the ir of a drama king ¡°That¡¯s exactly what Audrey told me.¡±
Francesco and blinked in unison.
¡°Audrey knew too?¡± we asked.
Alfonso turned to me, exasperated ¡°Luna, you¡¯ve forgotten, it was us who helped you arrange everything for the potion. Do you think books float
themselves into locked rooms?¡±
I blinked.
He was right, I forgot about that. Then let out another nervous chuckle. ¡°Right. I may have¡ blocked out a few details in the chaos¡±
¡°You think?¡± he deadpanned, but his tone had softened. He rubbed a hand down his face, muttering something about how he deserved better french
Then his gaze shifted, drawn toward the corner of the room. Toward the old cab I¡¯d unlocked just days ago the one that held Anastasia¡¯s ancient journals, spellbooks, and the remnants of her quiet, dangerous power.
He walked toward it slowly.
So that¡¯s what you two have been doing,¡± he muttered. His hand hovered over the top of one of the books as though afraid it might burn him.
Francesco watched him with calm intensity. ¡°We recovered them from the old estate and hidden ces. Eine has been studying them, tranting the enchantments.¡±
¡°She¡¯s better at it than anyone else would be,¡± I heard Francesco add under his breath.
Alfonso nced over his shoulder. ¡°And what happened tonight? What¡¯d she find that left her shaking like that?¡±
My throat tightened.
Damn, he knew!
I sat up a little straighter, brushing my hair away from my damp forehead, I still felt the phantom touch of Anastasia¡¯s fingers on my face, the weight of her regret hanging heavy in my chest.
¡°A memory¡± I whispered. ¡°One she hid inside the book. It pulled me into her past. I saw¡.everything¡±
Alfonso book a step closer. ¡°What did you see?¡±
I looked to Francesco for support
He nodded once, silently telling me it was okay to say it aloud.
¡°She wasn¡¯t Francesco¡¯s true mate,¡± I said. ¡°She used a spell. A strong one. To make him believe they were fated. She cast it on him to survive. To gain
protection.¡±
ed at ma
Alfonso stared at me, stunned.
¡°She cast a mate bond?¡± he asked, voice low,
Inodded slowly. ¡°It was never real. But to him, it felt real. - l. She said the magic worked too well. That it made him love her. And it broke her.¡±
The silence in the room was deafening. Francesco said nothing, his face unreadable, but his hand never left mine.
¡°She left that memory for you?¡± Alfonso asked after a long pause
¡°She wanted me to understand,¡± I said. ¡°That magicke this alwayses with a cost. That I shouldn¡¯t use it unless I¡¯m ready to pay that pr
Alfonso paced slowly in front of us, then stopped and looked down at the book lying open on the floor. The ancient ink still glowed faintly
¡°We should burn them all,¡± he said.
Francesco raised a brow. ¡°And lose every warging she left? Every answer?¡±
Alfonso clenched his jaw. ¡°This is dangerous, What if someone else gets their hands on them? What if someone stronger than her finds a way to twist the magic even further 7¡±
I sat forward, my
He studied me for a long moment
(we need to leam, |
Understand
we can control it not be controlled by it.¡±
Then, finally, he nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯m staying I¡¯m helping I don¡¯t care what Audrey says, I¡¯m not letting you two stumble through this alone
I smiled, a small breath of relief loosening my chest
¡°Thank you, Alfonso.¡±
He waved a hand like it was nothing. ¡°Someone has to be the responsible adult in this pack. May as well be me.¡±
Then his eyes slid toward Francesco
¡°Still, I can¡¯t believe you didn¡¯t tell me. After all these years, you, Alpha of secrets, hiding something like this?¡±
Francesco¡¯s lips twitched upward in a rame, sheepish smile. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure what to believe. I needed time.¡±
Alfonso huffed. ¡°You need a lesson in trust. And possibly friendship¡±
Francesco¡¯s smile grew, and suddenly, the heavy air felt lighter,
As the fire crackled softly in the background, I looked toward the cab, knowing the road ahead wouldn¡¯t be easy
?
AD
Comment
Still His 65
Chapter 65
It was almost midnight, and though I could sense Francesco¡¯s presence somewhere deep in the manor, I didn¡¯t go looking for him. I knew he was busy. with paperwork, likely finalizing reports and sealing agreements. Beta Alfonso would be hovering too, grumbling Francesco so much as paned to
breathe.
So, I stayed silent, not wanting to disturb him. Instead, I stood on the balcony, wrapped in a thick sweater, watching the soft glow of moonlight on the treetops. The night air was cool but calm, soothing
And then, like always, I felt him.
His amis slid around me from behind, his louch familiar and grounding. Francesco moved so silently, his steps barely audible even to my werewolf ears. One of the many things about him that made me feel both safe andpletely undone.
¡°Why are you still up? It¡¯s okay? I shouldn¡¯t have dropped the bomb about your rtionship with Anastasia Se that.¡± I sighed, my heart sinking at the memory. That conversation had felt necessary, but now, in the stillness of night, Iregretted how much pain it might have stirred.
He turned me around gently, my hands instinctively finding their way to the back of his neck. He smiled warmly, his thumb brushing my cheek.
¡°No, no, don¡¯t say that. I¡¯m d to know you¡¯re honest with me, my love
I pouted slightly. ¡°But still..¡±
He silenced my protest with a kiss, one that started gentle but deepened slowly, deliberately. My arms wrapped tighter around him, surrendering to the moment, to the warmth of his love and the solidity of his presence
He was right.
There was nothing good that came from hiding the truth. And I was grateful that Francesco had seen that, even when the truth was heavy.
¡°What?¡±
The next morning, the entire dining room went silent when I said, I want to see Mario.
Forks froze midair, eyes widened. Even the usuallyposed Marlow stared
¡°Why?¡± Francesco asked, his tone calm, though I could feel the ripple of curiosity underneath it. He looked directly at me, not with judgment, but with
interest
I met bis gaze. ¡°I just want to hear his exnation. He¡¯s human. He met Luca somehow. And while he¡¯s been under our protection, we still don¡¯t fully understand what their connection was. We never saw any rogue near him until the night of the ambush. Isn¡¯t that strange?¡±
Beta Alfonso, Marlow, Harry, Audrey, and the other pack members sitting with us all exchanged looks, nodding slowly in agreement.
Francesco nced toward Audrey. ¡°You already tried to question him.¡±
Audrey leaned forward slightly. ¡°He said nothing. Luna. Every attempt was brushed off with polite silence. He¡¯s either afraid or hiding something.¡±
¡°Maybe with me, he¡¯ll talk,¡± I said, hoping, ¡°I¡¯m not a warrior. I¡¯m not going to interrogate him. I just want to speak with him. Understand him.¡±
Francesco studied me for a long moment, then gave a single nod. it¡¯s worth a try
His words caused a small uproar
¡°You sure, Alphar Alfonso asked, clearly surprised.
¡°It could be dangerous,¡± Marlow added. His face was uneadable, but I could sense the tension in him.
I tried to soothe their concerns. ¡°Who said I¡¯d go alone?¡±
I turned toward Francesco, who gave another ned in silent confirmation
Of course he would be at my side.
Within moments, a strategy meeting was called. Audrey and the other warriors began nning the safest route. Beta Alfonso started assigning patrol units to ensure our path was secure.
I finished my breakfast quietly while they worked, my thoughts circling around Mario. The human man who came here like me, because of a schrship: How did Luca or the rogues find him and put him into this situation? How could they threaten him and kidnap his family?
That was what drove me.
I needed to meet Mario¨Cnot just out of curiosity, but because I wanted to understand. Before I could begin to grasp the truth about the magic, about myself, I needed to know his story. His connection to Luca. The reason he was pulled into this world at all.
And that was the mystery I want to know.
An hourter, we were ready.
Three cars pulled out from the estate.
Francesco and I were in the middle vehicle, with warriors surrounding us in the front and rear. Our destination the apartment building had once called home. A strange ache settled in my chest as I thought about it. So much had changed since then..
Mario had been ced in the sameplex, on the same floor. Under our protection, yes, but away from packnd. A necessary risk. Francesco wanted him close, but not too close. Not until they could be sure he was no threat.
Now, I hoped he would prove something else entirely.
The ride was mostly quiet. Francesco¡¯s hand found mine, his thumb brushing soothing circles into my palm. Lleaned my head against his shoulder, breathing in his scent, anchoring myself
Whatever we found today, I had to be ready.
We arrived around noon.
The building looked the same. A little weathered, a little too quiet. I led the way to the familiar floor, my steps slowing as memories flooded me. The hallway still smelled like old paint and faint detergent. A ghost of my former life, it was the beginning when Francesco know about me
Mario¡¯s apartment was at the end of the hall
Audrey knocked first. ¡°Mario, it¡¯s Audrey. We brought someone to see you.¡±
A pause.
Then the door opened.
Mario stood there in a simple gray shirt, eyes tired but alert. When he saw me, his eyebrows lifted. ¡°Eine.¡±
¡°Hello, Mario.¡±
He opened the door wider. ¡°Please, Come in
The apartment was sparse but clean. A few books lined the shelves. The tele drawn, letting in
in muted light
The television was on mute, ying a ck and white movie. The curtains were
Francesco stood by the door, arms crossed but silent. Audrey leaned by the window, always aleet with other guards
Isat across from Mario. ¡°I wanted to talk to you.¡±
He nodded. ¡°I figured.¡±
I didn¡¯t dance around it. ¡°How did you meet Luca?¡±
He looked at me for a long time before finally speaking. ¡°He came suddenly, right after I got the imitation letter to the university. I didn¡¯t know who! was or¡what he was.¡± He let out a heavy sigh. ¡°Damn, I never knew this kind of world even existed.¡±
Yes, he¡¯s human. Involving a human in this kind of supernatural mess felt especially cruel, and my heart ached at the thought.
¡°said no at first,¡± he continued, his voice shaking. Then, tears welled in his eyes. ¡°But then I got a video call from my sister, except it wasn¡¯t her, it was man, He showed me that he had my sister and my brother. He said if I didn¡¯t follow his orders, then they¡ my family-
He couldn¡¯t finish. The sobs took over.
I turned to Francesco, who sighed deeply beside me.
Like me, he saw it clearly Maria, the human, wasn¡¯t lying.
I nodded, urging him gently. ¡°What did he talk about?¡±
That I needed to look into a woman¨Csomeone who wasn¡¯t what she seemed. He turned his gaze back to me. ¡°I never thought it was you at first, Eine
id he exactly say?¡±
Francesco stepped forward. ¡°What did
Mario frowned as it deep in thought. ¡°He didn¡¯t say much directly. Just that I needed to ture the woman and let his man handle the rest
I leaned forward. ¡°How did you know it was me?¡±
A pause.
Mario exhaled ¡°Because of you.¡± He turned his gaze to Francesco, who raised an eyebrow in curiosity. ¡°Remember when you came to pick her up at th university? You had the same aura as him¨Cthe rogue leader, Luca, things that make me shivered in strange way. So, I came to the conclusion that you Eine, were the one he was after¡±
y stomach turned.
Francesco moved closer to me instinctively
Mario continued. ¡°After the attack¡I kept dreaming of him. Not nightmares¨Cjust conversations. But they happened in impossible ce
of ss. Rivers that flowed backward. And his voice always echoed the same chilling words; ¡®Get her or die¡ Kill her.¡°
I sat back, stunned.
Mario looked at me. ¡°I know I¡¯m human. But I don¡¯t know what he did to me, or why I¡¯m involved.¡±
Francesco let out a slow breath. ¡°We need to move him.¡±
Audrey nodded without saying anything,
11:11 Mon,
Hooked at Mario. ¡°Will youe with us? Let us protect you properly now!
He gave me a sad smile. ¡°Do I have another choice!
As we drove back, I held Francesco¡¯s hand tightly.
The road ahead was lofig. Dangerous.
And today, we found out how Luca wanted me dead¨Cmeaning he truly wanted to make francesco suller.
But what did he do to Mario? Why did he get those dreams? Did it involve magic?
And why Mario?
Still His 66
Chapter 66
The morning sun was just beginning to crest over the hills when I tied my hair back and stepped out onto the training grounds once again.
It had been too long
The air was crisp,ced with the scent of dew covered grass and faint traces of wolves who had already begun their drills. Warriors moved with precision across the clearing, their footsteps heavy against the dirt, the sound of strikes and grunts echoing in the early quiet.
Today, I was ready to join them again.
After everything that had happened with Luca, with Mario¨Crealized I couldn¡¯t stay in stillness. My body craved movement, my wolf needed release. And I needed to feel strong again
Audrey was already waiting near the weapons rack when I arrived, a small smile tugging at her lips as I approached,
¡°Ready to get your ass handed to you?¡± she teased, tossing me a training staff.
I caught it with a grin. ¡°Only if you go easy!¡±
Sheughed, but before we started, something in the distance caught my eye.
Beyond the edge of the field, down the winding dirt path that led deeper into the territory, I spotted a group of figures working in the terraced fields- bent over crops, sleeves rolled up, hands covered in soil.
One of them stood out.
Mario.
He was helping with the rice paddies, hauling water and digging trenches alongside several warriors. His face was flushed with effort, but there was a calmness about him. A rhythm to the way he moved. He looked¡ almost content.
Audrey followed my gaze and spoke softly, ¡°Alpha thinks since he already knows about our world, it¡¯s better to ce him among pack members. That way, he¡¯s helping while still being protected.¡±
I turned to her, eyebrows raised. ¡°That¡¯s the House of Survivors, isn¡¯t it?¡±
She nodded. ¡°The farthest settlement from the Alpha manor secluded and heavily guarded, it¡¯s where we send warriors who are healing from deep trauma or loss. Not everyone is ready to return to battle. But they still want to serve the pack, Mario¡¯s human, yes¨Cbut they¡¯ve epted him. In some ways, he belongs there.¡±
I looked back at him, my chest tightening with something I couldn¡¯t name. Gratitude, perhaps. Sadness. Understanding
Mario had been dragged into this world against his will, And yet, here he was¨Cchoosing to help.
Maybe, like me,
he was
trying to rebuild.
Third Party Point of View:
¡°Drink this. As usual
Themand was as simple as ever, spoken without inflection, but Ken knew better Leader Luca¡¯s tone rarely shifted¨Ceven when death hovered behind every word.
He stared at the small vial in his hand, the smoky¨Cblue liquid sloshing gently within. It gleamed in the light of the motelmp, deceptively beautiful for something so vile.
He uncorked the potion and drank it in o
The bitterness scraped down his throat like razors, leaving behind the taste of rusted in and rotted herbs. His entire body tensed as the made surped through him, stealing something invisible but vital¡ªhis scent. The very core of his identity to any werewolf nearby Gone.
Like a ghost, Ken stood in the silence.
This potion¨Cmade by sonwone long vanished¨Cwas one of the only reasons their kind could cross into enemy territories, through cities thick with wolves and Lycans. Leader Luca never said who made it, only that they were gone now. All that remained were a handful of doses, saved for missions that demanded precision and sacrifice
This one was personal.
He slid the empty vial into his coat, adjusted his posture, and exited the room. The crisp Florence morning greeted him with birdsong and scooter engines. Humans walked past him in a blur ofughter, espresso, and cigarettes. They never looked twice.
Even the werewolf patrols stationed near the airport didn¡¯t notice him.
¡°Still works,¡± Ken muttered to himself with a tight smile. ¡°For now.¡±
He passed through the university gates without resistance, weaving through the stone pathways with ease. Students lounged on benches, some sketching, some reading, others whispering gossip and midterm fears. The scent of paint, paper, and human sweat filled the air.
But none of them were who he sought.
He moved with purpose toward the administration building, approaching the front desk calmly.
¡°Hi, I¡¯m looking for a student,¡± he said in the soft italian he had practiced. ¡°Mario Bellini. We were supposed to meet this morning, but he hasn¡¯t
answered his phone.¡±
The receptionist smiled politely, tapping her keyboard. ¡°Mario Bellini¡ Ah. Yes, he filed for urgent leave yesterday. Family emergency.¡±
Ken¡¯s world narrowed to a pinpoint.
¡°Did he mention where he was going?¡±
¡°I¡¯m afraid we¡¯re not allowed to share that information.¡±
¡°Right. Of course.¡± He forced a smile, nodded, and turned on his heel before the rage could reach his face.
Outside, he ducked into the shadow of a pir and clenched his fist
Shit
This could only mean one thing: the lycan Alpha had him.
¡®Leader Luca.¡°¡®
He sent the mind link with sharp rity
The human is gone. They¡¯ve taken him
The reply came swiftly.
¡®Francesco has him.
Ken growled under his breath.
¡°What¡¯s your order?¡± he asked. ¡°Should infiltrate the territory and retrieve him?
2
No. We send a message fest. A reminder of who he belongs to
¡°What do you mean?¡±
There was a pause. Ther
¡°A parcel is on its way to you. That¡¯s your next step?
Ken said nothing more. He understood.
He checked into a human guesthouse on the edge of the city and waited. The potion¡¯s effects would wear off in twenty¨Cfour hours. He had toplete the mission before then or risk exposure.
The parcel arrived the next morning just before sunrise,
No return address
No symbols.
Just a in box, sealed with thick ck tape andyered in cold.
But the moment he picked it up, he knew¡.
Blood.
Fresh Familiar,
He carried it inside, locking the door behind him before peeling back the , When he finally opened the lid, the contents stared back at him.
Two heads.
A boy. Agirl.
Young¨Ctoo young
Eyes wide in fear, mouths frozen in silent screams. Their necks were jagged, torn rather than cleanly cut, and blood pooled in the folds of fabric that wrapped them.
Ken didn¡¯t flinch.
He only stared.
The girl was maybe Sixteen. The boy, a little younger. Both bore unmistakable features¨Cdark , narrow jawlines, and the same mole near the eye that Marie, the human, had.
This are his brother and sister.
This wasn¡¯t just a message.
was a threat
And it would be delivered,
strapped to his back, a burden heavier
Dawn crept slowly across the treetops as Ken walked the path toward the Alpha Lycan territory. The box was strapp than steel, yet he moved without hesitation.
He didn¡¯t fear death.
He expected it
Warriors howled in the distance¨Cmarking the changing of shifts, calling out intruders. He kept low, sticking to the light. The edge of the territory came into view, where the trees thinned and the guard lines grew thicker.
He stopped just before the final barrier,
ced the box on the ground.
And backed away.
He waited.
A single howl pierced the quiet
Then two more
tyes gleaming in the half-
Wolves Fast Close
He heard them tearing through the brush, their paws smashing against roots and leaves, their teeth bared.
Ken didn¡¯twat
He shifted in one fluid movement, his bones snapping as his body shrank and twisted. Fur erupted from skin, gray and lean, and in seconds he was gone
just a streak of shadow darting through the underbrush.
Behind him, the warriors found the box
One sniff was all it took.
A snarl rang out¨Cferal and enraged¨Cechoing deep into the forest.
At the heart of the territory, chaos broke loose,
Beta Alfonso was the first to arrive at the outer perimeter, followed by two elite warriors. Their faces twisted with horror as they opened the box and saw
whaty inside.
The younger warrior dropped to his knees, eyes wide.
¡°This is¡ children,¡± he whispered.
¡°Human children,¡± Alfonso corrected grimly. ¡°But they were known to someone.¡±
He mind¨Clinked the Alpha immediately
Alpha Come to the border. Now
It took less than five minutes.
Francesco appeared in a blur, his ck coat billowing behind him, his expression unreadable. He stopped beside the warriors and looked down into the box.
Silence¡
Even the birds had gone quiet
Francesco knelt slowly and examined the contents. His fingers curled against the edge, knuckles white. The scent of the blood still clung to the air- human blood, and a trace of another famtiar scent
Mario¡¯s.
¡°This is his family,¡± Franc o murmured, ¡°His
The realization settled like a storm cloud.
A message. A warning.
They had found the human boy¡¯s weakness¨Cand used it to punish him.
To challenge him, Francesco
He rose to his full height, eyes glowing faintly with gold, and turned toward the trees where the rogue had vanished.
¡°He didn¡¯t do this to hide,¡± Francesco said. ¡°He wanted us to see!
Alfonso stepped forward ¡°What¡¯s the response, Alpha?¡±
Francesco turned slowly, gaze sharp and lethal
¡°We bury the children, Honor them.¡±
¡°And the rogues?¡±
The Lycan¡¯s voice was low and filled with steel
¡°Find them!!¡°.
?
Still His 67
Chapter 67
The scent of warm bread and spices hung in the dining room as I walked in, hoping the day would feel a little more normal¨Cless like the shadow of war loomed over us all.
But the moment I saw
aw him, I knew.
Francesco stood near the head of the long table, phone still gripped in his hand, though the call had clearly ended. His broad shoulders were stiff, tension rising like a second skin over him. But it was his expression that stole the air from my lungs.
His golden eyes¨Cusually calm, firm, and full of power¨Cwere drowning in sadness.
My feet free in ce.
¡°What is it?¡± I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He didn¡¯t answer immediately.
Instead, he slowly walked to me, as if carrying a weight too heavy to speak. Each step was a silent warning that something was terribly, irreversibly
wront
When he finally stood in front of me, his hand reached for mine.
¡°He went to Ruben¡¯s pack,¡± Francesco began.
And just like that, my heart sank. My eyes widened in horror, my voice catching in my throat
¡°No.¡°I breathed, dread pooling in my stomach like lead.
Francesco¡¯s arms wrapped around me th
the next second, shielding me from the storm his words were about to bring
Ein¡ Their entire pack has been ughtered. No survivors¡±
¡°I¡¯m so sorry,
A scream tore from my chest, uncontained and raw. My knees gave out, but he held me.
Tears flooded my eyes before I even understood what I was crying for.
Not for Ruben. No. He had rejected me, made it clear I wasn¡¯t worthy to stand beside him. I had long since grieved that bond and epted his absence from my life. I had moved forward.
But the people¡.
The families
The children.
I had grown up with them. I had known their smiles, their voices. I had danced at their festivals and shared meals during celebrations. No matter the rejection, they had been my people once.
They didn¡¯t deserve to die
¡°Luca?¡± I choked out, the name like poison on my tongue.
Francesco nodded, his jaw tightening. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve already sent warriors and trackers to confirm the scene and collect the bodies for burial. We owe them at least that much.¡±
¡°And you?¡± I asked, my voice trembling
¡°I¡¯m going there myself in an hour,¡± he said.
hed my tear¨Cstreaked face to look at him. ¡°I¡¯ming with you¡±
His reaction was instant.
¡°No!¡±
The harshness of his voice startled me. I took a step back, confusion and hurt flickering in my chest
Francesco closed his eyes and let out a breath. Then, gently, he cupped my face in both hands, resting his forehead against mine.
¡°Mi amore,¡± he whispered in Italian. ¡°I can¡¯t take that risk. There¡¯s a chance Luca or his men are still nearby. I need to know you¡¯re safe here.
¡°But I can fight
¡°I know you can,¡± he interrupted gently, ¡°But right now, I need to be Alpha. I need to end this. And I can¡¯t do that if I¡¯m constantly worried about losing
you.¡±
His words wrapped around me like chains and warmth all at once.
He was right
But it didn¡¯t make it easier.
I nodded softly, tears dripping down my cheeks as he leaned forward to press a kiss to my forehead.
He pulled me close into his embrace, and I held him tightly, breathing in his scent, grounding myself in the one thing that still felt safe
But as he pulled away, the questions began to return, faster than I could suppress them.
Why Ruben¡¯s pack?
Why now!
Was it random?
Or¡ was it personal?
Did Luca know that Ruben was once my fated mate? That his rejection had left a mark on my soul?
Was this a message?
I didn¡¯t have answers
But the fear curled around me like smoke.
From the balcony of the manor, I watched Francesco depart. Six sleek ck vehicles were parked in front, warriors gathering supplies and weapons grim efficiency. I saw Beta Alfonso standing near me, giving orders. He would remain here to protect the territory while the Alpha was gone.
Francesco approached me onest time before leaving.
He kissed me, longer this time. As it saying all the words he didn¡¯t have time to speak.
¡°I¡¯lle back,¡± he said. ¡°I swear it.¡±
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded. ¡°Juste back sale.¡±
He turned and walked away, nked by his elite guards. Some wolves in shitted form would follow through the forest trails, hidden from the roads, swit
and invisible
The moment be disappeared beyond the gates, I felt a cold emptiness take his ce,
Beta Alfonso approached quietly. ¡°Luna, let¡¯s head inside
I didn¡¯t argue
But I didn¡¯t return to my room either.
Instead, I made my way to Francesco¡¯s office and slipped into the adjoining library. The scent of old books weed me¨Ca strange,forting presence. I ran my fingers along the spines until I found the one I needed.
Athick leather bound journal
My Diary¨CAnastasia
Topened the book, setting it on myp as I sat in the velvet chair near the window.
¡°I can¡¯t sit here doing nothing.¡± I whispered to myself
Then quietly, I called to the voice within me.
¡°Help me.
My wolf stirred, her presence a soft warmth in my chest.
¡°I¡¯m here whenever you need me, Eine
And for a moment, I didn¡¯t feel alone.
I turned the pages of the book, immersing myself in the story of Anastasia Francesco¡¯ste mate. She had once stood where I was now. Alone. In danger,
Waiting
I could learn from her. From her strength. From her losses.
But as I read, an image surfaced in my mind.
Ruben.
His face as I once know it¨Cyoung, proud, handsome.
And then¡ his son.
His smile. His cold rejection.
had never met the child in person. But I knew he existed
My chest lightened, and tears silently
ly streamed down my cheeks again.
The boy hadn¡¯t done anything wrong
He had just been born to a man who had made the wrong choices
And now¡ he was likely gone too.
A whole pack reduced to ash.
I mourned. Quietly. Deeply. Alone.
Not for my lost mate.
Mona44GI
But for the souls who would never see another moonrise.
Third Party Perspective:
In the dense woods that circled the Italian territory, hidden beneathyers of enchanted camouge and scent barriers, a man crouched beside a moss covered boulder. His cloak, woven from shadow and woll pelt, shifted with every breath of wind.
He was not alone.
All around the forest, cloaked figures lingered- spies, trained to move as shadows, Silent. Deadly
They had been ced here for one purpose.
To confirm that the Lycan Alpha had truly left his territory¡ without his mate.
Their orders were clear.
¡°The moment he is gone, we take her. Alive¡±
¡°She¡¯s his weakness,¡± one of them whispered through the mind¨Clink: ¡°Luca said it himself. She¡¯s the reason Francesco Totti has grown sotter
The leader of the spies narrowed his eyes in the direction of the manor
¡°She¡¯s more than a weakness,¡± he replied. ¡°She¡¯s a symbol. The perfect tool to bring down the Alpha Lycan from the inside.¡±
They had been watching her for weeks. Her routines. Her emotions. Her connection to their greatest enemy.
And now¡she was alone.
Protected, yes¡ªbut not invincible.
They only needed one chance.
And they would strike before Francesco returned.
Because war wasn¡¯t just about strength.
It was about tinding
And Eine Rollin had just be the center of it all.
AD
Still His 68
Chapter 68
I dide¡¯t realize I had fa
¡°WHAT?!¡±
c? echoing from France to
The voice belonged to Beta Alfonso, Sharp, Startled. A thundering shock that jerked me aw t if someone had poured ice water
I sat up on the plush sots I¡¯d curled into, the heavy book on Anastasia sliding off myp with a quiet thud. between sleep and the heaviness of everything that had happened.
Thete afternoon sun littered through the grand windows of the library, warm but distant. I rubbed at my eyes and blinked to footsteps leaving the office. Doors opened, boots pounded down the hall.
The sofa Francesco had picked for me was nestled in the shadowed corner of the library, behind a floor¨Cto¨Cceil was here.
Still groggy. I stood and stretched, my body aching from the tension I hadn¡¯t released even in sleep.
¡°I can¡¯t find her!¡± came Audrey¡¯s voice, frantic, somewhere down the corridor.
Frowning, I stepped toward the doorway, curiosity outweighing the lingering drowsiness.
Momentster, I stepped into the main hall¨Cand froze at the sight
ght before me
Alfonso, Audrey, and Joshua were mid¨Cdiscussion, faces pale and eyes wide as if they¡¯d seen a ghost. When their eyesnded on me, it was as if they couldn¡¯t breathe
¡°LUNA¡± Audrey gasped
All three rushed toward me, urgency painted across their faces like war paint. Audrey immediately cupped my arms, inspecting me as if making wasn¡¯t injured.
¡°Where have you been? We¡¯ve been searching the entire manor! You weren¡¯t in your room¨Cwe thought-¡°Her voice trembled.
I blinked, overwhelmed by the rush of concem. ¡°L..I was asleep. In the library. On the sofa. I guess I just¡ dored off¡±
¡°You should¡¯ve told someone, Joshua said, his tone firm but relieved. ¡°With Alpha gone, we can¡¯t risk anything happening to you.¡±
Their reactions were unsettling. Why were they so panicked? Something had clearly gone wrong
¡°Did something happen?¡± I asked cautiously, my heart already beginning to thump faster.
Alfonso exchanged nces with Audrey before stepping forward. His usual calm was gone, reced by so
¡°The human,¡± he said slowly. ¡°Mario¡±
Achill ran down my spine.
My lips parted. ¡°What¡ what happened to him?¡±
Audrey¡¯s hand gently grasped mine, her eyes shimmering with restrained emotion.
¡°He was found this afternoon,¡± she said softly. He hanged himself in his room
I couldn¡¯t breathe.
My lungs refused to function as the words like a stone to my chest,
¡°No¡¡± I whispered, the world spinning
My legs weakened beneath me, and I would¡¯ve copsed if Audrey hadn¡¯t caught me and gently lowered me to the floor.
¡°No, no, no
I clutched my head, trembling
Mario
The boy with sad eyes and too much grief. The boy who had lost his brother and sister in the most horrifying way imaginable. The boy who had screamed to the sky, copsing to his knees when he saw their lifeless heads. That same boy had been living among us these past few days¡.alone.
And I had forgotten.
I had been so caught up in my own sorrow. In the ashes of my past, in the fear of rogues, in worrying about Francesco¡ that I hadpletely, utterly forgotten about Mario.
¡°it¡¯s all my fault,¡± I whispered brokenly, tears falling fast. ¡°I should¡¯ve spoken to him. I should¡¯ve checked on him. I should¡¯ve
¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Audrey said, kneeling beside me, her voice gentle.
But I shook my head.
¡°No. No, it is. He was human. He - He had no wolf to grieve with. No pack bond to anchor him, Nething. And I let him disappear into the shadows.¡±
chest
I curled into myself, pressing a trembling hand to my mouth to suppress the sob rising from my
Jeremy stepped forward then, hesitant.
¡°I was the one assigned to keep watch,¡± he confessed, his voiceced with guilt, ¡°I stayed with him most nights, just¡ being there. But this morning. I thought¡ maybe he wanted space. I left for training early. I didn¡¯t even check.¡±
¡°You couldn¡¯t have known,¡± Joshua murmured.
Jeremy¡¯s eyes met mine. ¡°But I should¡¯ve. I thought a few hours wouldn¡¯t matter. He was so quiet. Too quiet. And when he didn¡¯t show up for breakfast or lunch¡
My heart shattered further at the image.
Mario, all alone in his room Quiet. Empty. No one to pull him back from the edge
I reached for Jeremy¡¯s hand. ¡°No one¡¯s at fault,¡± I said, trying to realize how much harder it is for them. We forgot¡±
ing to swallow my own guilt. ¡°We¡we don¡¯t know how to grieve with humans. We didn¡¯t
Jeremy nodded, but his eyes stayed dark with regret.
So many deaths in just a few days.
Too many
1 felt like the world was unraveling around me, one thread at a time. My old pack. The children. Maria,
Why?
Why was this happening!
What evil had we stirred in Luca to unleash this kind of suffering?
I stood thakity, brushing away the tears. ¡°Where is he now Lasked
¡°In the healing room,¡± Alfonso answered softly ¡°We¡¯re waiting for Francesco¡¯s decision. We didn¡¯t want to move him until
¡°No,¡± I said family. ¡°He deserves a burial. A proper one. He was
as part of us. Maybe not by blood or bond, but he was ours¡±
Joshua stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ll make the arrangements, Luna¡±
¡°No,¡± I said again. ¡°I will¡±
They looked surprised, but I didn¡¯t care.
Mario may have been human, but he had stayed with us, chosen our side, believed in us. And I would not let him be forgotten or buried quietly like he
was nothing
¡°I want the rides done by moonlight, I continued. ¡°We¡¯ll honor him the way he couldn¡¯t be honored in life. With remembrance. With love.¡±
They nodded, respecting my wishes.
¡°Let the warriors know, I told Audrey ¡°Everyone who knew him, who spoke to him, even once¡.I want them there¡±
She ced a hand over hier heart and nodded.
And just like that, I stepped into a role I hadn¡¯t meant to wear yet.
Luna.
Griel had turned to duty.
Responsibility.
I walked to the corridor and into the healing room, The door was open, as if they¡¯d known I woulde
Marioy on a long wooden table, his face pale, almost peaceful. His dark hair was brushed away from his forehead. He looked younger t almost like a child again.
I reached out, brushing his cold hand with my fingertips.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered. ¡°I should¡¯vee sooner, I should¡¯ve known how alone you felt
Tears slipped down again, but this time I didn¡¯t wipe them away.
¡°You deserved better than this.¡±
Silence answered me, but I hoped¨Csomewhere, somehow¨Chis soul heard me.
Then I stood straight and looked around the room.
¡°I want his body prepared for the ceremony. We¡¯ll hold it tonight. Under the moon.¡±
than ever-
Hours passed in quiet flurry.
I bathed and changed into a soft silver dress, Jong¨Csleeved and elegant, stitched with swirling threads that glimmered under the candlelight. My hair was braided back, adorned with white jasmine blossoms¨Cthe symbol of remembrance.
The courtyard was transformed. Dozens ofnterns hung in trees, and a gentle stream of music flowed from hidden speakers. Warriors stood in silent lines, heads bowed. Vigers and students who had interacted with Mario gathered in quiet mourning.
11:11 Mon TANU
His bodyy atop a stone tform surrounded by flowers. He looked peaceful Not broken. Not forgotten.
I stepped forward and fit the ceremonial me.
¡°We gather tonight.¡± I began, voice calm despite the lump in my throat, ¡°to remember one who came to ut not byte or hand, but by choice. Mario was human, yes. But his heart was brave. His love for his siblings was unmatched. And his loyally to us to this pack¨Cwas absolute.¡±
My voice faltered, but I pushed on
¡°Though we failed to see the depth of his sorrow, we will not fail in honoring his memory. He walks with the Moon Goddess now, free from pain. But he walks as one of us.¡±
Silence followed, then a soft howl from a wolf in the crowd. Then another.
One by one, howls filled the night air
A tribute.
A promise.
We would not forget him.
Not now. Not ever.
I stepped back as warriors carried his body to the hill beyond the courtyard, where a new gave had been dug beneath a weeping willow
The me was lowered.
The earth was filled.
And Mario wasid to rest.
Not as a stranger.
But as family.
AD
Still His 69
The wind was still.
The fire of the funeral pyre Bickered itsst me.
Marie¡¯s burial had just ended, and the mourners stood quietly, their heads bowed in respect, eyes zed with sorrow and fatigue. Icould still smell the Incense in the alt, mingling with the faint scent of crushed jasmine petals. The stars above linked gently through the veil of darkness, bearing silent. witness to our priet
Then
¡°HOWL¡I
A sound tore through the silence.
Fierce. Sharp. Urgent
The wolves froze mid¨Cstep, and warriors instinctively turned their heads toward the perimeter,
The hairs at the back of my neck stood on edge, and my heart skipped a beat
¡°Request¡± Beta Alfonso¡¯s voice barely came out as a whisper, but it canied all the dread we needed to hear,
Before I could even process the words fully, the mind¨Clink exploded with frantic messages.
¡°They¡¯ve breached the east gate!¡±
¡°We¡¯re surrounded¨Crequesting backup now!¡±
¡°There are too many¨Cat least twenty, maybe more!¡±
Panic rippled through the pack, the funeral forgotten.
Every warrior was already shifting, preparing for the onught.
¡°Luna! You need to get inside¨Cnow!¡± Audrey¡¯s voice was as she rushed to my side. Her hands grabbed my arm, urging me back
toward the mansion.
¡°No,¡± I whispered, standing my ground.
Audrey¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Luna Eine, please
¡°No,¡± said again, firmer this time. ¡°He¡¯s here. This is Luca¡¯s move.¡±
Even before I said it aloud, I had known.
The timing was too perfect. Mario¡¯s death, Francesco away, a weakened emotional state for the entire pack¨CLuca had orchestrated this moment with precision.
¡°Yes. He thinks taking Francesco away from you is a great move,¡± Mika said inside me, her voice steady and calm. ¡°Let¡¯s prove the rogues wrong¡±
Power stirred inside me.
islow, awakening surge like the breath before a storm.
I turned from Audrey without another word and broke into a run, heading toward the gate. Behind me, I could hear her calling my name, but I didn¡¯t stop. My heart pounded¨Cnot with fear, but with resolve.
1/4
111:12 Mon, 14 Jul
I
We were under attack And I was the Lima.
I would not run I would not hide.
I spotted Beta Alonso just ahead, barking orders to the line of warriors,pletely unaware- it was following closely behind.
Freached him as we strived at the east gate.
And then I saw them..
More than twenty rogues. Snailing bloodilisty, crazed. Their eyes glowed with malice, lips curled back in vicious grins. Some were already mid¨Cshit, their ws out and ready. Others remained in human form, weapons drawn, prepared to kill.
I stopped, breath hitching
¡°A trap¡¡°I mulmured, my voice loud enough for those nearest me to hear.
Gasps followed as my presence registered among the warriors..
¡°LUNA!!¡± Beta Alfonso turned sharply, his eyes going wide in horror. ¡°What are you doing here?! You need to leave¨Cthis is too dangerous!¡±
He looked at Audrey, ho face twisted with silent reprimand, but I held up my h
hand.
¡°No.¡± I looked at both of them, calmly. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s wise for a Luna to hide while her pack fights for their lives?¡±
Alfonso hesitated. His mouth opened, then closed again.
¡°L¡ no. But if Alpha Francesco finds out-
¡°He will understand,¡± I cut in gently. ¡°He¡¯ll understand that a Luna doesn¡¯t just rule by his side¨Cshe protects what they built. Our people. Our pack.¡±
A distant, bone chilling howl sounded in the distance.
Not just any howl.
Luca¡¯s
His voice was twisted, dark, filled with the kind of madness that only hatred could breed.
Mikas
stirred inside me. Her presence grew, stretching, expanding
¡°It¡¯s time¡±
My body tingled, the air itself seeming to bend around me. A pulse beat under my skin, growing louder, stronger.
waret
Mika¡¯s voice echoed in my mind, fierce and protective. ¡°I¡¯ve waited long enough, Let them see what kind of Luna you truly
And now I understood
Everything that Mika has said about me clicked into ce,
I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and let go.
¡°Mika¡ take over
¡°With pleasure.¡±
My bones shitted.
Heat seared through my veins like liquid moonlight. My muscles trembled, tendons stretching and snapping, skin changing, fur sprouting as the transformation began. Gasps surrounded me as the pack bore witness to my first full shift.
The pain was there¨Cbut it was empowering, not punishing. My soul weed the change. I embraced the power rising through me like an
When I opened my eyes, the world locked different.
Clearer, Sharper.
I wasn¡¯t Eine anymore.
Twas Mika.
And Mika was glorious.
Standing tall and regal among the shocked warriors, I was a wolf unlike any they had ever seen.
Snow white fur glistened under the moonlight¨Cpristine, powerful, radiant like it was woven from the stars themselves. My paws lett faint glowing impressions against the grass, my eyes¨Cnow bright silver¨Cgleamed with an ancient force rarely seen.
A white moon woll
The rarest form. The mark of something divine. The Luna not only chosen by fate¡ but by the Moon Goddess herself.
Everyone froze.
Audrey dropped her sword.
Joshua took a step back, awe and reverence flooding his expression
Beta Alfonso¡¯s lips parted in silent disbelief.¡± White Moon¡ bless us.¡±
Even the rogues, for a brief moment, paused in confusion, their snarls faltering
Then, from the far tree line, a voice rang out.
Low. Cruel Mocking
¡°Well, well¡so the little Luna finally out to y¡±
He stepped forward, no longer bothering to hide. He looked older than thest time I saw him¨Cwild with dark, unkempt hair and sunken eyes filled with
Venom
¡°I¡¯ve been wondering when you¡¯d stop cowering behind your precious Alpha,¡± he sneered, ¡°Did you think you could hide forever? That you could steal what was mine and live happily ever after?¡±
Mika growled deep in my throat, a sound that made the air vibrate.
Luca¡¯s eyesnded on me-then widened,
He stumbled back a step.
¡°What¡?¡±
That¡¯s right.
He hadn¡¯t expected this
211:12 Mon, 14 Jul
He hadn¡¯t expected nie,
A woll of light. The Moon¡¯s own daughter. Not a pawn but a weapon.
lied my head and howled piercing, resounding cry that shattered the quiet
A cry of war.
A cry of unity.
A cry of vengeance.
The warriors behind me shifted in unison, bolstered by my howl, their courage i
I could feel it in their bones.
They were no longer fighting for their Luna.
They were fighting with her.
And I would fight beside them, even if I bled for it
Even if I died for it.
Because this pack¨Cthis home was mine.
a renewed.
AD
Comment
Send gift
No Ads
Chapter 70
Still His 70
Chapter 70
My transformation mid leap caught them off guard.
Mika plowed like a star descending upon earth, crashing into the rogue wolves with the force of a tidal vrave,
One mmed to a tree, the bark exploding on impact. Another tried to bite at my nk¨Cturned and crushed his throat with my paw.
Then another.
And another.
I moved like light given form. Mika¡¯s power surged through me, striking with ruthless precision.
Wolves charged at me from all sides. But every time, I moved faster.
Tore harder.
Struck deeper
When 1 Howled, the sound was no longer just a call¨Cit was a weapon. A psychic burst of sound that sent a ripple of fear into every rogue within earshot Several whimpered and fled without even touching me.
Then Luca entered the fold.
He shifted mid¨Crun,nding with a snarl, his obsidian¨Cck fur bristling
He wasst. Strong. Experienced.
But I could see the hesitation in his eyes.
He hadn¡¯t expected this.
We circled.
Then shed.
He went for my throat¨Ctwisted beneath him and mmed my shoulder into his chest.
He skidded across the dirt but recovered quickly.
Again, he charged. This time I ducked andtched onto his hind leg, throwing him sideways into a jagged rockformation. He yelped as bone cracked.
Blood filled the
But he wasn¡¯t done
He lunged again, this time with desperation.
Rogues rushed forward to help, forming a wall of teeth and fury between us.
Mika growled, furious, and pushed me harder.
I summoned everything.
Power. Speed. Grace.
The Moon Woll exploded through them like a divine storm.
ws tore
Fangs ripped.
Magic¨Cdeep, ancient magic wieled in the air around
Heapt, whirled, crushed, and danced a bloody waltz of destruction. And still, I stood.
At the center of it all.
Unyielding.
Luca limped away from the wreckage, injured. Panting, Broken.
I stalked forward, my stops slow, deliberate
He met my glowing eyes¨Cand for the first time in his miserable life, he trembled.
Then, with a whimper, he turned and ran.
A coward once more.
He abandoning his men.
And I didn¡¯t chase him.
Because I know he would return.
But next time, he would remember this.
He would remember me¡
I stood at the center, chest heaving, blood sttered across my white coat.
I shifted back slowly, surrounded by silence.
No one moved.
Audrey stepped forward, eyes filled with reverence.
¡°Our Luna¡ she¡¯s a legend.¡± She put a long clothes to hide my nakedness.
Alfonso dropped to his knee.
Then the entire perimeter guard did the same.
They bowed their heads.
To me.
their
To their Moon Wolf. Their Luna.
Treleased a hard breath, then fell to my knees, pluch to everyone¡¯s surprise.
The truth was clear now.
The reason it was so hard for me to shift all these years wasn¡¯t because I was broken¨Cit was because Mika wasn¡¯t an ordinary well.
She was special. Ancient.
214
And she waited until I was strong enough to hold her power
She waited for me to believe in myself.
¡°Thank you, Mika,¡± I whispered through pride and joy
¡°It¡¯s a pleasure, Eine. You are me as I am you, the answered, voice warm and proud.
When I opened my eyes, Audrey, Alfonso, Marlow, Louis, Patricia, and others had surrounded me in worry.
¡°Are you okay, Luna?¡± Audrey asked gently, helping me up
¡°Just tired,¡± I said with a small smile.
They all nodded, some with tears in their eyes, others with glowing pride
¡°Turning into an amazing goddess wolf isn¡¯t an easy task,¡± Alfonso muttered, still in awe
I gave them all a grateful look. ¡°Burn all the rogues. Tend to the wounded. We can¡¯t let this might leavesting scars.¡±
Alfonso bowed and gave the orders.
Hours passed in a blur.
Dawn edged into the sky, casting a silver light across the field.
The scent of blood still lingered, but the danger had passed.
I turned to head back when I heard it.
Howl¡!!!
What?
That¡¯s a powerful, worried Lycan howl, echoing from the west gate.
Everyone froze
We knew that howl I know it too.
Francesco¡
The ground trembled under pounding paws.
A heartbeatter, massive wolves burst through the woods¨CFrancesco¡¯s personal guard¡
¡°ELLAINE!!¡±
What?
How?
I blinked, still breathless from the fight, confusion slipping through my daze.
¡°Francesco¡? Weren¡¯t you on your way to Ruben¡¯s territory?¡± I murmured against his shoulder, my voice hoarse from exhaustion and disbelie
¡°I was,¡± he said, voice rough, urgent. ¡°But when Alfonso mindlinked me about the rogue attack, I ran back without hesitation, I didn¡¯t care who saw. I had
toe.¡±
His eyes searched mine with raw emotion, hands skimming over my arms, my rilis, my neck checking for injuries. When his fingers brushed forming bruise near my corbone, tight, hands and stomach his jaw tightened.
¡°Are you okay, mi amor?¡± he asked, his voice cracking slightly, as though terrified he had arrived toote.
I shook my head
gently and offered him a small, warm smile. ¡°I¡¯m okay just bruises. I promise.¡±
He let out a holy sigh, drawing me closer,
I could hear his heartbeat was loud,
if it hadn¡¯t slowed since the moment he turned back for me.
¡°When Alfonso mindlinked me about the ambush, I thought I was going to lose my mind,¡± he admitted. ¡°But then hearing his voice chill from panic to awe¨Che told me what he saw. You, glowing like the moon itself, tearing through rogues like a force of nature¡±
1 blinked, surprised.
Of course¡ªthey would have shared everything through the bond. Francesco had seen it all through Alfonso¡¯s eyes.
¡°A white Moon Wolf¡¡± he whispered, as if the words alone were holy. ¡°I never imagined the Moon would bless me with a mate like you.¡±
His gaze sparkled with pride and wonder, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile, caught in his warmth despite the blood on my skin and the weight of the night
He looked around slowly, studying the field¨Cthe burned bodies, the wounded being tended to, the perimeter warriors standing reverently in the soft light of dawn.
Then his expression hardened with Alphamand.
He turned his head and gave swift orders to his warriors through the link.
Only after ensuring everything was under control did he step closer, slip an arm beneath my knees and another behind my back, and pull me into his arms, bridal¨Cstyle.
¡°Let¡¯s get you inside,¡± he murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead. ¡°My Moon Wolf deserves rest.¡±
And I didn¡¯t argue.
I simply leaned into him, letting the world fade as the Lycan carried me home.
AD
Still His 71
Francesco carried me through the quiet corridors of the pack house, the aftermath of battle still echong faintly in the distance¨Cburning wood, whispered orders, and the rustle of healing hands. But in his arms, it felt like the world had narrowed into something simpler. Just us.
My body ached in ces I hadn¡¯t even realized I¡¯d injured. My skin bore smudges of blood, both mine and others, but I didn¡¯t care. Not now. Not when he was here. Not when the worst was over.
We passed the infirmary, where several warriorsy on cats, nurses tending to them with swift expertise Every single pair of eyes followed us some wide with awe, others glistening with relief.
¡°Luna¡± they whispered, some in reverence, others in disbelief.
I tried to offer them a smile, but my strength was fading fast. The shift, the fight, the emotions¨Call of it had taken its toll
Francesco pushed open the door to his¨Cour¨Croom and gentlyid me down on the bed as if I were made of ss.
¡°Stay here,¡± he said, brushing ack of hair from my face. ¡°I¡¯ll get warm water and a cloth. You¡¯re covered in blood.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t leave too long.¡± I whispered, my fingers curling around his wrist, not quite ready to let him go
His eyes softened. ¡°I¡¯ll be back before you can miss me.¡±
And he was
Minutester, he returned with a basin of water and a cloth, setting them down beside the bed. He worked in silence, dipping the cloth and gently wiping away the dirt and dried blood from my skin.
Every touch was reverent.
Every movement, filled with care.
¡°You should be resting,¡± I murmured, watching him,
¡°So should you,¡± he replied, lihing my hand to kiss my knuckles. ¡°But I need to see you safe. Clean Home¡±
1 blinked back the sudden burn of tears.
¡°Francesco¡ Weren¡¯t you on your way to Ruben¡¯s territory?¡± I murmured against his shoulder.
His hand stilled for a moment before he resumed. ¡°I was. But the second Alfonso sent me that mindink¨Cthe second¨CI turned back. I quickly put Peter and Kurt in charge on my behalf to make sure everyone there received a proper burial ceremony, I also ordered them to go to the Council, to demand answers about why they did nothing to help. But none of it mattered more than you. Nothing Thad toe back to you.¡±
His voice cracked with urgency and something deeper¨Cdevotion
¡°I needed to make sure you were sade
His eyes searched mine with reverence. ¡°Are you okay, mi amor?¡± he asked as he gently cupped my face and examined me, his eyes catching along my rib. I shook my head quickly and gave high a tired, reassuring smile.
¡°I¡¯m okay. Just bruises¡±
He let out a heavy breath, the tension in his shoulders easing only slightly.
When Alfonso mindlinked me about the rogue ambush, I expected panic, maybe fear. But instead¡ I heard awe in his voice. He couldn¡¯t believe what he¡¯d witnessed. A white Moon Woll You My
He paused, his hand running over my cheek, almost asiflog
and linket. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be lucky enough to have someone like you.¡±
I sat up slowly, pulling the covers around myself as I took his hand.
7 had to do something, Francesco Tonuldn¡¯t stand back. Not when the people here. they matter to me. Louis, Patricia, Audrey, Alonso¨Cthey gave me kindness when I was nothing more than a shattered girl with no mate, alone. They made this ce feel like home. Like family¡±
He nodded, jaw tight with emotion
They deserve to be protected. I may not have been born into this role, but I will fight for them like was. And when Mika gave me her strength, knew¡ could do it. I wasn¡¯t afraid anymore¡±
His lips parted, but no words came out at first. Then, with a growl of emotion, he wrapped his arms around me tightly, burying his face in the crook of my
neck
¡°Dio, Eine¡ You¡¯re incredible. How do you expect me to stay calm when you keep proving you¡¯re stronger than I ever imagined?¡± He grom
I smiled against his shoulder, heart full. But he wasn¡¯t finished.
He pulled back and cupped my checks, kissing my forehead, then my eyelids, cheeks, and finally my lips¨Csoft, fingering kisses that spoke volumes.
His hands slid along my arms, my sides, as if needing to convince himself that I was really here, alive, safe.
¡°I don¡¯t want to lose you,¡± he murmured between kisses. ¡°You¡¯re not just my Luna. You¡¯re my heart. My mate.¡±
¡°And I¡¯m yours,¡± I whispered, kissing him back just as tenderly
He pulled me fully into hisp, arms encircling me protectively. We sat in silence for a while, wrapped around each other as the world outside slowly began to heal.
His tips brushed my hair. ¡°Tell me more about Mika¡±
I smiled, feeling her presence even now, warm and calm in the back of my mind.
¡°She¡¯s¡ ancient. Powerful. She told me she waited until I was ready. Until I was strong enough to hold her. That¡¯s why I couldn¡¯t shift before because my body, my heart, my mind wasn¡¯t ready¡±
He held me tighter, awe flickering in his golden eyes. ¡°And now?¡±
¡°Now, I¡¯m ready? Because I believe in myself Because she believes in me. Because you
A tear slipped down his cheek, and he didn¡¯t even try to hide it.
¡°You¡¯re the most extraordinary woman I¡¯ve ever known.¡±
believe in me.¡±
We sat like that, wrapped in moonlight and love, as the first rays of dawn painted the horizon gold.
Outside, the world would remember this night for the rise of the Moon Wolf.
But in here, in this room, it was the night I knew, without a doubt, I was exactly where I belonged
In his arms.
Loved.
Home
I didn¡¯t know what to say.
11:12 Mon, 14 Jul
use deep down,
noesen had chosen me
Again and again.
And tonight, he
ght just to hold me,
Lean¡¯t stop smiling and nestling closer.
And with that, sleep imed me, safe in the
of the Lycan who had run through the world just to get back to me.
Because now, everyone knew
The Moon Woll had sisen- and she was loved by her Alph
Still His 72
Chapter 72
Third Party Point of View:
Luca limped through the darkened woods, pain radating from every inch of his tom body. Blood chisted along his ribs, and one of his arms hung at his side. The wind canied the stench of bunt rogues and ash, a reminder of the chans he¡¯d unleashed- and let control over
But it wasn¡¯t Francesco who had turned the tide.
Eine
He clenched his jaw, the memory of her glowing form etched into his vision like a curse.
A Moon Woll
A creature out of myth and nightmare.
He had heard rumors¨Cwhispers of her strange power, the inherited remnants of that sted witch. Anastasia. He had even dismissed them, once scoffing at the idea of such legacy surviving in that timid girl who had once merely been the background in Francesco¡¯s orbit
But tonight, everything changed.
She had emerged like a divine punishment. A streak of silver fury. The Moon Wolf with a watch¡¯s soul.
And she had ruified everything
His pack¨Cughtered.
His alles¨Cscattered.
His pride¨Cchattered.
He copsed against the trunk of a tree, panting, His fingers reached into the hidden pocket in his torn vest, pulling out a small vist dose of
scent¨Cmasking potion.
Without it, he wouldn¡¯t survive another hour. Francesco would find him. And this time, there would be no escape
He uncorked the vial with trembling fingers and downed it. The liquid seared his throat, burning like fire. Within seconds, his scent vanish by the forest.
He could feel the panic of his surviving warriors as they stumbled behind him. Idiots. Most of them would be caught before dawn
But hot him
The one with a n
He forced himself upright, gritting his teeth against the pain. Somewhere deep in the forest was a hidden nujn¨Chis final sanctuary. An ancient structure veiled by enchantments, protected by blood seals and illusion. A ce even Francesco didn¡¯t know about
He made it there just as his legs gave out. The door creaked open on its own, responding to his presence. He dragged himself inside and copsed onto
the stone floor.
Minutes passed or hours.
He did care
When his head finally cleared, he is and walked in the back wall, bredking kolde vines teal hiddenpartimant. Behind its the r greatest failure¡ªand now, his greatest opportunity
The Forgotten Poison
He stared at the mall ss vial, its contents a swirling mixture of red and ck. The test time be used it, it had been meant for Francesco Meldeta ine blood, masked with magic Designed to wear down his senses, cloud hit judgment, mada his instincts
had almost worked.
Until she interfered
ine had unknowingly sabotaged it. Her presence, her closeness, had disrupted the magie¡¯s effectiveness. Something about her energy, her purity, her bond with Francesco ¨C at had shaded bin
Luca had learned his lesson
it he wanted the poison to seed.
It would be aimed at her.
§¯§Ö
this time it wouldn¡¯t be aimed at Francesco.
elited the vial, watching it shimmer in the low light. ¡°A Moon Woll and a witch,¡± he muttered. ¡°No wonder she survived the first attack
His lips curled into a twisted smile. ¡°But let¡¯s see how long youst once your mind begins to turn on itself¡±
He could already picture it¨CEine growing distant, paranoid. Her trust in Francesco crumbling. Her loyalty fraying.
And when the bond weakened?
He would be there.
To offer understanding.
To offerfort
To exploit the crack and drive a wedge so deep Francesco would never recover,
He would turn her against him.
And Francesco would suffer
Not through death.
But through the slow, agonizing loss of the one person who gave his life meaning
Luca ran a finger down the side of the vial.
¡°Yes¡ I don¡¯t want your death anymore, Francesco. I want your destruction. And I¡¯ll use her to do it.¡±
He tucked the poison away, lips still curled in a cruel smile.
¡°Soon.
The forest was quiet
But darkness had began to move.
Go back to ine point of view
I was already past one o¡¯clock when I finally stirred awake.
Soft sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a golden hue across the room. The scent of pine, clean linens, and something faintly masculin surrounded me familiar, calming. It was his scent. Francesen,
I blinked slowly, groggy, my body still sore but warm under the thick covers. Each limb felt heavy, not from pain, but from deep exhaustion. The kind that follows a storm.
For a long moment, I didn¡¯t move. I simplyy there, listening to the faint sounds beyond the window¨Cbirds chirping distantughter, the rustle of leaves stirred by the wind. Peace.
But my mind wasn¡¯t ready for peace.
Memories surged like crashing waves¨Cjagged and overwhelming. The rogues. The blood. The earth vibrating beneath my paws. My first shift. The power that tore through me, wild and uncontroble. Mika¡¯s voice¨Cstrong and furious¨Chowling into the night.
And then¡ Francesco.
I turned slightly, my hand searching instinctively for the warmth I¡¯de to rely on The space beside me was empty Cold. His arm¨Cwrapped around me for most of the night¨Cwas gone. The imprint on the sheets had already faded.
Alpha duties. Of course
A soft kock broke the quiet.
Before I could answer, the door opened and in swept Audrey, Maria, and Monica, like sunlight bursting through the clouds. Audrey¡¯s grin was bright, her excitement barely contained.
¡°When I heard movement, I knew it was time,¡± she said with a triumphantugh
Behind her, Maria pushed a cart stacked high with food¨Cwarm bread, roasted chicken, creamy soup, fresh fruits. The delicious scent hit me like a wave, and my stomach growled in betrayal
¡°Well, someone¡¯s hungry,¡± Monica teased gently as she approached. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±
I sat up slowly, wincing slightly at the soreness that still lingered in my muscles. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I said honestly. ¡°Stronger, I guess.¡±
¡°That¡¯s because your human side finally connected to your woll,¡± Audrey said, beaming with pride. ¡°And not just any wolf¨Cthe white wolf¡± She helped me out of bed and guided me to the nearby couch, where Maria was already setting the table.
¡°People are still howling your name in awe. You should¡¯ve seen the pack this morning¨Ceveryone¡¯s buzzing¡±
I gave her a shy smile and murmured a thank¨Cyou to Maria, who beganying out tes like a proud mother hen.
Alpha Francesco also told me,¡± Maria said as she get down a steaming bowl of soup, ¡°that the burial ceremony for the ckpine Pack was this morning.
I paused, heart twisting
Our old pack
¡°I know,¡± I said softly, it means a lot. What Francesco did¡it mattered. It¡¯s the least we could do for them.¡±
Maria nodded, her voice thick with emotion. ¡°They were our people
¡°They still are,¡± I whispered. ¡°Even in death.¡±
Maria wiped a tear from her cheek. ¡°You¡¯ve grown so much, EI,¡± she said with a watery smile. ¡°Imember the girl who came to me, Broken te?er 2 rejected you. Now here you are, honoring the billen¨Ceven the ones who orice hurt you.¡±
I looked away, a bittersweet ache blooming in my chest.
She was the only one who knew the full story. The only one who gave me the chance to leave in escape to Italy with an art schrship, to begin healing
¡°I don¡¯t forget the pain,¡± I said soh
I softly. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to be ruled by it anymore.¡±
We ate together infortable silence after that insisted they share the food with me¨Cthere was no way I could finish it alone, and it felt right to sit
ong these women who had, in so many ways, be my lound family.
Eventually, I asked the question I¡¯d been holding back.
¡°Where¡¯s Alpha?¡±
¡°Out checking the perimeter since early morning,¡± Audrey answered, already expecting it. ¡°And he¡¯s been on and off the phone with the Council
¡°Trying to figure out how rogues got i
into the territory, I¡¯m guessing?¡± I said, leaning back, still processing everything,
Monica nodded, serious now, ¡°Exactly that. It doesn¡¯t make sense. There should have been patrols. Council guards. Even magical wards. But they slipped through everything like it was nothing¡±
¡°Do they think someone helped him?¡± asked
¡°They¡¯re starting to,¡± Audrey replied. ¡°They found strange symbols at the eastern border. Old markings Barely visible, like someone tried to erase them. Alpha had the enchanters check them.¡±
¡°They¡¯re linked to blood magic¡± Monica said grimly. ¡°Powerful Forbidden. Someone let them in. This wasn¡¯t just a breach¨Cit was a betrayal.¡±
My heart sank
¡°The ckpine Pack¡¡± I whispered, dread curling in my gut. ¡°They didn¡¯t just fall. They were ambushed. No allies came. No one even responded to their
distress.
¡°They were left to die,¡± Maria said bitterly. ¡°The rogues made sure of it.¡±
Rage stirred in my chest. That was my old pack. My people. Despite everything that had happened¨Cdespite Ruben¡¯s betrayal¨CI hadn¡¯t wanted them dead
¡°I think the Counc¡¯spromised,¡± I said aloud.
All three women looked at me.
¡°It¡¯s the only exnation that fits. The Council didn¡¯t send reinforcements. They¡¯ve been oddly silent. And the rogues knew exactly how to
weaknesses.¡±
Audrey exhaled slowly heard Alpha thinks so too. That¡¯s why he¡¯s been pushing for answers. He¡¯s furious¡±
¡°He should be,¡± I looked down at my hands, still faintly trembling. ¡°This isn¡¯t over.¡°¡±
¡°No,¡± Monica said. ¡°And something tells que they¡¯re not done either.¡±
Byte afternoon, I needed air.
I wandered into the courtyard garden behind the main house. The sun hung low in the sky, casting golden shadows across the stone pach, Waiars. trained in the distance, their movements fluid and sharp. Life continued. Despite the loss. Despite the danger.
1 sat on the bench beneath the old olive tree, my thoughts doing between past and present
I¡¯d shifted.
I had be the white wolf whispered of in legends¨Crare, powerful, marked by the moon.
And yet¡ I still felt like Eine
The same girl who once stood trembling in front of luben, begging him not to reject her. The same girl who ran away to italy with nothing but a broken
heart and a sketchpad.
But I wasn¡¯t that girl anymore either.
I closed my eyes.
Mika stirred within me strong, calm, watchful. She hadn¡¯t spoken since the battle, but her presence was steady now, no longer distant. No longer
buried
I wasn¡¯t alone anymore.
The scent of cedar and fire reached me before I heard his steps.
I opened my eyes
Francesco stood before me, freshly changed into a ck shirt and jacket, sleeves rolled up. He looked tired his jaw tense, his hair mussed from running his hands through it too many times. But his eyes¡ his silver eyes found me immediately.
I stood.
*You should still be resting,¡± he murmured softly, closing the distance between us and wrap his arm on my back.
¡°Ineeded.
He reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering just a second longer than necessary.
¡°And you?¡± I asked. ¡°You¡¯ve been gone all day, you just arrived.
-Too much to clean up,¡± he said. ¡°Too many lies to unravel.¡±
He pulled something from his pocket¨Ca folded cloth. He unwrapped it slowly to reveal a broken silver pendant, shaped like a crescent moon with faint runes etched along its edge
¡°This was found near the breach. Where Luca entered.¡±
I book it from him carefully. The metal was cold. Wrong.
¡°Magic?¡± I whispered in shock.
¡°Our seer said the same.¡± Francesco said. ¡°Luca had help. Someone with ess. Someone who knew how to bypass both warriors and enchantments.¡±
¡°Someone on the inside?¡± I was shocked
He nodded.
¡°This wasn¡¯t just an attack. It was a message,¡± I said, feeling the chill seep into my bones,
Oh God¡
¡°And we heard it,¡± Francesco replied, voicew. ¡°But they didn¡¯t count on one thing.¡±
I looked up at him,
What does he mean?
¡°You,¡± he said simply.
Hroze.
¡°You shifted. You survived him. And more than that, you changed everything. The pack sees you now, EL Not just as my mate. But as ours. Their Luna. As mine.¡±
His voice dropped on thatst word, possessive and tender.
And my heart did something dangerous.
I didn¡¯t speak.
I couldn¡¯t.
Instead, I stepped forward¨Cslowly, hesitantly¨Cand ced my hand over his.
He closed his fingers around mine, firm and warm,
We stood in silence for a while, beneath the olive tree, as the sun sank behind the hills. Warriors trained. Childrenughed. The pack moved on
But we knew better.
This was just the calm before the next storm
And like always¡ we will face it together.
?
Still His 73
Chapter 73
The manor was restless tonight.
it wasn¡¯t the creak of ancient floors beneath shifting shadows, or the trees groaning in the wind outside. No¨Cthis was different. The airf het electrified, thrumming with barely¨Ccontained dominante.
Francesco was awake.
Awake in a way the world had forgotten.
He was no longer the grieving Alpha hidden behind thick stone walls and the veil of old grief. He had stopped fully into himself again¨Cand the world had no choice but to remember who he truly was
The council had grown arrogant during his absence, mistaking his mourning for weakness, mistaking his silence for surrender. For two decades, they held sway over territories they never earned, supported by the im that Francesco had abandoned his throne
But now?
Now the Lycan Alpha had returned.
¡°What do you mean you have no guards around ckpine territory!?¡±
His voice boomed from somewhere down the corridor, cold and thunderous.
My spine stiffened even as I smiled faintly. That tone¨Cthat absolute authority¨Cit made my wolf stir in quiet awe
¡°I don¡¯t want to hear your excuses. I want the names, the reports, and your guard rotation logs in one hour¨Cer I¡¯ming to your office myself.¡±
A soft sigh of pity escaped my lips.
Whoever was on the other end of that
it call was probably regretting every decision they made since waking up this morning.
I pulled the thick, leather¨Cbound book closer to my chest and retreated deeper into the library¡¯s window seat. The warmth of the fire to my right flickered
ke the heartbeat of the room, but even that was quiet in the presence of this diary.
Anastasia¡¯s diary.
I¡¯d skimmed through it before, and I already knew its secrets.
I knew she had lied to Francesco
That she was never histed mate
That she was not human¨Cbut a witch. A powerful one.
And that she had used forbidden magic to forge a false mate bond with the strongest Alpha this world had seen in centuries.
But tonight¡
Tonight, I read further. And what i found twisted something inside me.
23 August
He doesn¡¯t see through me yet.
I don¡¯t know whether to be relieved¡ or sick
I can feel the magic pulse between us¨Cit binds him like silk, soft but unbreakable.
He thinks I¡¯m his mate. That the Moonted us. But I know better.
Imade it happen
Because I had to
Because Francesco is too strong.
And Luca said if we don¡¯t break him, we lose everything.
I felt my fingers tighten on the page. There it was. Cold. Blunt. Calcted.
She told me that she hadn¡¯t just tricked him but she¡¯de to destroy him.
Her diary shows it all.
I turned the page
24 August
He trusts me. More than I thought he would.
I told him I was a human¨Clost, naive, fascinated by his world. He believed it.
Every time he smiles at me, I want to scream.
Because he¡¯s already falling
And L¡
am still pretending
w
A heavy ache settled in my chest.
I could hear her voice between the lines¨Csteady but cracking at the edges. Cold, but shaking beneath the surface.
Howe a person could do something like this to him?
fcan¡¯t imagine someone was this horrible.
26 August
He showed me his Lycan form today.
I
was not prepared.
I thought I was.
I told myself I was.
But seeing
seeing him¡
He is not just strong.
He is divine.
A force of nature shaped into a man.
And for the first time..
I felt the befalter.
I turned another page, breath uneven for read another truth revealed
28 August
He made me tea this morning.
Not because I asked.
Not because of anything I did.
Just¡because¡.
He kissed my temple and told me he dreamt of me.
Haughed. Pretended to be flustered.
But inside¡ I was quiet.
He looks at me like I¡¯m sacred.
And I don¡¯t know how to carry that weight anymore..
Because I¡¯ve lied.
And lied.
And lied.
But his love is not a lie.
And I think¡
some part of me is starting to wish it was real
I drew in a shaky breath.
This wasn¡¯t what I expected.
Not from her. Not after what she¡¯d done.
She hade with poison. But somewhere along the way, she had started to drink it herself.
31 August
I told him I loved him.
He said it back
He meant it
I didn¡¯t.
But I wanted to
is that enough?
NA
Of course it¡¯s not
But I don¡¯t know how to fix this.
I want to stop lying.
I want to be the girl he thinks Lam
But the spell is already rotting.
He¡¯s starting to see the cracks.
And if he ever learns the truth..
He never forgive me.
I couldn¡¯t turn the page yet
The fire beside me hissed softly.
I pressed my hand over the next nk sheet, wondering if more magicy hidden beneath.
There was.
Words shimmered into being beneath my touch,
2 September
I dreamt of him dying
By Luca¡¯s hands.
It was supposed to be our triumph.
Instead, I woke up screaming.
He held me.
So gently.
And I realized¡ I would die for him.
Not because of the spell.
Not because of guilt.
Because Hove him.
4/7
I don¡¯t know when it happened.
But I love him.
And I can never tell him the truth new
I closed the book slowly.
The ache in my chest was real. Sharp. Complicated.
I knew she had tricked him. Used him. Lied to him at every turn.
I¡¯d known it before opened the diary, but reading it seeing it unfold in her own trembling handwriting¨Cwas different. It was one thing to hear a truth, another to feel it bleed through parchment and ink.
She came into his life with poison on her tongue and a mission in her heart¨Cto weaken the greatest Alpha the supernatural world had seen in centuries. And yet, somewhere in the cracks of her deception¡she fell.
She hadn¡¯t meant to love him. But she did. And it destroyed her.
That was the part I hadn¡¯t expected the slow, aching transformation of a woman who had walked into his life wearing a mask, only to find that the mask no longer fit.
She loved him.
Not because of a spell. Not because it was convenient. Not because it was part of the n.
She simply¡
And it broke her from the inside out.
The weight of that truth sat heavily on my c
y chest¨Cnot out of sympathy, but because I understood how someone like him could unravel the walls you
swore were imprable,
Francesco Totti was never meant to be anyone¡¯s weaknes
But love doesn¡¯t ask for permission.
And it had undone her¨Cjust as it had, in some small way,
undone me too.
And Francesco
He had loved her back. Even if everything else had been false¨Chis feelings had been real?
He didn¡¯t know that she lied.
The door opened quietly behind me.
I felt him before I saw him.
Francesco
His presence soaked into the room like the scent of rain¨Cwild, ancient, and grounding all at once. The weight of him filled every breath i took.
I didn¡¯t move.
-5/1
11.14 Mon, 1400 2
He stepped closer, pausing beside me. I locked up, our eyes locking
His gaze flicked to the diary on myp.
¡°You could read it?¡± he asked, toice low.
Inodded once. ¡°Yes.¡±
His brows drew together. ¡°It was empty pages, Noone could see anything on it:
I gave a small shrug, ¡°it let me in.¡±
He knelt beside the seat, searching my face. ¡°How?¡±
I touched the cover gently ¡°Magic,¡± I said. ¡°Not mine. Hers.¡±
He frowned, waiting
Thesitated, then whispered, ¡°I think¡ she wanted someone to find it. Eventually.¡±
His expression darkened with something unreadable. But he didn¡¯t speak,
So I continue
¡°It was about how she lied,¡± I said softly. ¡°About being your mate. About who she was. But she also lied to herself. She didn¡¯t mean to fall in love with
you.¡±
His jaw tightened.
¡°But she did.¡±
He was silent
¡°She came to weaken you,¡± I continued. ¡°So Luca could control you. But the longer she stayed, the more it changed. She loved you, Francesco, Truly saw it in her words. It wasn¡¯t just pult.
Still, he didn¡¯t speak.
Then, slowly, his eyes drited shut.
And in the next breath, he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around me.
My breath caught as he pulled me into his warmth, into his strength. I melted into him instinctively, my arms shipping around his neck as he held me close his heartbeat steady against mine.
He didn¡¯t speak for a long while¡
Then his voice rumbled near my ear, quiet and hoarse.
¡°I don¡¯t care about the past anymore.¡±
felt his grip tighten slightly.
¡°I have you now, Eine. That¡¯s all that matters¡±
He pulled back just enough to meet my eyes
¡°You¡¯re my everything.¡±
11:14 Mon, 14 Jul. 77. N
Tears pricked my vision, unexpected and uninvited.
But I didn¡¯t look away.
I reached up, brushing my fingers along his jaw, and whispered, ¡°And you¡¯ve mine.¡±
He nodded ¡°Always¡±
Aith
Still His 74
Chapter 74
The days had passed in a blur.
Francesco was away more often now¨Chis Alpha duties drawing him into an unending web of strategy meetings, territorial patrol briefings, and hushed conversations with visiting Alphas. He never shared the full details with me because we haven¡¯t had time, and I stopped asking believe he will exin Later. Not because I didn¡¯t care, but because each time he left, he kissed me softly, as if the world might end without warning, and left behind a single rose on the pillow beside me. Always blue. Always rare. Always him.
And so I filled the silence with words Anastasia¡¯s words.
Imore than just her story, I want to know more. I
Her diary had be more than afort. It had be an obsession. Since the day I found it hidm thought I knew it. But I was wrong. So terribly wrong
Because it wasn¡¯t just a diary.
Not anymore¡
Late one night, under candlelight, I noticed something strange. The ink in some entries shimmered¨Cnot the way old ink tades, but as if it had been hiding. When I whispered the old spells, i had read it from the words there by mistake, the faded lines brightened, glowed, and then shifted into something new.
Spells Recipes. Potions.
Not written in a separate book, but still in the same book, encoded and shielded by ancient magic¨Cmagic that responded to my blood when I identally pricked my finger turning the page to show the spell words.
That¡¯s when I knew she didn¡¯t want anyone else to read them.
Not even Luca
Had the grown afraid of him? Of what he might be? Or was she hiding it from Francesco too!
The question gnawed at me more than I wanted to admit.
Did Anastasia see meing?
Had she woven protection not for herself¡ but for me?
I didn¡¯t want to believe it. It made everything feel too big. Too destined.
And yet¡
¡I couldn¡¯t deny the way the pages opened for me. The way her magic weed
The first spells were harmless, even charming¨Ctes that could calm the heart, a mour to temporarily change your eye color
Then came love charms. The phrasing the effects¡ they were eerily familiar. They mirrored the strange maic pull Francesco once felt toward Anastasia. Before the truth. Before me.
So this is how she did it¡ This is how she convinced him he was hers.
I pressed my fingers against the paper, my chest tightening with guilt and something darker¨Cbetrayal. She had manipted fate, twisted it with potions and spells. Had Francesco ever truly loved her? Or had he only thought he did?
And then¡ the tone of her writing changed.
Somewhere in the middle of the book, the ink turned jagged, her handwriting less fluid. Notes were scrawled in the margins, urgency bleeding through The pages. Gone was theposed, graclul Luna. In her ce, a woman desperate for control for secrecy
That¡¯s when I found the potions in the next page.
Not the kind anyone should know about.
Certainly not someone like me
The entry was dated 9 November.
My breath caught as my eyes fell on a header inked in metallic silver:
Essence of the Hidden Scent.
I read the page once. Then again. And again.
A potion that could erase a werewolf¡¯s scent?
Not disguise it. Not mask it.
Erase it? Like it had never existed?
No scent, no auran
no trace.
My heart thundered in my chest. Could it be? Was this how the rogues evaded detection? Was this how Luca came and went without notice?
Could this be what we were missing?
The ingredients were strange. Obscure. Some I recognized¨Cmoon thistle, ghost elm bark. Others felt like relics of myth, their names poetic and strange It would take time to gather everything. Time and secrecy.
Was that why Anastasia hid it in her diary? Was she nning to use it against someone?
Against Francesco?
Or against Luca?
I had to know.
I closed the book with trembling fingers, grabbed a notebook, and flipped Anastasia¡¯s journal beneath my coat. The house was quiet. Audrey was still on patrol, Francesco wouldn¡¯t return until dawn.
This was my only chance.
The wind greeted me like an old friend, cold and sharp against my cheeks as I stepped into the courtyard. Autumn leaves swirled inzy spirals, golden and brittle beneath my
boots.
I made my way toward the southem edge of the estate, where the herbal gardens sat cloaked in enchantment. They had once been Anastasia¡¯s sanctuary. I had heard whispers that she spent hours there, even in the dead of winter. The nts obeyed her like loyal sentries, blooming out of season, pulsing with quiet power
Now I understood why.
The magic still lingered I could feel it humming beneath the soil, seeping into my skin like a song half remembered
Moon thistle grew in neat clusters, their violet petals edged with silver. I clipped a few carelylly, whispering thanks as I ced them into my pouch
Then I ventured deeper.
Toward the forest
11:14 Mon, 14 JulyG
The trees thickened, and the air grew colder, tighter. Shadows crept along the ground like living things. There, clinging tot found the ghost bark¨Cthin and gray white, like parchment stolen from a spirit¡¯s hand. I peeled it gently, feeling i
By the time I returned, the sky had turned to gold and me, the sam slipping behind the bills.
Back inside, I moved quickly. Francesco¡¯s library had be my workshop, my hidden space, No one came here anymore it was mine now
1t the candles,id out the ingredients, and opened the book again.
The spell wasplex. The incantation unfamiliar, had to read the instructions five times before tempting anything
I crushed the moon thistle, ground the bark, and added drops of silver dew harvested from the garden at dawn. Each step required
mistake could turn the potion deadly or worse, irreversible.
The brew shimmered violet. Then silver. Then clear.
It pulsed gently, like a heartbeat.
I poured the liquid into a small crystal vil. It looked like water. But it smelled like nothing
I held it up to the candiclight, marveling.
Could this really hide a scent? Make someone undetectable!
struck me.
And then the thought str
What if this wasn¡¯t used by rogues?
What if Anastasia made this to disappear?
From Francesco? From everyone?
A wave of dizziness hit me. My hand trembled, shouldn¡¯t test it.
But curiosity sank its ws into me.
Just a drop, I thought
Just a taste.
I dipped a spoon into the potion and sipped
The vor was¡ cold. Empty Like air in a tomb.
For a moment, nothing happened
Then the air shifted.
The candles flickered.
Helt lighter.
Then¨Cnothing.
Not pain. Not magic. Just Stillness
I set the spoon down and crept into the corner of therge couch in the study, if this worked, Francesco wouldn¡¯t be
He wouldn¡¯t even sense me.
able to smell me.
Theard the front door open.
Boots¡
He was back!
¡°Ene? Mia Amore?¡± he called softly, his voice echoing through the hall.
My heart thundered.
He stepped into the room.
Stopped.
His eyes scanned everything¨Cpapers, open books, the still¨Csteaming cauldron.
He looked confused. Then afraid.
¡°Eine?¡± he called again, Ermer, sensed you here a moment ago!¡±
He stepped further in. His eyes were searching¨Cbut not seeing. He looked right past me,
Oh my God, it works!!!!
¡°ELLAINE!¡± His voice cracked now. Worried.
Footsteps thundered down the hall
¡°Alpha, what is it?¡± Audrey¡¯s voice was sharp
¡°I lost her scent,¡± Francesco whispered. ¡°She was just here. I swear it. She was in this room¨Cshe¡¯s gone. Can you feel her?¡±
Audrey paused. ¡°That¡¯s not possible. Her presence lingers, but it¡¯s¡ wrong.¡±
More warriors joined. Murmurs filled the air.
¡°Luna¡¯s not here.
¡°No scent trail
¡°Did she shift?¡±
¡°She couldn¡¯t have vanished.¡±
Heat frozen, heart in my throat, panic rising.
They were right.
I was here, but no one could feel me or smells me,
Not even my
mate..
¡°Find her!¡± Francesco snapped. ¡°Search every room! She¡¯s in danger¨Cwe¡¯re all in danger¡±
The others left in a flurry, footsteps retreating like thunder.
And I remained curled in the corner.
Shaking, Terrified
11:14 Mon 14:30
But not from them, from what I had just learned..
This potion¨Cthis secret¨Cthis was how Luca did it. This was how the rogues had moved unseen.
uld they.
And if I could make it¡ So cou
The spell would wear off in twenty¨Cfour hours. That¡¯s what Anastasia had written.
Just 24 hours¡
I stepped out from the shadows and gathered the book,pping back to the passage, reading again, trying to find a w. A solution. Something
FAMI
The door mmed open.
Francesco stood there.
Chest heaving
Face pale.
Rain still clinging to his hair and coat.
His eyesnded on me.
And he froze.
I stared back, stare back at his eyes in horror.
Shock filled his face
Reliet
Fear.
And something else¨Crealization.
Because he knew, he knew that I do something involve magic.
But before either of us could speak, a sudden heaviness crashed over me. I gasped, stumbling as darkness surged through my vision. Thest thing i felt was his arms catching me before everything went ck
AD
Still His 75
Chapter 75
Go to Francesco point of view:
The storm was still gathering when I returned home, wind curling around the edges of the estate like whispers from the past. The moment. I stepped through the door, something felt wrong.
¡°Eine
I called her name once, then again, No answer.
Her scent should¡¯ve greeted me the moment enteredvender and ink and something warmer, softer, like the sun through stained ss.
But there was nothing. Just cold air and silence.
I checked the main hall first, then the west garden, then her room¨Cstill untouched, the rose I left that morning wilting on the windows. My chest tightened. A cold, primal fear began to unfurl in my ribs.
Treached for the bond between us. It should have been pulsing with her presence, her heartbeat echoing softly in the back of my mind.
But there wa
was¡nothing
Not faint. Not distant.
Just¨Cpone
¡°Eine!¡± My voice cracked like a whip through the halls. I didn¡¯t care who heard me. I was already moving, fast and focused, scanning for any sign of her
¡°Ein!!¡± No answer.
I stood in the entryway, scanning the silent corridors. But I felt no presence.
Not hers. A chill ran through me.
I walk to the library, remember she always spend her time there. The door creaked open beneath my hand, and I stepped inside. The room was quiet, warm with the soft glow of candles. Booksy open on the table. Pages scattered across the floor. Her handwriting.
But no Eine.
felt something then. A tug deep in my gut¨Cthe bond straining, searching
Anding up empty.
My voice cracked, ¡°Eine, where are you? I sensed you a moment ago!¡±
Nothing
Not a whisper, Not a shadow.
Just silence.
And the unmistakable fear beginning to crawl beneath my s
skin.
turned in a slow circle, heart hammering. I was the Alpha. I could feel every member of my pack through the bond¨Cespecially her. But now, it was like she had disappeared. No heartbeat. No breath. No scent.
¡°ELLAINE!!¡°
My voice rang off the stone walls, loud enough to rattle the shelves,
Footsteps echoed behind me¨CAudrey burst in first, sword already hall drawn, ¡°Wpha, what is it??
Others followed. Guards Healers, Wations on alret from the moment they heard me shout.
¡°Luna isn¡¯t here!¡± I snapped, already pacing. Find her. Now¡±
Audrey blinked, looking around the room. ¡°But¡ I saw hering here a while ago,¡± she said, picking up a leather bound journal. ¡°And these are her notes¡ªthis is her handwriting¡±
¡°I know,¡± I growled. ¡°But she¡¯s not here. I can¡¯t feel her.¡±
That admission sent a ripple of fear through the room. The warriors exchangedt nces Audrey¡¯s expression sharpened.
¡°She was here. I know she was,¡± muttered, scanning every corner of the room again. ¡°Why can¡¯t I sense her?¡±
I dropped to my knees, cing my palm on the wooden floor, trying to reach through the bond again. Eine. Where are you. Please answer me.
Nothing
Not even an echo.
Could it be¡ Magic?
Old, dangerous, unfamiliar,
It clung to the air like perfume¨Cfragrant and subtle, but it scraped the edge of my instincts.
¡°She did something.¡± I whispered to myself. ¡°Something can¡¯t see.¡±
Everyone was still.
¡°Find her,¡± ordered again. ¡°Search the house. Check the woods. I want every inch of this estate swept¨Cnow.¡±
Audrey bowed her head and turned to move, but I hesitated, staring once more into the flickering shadows of the library. Something tugged at me.
A scentless breath of wind. A shift of warmth.
Like someone was watching
Like someone was
here.
Then, just as suddenly-
Everyone was gone.
One by one, they slipped out, murmuring, retreating
09
I tore through every inch of the property¨Ccers,idors, balconies, even the old stables. I ran the perimeter myself, shitted for speed, rain, rage rising with every step that came back empty
The woods were empty.
The gardens untouched.
No signs of struggle. No blood. No trace.
Just the hollow ache where her presence used to be.
with
How could the
h?ne der
ved open the door and copsed into the chai
Then I heard it.
Sel. Deliberata.
Not in the hat. Not upstairs.
Right besida
in the library ?
1 stood so fast the chair scraped hard against the floor. My hand was already on the door before my mind could catch up: She¡¯s not
I shoved it open
And stopped cold.
She was there
Standing right in the middle of the room, surrounded by scattered books
andlelight. Her eyes met moe¨Cwide, startled, haunted
I didn¡¯t know if I said it out loud or just breathed it. Relief and confusion crashed into me all at once, knocking the air from my lungs. For couldn¡¯t move Couldn¡¯t think
She was herE
She was right here.
But there was no scent. No heartbeatbrushing my bond
As if I were seeing a ghost.
¡°Where have you been?¡± My voice came out foarse, barely restrained. ¡°I couldn¡¯t you couldn¡¯t find you.¡±
She didn¡¯t answer
Her hand trembled slightly at her side, and her lips parted like she wanted to speak. But her face paled before my eyes, and her body waved
Something was wrong
¡°Mia amore?¡± I moved toward her, heart hammering
And then she gasped.
A sharp, sudden sound of shock¨Clike something inside her snapped.
¡°ine!¡± Her knees buckled.
I caught her before she hit the floor.
She copsed against me, her body limp, cold, breath shallow. Her pulse flickered beneath my fingers, faint as smoki
¡°No.¡± I breathed, cradling her close. ¡°Stay with me.
Einee back.¡±
Her head rolled against my shoulder, eyes
s fluttering closed. I I held her tighter, heart pounding like a drum in my chest.
That¡¯s when I smelled it
Not her
Something else.
Old magic. Faint but potent¨Clike the aftertaste of moonlight and blood. My eyes went to the table, the scattered pages, the crystal vial beside a half- burned candle.
A potion.
She drank something
And now the bond was silent
My gut twisted
¡°What did you do?¡± I whispered, voice thick. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wait for me?¡±
I pressed my forehead against hers, listening to her breathe¨Cshallow, fragile, alive. But for how long?
I didn¡¯t know.
dy went limp in my arms, a silent scream echoed in my chest.
The moment Eine¡¯s body
Still His 76
Chapter 76
Francesen point of vie
Quickly camed her all the way to our chamber until I felt the silk of our shared bedding under her bark
The candles flickered wildly in their sconces as Iid her down with trembling hands. Her skin was too pale, her breath too shallow, and that small¨Cthat damn smell of old magic still lingered in the air like a curte,
I couldn¡¯t waste a second more
¡°Monical¡± roared, mming the door open so hard it bounced against the wall. One of the guards outside inched. ¡°Get Monica now! The Luna needs herl
The entire estate erupted into motion, Footsteps thundered through the corridors as servants hurned in all directions, and warriors snapped high alert, expressions hardening the moment they realized the missing Luna had been found¨Cinjured.
Shock rippled through every corner of the estate.
Irushed back to Eine¡¯s side and gently gathered her into my arms once more, cradling her head to my chest as though my heartbeat alone could anchor her. Her skin was mmy, her breathing shallow. I brushed damp strands of hair from her face, whispering her name like a prayer
She moaned weakly, her body twitching against me a fragile leaf caught in a storm
¡°Come on, amore¡ stay with me¡±
Within minutes, Monica burst through the door, her long coat still wet from the rain, her medical satchel in hand.
¡°What trappened, Alpha?¡± she gasped, rushing to Eine¡¯s side.
¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± My voice
voice cracked. ¡°She just¡ copsed. One moment she was standing, the next.
Monica was already checking ine¡¯s pulse, her eyes narrowing in concern. She touched Eine¡¯s temple, felt her throat, then leaned close to listen to her breathing. Her brow furrowed.
¡°Her heartbeat is weak, and she¡¯s not responding to any physical prompts. Did she eat anything? Was she injured, Alpha?¡±
¡°No,¡± I rasped. ¡°But there was a a vial. On the table in the library/A potion, maybe. Gods, Monica, I don¡¯t know!¡±
Before Monica could answer, ine suddenly jerked
Her whole body spasmed violently.
We both jumped. I gripped her tighter, trying to stop her from hurting herself. Her limbs iled, her back arching unnaturally. The bed creaked beneath
her.
¡°She¡¯s seizing!¡± Monica cried. ¡°She¡¯s burning from the inside out. Something is tearing through her system.¡±
Panic exploded in my chest. ¡°Help her
The door burst open again.
Audrey
Behind her, a tall, cloaked figure stepped in¨Cone of the oldest wolves in our pack, the only one we trusted with ancient healing and magic. Head Healer
¡°Excuse me, Alpha¡± she said, voice sharp, eyes ke lightning. She took one look at ine and turned to Audrey ¡°Tell me exactly what happened¡±
Audrey was tire affidesz
nin the library. We thought she was metsing¨Cwe couldn¡¯t feel her through the band. Alpha searched the entire perimeter and found nothing. But when he returned to t coffice, he brandment post dour in the library Heran in and found her these, unconscious, surrounded by spellbooks. Paprs were everywhere!
Lira¡¯s eyes darkened.
¡°Did she drink something? A potion maybe, Alpha
Her question struck me like a de.
My mind scrambled back to the glinting vial on the table. To the scentless air. To the shock in ine¡¯s eyes before she copsed
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I whispered.
Shit, ine what did you done?
Lira swore. ¡°Shit We need to act now, if she took anything¨Cany potion we have to flush it out of her stomach before it takes permanent hold. Audrey, pet pure milk. As much as you can. And hot water,¡±
Audrey was already running.
¡°Boil cloths. Bring a cleansing basin. We need to neutralize the magic¡± Monica nodded before run out to prepare it.
Eine jerked again, more violently this time. A strangled cry escaped her lips even in her unconscious state
Monica walks back with everything and grabbed my shoulder. ¡°We need to hold her down! Alpha, I need your strength. Lira, we can start the heading chant¨Cnow!¡±
I climbed onto the bed, pinning Eine gently but firmly. My hands wrapped around her wrists as her whole frame trembled beneath me. I could feel the heat radiating off her skin¨Cunnatural, fevered. Her veins were glowing faintly with silver.
Magic
Unstable magic
Lira began to chant, her voice low and guttural, speaking in a tongue older than anything I remembered. Runes shimmered around her fingers, Sho pressed one hand to Eine¡¯s abdomen and winced
¡°She¡¯s fighting it. Her wolf is trying to resist whatever she drank. But the human body wasn¡¯t built for this kind of enchantment. If we don¡¯t drain it
She didn¡¯t finish.
Audrey rushed in with tworge jugs of milk, her eyes wide with fear. Monica took them instantly, pouring one into a wooden bowl and preparing a long,
thin siphon tube.
¡°We¡¯re
going to induce vomiting it¡¯s not pretty, but it¡¯s the only way Alpha, hold her steady¡±
Even as she convulsed, even as she groaned through clenched teeth, I held her.
¡°I¡¯m here, amore mio.¡± I whispered, tears pricking my eyes. ¡°I¡¯m right here. Just breathe, amore¡ just stay¡±
Monica inserted the tube gently, carefully, murmuring reassurances even though ine couldn¡¯t hear them. The milk followed, forced through by a subtle spell from Lira, and momentster Eine choked.
Her body heaved.
Violent. Ugly. Her lips parted as thick, dark liquid spilled from her mouth into the basin. Not blood. Not food.
But magic
ck and silver and violet.
My stomach burned.
She was trying to hide something. Or find something. Or both,
What the hell did she take?
Eine copsed back against the pillows, her body shivering, drenched in sweat, Monica pressed a damp cloth to her forehead, checking her vitals again. Lira poured salt around the bed in a loose circle and added crushed Whatever she drank¨Cit wasn¡¯t ordinary. I¡¯ve never seen anything like it.¡±
Audrey gasped softly. ¡°What did she do?¡±
Lira shook her head, a grim shadow passing over her features. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. The energy around her¡it¡¯s fragmented, unstable. It resembles a cloaking spell, but far moreplex. Crude in its construction, yet dangerously powerful¡±
ty ribs.
My heart mmed against my
¡°Did it work?¡± asked hoarsely
Lira looked down at Eine, still trembling faintly in my arms, her skin damp with sweat, her aura flickering like a dying me. ¡°Yes, it did. Too well,¡± she said. ¡°Her body fought back. But if it hadsted even minutes longer it might have unraveled her soul.¡±
A sharp breath left my lungs.
The cage came first. Hot, blinding. Then the guilt¨Cheavier than anything I¡¯d ever carried.
¡°No more secrets,¡± I whispered, my voice low and shaking. ¡°Not between us. Never again.¡±
Eine stirred in my arms, her lips parting as a weak sound escaped. No words, just a breath¨Ca struggle to turn
I bent closer, cradling her as gently
y as I could, brushing her hair away from her face.
¡°I¡¯m here,¡± I whispered. ¡°You¡¯re sale now, amore mio. I promise.¡±
Still His 77
Chapter 77
Still in Francesco point of
The first rays of morning spilled through the windows, casting golden light over the chamber floor, but none of it touched the darkness the in my chest
Eine hadn¡¯t stirred all night
I hadn¡¯t moved from my ce beside her.
The fire in the hearth had long died down, leaving only embers and a room chilled by silence. My tunic was damp with weathers and mine¡ªand my arms ached from holding her so long, but I didn¡¯t care, Her hand remained in mine, fingers pale, unmoving, the pulse beneath them fragle but steady.
She¡¯s stable,¡± Manica had whispered hours ago, before slipping out with Lira. ¡°But she¡¯ll need time, Alpha.¡±
Time¡
I could give her that.
I could give her all the time in the world, if only she¡¯d open her eyes
I sat there, my thumb brushing faint circles against her knuckles, studying the curve of her lips, the tremble of her breath. The scent of magic still clung to her skin¨Cfaint, bitter¨Cand I hated it. Hated that she¡¯d touched something so dangerous. Hated that she hadn¡¯t told me. Hated that I hadn¡¯t seen iting.
Was it because had been too busytely? Had she felt alone?
A soft knock came at the door.
¡°Enter¡± I said, barely above a whisper
Audrey stepped in. Her hair was pulled back into a tight braid, but her eyes were shadowed with fatigue. She carried a tray¨Ctea, soup, bread¨Cuntouched from the night before.
¡°I thought you might need something warm, Alpha¡± she offered.
I shook my head. ¡°Later.¡±
She hesitated. ¡°Healer Lira wants to see you when you¡¯re ready, She¡¯s still trying to identify the spellponents. She thinks there might¡¯ve been bloodroot and marrowstone in the mix, Alpha.¡±
Iflinched.
Bloodroot was toxic inrge doses, Marrowstone¨Csacred and forbidden¨Chadn¡¯t been seen in spellwork since the old wars.
¡°How she got that,¡± I murmured. ¡°Is it someone gave it to her. Or left it for her to find?¡±
Audrey nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what Lira fears too. She¡¯s tracing the magical residue now. But Alpha. She paused. ¡°If someone wanted herlu use it¡ª¡±
¡°They almost seeded in killing her
I didn¡¯t look at Audrey. Couldn¡¯t. The thought my wolf rise in fury, pacing beneath my skin.
¡°She¡¯ll wake soon,¡± Audrey said gently. ¡°I can feel it Just¡don¡¯t be angry when she does, Alpha¡±
That caught my attention. Hooked at her sharply.
She gave a faint smile. ¡°She¡¯s going to me herself. You know the will¡®
And that was what terrified me mort.
When Audrey left, I sat back against the pillows and pulled in closer, pressing a kiss to her temple. Her skin was warmer now The tremblinghe
But gods, the silence between us still screamed.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± I whispered. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wait for me before do something dangerous!¡±
Her eyelids fluttered.
A spark of hope ignited in my chest
¡°Eine?¡± Istraightened.
She stirred faintly, her head rolling toward the sound of my voice.
¡°Amore, I¡¯m here. You¡¯re safe.¡±
Another twitch. Her lips parted with a low, hoarse breath. ¡°F¨CFran..
The sound of my name¨Cbroken, breathless was the most beautiful thing I¡¯d ever heard.
I¡¯m here, Amore mio said again, brushing my hand gently along her cheek. ¡°You¡¯re alright. You¡¯re with me.¡±
Her eyes opened slowly, the silver¨Cblue of them dulled with exhaustion but filled with quiet recognition.
And shame.
She tried to sit up. I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.
¡°No,¡± I said gently. ¡°Don¡¯t move yet. You¡¯re still healing
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she whispered, her voice cracking. ¡°I didn¡¯t want anyone to worry. I thought
¡°Stop.¡± My voice was rougher than I intended. I softened. ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin. Not yet¡±
¡°But I do,¡± she whispered, tears welling up. ¡°You don¡¯t understand, Francesco ¨C
¡°No, you don¡¯t understand,¡± I cut in, cupping her face. ¡°I thought I lost you. I searched every inch of this estate, tore it apart looking for you, only to find you cold and shaking on the floor of that cursed library. You nearly died. Eine. That¡¯s not something you just apologize for
Her lip trembled. She looked away.
Trested my forehead against hers, exhaling shakily,
¡°But you¡¯re alive,¡± I murmured. ¡°And that¡¯s all that matters now
We stayed like that for a long t
time..
The quiet between us wasn¡¯t painful anymorg
It was healing
¡°Francesco¡she whispered, voice hoarse.
¡°I¡¯m here,¡± I said, brushing her hair back. ¡°Don¡¯t talk too much. You need rest.¡±
But she shook her head slowly, her fingers curling weakly into my shirt. ¡°You need to know¡±
She didn¡¯t wait for permission. Her voice was barely more than breath, but I listened like it was prophecy.
¡°I made it,¡± she said ¡°the potion
Everything inside me stilled.
¡°What?¡±
She swallowed, her throat working. I found the instructions in Anastasia¡¯s diary. It wasn¡¯t just personal thoughts¨Cshe recorded spells, potions, cloaking enchantments. Warnings¡±
I stared at her, torn between disbelief and something far more dangerous¨Cfear.
¡°So, you made something you found there?¡± echoed in disbelief.
Her eyes welled. ¡°I had to try, Francesco. I had to know how Luca could move between territories¨Chow he could be everywhere and no one could track him. I found the answer in her notes. It was right there. A potion that erases not just scent, but magical presence¡even bond recognition
My pulse spiked ¡°You were trying to mimic Luca¡¯s ability to disappear¡±
She nodded ¡°I was trying to understand what he took And¡ maybe use it myself Just for a moment. Just to see
She flinched as if expecting me tosh out
I didn¡¯t..
I just looked at her¨Creally looked.
At the exhaustion. The guilt. The brilliance.
The terrifying, beautiful truth that Eine wasn¡¯t just brave.
others.
brave. She was dangerously smart. And entirely unafraid of risking herself if it meant protecting
¡°You found this in Anastasia¡¯s diary,¡± said quietly. ¡°All of a
She nodded. ¡°She was hiding more than her pain. She had knowledge.¡±
¡°And you used it,¡± I whispered. ¡°Without telling anyone. Or me?
Tears slipped down her temple. ¡°I thought I could control it. That I was strong enough. But it reacted to my blood¡ to something in me it fought back¡±
I cupped her face again, unable to keep the edge from my voice. ¡°You almost died, Eine
She sighed ¡°I know¡±
¡°And still you¡¯d do it again?¡±
A pause. Then, ¡°If it meant keeping others sale¡yes.¡± She said stubbornly.
I closed my eyes.
She would break herself for this pack. For me.
And it terrified me.
Chap 77
Trested my f
forehead against hers and breathed out, ¡°NG HIGH SACAITL
She nodded faintly ¡°No more
E
Still His 78
Chapter 78
Back to E¡¯s Point of View
The faint scent ofvender clung to the sheets. Soft morning light streamed through sheer curtains, painting golden lines across Somewhere close, Themd birdsong Peaceful, beautiful even¨Cyetpletely out of sync with the storm inside me,
My body ached like I¡¯d been ripped apart and stitched back together again. Muscles sore, mouth dry, skin flushed. But I was alive
i blinked slowly, the ceiling above me unfamiliar
Wheel
Memory came rushing back, thick and untelem
The potion. The shaking. Francesco¡¯s arms. The panic.
I gasped and tried to sit up.
¡°Easy, amore¡± a familiar voice said gently. A firm but tender hand pressed to my shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t move too fast. You¡¯re safe
Francesco?
His presence anchored me. I turned my head slowly and found him beside the bed, seated, his dark hair a disheveled mess, a fresh shadow of stubble along his jaw. His eyes¡ gods, the pain in them.
¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± he said, relief washing through his voice
¡°You should be angry, Imurmured, voice raw.
He exhaled. ¡°Tam. Terrified Furious. But right now, I¡¯m just grateful you¡¯re alive.¡±¡±
Tears pricked my eyes.
I hadn¡¯t meant to frighten him. I hadn¡¯t meant to frighten anyone. I only wanted answers. A glimpse of Luca¡¯s power. A sliver of understanding
¡°I didn¡¯t know it would be like that,¡± I whispered.
Francesco reached for my hand. ¡°You should¡¯ve told me, amore, I could¡¯ve helped¡±
I looked down at our joined hands. His fingers wrapped around mine like iron and silk.
¡°I was afraid you¡¯d stop me.¡± I told him.
¡°I would¡¯ve.¡±
We said nothing for a moment.
Then, softly, I asked, ¡°How long have I been asleep?¡±
¡°A day and a half. Lira and Monica refused to leave until your body stabilized.¡±
My stomach twisted. I had made them all worry, Audrey. Monica. Francesco. Even Lira, who¡¯d only spoken to once before
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± whispered.
He leaned forward, pressing my knuckle to his lips. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize for surviving. But next time, don¡¯t go to war alone.¡±
That almost broke me,
Because i had gone to war in silence. With secrets no one else could carry
When I could finally sit up without the mom spinning, Monica checked on me the cup of warm broth and a s
¡°I should scold you,¡± she said. ¡°Thut honestly, I¡¯m just d you¡¯re still breathing
Francesco stayed quiet
e the examined me, his arm around the back of my waist to support me
¡°Lira said your body tried to reject the magic,¡± Monica murmured. ¡°You were lucky¡±
I nodded, but said nothing.
I didn¡¯t feel lucky.
Later, when we were alone again, Francesco sat beside me on the bed. He didn¡¯t speak, and I didn¡¯t push him to. The silence was soft. Henry, but not suffocating
I needed to tell him the rest. The real reason I¡¯d done it,
¡°Remember Anastasia¡¯s books? Her journal in the library. The one that I told you about.¡± I start
He looked at me sharply. ¡°The one we restored? I thought it just her diary¡±
I nodded. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just memories. She wrote about her grief¡ and her research. Magic. Enchantments. Potions. Her bloodine wasn¡¯t just royal¨Cit was magical. She was trying to erase herself from the pack bond before she died. She didn¡¯t want to be felt, Didn¡¯t want to be found.¡±
His throat worked. ¡°I had no idea.¡±
Francesco¡¯s jaw tightened. His eyes, once soft with concern, turned stormy¨Cfierce.
¡°She was drowning,¡± I whispered, voice barely audible as I clutched the frayed pages of the old joumal tighter in myp. ¡°And she documented everything. Every failed attempt, Every spell. Every dream. Even Luca. There were entries about a boy she trusted who turned on her. Who took her
notes.¡±
¡°Luca¡¡± he said, his voice a low growl
I nodded, my heart heavy. ¡°I think he perfected what she started. That¡¯s how he moves unnoticed. That¡¯s why we can¡¯t sense him. Anastasia¡¯s cloaking spell he built on it. He weaponized her desperation.¡±
Francesco stood abruptly, his chair scraping back against the marble floor with a sharp screech. He began pacing, slow at first, then faster¨Clike a predator too caged in to contain the rage that coiled inside him. His Ests clenched at his sides, Muscles along this back tensed beneath his shirt.
¡°I kill him,¡± he muttered. ¡°For what he did to her. For what he¡¯s trying to do to you. For everything
I watched him, his fury consuming the room, and yet¡he wasn¡¯t distant. He wasn¡¯t unreachable. He was breaking in front of me for me.
I rose slowly and stepped toward him. ¡°I¡¯m not her,¡± said gently. ¡°And you¡¯re not the same man you were when she died.¡±
He stopped pacing His chest rose and fell with sharp, uneven breaths. Then his eyes found mine¨Craw, dark, and glistening with emuuon.
¡°I know,¡± he said. And softer still, with a tremble in his voice that cracked my heart open, ¡°But the fear I felt when I found you¡ it was worse than anything I¡¯ve ever known.¡±
I didn¡¯t know what to say to that.
So instead, I reached for his handrge, warm, trembling slightly¨Cand he took mine as though he needed to feel my pulse beneath his skin to believe was still here.
Then he pulled me into his arms, wrapping me in an embrace that wasn¡¯t justfort¨Cit was daim, it was grit, i He held me tightly, as if letting go even slightly might undo everything we just sunmved.
His scent wrapped around me, cedarwood and wind, safety and desen.
I pressed my cheek against his chest, listening to the thunder of his heartbeat. He didn¡¯t speak. He just cradled the back of through my hair as if memorizing the feel of it
¡°I thought I lost you,¡± he whispered into my hair. ¡°And all I could think about was the weight of that ulence the way it would tear
¡°I came back,¡± I said, my voice thick. ¡°I chose toe back. For you. Always¡±
He pulled back just enough to look down at me, his hand brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. His eyes searched min desperate,
1 stood on my toes and pressed my lips to his
It was soft at first uncertain and breathless. But then he deepened it. Francesco kissed me like he was pouring all his sorrow, his rage, moment. His hand cupped the side of my face as the other slid around my waist, anchoring me to him. I melted into his touch, my fingers e shirt, needing him close.
He kissed me again longer, slower, tasting every corner of my mouth like he was reiming something he thought he¡¯d lost. There was nothing nothing frantic. Only devation. Only the quiet, aching relief of knowing the one you love is still here.
His lips traveled down, brushing over the corner of my mouth, my jaw, my throat. Each kiss a whisper of all the words he didn¡¯t know how to say
He lifted me gently, carried me to the edge of the bed as if I were something precious. And let him, because in that moment, I wanted nothing more to be touched by someone who had seen me broken and still stayed
Heid the down with reverence, crawling over me but never pressing too close, his eyes asking permission even as his hands worshipped every inch they explored.
¡°I love you, My God, ine,¡± he whispered, his voice thick
I swallowed hard, tears stinging. ¡°Then show me,¡± I said. ¡°Show me how deep is your love. Show me you¡¯re real to me. That I am yours like you are mine.
And he did.
Francesco kissed me again, deeply, like we had all the time in the world. His hands moved slowly, gently, caressing my arms, my sides, mapping the shape of me like he was drawing me from memory
I felt the scrape of his stubble along my corbone as his mouth moved lower, his breath warm against my skin. My hands tangled in his dark hair, pulling him closer, feeling the strength of him wrapped around the vulnerability of me. And yet, I¡¯d never felt safer. Never more wanted.
Every touch, every y kiss, every soft word he breathed against my skin stitched something inside me back together.
We didn¡¯t rush, he know I am still weak so touching me with tender. There was no urgency¨Conly reverence, the quietnguage of two souls finding their way through the darkness together.
The following day, Audrey burst into the chamber with a look of disbelief.
¡°You¡¯re on every Alpha¡¯s and council radar now Luna¡± she said without preamble. ¡°There are rumors. That the Alpha¡¯s mate has ancient magic and a white moon wolf. That she¡¯s dangerous. That she nearly died using it.¡±
I stared at her. ¡°What?¡±
Francesco prowled. ¡°Who leaked it?¡±
She shrugs her shoulder ¡°No idea, Alpha. But someone from the inner estate must have spoken to a shiting warrior, it¡¯s spreading¡±
My stomach turned. ¡°I didn¡¯t want anyone to know.¡±
¡°Well, they know. And they¡¯re scared of you, Luna.¡± She sighed.
I met her eyes. ¡°Good.¡±
She blinked in confusion.
Econtinued, ¡°Let them be scared. Let
Let them w
wonder what tam if it keeps us safer¡ then let them believe I¡¯m something to fear.¡±
Francesco said nothing, but I felt his pride through the bond. It was quiet, but steady. Fierce.
Later, when I returned to my room¨Cour room¨Calone for the first time in days, I pulled Anastasia¡¯s journal from where I had hidden it. I ran my fingers ever the delicate script, the ink smudged in ces by tears and age
I whispered softly to the ghost of the woman who came before me, ¡°understand now. The silence. The weight. The desperation. But I won¡¯t let it
consume me¡±
Then I closed the journal and ced it back in its ce, not to hide it but to protect it.
Like I would protect all of us
Even if it meant walking the line between magic and madness.
Eveni
if it meant embracing the truth about what I really was bing
This time, I wouldn¡¯t break,
I would rise.
And they would all know it.
Still His 79
since that night, Francesco had insisted on
on being present every time lopenol Anadasia cary
It wasn¡¯t just worry
It was instinct, deep and pilimal¨Cthe Alpha in him pelused to let his
stake even the smallest i
At first, I thought he was jud being overbessing. But when I remembered how he had found meing, unconscious, nearly lost¨Ccouldn¡¯t bring myself to argue, I made him a promise: no mote secrets. No more reckless magic without telling him first, Still, that didn¡¯t seem to ease his nerves.
¡°Because I¡¯ve risen inside your body,¡± Mika¡¯s voice whispered from within ? firm and steady, ¡°Freject every toxicity that dares to enter it
Her words echoed through me even now, dayster. They had stuken me to my core, enough that I repeated them to Francesco that came right. His tand had tightened slightly around usine when I did. His jaw clenchind, bet he didn¡¯t speak He didn¡¯t need to
It had be clear Mika my wolf, my soul¡¯s quandian ¨C was unlike any other. She carried a purity that made drdinary magic tremble. Even spalls i to protect or hide became poison ander her scrutiny. She would not corruption to coexist within me
That was why I reacted sa violently to the cloaking potion.
That was why every step into Anastasia¡¯s spellwork would be a war between the magic of the past and the sacred force that now lived inside me.
Ablesung? A curse?
I wasn¡¯t sure,
¡°I don¡¯t know w
know what this is anymore,¡± I muttered ane morning, curled up on the couch in the library.
The sun fittered in gently through the high ss windows. Dust motes danced in the air, and the scent of aged books wrapped around me like a familiar shawl. I brushed my fingers over the diary¡¯s soft leather cover, tracing the etched ¡®W like it held answers I hadn¡¯t yet earned.
*Life is strange like that,¡± murmured to no one in particr, as often did in moments like this. The library was my sanctuary, but also a ce where thoughts ran too wild if left unchecked.
That was when the heavy door creaked open, and Francesco¡¯s voice cut through the stillness like a de. His tone was sharp, clipped with irritation
Thene see her yourself,¡± he snapped into the phone, stepping in just as he ended the call
Audrey, ever the silent sentinel beside me, stood as soon as she spotted him. Her movements were crisp, respectful. She offered a quick bow, then slipped out without a word. She knew when to vanish¨Cwhen his gaze locked onto me like I was the only thing in the world he could bear to look at
¡°You look angry,¡± I said softly, hiding my amusement behind the diary.
His brow furrowed deeper, lips tight. He didn¡¯t deny it
Treached out, tugging him by the wrist until he sat beside me. He came willingly, dropping into the cushions with a heavy sigh. Another followed, deeper,
darker.
¡°Stupid Council,¡± he muttered. ¡°And the Alphas. They keep obsessing over your powers, treating you like a loaded weapon instead. His voice trailed
off.
Instead of what?
Instead of his? I can¡¯t stop the smile forming on my face.
¡°They¡¯re worried about the wrong things he continued. ¡°Rogues, Eine. They¡¯re spreading like gue, multiplying in the shadows. But the Council¡¯s
too blind to see it. Too stuck in tradition.¡±
I didn¡¯t respond right away I simply leaned in and kissed his check Just a soft peck, Gentle, deliberate
Ho inhaled. The tension in his shoulders eased, just slightly.
As always, it worked.
His arm lid around me, drawing me close. My head found its ce over his heart¨Csteady, warm, strong, A rhythm I¡¯de to rely on.
¡°Did you find anything in the book today?¡± he asked after a while, his voice softer now
I nodded. Slowly. Carefully, I opened the diary in myp.
Even now, it amazed me how it responded only to me
The faint Lavender scent clung to the pages, mingling with something older an echo of magic, perhaps.
As my palm pressed to the middle page, the parchment shimmered with pale light, and hidden words unraveled across what had moments ago been nk
Francesco tensed as the title appeared
Soul Holden Aspell to grant a second chance at life.
¡°What. His voice was tight, hesitant,ced with dread. ¡°What is this?¡±
I didn¡¯t speak. Not yet. We kept reading
2 February
He showed me his wounds, spoke of revenge, told me lies,
I believed him. He said he needed a second chance
Theld his soul so he wouldn¡¯t die.
But the truth always finds its way to the surface.
The Lycan wasn¡¯t the enemy.
The Alpha Lycart who loved me was an extraordinary mun
But when you separate a soul from its rightful ce, you invite madness. We must be careful.
Francesco went still beside m
¡°is this¡¡± he began.
¡°Looks like it¡¯s Luca,¡± I whispered. The name tasted bitter on my tongue.
He turned away and exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. ¡°I did kill him, Eine. I know I did that time. But he¡¯s back¡ So, this is why Anastasia brought him back.¡±
The silence that followed wasn¡¯t empty. It was full of unspoken truths. Full of realization.
Luca hadn¡¯t just escaped death. He¡¯d cheated it.
He stared at the glowing page as if he could will it to change, to give us better news. But we both knew what this meant
Luca wasn¡¯t just a rogue. He was a soul brought back from death. And worse, he had Anastasia¡¯s trust once. Whatever spellwork the used, he had ess to it. He had learned from it, maybe even perfected it.
¡°That¡¯s why he moves the way he does,¡± I whispered ¡°Unseen. Unfelt. Always noe step ahead¡±
Francesco¡¯s hand gripped the back of his neck. ¡°Because he¡¯s using a version of this spell. Cloaked by magic older than anything the Council understands¡±
¡°Exactly,¡± I said. ¡°And she wrote about it. She documented everything. Every spell, every dream, every failure.
¡°Even Luca,¡± Francesco added grimly.
I nodded slowly. ¡°She trusted him but he turned on her.¡±
Francesco stood abruptly, pacing the edge of the room, its clenched. I watched the fury build in his expression, the subtle sign of his woll pushing at the seams of his control.
¡°So, this time¡¡± he muttered, voce low, dangerous. ¡°Do you think he has this information too! About Anastasia power or what she knows?¡±
I stood and reached for his arm. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I said gently.
He stopped. Turned Looked at me
His eyes softened. ¡°But if its hidden here, could it be she wants to hide something from him?¡± he said, his voice raw
Thad no answer for that, because everything is like a puzzle for me too and we could only learn one by one every day
We didn¡¯t speak much for the rest of the day.
Instead, we sat together on the couch, his arms around me as I tipped through more pages. Nothing else appeared. No more secrets unveiled themselves. It was as if the diary knew we had learned enough for now.
Francesco kissed my temple every so often, as if reminding himself I was als here, still breathing
I nestled into his warmth, grateful beyond words that in the middle of everything¨Cmagic, war, councils, and ancient spells-I had found someone who would fight with me, not against me.
Someone who had once lost everyth
And was willing to lose it all again to protect me.
Whatever came next, we would face it together.
Still His 80
Chapter 80
I had barely finished my lunch the next day when I felt ita ripple in the air, like the universe pausing to hold its breath
The silver fork in my hand stilled just above my te.
Audrey, Beta Allonso, Mawlow, and Francesco all sat around me at the long dining table, the warm midday sun streaming through the high windows of the estate.
The air had been filled with easy conversation and the gentle clinking of cutlery all vanished in a breath.
Francesco stiffened. Audrey straightened in her seat, hand twitching slightly toward the dagger hidden under her cardigan.
Beta Alfonso¡¯s eyes zed for half a second as a mind¨Clink came through confirmation of what we all sensed
The information from the guards telling us what we know,
It¡¯s like knock came. Three hard raps.
Not tentative. Not polite. Not evenmanding
It was a deration.
I felt the chill before I even stood, my body already reacting before my mind caught up, Francesco rose slowly, his face unreadable but the storm beneath his surface crackling, threatening to break through.
¡°They¡¯re here,¡± he said, voice low, cold, absolute.
¡°Who?¡°1 asked, even though I already know. The name formed bitterly on my tongue.
¡°The Council¡±
The tension in the room thickened instantly. Chairs scraped back. tes were forgotten.
I followed Francesco, my legs moving on instinct. Audrey and Marlow nked me, Alfonso just a pace behind. My heartbeat echoed steady but firm as we entered the main corridor, the polished marble gleaming beneath our feet like liquid light.
¡°There are four of them,¡± Alfonso muttered, one hand pressing to His temple. His voice was clipped, mind¨Clinked from the outer guards. ¡°Elder Marsen is
leading.
Francesco let out a breath¨Cshort, sharp
¡°Of course he is.¡±
Audrey gave him a sidelong nce. ¡°Want us to stop them!¡±
¡°No.¡± Francesco¡¯s voice was iron. ¡°They breached the outer wards without setting off the rms. If we stop them now, it will be seen as a deration of
That word.
War.
It echoed down the corridor, its weight unmistakable. The fact that these ancient beings could bypass our defenses like mist through fingers only confirmed what we already knew. They hadn¡¯te to parley. They hade lethallenge
But not Francesco.
Me
And I couldn¡¯t help but ask myself why now? Where were they when the ck¨Cpine Pack fell? When rogues overran Ruban¡¯snd? When my was nearly spilled by magic meant to silence me? They had done nothing.
But the moment I grew too powerful, ton visible, they arrived.
By the time we reached the entryway, the thick oak doors had opened Guards stood aside, their tension palpable, their eyes cast downward, Fr stepped forward, his presence steady andmanding, every inch the Alpha Lycan
They waited just inside the threshold.
Four figures draped in ash, gray, and ck. The colors of neutrality, of judgment, of finality. The air seemed to tighten around them. Their magic hummed¨Cold, measured, oppressive.
At their center stood Elder Marsen.
He was as I imagined. Tall and silver¨Chaired, draped inyers of woven silk and ancient pride. His face was carved in stone¨Cnot a single emotion visible But his eyes. Gods, his eyes
Cold.
Calcting
¡°You should not have kept her from us, Alpha Lycaon,¡± Marsen said without greeting. His garended on me like a de, sharp and unforgiving.
Francesco didn¡¯t blink.
¡°You are in my territory, Marsen. Speak with respect, or not at all. And I have nothing to hide.¡±
Marsen arched a brow. He looked surprised
¡°You¡¯ve changed.¡±
I saw it in his eyes. He¡¯d expected someone silent. Submissive. The old Francesco, who kept his power leashed out of obligation after he lost Anastasia isn¡¯t there anymore.
That Francesco was gone,
¡°I¡¯ve evolved.¡±
I stood a step behind him, hands sped tightly, chin high. I could feel their eyes now. All of them. Crawling over me. Weighing, judging, dissecting.
¡°She holds vtile power,¡± one of the Elders said- woman in obsidian silk, her voice like falling ash. ¡°The wolf that rose inside her¨Cdo you even understand what you¡¯ve unleashed?¡±
Francesco nced at me. Then back to them.
¡°She is not unleashed. She is protected.¡±
A silence followed. Heavy. Pregnant with threat.
Marsen stepped forward, inspecting me like I was a care artifact dug from forbidden earth.
¡°Eine Rollin,¡± he said slowly. ¡°You were a quiet, forgettable she wolf. Rejected. Cast aside. And now¡ you reek of magic.¡± He said it like it was a crime
I didn¡¯t flinch. My chin Utted higher.
¡®They should be the ones bowing, Mika growled in my mind.¡±
I gave Marsen a cool smile
¡°If you¡¯vee to threaten me,¡± I said softly, ¡°you should know by now. That won¡¯t work?
Marsen
smiled back¨Clike frost on a tombstone. ¡°It¡¯s not a threat, child. It¡¯s a warning Magic takes. It always does And so far it hasn¡¯t taken its toll.¡±
¡°Not yet,¡± the woman added, yes narrowing.
¡°Then you don¡¯t understand Mika.¡± I replied calmly
The name made them freeze.
Flickers of recognition passed between them the sparks in dry grass. They tried to hide it. Failed.
Marsen¡¯s voice lowered. ¡°That name hasn¡¯t been spoken in centuries,¡±
Francesco stepped in front of me again. Not shielding Standing with me.
¡°You¡¯ve said your plece,¡± he growled. ¡°Now tell me why you¡¯re really here.¡±
Another Elder, a thin man with a face like burnt parchment, spoke, ¡°Your Luna was seen wounded. Rumors say it was unstable a White Moon Wolt
e magic. Others say she is¡¡¡
Marsen¡¯s:
¡®s gare sharpened.
¡°No one has over held both power and purity. You expect us to believe she does?¡±
I stilled. Their words were meant to
to unmake me.
Francesco didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Why does it matter if it¡¯s true?¡± he asked calmly, Truth or rumor, she is under my protection. And my choice¡±
The room bold its breath
Marsen¡¯s face twisted. ¡°Magic is forbidden for a reason. The White Moon is a legend. There is no way a creature of light exists within a witch¡±
The way he spit the word ¡°witch¡± made Mika growl.
Then everything shifted.
My body reacted before my mind caught up.
Fur.
Snow¨Cwhite.
My bones cracked, my breath caught, and then Mika stood where I once had
A gasp filled the grand hall. The Elders recolled, their power ring in rm. Around us, warriors dropped to one knee. Audrey Alfonso. Even the guards Their eyes downcast. Their heads bowed.
But the Elders?
They stood frozen.
Until Marsen and the other, too, bent the knee.
Francesco stepped closer, his voice steady. Like you all see, I have nothing to hide. I will choose her Again. And again. And again.¡±
My heart clenched.
Not because I didn¡¯t know he loved me. But because he dered it in front of those who could tear emrything down
Marsen looked up at se, his face uneadable. But Mika sawit. I sawit.
Tear
Not of what was
But of what Francesco and I could be
Mika¡¯s words echoed in my head.
He reeks of greed. He fears what you and your mate will build
I book
a step forward, shimmering back into my human form. Audrey was already there, wrapping a silver¨Cgray gown around
my
shoulders.
I walked to them, no longer the girl who had begged Ruben to love her. I stood as Eine Pollin. The white wolf The Luna of a Lycaon.
The female Elder stepped back. Her face pale.
¡°She has the wolf of prophecy.¡±
¡°No.¡°I corrected, voice singing in the grand hall. ¡°I am the wolf of no one¡¯s prophecy, fam Mika¡¯s. And she is mine.¡±
A hand slid to my back. Francesco. Proud. Fierce.
Marsen inhaled slowly.
¡°Then this Council will watch. And wait. But know this, Luna Eine¨Cif you falter, if you turn to chaos¡ we will not ask again.¡±
Francesco growled, the sound low and brutal.
¡°Then you¡¯ll face the wrath of the Alpha Lycan and his Luna, the White Moon Wolf¡±
A beat.
And then they turned,
The ancient cloaks swept behind them like shadows as they departed. At the threshold, Marsen paused.
¡°Be careful, Alpha. The world is shitting. And the moon does not always favor the same side.
Then he was gone.
The door shut behind them.
Silence tell.
Francesco turned to me and gently framed my face in his hands. His touch was warm, grounding.
¡°You held your ground,¡± he whispered. ¡°I am so proud of you.¡±
He pressed a kiss to my temple.
¡°I¡¯m sorry they came like that.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not,¡± I said quietly: ¡°Now we know exactly what we¡¯re up against.
He nodded.
4/5
Smiling faintly, he leaned closer. ¡°Let them watch. Let them worry. They¡¯ve underestimated you, ine.¡±
leaped into his chest and let my eyes fall shot.
Let them watch.
Let the world shift
Because this time, we were ready
ADI
Still His 81
Chapter 81
The Council was go
But the presence lingered
Their scent¨Cold parchment, stale incense, cold metal still clung to the halls like mildew that refused to. Servants moved quietly, whispers trailing behind them. No one spoke of what happened aloud, but everyone felt it. The house had gone still. Suspended. Waiting
I sat in the garden behind the estate, still barefoot from shifting. My body wrapped in a simple robe, my skin kissed by thete afternoon sun, cold.
I could still hear Marsen¡¯s words in my ears.
Magic has a price
Francesco joined me in silence, I didn¡¯t it. Not at first. He just stood there, watching me with those storm gray eyes of his, trying to read what I wasn¡¯t saying.
When he finally lowered himself beside me, he didn¡¯t speak right away. His shoulder brushed mine, grounding me
¡°I would have torn them apart,¡± he
The said after a long stretch of silence. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t held your ground like that?
I nced at him. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have. Not for them. Not now. You¡¯re not that boy anymore.
He exhaled a softugh. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m worse
Hamiled, faintly, ¡°You¡¯re stronger¡±
Francesco turned to face
reaching for my hand and curling it into his. His palm was warm and calloused, his grip steady, reassuring.
¡°They¡¯lle back,¡± I said, my voice soft. ¡°They won¡¯t stop
pwatching You know that, right?
¡°I want them to watch,¡± he said. ¡°I want the entire realm to watch
Itilted my head, unsure what he meant
¡°I want them to see,¡± he continued, ¡°what happens when they try to suppress a power that was never meant to be controlled by them. You were never meant to be hidden, Eine. And He paused, searching my face. ¡°I won¡¯t let them twist you into something you¡¯re not.¡±
His voice was raw with sincerity. It wrapped around my wounds like balm,
I didn¡¯t realize I was crying until he reached up to brush a tear from my check,
¡°They didn¡¯t scare me,¡± I whispered. ¡°But they reminded me¡
He wasted
¡°They reminded me of the people who once told me I was nothing. Powerless. Broken.¡±
His jaw tightened. ¡°You¡¯re not¡°:
¡°I know that now,¡± I said, my voice steadier. ¡°But some part of me still remembers what it was like to believe them. To be that girl who begged her mate not to reject her. To stand in front of a pack who turned their backs on her.¡±
Francesco cupped my cheek, his thumb gently tracing a path beneath my eye. ¡°They don¡¯t get to define you. And neither does your pet.¡±
I nodded, swallowing the ache in my throat.
But now they!
But also
And I wanted to burn wi
Aher a long silence, Task
a Laver that mage always tak
Francesco¡¯s jam tightened. ¡°He believes it. Because his poweres from fear,
But if he¡¯s right.
¡°Then we¡¯ll face it together?
I stared at him, at the u
promise in his eyes.
wasn¡¯t just saying it.
Even if Mika¡¯s power came with a cost-
d¨Che would stay
leaned my head against his shoulder ¡°Do you think my mag
ves your
¡°No,¡± he said immediately.
mediately. ¡°What scares me is the thought of yo
1med ¡°Then i won¡¯t.¡±
We stayed like that for a long while, wrapped in silence, wrapped in each other. The sot hush of wind in the trees whispered above us, a sunlight spilled through the leaves, painting everything in hues iber and rose gold
warm around my
s fingers resting |¨C
s edge of my robe like a silent vow¨Cmine
It felt like the world had exhaled for a moment. Like the storm had passed and left something wh
¡°I hated watching them look at you like that,¡± Francesco murmured, his voice low and rough against the shell of my
I tilted my head, brushing my nose along his jaw. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice them once you
stood beside me.
He smiled faintly. ¡°You weren¡¯t supposed to carry that weight
¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± I whispered, cing my hand over his heart. ¡°You were there. Every step¡±
The moment hung between us, warm
eavy with unspoken things. I turned my face up to his, and his eyes found mine¨Csmoky gray, but clearer
ke all the shadows that had ever lived in him had made peace with my light.
He leaned closer, his breath brushing against my lips. ¡°I would burn the world for you, Eine.¡±
I can¡¯t help but smile ¡°You already lit the match the moment you chose me,¡± whispered back
Then his mouth was on
was on mine.
There was nothing hesitant about the kiss. No restraint. No apologies. His lips wire warm and fierce, parting mine as his hand slid up my back, pulling me fully into him.
Imeted under his touch, the robe slipping slightly down one shoulder, but neither of us cared. My hands tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, needing
of the man was
Law me not as a nurse, not as prophery, but as his
He shifted suddenly, riting to his knees and pulling me into hisp.
againd him. The heat between us crackled like tig) ming
| pasped into his mouth an his hands gripped my hips,
ty prest, every breath
¡°You have no idea what it does to me,¡± he said, voice horse, tips grazing my
. ¡°to see you standing like
¡°I¡¯m yours,¡± I breathed, arching into him as he kissed the hollow of my throat, his tongue flicking agent my poise ¡°But you¡¯re ass mine.¡±
He groaned, low and primal, as my fingers trailed down his chest, undoing the buttons of h again, his kiss deepening with a hunger that send heat spiraling low in my belly.
(by one. ¡°Wways,¡± he seon
ng my mouth
I could feel the tension in him¨Crestraint at was with desire. He wanted to take me right there in the garden, beneath the open sky, where the moon would soon rise and see all of me. And goddess, I wanted him to:
I reached for the belt at my robe, loosening it slowly, watching his eyes darken as the silk slipped open. His breath caught. ¡°ine¡¡±
¡°Make me forget them,¡± I whispered, volte trembling. ¡°Make me remember what it¡¯s like to feel wanted. Worshipped¡±
He didn¡¯t answer with words
Francescoid back gently against the mossy stone bench, his mouth exploring my corbone, my chest, my stomach, reverent and desperate His hands mapped every inch of me like he was learning a sacred text¨Cmemorizing, cherishing
And when he finally entered me, it wasn¡¯t rough. It wasn¡¯t rushed.
It was a iming
A ceremony of flesh and soul
We moved together in slow, aching harmony, the garden around us spinning into nothing. His name was a prayer on my lips. Mine was a grow! in his throat. Every thrust, every sigh, every whispered promise was fine and forgiveness and forever, folded into one.
When release came, it tore through me like a sunrise¨Cshattering and gentle. I cried out into the crook of his neck, holding onto him like he was the only thing tethering me to the world.
He came secondster, biting down softly on my shoulder, muffling a groan that sounded almost like my name,
And then we stayed like that¨Cantwined, breathless, trembling. The sweat cooling on our skin. His forehead pressed to mine, his thumb stroking the curve of my waist as if afraid to let me go
¡°I love you,¡± he said suddenly, voice breaking
I froze
And then I smiled..
¡°know¡± I whispered. ¡°Because I feel it. Every time you look at me like I¡¯m not broken.¡±
His breath caught. Then he kissed me again¨Csofter this time,
Just lips against lips
A promise
Still His 82
Francesco pulled t
led back past enough to look to my eyes, his thumb brushing against my cheek Then, without a w from the garden¨Cthrough the quiet halls of the estate, pad warriors and staff who bowed their her could see it. Their Alpha and Luna were no longer distant stars electing each other. We had a
The warmth of his hand around mine felt like fire in my veins. We didn¡¯t speak. We didn¡¯t need to
hand and led me away spretful but knowing they
By the time we reached the doors to our chamber, my heart was hammering like a drum. The second they shut behind us, the mask of restraint he wore
fell away.
Francesco spun me into his arms and kissed
ca starying man, devouring every breath I tried to take
His hands were on my hips, my waist, my shoulders then lower With one sharp hug, the robe slid from my body.p pooling like a puddle of moonlight my feet. He stared at me, chest heaving, as if trying to memorize every inch of me before taking what was already his
¡°You drive me mad,¡± he growled, voice dark and reverent. ¡°Every moment you breathe, I want you.¡±
Then he was on me
He didn¡¯t just undress me¨Che unmade me, Each touch, each kiss, stripped away anotheryer of fear of hesitation, of the girl who was on fire. Wanted. He always makes me feel wanted.
Francesco litted me into his arms andid me gently across the bed as if I were made of something precious¨Cbut the heat in his eyes said he had no intention of being gentle
He hovered above me, his hands framing my face, his thumbs brushing against my cheeks as he kissed me again. And again. And again, untill was casping, clutching at his shoulders, desperate for more.
He trailed kisses down my neck, over my corbone, between the swells of my breasts¨Cevery touch electric, every kiss worshipful.
¡°You¡¯re divine,¡± he whispered, his voice rough with awe. ¡°You
have no idea what it does to me, seeing you like this. Strong, Mine.¡±
His mouth moved lower, iming me with every hot, wit kiss, his tongue drawing circles against my skin until I was writhing beneath him, my back arching off the bed. He teased me slowly, lovingly, as if every inch of my body was a secret only he had the right to uncover.
And when he reached the ce between my thighs, he looked up at me once¨Cdark eyes locked with mine¨Cand then lowered his mouth,
Ishattered:
His tongue moved with a purpose and a rhythm that made me cry out, my hands fisting in the sheets, my body trembling with waves of pleasure that stole my breath. He groaned against me, the sound vibrating deep into my core.
¡°Francesco¡± gasped, my voice already breaking, ¡°Please¡.
But he didn¡¯t stop
He licked, tasted, and worshipped until I couldn¡¯t think until I couldn¡¯t speak, until the only thing that existed was his mouth on me and the stars exploding behind my eyes.
When the climax came, it tore through me like a tempest, leaving me crying out his name, my body arched, my heart thundering
He kissed his way back up my body, licking the sounds of my joy from my skin, and saw the hunger in his gaze¨Cthe wild, reverent hunger of a man who would never get enough
Then, with one slow thrust, he entered me again¨Cdeeper this time, more intense. Like a second iming
He moved above me, our eyes locked, our bodies joined in a rhythm that felt like a prayer. There were no more walls. No more barriers. It was just a
11:16 Mon, 14 Jul
two souls colliding again and again, wrapped in heat, sweat, and something far more proved than ust.
Low.
He whispered it between kisset, between groans, between gasping breaths that matched mine.
¡°I love you.¡±
¡°You¡¯ve everything¡±
There is no prophecy, no Council, now that will take you from
When we came together, the world broke open.
We copsed into each other, parting, flushed, trembling with the aftershocks of something too big to name. He held me close, brushing damp strands of hair from my face, his heartbeat a fierce rhythm beneath my palm
For a long time, we stayed like that wrapped in nkets, limbs entwined, his lips tracing slow,zy paths across my shoulder, my c temple. As if he couldn¡¯t stop touching me Asif letting go, even for a second, would be too much
¡°You feel like home,¡± he whispered.
corbone.my
I smiled against his chest. ¡°You are
my home¡±
Eventually, we redressed¨Cslowly, quietly¨Cstill wrapped in the glow of something unshakable. The world could say what it wanted. The Council could threaten what it pleased.
We had chosen each other again and again.
And that night, we fell asleep with our limbs tangled, hearts steady.
But that¡¯s when I dreamt it
Anightmare
A witch and a white moon wolf can¡¯t be together. The carrier will mad from the power she holds
Who¡¯s speaking?
Then I saw him Francesco¨Cscreaming, writhing in pain, blue fire bursting from my hands and burning into him
¡°No!¡± I tried to reach him¨Cbut hoze,
A white moon woll stood beside him.
But¡¡.. I¡¯m here..
Then who is that?
¡°Mika?¡± I whispered, horrified.
¡°Mika!! FRANCESCO
They turned to me¨Cbut the hatred in their eyes struck like a de
Hatred.
What?
Why?
W witch doesn¡¯t belong with the light. Go away!!
I turned toward the voice and gasped.
Anastasia
Smiling. Mocking
Then she walked toward my mate and my wolf¨Cmy hand and stood beside them.
¡°No,¡± I whispered. ¡°No! NO!!
with a scream
I woke w
Gasping, drenched in sweat, I bolted upright in bed,
Francesco was already there, arms around me in an instant.
His eyes scanned for danger¨Cbut there was none. Only me, shaking, trembling¡ broken by a dream.
¡°Anightmare,¡± he murmured, cradling me close. ¡°You¡¯re safe, amore. I¡¯ve got you¡±
But even in his arms¡.
I couldst feel the fire on my hands.
I hear Mika¡¯s voice.
Sull
55ll see Anastasia¡¯s eyes
And I couldn¡¯t help but wonder-
Was it a dream?
Dr a warning?
E
Comment
AD
Send gift
Still His 83
Dean¡¯t sleep again.
Not after the
nightmare i had.
No matter how lightly Francesco holds me, no matter how sale his arms make me feel, the memory of blue mes crackling from my fingers and the hatred in Mika¡¯s eyes won¡¯t leave me. It clings to my skin like smoke, curling into my thoughts, refusing to let me forget.
My breathing is shallow, shaky. My heart hasn¡¯t slowed since I jolled awake in a cold sweat. I¡¯ve been lying here, curled beside him, trying to pretend that the quiet rhythm of his heartbeat could pull ine back into peace.
But the image of Francesco screaming in grain because of me¡.
No. Sleep is no longer a ce of rest. It¡¯s a battlefield I¡¯m too afraid to walk into again.
Sighing, I shift gently, turning to face him. Moonlight spills through the cracks in the curtains, illuminating the sharp lines of his face softened by sleep. Hisshes fan across his checks, his lips parted just slightly. He looks¡ peaceful. Untouched by the horrors that wed through my mind just moments
ago.
A knot tightens in my chest.
How could I possibly tell him?
How could I ever look him in the eye and say: ¡°In my dreams, I destroy you.¡±
I hold my breath as I slowly slide out from beneath the
th the covers, careful not to wake him. His arm twitches slightly, his brow creasing for a moment as
though he senses my absence, but he doesn¡¯t stir.
My feet touch the cool marble floor as i grab the silk robe from the foot of the bed. Wrapping it tightly around me, I move to the balcony.
The ss doors creak faintly as I open them and step outside.
Night air greets me with a soft caress, brushing against my skin like a whisper. The estate is quiet. Only the distant rustle of trees and the asional howl from far off wolves stir the silence. Above me, the moon hangs high and full, cloaked in a haze of silver clouds.
I walk to the railing and grip it with trembling hands.
My eyes drift shut.
The nightmare reys in shes.
Francesco falling to his knees.
My mes burning him.
Mika¨Cmy wolf¨Cring at me with a rage I never imagined she could possess.
And Anastasia.
Her voice.
That mocking smile,
¡°A witch doesn¡¯t belong with the light. Go away¡±
My stomach twists.
$11:16 Mon, 143
I don¡¯t understand. Why now? Why that dream? Everything had felt so whole, so right just hours ?ga.
So why do I feel like it¡¯s all slipping through my fingers?
is that because of the meeting with the council? i gums deep down their warn hit me without
Tean forward, resting my elbows against the cold stone, letting the wind tease strands of my hair loose from the braid i cept in.
I wish could talk to Mika
But ever since the nightmare, she¡¯s gone quiet.
As if she, too, don¡¯t know the answer.
i don¡¯t
I don¡¯t even realize I¡¯m crying until a tear sshes against the back of my hand.
Gods, what¡¯s wrong with me?
I¡¯ve spent so long healing, Rebuilding. Finding myself again after being torn apart. Why does this dream¨Cjust a dream¨Cundo me so easily!
¡°Eine?¡±
His voice is sch, groggy, but edged with concern.
I turn, startled.
Francesco stands at the threshold of the balcony, barefoot, shirtless, the waistband of his loose cotton pants resting low on his hips. Moonlight bathes him in silver, and for a moment, he looks more like a myth than a man. The Alpha. The Lycan. The one who chose me.
His eyes f
esfind mine. And I know I must look a mess¨Ctear¨Cstreaked, robe clutched too tightly, body trembling
He crosses to me in three long strides.
stome
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whisper, stepping back slightly, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to wake you.
¡°You didn¡¯t,¡± he says, voice t thick with sleep. ¡°But i felt you were gogle. And I can¡¯t rest when you¡¯re not beside me.¡±
He reaches for my hand, his fingers brushing gently against mine, coaxing. I let him take it.
He lifts it to his lips and kisses my knuckles.
¡°You¡¯re shaking,¡± he murmurs
¡°I¡¯m fine,¡±
His eyes narrow just slightly, not in anger, but in that way he does when he¡¯s reading me too well. Like I¡¯m a book only he knows how to hold.
The way he says my name¨Clow, reverent¨Cundogs something inside me.
ibite my lip. ¡°The nightmare¡¡±
¡°I figured.¡± He steps closer, wrapping his arms around me from behind, pulling me into the warm curve of his chest. ¡°Do you want to tell me about it?¡±
I hesitate.
Then I whisper, ¡°I hurt you. In it. With my magic. Blue fire¨Cmy hands ¡°My breath hitches. ¡°You were screaming, Mika was there. But the hated me. They both did. And¡ Anastasia was with them.¡±
He¡¯s silent
I can feel his heartbeat against my back. Strong, Strady.
¡°I know it was just a dream,¡± I continue, voice bresking, ¡°but it felt so real. And the things she said. ¡ªabout witches and white belonging to the light. I-
bout me not
He turns me gently in his arms,
¡°Look at me.¡±
I do.
¡°I don¡¯t care what dream Anastasia said. Or what some twisted nightmare version of Mika made you feel. I¡¯m here. I¡¯m real. And I love you.¡±
His thumbs brush away the tears from my cheeks.
¡°Whatever this power is inside you¡we¡¯ll face it together. You hear me?¡±
¡°But what if I hurt you?¡± My voice is a whisper, a terrified breath. ¡°What if I can¡¯t control it!¡±
¡°Then we learn. We train. We figure it out, I¡¯ve fought wars, Eine, Faced enemies with des and teeth and bloodlust. But this¨Cyou¨Cyou¡¯re not my enemy. You¡¯re my mate, Eine.¡±
My heart twists.
He leant forward, his forehead pressing to mine
¡°I don¡¯t fear your power. I revere it. Because it¡¯s part of you.¡±
A sob escapes me.
And he holds me tighter
We stand like that under the moonlight, wrapped in silence and each other.
Eventually, he goides us back inside, his arm around my waist, never letting go. He sits on the bed and pulls me into hisp, wrapping the nkets around us both like a cocoon.
¡°I want to tell you something¡± he says softly. ¡°Something I¡¯ve never told anyone.¡±
4 nce up at him, surprised. His tone is serious, almost heavy
¡°When Anastasia died. He pauses, searching for the words. ¡°Everyone thought it broke me. And it did. But what they don¡¯t know is¨Cshe knew. She knew she wouldn¡¯t survive it. She saw it in a vision weeks before. But she didn¡¯t tell me until the night before¡±
I hold my breath
¡°She said she saw a child of power being born. Ope that would shake the roots of every prophecy, everyw. A girl born under sorrow, rise. She said I would find her¨Cnot immediately¨Cbut when the world needed her most.¡±
My breath catches.
¡°She said, ¡°When you meet her, you¡¯ll know Not by her blood, not by her gt¨Cbut by the way your soul aches
My lips part, but I can¡¯t speak
Francesco pretty
you reaching since
Tears wir down my checks again ¨C bet, nt
¡°You think your power will drive you mahe mormors. Then let me be your anche Latine carry it with you
anchor. me you?¡±
myhead to his chest, letting the rhythm of his heartbeat ground me
forehead
¡°France¡± hiper¡± scared
¡°But you¡¯re not alon
We fall into silence again,
The storminede.
this time, but int he warmth of his body wrapped around r
Ìï
AD
Comment
Still His 84
Chapter 84
Taughed, the sound bursting out of me bir Frould contain it ¡°What?
Francesco grinned, barefoot and shirtless, standing on the halonny tailing of our room¨Cthe third floor of the west wing of the estate ¨C his golden bro hak truded by the wind
eyes sparkled with wild mischiet, a rare lightness recing his usual brooding intensity.
¡°Let¡¯s go. Jump!¡± he
he said, holding out his hand to me like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
blinked, ¡°Francesco¡.. we¡¯re three floors up?
He chuckled. ¡°Exactly. Come on, Eine¡±
stared at him, my heart thudding. Not out of fear. But out of wonder.
It was nearly dawn, the sky beginning to pale at the edges, stars winking out one by one. The estate slept in silence¨Cexcept for the night guards pacing the grounds, and a few warriors stretching before their morning run.
Thest thing they probably expected was to see their Alpha and Luna standing on a balcony looking like they were about to do somethingpletely unhinged
Francesco, my mate, the terrifying and revered Alpha Lycan of this territory, was grinning like a boy who¡¯d just stolen a pie from a window.
I crossed
¡°No,¡± he s
my arms, eyeing him. ¡°Is this your idea of fun?¡±
d with a wink it¡¯s my idea of freedom¡±
Iughed again despite myself.
I knew what he was doing. I hadn¡¯t been the same since the nightmare. Even after thefort of his arms, the warmth of his words, something inside me still felt¡ wound tight. Restless. I just had able to shifted, so I don¡¯t know if I able to do that. My body itched with suppressed energy, like lightning trying
to break through skin.
Francesco knew. He always knew. And this¨Cthis insane leap of faith was his way of breaking the tension. Of setting me free.
I stepped closer to him, until I could feel the heat radiating off his skin.
¡°You¡¯re crazy¡±
He beamed. ¡°For you, amore mio. Always¡±
Below us, I heard one of the guards murmur, ¡°Is that¡ is that the Alpha?¡±
I turned slightly, and sure enough, a few of the night guards had stopped patrolling and were now looking up, wide¨Ceyed and confused. A couple of warriors on the eastern wall leaned over, their mouths slightly open.
We were not being subtle
Francesco noticed too. ¡°You think they¡¯ve ever seen me like this?¡±
¡°Like what?¡± asked
He turned to me, eyes softer now. ¡°Happy, free
I felt the words cattle deep inside my chest.
11:16 Mon. 14:30)
Chapter 84)
The wind brushed between us.
Then, with augh that was almost a mar, Francesco jumped.
My heart stopped
He plummeted from the balcony like a filling star- and then, midair, his body blurred with light and motion, in an effortless, breathtaking shit, he transformed into his Lycan form: massive, humed, and beautiful in a way that defied exnation, Gold and Gray shadow rippled across his fur, His limbs lengthened, paws mming into the grass below with perfect control.
Hended like a force of nature.
I gasped, gripping the railing as I watched him tuin his great head upward.
Then he howled
Not a call of warning. Not amand
sounded likeughter.
Joyful, wild, fre
covered my mouth as tears sprang to my eyes¨Cnot of fear, but something far more overwhelming
Love!
Gods, how could anyone look at him and not fall to their knees?
Around the courtyard, warriors were now fully alert, though none moved to stop him. Some were grinning. A few looked stunned.
A howl answered him from the western tower. Then another from the trees. Then more¨Cdozens¨Crising together in the early morning like a
And still Francesco looked at me.
¡°Come on,¡± his eyes said.
But I hesitated
I¡¯d never done a midair shift before. I¡¯d just shift recently. During moments of danger or necessity. But never for the pure joy of it. Never like this..
What if I fell? What if I couldn¡¯t do it in time?
Then, clear as day, Mika spoke.
¡°Let¡¯s try.¡±
I sucked in a breath.
Her voice¨Cwarm, eady, sure¨Cechoed through my soul like an embrace.
And I nodded.
I trust you, Mika.
So I took three steps back, gripped the robe around me tighter, and without pving myself time to second¨Cguess, Iran.
And jumped.
For a
ra split second, I was falling.
They
wind tone at my hair, the sky spun, the ground rothed to meet
cand then Mika turged forward with a triumphant howt
White light exploded around me
My bones stretched, shaped, every cell humming with power and light. Fur cascaded dont my limbs like a cloak of snow. By heart thundered¨Cnot with fear, but with freedom.
When Handed, paws first, I skidded slightly stinss the soft grass, then stood fall.
Gasps tippled through the gathered guards and wains
Francesco¡¯s Lycan form approached me slowly, severred
My white moon woll stood nearly as tall as he did¨Cslinturer, more graceful, glowing faintly in the breaking dawn. The
lover¡¯s kiss
Francesco lowered his head, pressing his snout to mine in a silent vow.
And I leaned in, touching his jaw gently with mine.
Then he threw back his head and howled again¨Clouder, deeper¨Cand this time, I joined him.
Our
voices mingled in the sky, echoing across the mountains and forests. The guards bowed their heads. The warnors howled in return
And then, without warning, Francesco took off.
He rain¨Cfast, wild, powerful,
Iughed in my mind, my paws digging into the earth as I chased him.
We ran together, cutting through the outer courtyard, racing past startled birds and rustling trees. Our bodies moved in rhythm, two shadows twining across thendscapi
I felt alive.
No fear. No doubt. No nightmares.
Only the thundering of our paws, the wind in my fur, the exhration of running beside the one who made my soul feel whole.
We reached the edge of the forest and plunged in.
Francesco slowed slightly to let me run ahead, nipping yfully at my side as I passed him.
I swerved between trees, leapt over roots, skidded through moss and leaves. Every part of me sang. Mikroared with joy inside me, her presence fully alive and whole for the first time in what felt like years
We weren¡¯t Luna and Alpha.
Not here.
We were wolf and mate. Soul and soul
Francesco caught up and nudged my shoulder gently, I slowed, breathing hard but smiling wide inside
The forest opened up into a meadow drenched in dew and early light.
We stopped there, side by side, panting, chests heaving. He turned to me, nuzzling my neck, his golden eyes fierce and soft all at once.
¡°You were magnifice
¡°enu always believe in me¡±
tento the soft grass, and i followed we curled together, tangled in warmth and breath and bond, watching as the first rays of weight
The pack would speak of this for days.
How their Alpha and Luna leapt from a balcony and ran together under the fading moon.
But for me, it wasn¡¯t about the spectacle
about this
The shi The leap. The farth
Thad truded
And I had
And I had trusted him.
The shadows.ef
nightmare still lingered. The prophecy still loomed. The Council, the past, Anastasia¨Cnone of it had
nished
But they couldn¡¯t take this from me.
This wild, unshakable love.
France licked the side of my muzzle, making me huff softly in mock offense.
¡°Let¡¯s do it again tomorrow,¡± he teased.
Thuffed louder, nudging him yfully.
sed loudar,
But the answer was already in my heart
AD
Still His 85
Chapter 85
I couldn¡¯t believe it.
Graduation was near. The day I would finally close the chapter of my life as a university student, standing side by side with humans who had no idea about the world I truly came from,
The halls once walked through filled with nervousness and solitude now echoed withughter, chatter, and bittersweet anticipation
Wow. Time really did fly.
I still remembered that first day. The airport in Florence. The worn out backpack clutched Sea lifeline. The confusing signs in Italian. The nervous flutter in my stomach. And then¨CPatricia and Louis. Two kind strangers who became my lifeline in a foreign country. They weed me with warm smiles, helped me settle in, and introduced me to Beta Alfonso. That was the moment everything changed.
I remembered the first time I saw the portrait of Anastasia¨Cthete Luna. Her sonowlul eyes etched in paint called to something deep inside me, I didn¡¯t know then that the man who mourned her, Alpha Francesco Totti, would be the one to stitch together the shattered pieces of my soul.
Back then,
n, I was just a she¨Cwoll running from a heartbreak, Now?
Now, I was the Luna of the most powerful Lycan in Italy.
As I stood outside the gallery, staring at the final piece I submitted for the end¨Cof¨Cyear exhibition, I could still feel the ghost of that broken girl.
The painting shimmered beneath the skylight capturing not just light and shadow but a journey of survival and rebirth. My fingers brushed the edge of the frame, as if grounding myself to this moment¨Cto everything I¡¯d be.
And then he was there.
My Francesco.
He stood just a few paces away from me, arms crossed, dressed in a dark coat that clung to his tall frame, eyes locked on mine like I was the only thing that mattered in the world. A few of the students nearby whispered, and I saw heads tuming
Ang nudged me. ¡°Eine, your boyfriend is stealing all the attention. Again¡±
Istifled augh, cheeks flushing.
¡°He¡¯s just here to see the exhibition,¡± I said, but my tone conviction.
Jose arched a brow, ¡°Come on, El. That man¡¯s too damn hot to be just here for the art.
I turned toward my three closest human friends¨CAng, Jose, and Katrina¨Cand before I could deflect again, Katrina gasped, her eyes lighting up in triumph.
¡°Wait! Is he the same man who picked you up that time? Remember? Outside the campus, the ck car?¡±
I froze, eyes widening.
She remembered that day?
I nodded slowly, watching her reaction.
Katrina squealed, grabbing Ang¡¯s hand as if she had just unearthed a royal secret Jose simply chuckled, shaking his head.
ourse he is,¡± Ang whispered. ¡°No wonder you always looked like you were hiding something. You lucky, mysterious woman.¡±
¡°Of hels
Their excitement made my heart warm, They didn¡¯t know who he truly was¨Can Alpha Lycan leared and revored across Europe¨Cbut they epted the
part of my I was allowed to share. I united, grateful, and stole a nce at Francesco
He was leaning against the car now, as folded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. His eyes flickered toward me with a teasing gnt. Of cours everything. Werewolf ears.
We spent the next few minutes talking about the exhibit,ughing about our struggles with the final assignments, and sharing our hopes for graduati But then the topic shitted.
¡°Have you heard about Mario?¡± Ang asked, lowering her voice.
Itensed.
Mario had been the schrship student Bright, full of promise. In the human world, they said he went back to his country for family reasons. But w the truth. He had died in our territory
He had watched his siblings die¨Ctheir heads sent by Luca, the deranged rogue Alpha, as a warning.
I swallowed thickly
Francesco¡¯s gaze locked onto mine. I knew he could feel the shift in my mood. The bond between us pulsed like a heartbeat, and I knew he wouldn¡¯t
allow me to suffer in silence.
I gave him a faint smile and waved my hand in a small, dismissive gesture, hoping to reassure him. But my friends noticed.
¡°You¡¯re okay?¡± Katrina asked gently.
¡°Yeah,¡± lied. ¡°Just tired.¡±
¡°You¡¯reing to the graduation ceremony, right?¡± Jose asked, eager to lighten the mood.
I nodded. ¡°Of course. Wouldn¡¯t miss it.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Katrina said, then motioned toward Francesco. ¡°Go. He¡¯s been waiting patiently. We can talkter.¡±
I turned to them, grateful for their presence. ¡°Thank you, guys. Really.¡±
As I stepped away from the gallery, the quiet hum of conversation and art critique faded behind me. My heart eased with each step I book toward him. Toward home.
Francesco straightened the moment I neared, his coolposure melting into something softer¨Cwarmer. The women who had been casually lingering near him only seconds ago slowly backed away, their smiles faltering with quiet disappointment. They might have seen the suit, the car, the charm¡ but they didn¡¯t know the man.
They didn¡¯t know the way he looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered.
Without a word, he leaned in and pressed a brief kiss to my lips. Just a gentle peck. But one with clear intent. A public gesture. A silent deration:I¡¯m hers, and she¡¯s mine.
I blinked in surprise and couldn¡¯t help the smile that bloomed on my face as he opened the car door for me.
¡°Ready to go, my Luna?¡± he asked, his voice low, teasing.
I rolled my eyes as I slipped inside. ¡°You heard everything, didn¡¯t you?¡±
¡°Naturally,¡± he said, slipping in beside me. ¡°But I especially liked the part where your friends said I was hot.¡±
Iughed despite myself, shaking my head, ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡±
¡°And you,¡± he murmured, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, ¡°are glowing.¡±
The ride back to the estate was peacehil, the kind of quiet that didn¡¯t need to be filled. He held my hand the entire way, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in soft, genunding strokes. It left like a small thing. But it meant everything. A reminder that wasn¡¯t alone anymore, Not in this world. Not in
this life.
As we passed through the gatis of the estate, I noticed something different.
The guards bowed their heads as usual¨Cbut their eyes lingered longer on me. There was something like reverence in their gaze for just respect, for just protocol
Iswallowed the tightness in my threat. It still feels strange them looking at me like that.¡±
Francesco nced at me. ¡°They¡¯re proud of you.¡±
Itted my head. ¡°Proud?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± His voice was firm, steady. ¡°Because you changed me. Because you walked into this ce as someone broken¨Cand you refused to stay that They see it. I see it. You became more than what fate tried to break and in the process you changed me and bring happiness back.¡±
I looked at him, his profile lit by the soft golden light of the setting sun, and my chest clenched in that bittersweet, full way that always came when he said something I wasn¡¯t prepared for
He always knew how to speak to the deepest parts of me¨Cthe parts still tried to shield, even from myself.
That night, after a quiet dinner and a walk beneath the stars, we curled up in our bed together. His arms around me. His presence a shield I¡¯d learned to
rely on.
I should¡¯ve felt peace
But sleep didn¡¯te.
Not with the storm in my mind.
I stared at the ceiling, listening to his breathing Steady, Safe. I turned, facing him, watching the moonlight soften the sharp lines of his face.
¡°Francesco,¡± I whispered.
His eyes opened instantly, sharp and alert. Always ready.
¡°Do you think¡the Council will try something again?¡± I asked.
He didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, he reached for me, pulling me close, pressing a kiss to my f
y forehead.
¡°if they do,¡± he said slowly, ¡°they¡¯ll regret it. And this time, they won¡¯t find you unprotected.¡±
I nodded against his chest, breathing in the scent of him. Sandalwood, forest, safety
This wasn¡¯t just about me anymore.
it was about our people. Our pack. The quiet, growing bond between humans and werewolves here in Florence. The tentative trust we¡¯d begun building
one painting, one step, one conversation at a time.
Graduation was only days away. A milestone. An ending
But also a beginning
I wasn¡¯t that broken girl who had arrived in Italy with nothing but pain in her chest and rejection in her heart, I wasn¡¯t just the she¨Cwall without a pack or purpose.
I was Luna now.
§Þ§à§Ý,
Thad a voice. A future. A partner.
I was Eine Rollies and i was no longer afraid of the world waiting for me.
Not with him by my side.
AD
Still His 86
Chapter 86
¡°Congrattions¡±
The chorus of voices startled me. I gasped and blinked in disbelief as I took in the crowd gathered in the dimly lit, elegantly decorated banquet room. My hand flew to my mouth as I stared at each familiar face, trying to register what I was seeing
It wasn¡¯t just Beta Alfonso, Audrey, Patricia, Louis, Monica, and Joshua¨Call beloved faces from the pack¡ªbut also Katrina, Ang, and Jose my clownt human friends from the university. They stood among round tables, under warm golden lighting and cascading floral arrangements, pping, cheering, beaming at me.
¡°What¡I breathed, frozen at the entrance of the private hall.
Francesco had only said he was taking me to dinner¨Cjust a quiet Friday evening to celebrate the end of my final exhibition. Nothing fancy, nothing pverwhelming. That¡¯s what he told me. And I believed him. I never expected this
The entire top floor of a five¨Cstar hotel in Florence was transformed into a celebration hall. Elegant but cory. Vibrant but familiar. Everything f
thoughtful. Personalized Home.
My gaze swept across the decorations¨Cmoon motifs on the wall, scattered with brushstroke¨Cstyle paintings of wolves, stars, and forests. A blend of both my worlds: the artist and the she¨Cwoll
It was too much
Too beautiful.
Too kind.
I turned, heart swelling, and found him already watching me¨Cmy mate, standing not far behind with a small, nervous smile tugging at his lips
His eyes flickered instantly to mine, and he tensed the moment he saw the tears glistening there. His smile faded. In two long strides, he was at my side, hands gently cupping my face.
concern, thumb brushing my cheek.
¡°What¡¯s wrong!¡± he asked, voice tight with
I shook my head, my hands wrapping around his wrists. ¡°Thank you¡± I whispered, my voice cracking slightly with emotion.
His shoulders rxed immediately Relief washed over his features like a gentle Lide
¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like it.¡± He exhaled, visibly easing
A familiar voice broke in with a yful grin,¡± can say she loves it
turned and saw Katrina already pushing through the small crowd, arms wide open. She hugged me tight before I could say anything
Iughed through t the remnants of my tears. ¡°You guys are here too!! How?¡±
Ang joined her, smiling knowingly. ¡°Your man these, she gestured at Francesco is more romantic than we gave him credit for. Audrey came to us after you left the other day. Said he wants to n something special for her graduation, and we want her closest friends there.¡® How could we say no to
that?
ne sotter.
Ang actually looked touched, her usual sarcastic grin reced with something s
u got a good one, El. If you don¡¯t marry him, that¡¯s your loss, babe,¡±
Katrina grinned. ¡°You got a
¡°Seriously,¡± Jose chimed in, leaning against the buffet table with a drink in hand. ¡°I mean, have you seen the way he looks at you? We all thought he was just a handsome guy picking you up now and then. But this?¡± He waved at the crowd, the music, the perfectly arranged setup. ¡°This is love.¡±
Chapter S
The three of them nodded in unison as di might foolishly deny the obdous truth,
I couldn¡¯t help butugh, want thing in my chest.
This was why he brought me to a hotel in Florence instead of our teritory:
He knew I wouldn¡¯t be able to celebrate with my human friends otherwise.
He included everyone
Not just pack members. Not just wolves. But people¨Canyone who had mattered in my jour
I swallowed hard and looked around again, more slowly this time. There were students from other majors too¨CJoshua from Engineering, Lena from Literature, Emil from Architecture. All smiling, holding sses of sparkling juice or champagne, All celebrating
It wasn¡¯t just for me
Twas for all of us.
A celebrition of victory. Of survival. Of futures long fought for
I looked back at Francesco
My God¡ the things he does for me.
Before I could go back to him, my three friends suddenly squealed as the DJ shifted to a remix of our favorite pop song from campus days¨Cone that used to y in our dormmon room at midnight when deadlines were killing us.
¡°Come on, Ell¡± Katrina screamed over the beat, grabbing my arm,
Before I could object, they pulled me onto the dance floor.
I twisted around to nce at Francesco. He¡¯d taken a seat at the center table. Regal in his ck shirt, sleeves rolled, top button undone¨Ccasual butmanding. And yet¡ his whole attention was on me.
Not the music. Not the room. Not the people constantly trying to get his attention.
Just me.
His golden eyes locked with mine, a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips.
He wasn¡¯ting over. He was giving me space,
Letting me enjoy this moment.
Letting me be¡ Eine.
estiny tangled my heart.
The me I was before destiny
I blew him a kiss, smiling as he nodded slightly in return, eyes soft,
Then I danced
I danced like I hadn¡¯t in years.
With Katrina, Jose, and Ang twirling apound me, screaming lyrics andughing, I forgot the pain, the fear, the weight of everything, Just for a while. I let myself feel the joy.
The music had started to slow, drifting into a sofer rhythm an ached fromughing so much with Ang,
fa, and Jotar
They were all still on the dance floor, limbs failing with joyful abandon but ever drove
Francesco
hadn¡¯t moved from his seat, but his eyes never left me,
I smiled and blow him another kiss, letting him know I saw him too. That always did
Eventually, I broke away from the dance floor, the warmth of the moment will radiating in my hear smile, one hand extending toward me like it was the most natural thing in the wor
¡°Come,¡± he said softly. ¡°There¡¯s something I want to show you¡±
He led me through a private corridor of the hotel, past velvet¨Clined walls and rooftop terrace, the city of Florence gttering beneath us like scattered
I gasped
In sconces I was still barefoot from dancing
A telescope stood by the edge, polished and slook. Beside it, a small table with t
a flutes of spark
¡°What is this?¡± I whispered, turning to him.
graduation gift,¡± he said, then gestured to the telescope. ¡°I thought you¡¯d want to keep chasing stan
when you
My throat tightened. ¡°Francesco..
He hold up a finger and opened the box inside was a delicate pendant¨Ca crescent moon of silver wrapped around a luminous blue gem
¡°I made this special for you.¡±
Tears burned behind my eyes. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful¡±
He stepped behind me, cing the chain around my neck. ¡°nothing against your beauty, amore mist
The weight of it felt powerful. This is like a promise.
I turned in his ams, burying my face in his chest, breathing in the scent th
We stood there for a moment, the silence sacred.
Then he pulled back just enough to cup my cheeks. ¡°The night isn¡¯t over yet. Come with me
He led me back through the building, this time exiting through the private elevator that opened up to the hotel¡¯s secluded garden. There, waiting
the soft light of the moon, was Audrey, Beta Alfonso, Joshua, and several warriors¨Cincluding those who had once doubted mo
And in the clearing beyond them¨Cour pack
Dozens of them, in wolf form. Waiting
My breath caught in my throat. ¡°What is this?¡±
¡°A tradition,¡± Francesco said. ¡°When a Luna graduates, she runs with the pack beneath the moon. Tonight, they run for you.¡±
The emotion nearly shattered me.
Audrey stepped forward, eyes gleaming ¡°Go on, Luna. Show them who you are.¡±
I felt Mika stir inside me, her joy rippling through my chest.
Francesco shed his clothes in a bilink and shifted into his massive Lyom form beautiful and touchle, midnight for glozi
He brushed his trout agent thing, and let po
The thit took me in nine seamless wave, white fur exploding across my skin as I and into my true self.
Gaps of awe echoed around the garden.
And then we rate
Together
Francesco and I tore through the woods, or pack trailing behind in thunderous harmony. The world was nothing but moonlight, w triumphant song of paws against earth
Thad never felt so alive.
Never felt so free
This was not the end.
It was the beginning of something greater.
Of love. Of unity. Of legacy
And as we ran beneath the stars, the night howled our story into the heavens.
?
Still His 87
The Alphaty n¡¯s mans. The glowing Cana. The sorluse tuned symbol of hope. The parture torte muset
She was breathtaking
back
golden chandeliers like moonlight captured in tabe Her long, silvery haircareaded down her in oss, framing her sondetin tane ke some kind of divine portrait. Andt herugh gods, thatugh
i groped my ss tighter
That sound made me want to crush her throat just to make it stop.
She stood near the grand staircase, radiant and effortless. Surrounded by students, war exclusive celebration in the Alpha¡¯s jate tall. A graduation ball, they called it. But make
petsts could sense she was different.
dignitaries the
My gaze sharpened.
ine. The girl Sho thould¡¯ve faded into obscurity. Who should¡¯ve been forgotten after her rejection, buried by shame, consumed by !
e¡¯d returned, Not just standing tall but shining, Stronger. Loved.
Especially by hims
Francesco Lycaon. Alpha of the European Crescent Pack, thest living Lycan of royal blood. The one man I wanted more than anything to see on his knees¨Ccrushed beneath the weight of loss and regret. But instead, there he stood, tall and poised, his gaze soft as it followed her every step.
He looked at her like she was all that mattered. Not hisnds. Not the Council Not even the looming unrest creeping across supernatural borders.
Just her
It was pathetic
And terrifying.
She walked toward him now, graceful and unaware of just how much I hated her. He met her hathway, his hand resting at the small of her back. She whispered something, and heughed¨Clow and warm, like a man who finally found peace after centuries of war.
I wanted to scream
Instead, I smiled.
Frozen wless. Just as I¡¯d been trained to be
¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong? my friend asked, her brows pinched with concern.
I blinked. Shook my head lightly, forcing my lips to curl upward. ¡°Tired,¡± said simply ¡°Too much champagne¡±
She nodded, believing it too easily
bing my may
mytheter tang grounding ma
They were preparing
Theard before anyone else did
den,!
seant. They weren¡®
Every wold froze for a second. air shimmered wit
The Graduation Pun
A carved tradition. A symbolic run beneath the full moon to celebrate one¡¯s academic achievement in the human world¨Ca ceremony not just of survival but of pride and unity. Few ever received such an honor. Only those with the Alpha¡¯s blessing. Only those deemed future leaders.
ine, of course, would be at the center of
As if surrying heartbreak made her a goddess
As ifing back made her chosen
But it didn¡¯t matter.
Because I had already set things in motion.
I smiled to myself, a quiet and private thing
It was only a matter of time now
The potion she drank was slow Subtle Laced with ancient magic, brewed by Luca hired the exiled leader of the Eastern Shadows. It wouldn¡¯t kill he not yet. That would be too easy. Too kind.
fio. It would unravel her from the inside.
First, the dizzes. The confusion. Dream, she couldn¡¯t tell from memory Small gaps Thenguage she spoke would alter on lies tonga, the weld ques
Piece by piece, she would forget.
And when she was
he was nothing more than a hollow shell
He woulde for her
To reim what should¡¯ve been his.
A soft tremor of anticipation curled in my belly
I moved back to my table, greeted by the easyughter of my circle. They were all tipsy, flushe summoned into the sanctuary
¡°Hey, everyone¡¯s heading out. Want to walk with us?¡± Ang asked, a little slurred but glowing
Inodded. ¡°Yeah. Just need to grab my clutch¡±
She leaned into me, her breath warm with champagne. ¡°Best¨CParty. Ever¡±
Herughter was cut off by a loud crash
Brug!
Agoblet had fallen. Shattered on the floor,
The music faltered, and a collective murmur spread,
My heart jumped.
It wasn¡¯t the sound. It was the sudden shift in the air
A growl.
Low. Primal. Not human.
One of the warriors¨COrion, I recognized him¨Cwas sniffing the air, his eyes it with a faint gold pow
No..
No no no
He turned. Met my gaze. Froze
Recognition
Damn it.
I bolted.
ATRINA?! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?¡± Ang¡¯s voice followed me.
Perfect: Scream my name, why don¡¯t you?
I shoved past the crowd, weaving between started guests. The exit by the kitchens was open- took it without hesitati
then stone.
I didn¡¯t stop tilt the alley behind t
Tore off my shoes. Dan barelset.
My lungs burned
But i had to get to him.
My real reason for all of this
He said if I proved myself, he¡¯d im me. Not just in word. But bond Blood Power
ine never saw ming She was too busy healing. Too busy finding love and safety.
I was right beside her the whole time.
Afriend. A peer & harmless bystander.
Until I was L
I ran past closed shops and sleeping inns, the streets thinning into trees. Into shadow. Spell faced wards began to soften the serises ¨C¨C scent, sight. A protective veil we¡¯d created years ago for moments just like this.
He waited where the forest swallowed the path
Tall, cruel, beautiful. With eyes like volcanic ss and a smile that promised ruin.
¡°You¡¯rete,¡± he said, stepping from the trees.
She drank it,¡± I panted. ¡°Everything went to n.¡±
Ted ¡°Good¡±
His lips curled.
¡°Once it starts,¡± whispered, ¡°she won¡¯t know what¡¯s real¡±
He didn¡¯t answer. Just turned and started walking
¡°Luca will be pleased,¡± he said after a pause. ¡°She¡¯ll break. And when she does¡
He didn¡¯t finish
He didn¡¯t need to
I followed without question
I¡¯d done what was needed.
Now all that remained was to wait.
To watch her fall..
unling sound.
High
Herughter Noated int
She fell alive free.
As the rooftop twirled with moonlight and soft music, a flicker of nausea terded
Just a second. Just a breath.
She brushed it off, leaning into Francesco¡¯s warmth
He held her tighter, as if he sensed something something
But then she smiled
And the moment passed
The celebration below had ended
But the true ward
It was just beginning
And this time, betrayal wore a familiar face.
?
Still His 88
Third Party Peet of View
He paused mid step in the hallway, nose tentching, ingine
lingering perfume, but there was no miltaking i
Wellbane.
Hi hesithem picked up an ancient primat fear cuting in his chest
source. The small side fungo,
rn approached, his sentes sharpening.
The closer he got, the stronger the scent became, until it was unmistakable. But before he could enter fully, mementi hh attention
A woman- young, human, dressed in casual yet elegant clothes¨Cdarted from the room, her head do
briel sebond, but be noted her¨Cwarm toned skin, auburn har tied loosely,
Isn¡¯t she one of the Luna¡¯s friends? he tho
thought
He instinctively to
took a step after her, but then stopped. He¡¯d seen her iet
aughing quietly beside
of the friends from the university? Audrey had invited her, under the Alphu graduation celebration
Maybe she had gotten sick or dropped something.
Maybe
Nn gritted his teeth and stepped into the lounge. The moment he examinate it,
The scent punched him in the face, heavier here, mixed with something acrid and bitter. He scanned the room quickly,nding. table by the window. A tray with three empty sses sat atop it¨Cone cracked at the rim. Beside ity a shattered esp
a dark stain.
Nn¡¯s gut twisted. He crouched down, nostris ring. The broken vial reeked of it
Wolfbane
And something else. Something unfamiliar, it wasn¡¯t just the nt that could paralyte or kill a werewoit¨Cthere was anoth couldn¡¯t identify it, it was dangerous.
His blood turned cold.
chemical, but
The Luna had been drinking with her friends while she dance on the dancefloor. What if this¨Cwhat if this had been in her drink?
cose to his feet, already mind¨Clinking the neare guards. ¡°Get here now.¡±
He rose
Within seconds, two more wanices walk to where he kneels Nn issuedmands in a low, urgent tone
¡°Secure the carpet and ss. Use gloves Bring it to the dungeon storage beside Leader Marlow office. I want it stored safely for analys
¡°And check the CCTV Nn added. ¡°I want to confirm something too
stepped outside to texty his nerves. His mind ra
but if the Lana Baby te
drink wh
What if son
(truly was. They weren¡¯t
something like this
Unless it wasn¡¯trandom
He clenched his jaw and reached for hism. ¡°Beta Afonso Lead Warrior important¡°.
There was no need to borate
clove. I need you both in the dungeon offic
He know right now they must be on the run
hi the Alpha and Lajna for
debra
stima te prepare everything
They both armed two hourster, fresh from ther
they stepped into the soundproof dungeon office and saw Nn¡¯s face, the air
¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Beta Alfonso asked, shutting the thick door behind him.
Everyone know this ce is soundproof and only used for secret
Nn nodded his head in respect before he speak ¡°I am sorry for calling you two, but you need tosee this,¡± Nn be skipping pleasantries. ¡°But someone drop this and from the smells it wasn¡¯t just a scent¨Cit was an active poison Spilled from a small vile One of the Luna¡¯s friends identally drop this and it broken. I didn¡¯t chase her because Fassumed she was someone trusted. I regret it!
Marlow narrowed his eyes. ¡°I could smells wolfbane.¡±
Nn nodded ¡°and other things that I didn¡¯t know. The human, she fled before discovered it.¡±
Beta Alfonso stepped forward. ¡°Did you check the security feed?¡±
He nodded again¡± did. And you both need to see this.¡± Nn turned to the screen and pressed y
ance in the
Luna and three of her human friends dance in the The grainy footage flickered to life. The camera angled down toward the ce. They watched as dancefloor¨Cone of them was the woman Nn had seen. They were chatting andughing, pouring drinks.
Then something shifted.
One of the Luna¡¯s friend stepped out to take grab another drink, before quickly pulled a small vill from her purse into it. She uncorked it, poured it into one of the sses, and stirred.
Even from the footage, the liquid inside the vial glowed faintly green.
She carefully grabbed the poisoned ss before walk back to the dancefloor with it¨Cdirectly shove it to the Luna had been standing with augh while they dance.
Secondster, Eine returned. She picked up the same ss from her hand, sipping from it casually as she resumed to dance
The room fell into dead silence.
¡°Shit,¡± Alfonso hissed. His fists clenched. ¡°She meant for the Luna to drink that She targeted her.¡±
Marlow leaned forward, his face hardening ¡°We need to inform the Alpha. Now¡±
¡°I was waiting on your approval, Nn said.
¡°I want every record we have on that girl¡± Marlow growled. ¡°Her full name, background, how she met the Luna. Everything¡±
¡°I¡¯ll ask Healer Lira to examine the ss too, Alfonso said, recovering from his shock, ¡°Wolfbane¡¯s dangerous enough, but there might be other toxins mized in. We need to know how much the Luna ingested. Every second we wait, it could spread deeper through her system¡±
Marlow nodded grimly. ¡°We can¡¯t let the Luna out of our sight. If she starts to show symptoms-
Alfonso¡¯s face paled.
¡°This was no ident,¡± he muttered: ¡°Someone just tried to assassinate the Luns, Isn¡¯t she a human?¡±
Marlow¡¯s eyes were dark with fury. ¡°We need to find that girl. Now. Why human wants our Luna?¡±
lltrack her down myself if I have to,¡± Nn said. ¡°I feel responsible for not stopping her earlier.
¡°You followed protocol, Alfonso said, cing a firm hand on Nn¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You didn¡¯t raise rms until you had proof. That was the right call.
He squeezed briefly before stepping back and opening his mind¨Clink to the Alpha.
¡°Alpha Francesco, we have a critical threat to report. Requesting to meet in your office. It¡¯s urgent
Seconds passed.
Then came the Alpha¡¯s voice¨Clow, cold, and thunderous in his mind.
¡°I¡¯m on my way.
Alfonso cut the link and turned back to the others.
¡°Split up,¡± he ordered. ¡°Marlow, Check with Lira. Don¡¯t alert anyone yet¨Cwe don¡¯t want to panic until we confirm with Lira. Nn, find the human, take Joshua and Jeremy but no more, only tell them find her name. I want this woman found tonight.¡±
They moved as one, warriors on a mission, every heartbeat synchronized with purpose.
In the healer¡¯s wing. Luna Eine curled on one of the padded benches, eyes closed and arms wrapped around herself. She¡¯d excused herself from dinner, iming she felt lightheaded. The staff had given her mint tea and let her rest.
She didn¡¯t see the warriors who paced the perimeter outside, nor the extra guards quietly added to every door and hallway leading to her room,
Beta and Marlow¡¯s hands curled into fists when they start moving in action.
Whoever had done this¡whoever had dared to hurt their Luna, would not live to see another dawn.
Know that their Alpha will be angry and kill her first.
Ìï
Still His 89
Back to Eine Point of View
Back at the estate. the tension was unbearable.
Every corridos pulsed with unease. The air was thick with whispers and silent nces. Healers moved with solemn expressions, guards stood like statues in every corner, and the staff barely spoke above a murmur. From the outside, it looked like the household was grieving
And in a way¡ it was
But the truth was carefully buried beneathyers of deception.
I sat curled on the velvet couch in our private chambers, a hemy wool nket draped over my shoulders even though I wasn¡¯t cold. My hair was damp from the cloth Audrey had pressed against my forehead earlier for appearances. Everything was for appearances now.
Across the room, Francesco stood rigidly at the tall window. His back was to me, his shoulders drawn tight. His hands were clenched at his sides, so tightly his knuckles had gone white, I knew he was furious. I could feel the storm radiating from him,
I didn¡¯t need to see his face to know what he was thinking
The same thing I had been thinking since that night.
Katrina had tried to kill me.
It still didn¡¯t feel real, even after all the evidence. The ss. The scent of wolfbane. The surfeince footage. The shift in her eyes when she handed me the drink
But it was real.
She had done it. She had smiled andughed with me, pretending to be my friend, all while hiding poison in her purse. And I, like a fool, had trusted her
I remembered the exact moment it happened. The way her hand lingered too long. The way her gaze flicked toward me¨Cnot with affection, but calction
That was when Mika stirred.
My woll, always alert, had growled inside me with sudden warning. Don¡¯t drink it. I had obeyed. I had faked it. Lifted the ss to my lips and pretended to sip, then tucked it away behind a velvet curtain when no one was looking.
Thad danced with them. Laughed with them. Pretended everything was fine.
But inside?
I was crumbling.
an artist
Katrina had been one of only three humans I allowed into my world. One of the few I had trusted¨Cthat I was just a university student or an
When I¡¯m with them I wasn¡¯t the Luna of the Italian pack
But she¡¯d tried to kill me.
Not by ident. Not in a moment of panic.
With intention.
She had
known exactly who I was
1/5
And that made it worse.
That made it treason.
That night, when the party ended, the halls emptied and everyone has return from our nan celebration, I couldn¡¯t keep the truth to myself any walked into the heater, Lina form¨Css still hidden in my bag and told her to check it fast.
Francesco aived minutester after I summoned him, and his expression when he saw me there with Line¨Carms crossed, cheeks torstained, heart bruised¨Cwas one I would never forget.
He listened.
Silently. Carefully
And when I had said all there was to say¨Chow Mika had warned me, how I had faked the sip, how Katrina had looked me in the eye and still gone through with it¡ªhe didn¡¯t speak
He just pulled me into his arms and held me.
Held me like I might shatter.
Then Francesco turned to Lira, his expression unreadable.
¡°Can you analyze what¡¯s inside that drink?¡± he asked, his voice low but firm.
Lira nodded immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll try. I may need a few hours, but if there¡¯s anything magical or chemical in it beyond wolfbane, I¡¯ll find n.¡±
I watched her leave with the ss carefully wrapped in cloth, a small pang of unease tugging at my stomach. My mind was still reeling, but I kept my posture steady I couldn¡¯t afford to appear shaken.
Momentster, I saw Francesco pause. His eyes zed slightly¨Che was receiving a mind¨Clink.
¡°Alfonso is summoning mo,¡± he said with a lifted brow. Then he turned to me. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±
I nodded without hesitation.
We walked through the corridors side by side, silent but connected, I could feel his protectiveness humming through the band, his emotions carefully held back so he wouldn¡¯t overwhelm me. My fingers tightened slightly around his as we approached the private strategy room tucked beneath the west wing of the estate¨Crarely used unless there was war on the horizon.
Beta Alfonso was already waiting inside. The thick, soundproof walls were lined with old maps, and an unused projection screen sat rolled up in theer. His arms were crossed, but as soon as he looked up and saw me walking in behind Francesco, his entire body tensed.
¡°Luna?¡± he asked, clearly startled, ¡°Are you¡ are you alright?¡±
The way he asked it made one thing painfully clear¨Che truly believed I had been poisoned.
¡°Why do you think I wouldn¡¯t be?¡± I asked, keeping my voice calm,
Alfonso hesitated, then exhaled. ¡°Forgive me, Luna, it¡¯s just¡ we found evidence. I thought¨CNn thought¨Cthat the poison had already affected you.
He quickly began recounting everything they had discovered. The scent of wolfbane. The broken ss. The small vial. Nn¡¯s susps. The CCTV footage. All of it. And how none of them could imagine the drink hadn¡¯t been consumed.
Francesco stood beside me in silence, still holding my hand. His silence was not indifference it was calction. I could almost hear his thoughts turnii behind his eyes, pieces clicking into ce.
When Alfonso finished, I turned toward my mate.
¡°Francesco?¡± I said gently. ¡°What are you thinking?¡±
He didn¡¯t speak right away, instead, he brought a hand to his chin, rubbing it in deep throgh
Alfonso blinked, confused. ¡°What do yo
1 you
mean, Alpha
Francesco tuned to face him more fully. ¡°Imean they whoever is behind this they summoned me here, you didn¡¯t know that the both of us were already aware of the poison
Alfonso¡¯s eyes widened as realization began to dawn
¡°That¡¯s true,¡± he said slowly. ¡°We assumed the attempt sorrended. That you, tona, were already affected
Francesco nodded. ¡°Exactly. So let them think that.¡±
There was a long pause.
Alfonso blinked, stunned. ¡°You mean¡ let the rumors continue
I spoke up, my voice steadier now. ¡°Yes. Spread the information. Let it be known that fue fallen ill after the celebration. That copsed shortly afterward. That the healers are doing everything they can, but I¡¯m not improving
Francesco¡¯s voice joined mine, lower and more lethal. ¡°Let them think they¡¯ve seeded it will draw them out. They¡¯ll be can
It clicked in Alfonso¡¯s expression. He straightened, his stance tightening with focus
The murmured. Then he bowed deeply. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll inform Marlow and Nn They! ordingly
I nodded. ¡°Audrey and Monica need to be told as well. Audrey is my personal guard, and Monica is my assigned nurse, if they
or guarding my room, it will look suspicious.
Francesco and Alfonso both nodded in agreement
¡°You can¡¯t be seen, amore,¡± Francesco said gently, brushing a hand through my hair. His voice softened only for me, protective and warm despite the danger we were facing
¡°I know,¡± said quietly. ¡°If we want this deception to work, I need to disappear from the public eye. Completely
For a moment, none of us
us spoke.
The weight of what we were about to do settled around us like fog.
We were faking my illness. Faking my copse. Faking my weakness¨Call to draw out the enemy
It was risky. But it might be the only way to make them slip up.
¡°You¡¯ll have to stay in the healer¡¯s wing.¡± Francesco said ¡°Under lock and spell. We¡¯ll limit who¡¯s allowed near you. Audrey and Monica will rotate shifts at your side. Lira will continue masking your scent.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll handle the outer perimeter,¡± Ansa added. ¡°Guards will act anxious. I make sure whispers reach our neutral allies even let some overhear
conversations.¡±
I nodded.
Then I turned to Francesco, a quiet thought grawing at my chest. ¡°Do you think Katrina was working with Luca
Francesco¡¯s
sjaw tightened. ¡°Yes, no human knows about us unless someone told her
Alfonso agreed. ¡°This was nned. Too precise. She had to have had guidance. I mean¡ She just human, how can she has that horrible things on her is a
big question
Francesco¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°Then let thermost
vink they can finish.
And I knew then this wasn¡¯t jou about surviving
It was about making
You don¡¯t touch. ma and walk away
it was a dangerous n.
But it was the only way.
So we let the be spread. That the Luna-|¨C|
had copsed shortly after th
That I was gravely ill. That no one except my mate and the h
Francesco yed the grieving, desperate Alpha perfectly. Audrey whispered carefully crafted stories to known gossips. The guards, who knows, concern Lira made sure no one could sense my presence by masking my scent with old herbs andyers of ancient concealment speils
naday.
And within a day, the rumor grew wings.
The Luna is dying
I stayed hidden deep beneath the estate. Only small people besides Francesco and the knew the truth Beta Alfonso, Marlow, Nn, Audrey, Monica Healer Lira and some of trusted warrior
Everyone else mourned.
I became a ghost in my own home.
All of it a performance. All of it¨Cbat.
Let the traitors think they had won.
Let them rx.
Let them crawl out of hiding
And then? IT
Let them bleed
Now, in the present, I looked at Francesco. He still hadn¡¯t moved from the window. The light from outside cast his silhouette in sharp golds and shadows.
¡°Thate this,¡± said softly
He turned at once and came to me, kneeling in front of the couch. His eyes met mine¨Cburning, but gentle,
¡°I know,¡± he murmured ¡°But you¡¯re strong. Stronger than they think. And this¡this gives us a chance¡±
I swallowed hard, my threat thick.
She smiled at me, Francesco,¡± I whispered. She handed me that drink whileughing Like we were still friends. How¨Chow could she?¡±
He didn¡¯t answer with words.
He took my hands in his¨Cwarm, steady, anchoring me in a sea of pain I hadn¡¯t dared in speak.
¡°She won¡¯t sndle again,¡± he said finally, his voice like thunder ready to break.
I didn¡¯t finch at the promise in his tone. I didn¡¯t stop him or beg him to be merciful.
Because I knew what this was.
She hadn¡¯t just betrayed me.
She had betrayed the pack. Betrayed the trust of our kind. Betrayed thews that bound un
She had attempted to assassinate the Lama.
There was no forgiveness
ess for that.
¡°I just want you to be careful,¡± whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t want them to hurt you, too.¡±
His jaw ticked, golden eyes darkening. ¡°Let them try¡±
And I knew¨Cit Katrina and whoever sent her dared to show their faces again, Francesco wouldn¡¯t hesitate
And this time¡ neither would 1.
A
Still His 90
Chapter 90
Third Party Point of view.
The Italian pack territory, and renowned for its peace and dignified strength, had never felt this uncertain. The golden morning light cast long, trembling shadows over the cobbled paths and sun¨Cdappled courtyards of the ancient estate. There was no serenity to be found in the air, only whispers and tension clinging like dew.
The sun had barely crested the hills when the pulse of unrest rippled through the vi. It began with whispers. Then running footsteps. Then frantic questions.
Healers stormed the infirmary wing like a hurricane trapped in stone walls. Medical tools ttered onto counters. Herbs were flung into boiling pots, wolfsbane antidotes measured and remixed, the stinging scent of blood and steel drifting into the hallway. Growls vibrated the floorboards¨Cwolves on
edge, straining for answers.
Because the Luna was sick.
Gravely so.
And no one knew what had caused it.
Or so they believed.
¡°She copsed after that night,¡± one young healer whispered to another, trembling as she pressed cool cloths onto Eine Rollin¡¯s forehead. ¡°I think¡ I
think it¡¯s her bond.¡±
¡°I thought she was stabilizing,¡± the other murmured back. ¡°Why now? Why this morning?¡±
No one could exin it. The bond between the Alpha and his mate was supposed to strengthen with time, not falter. Not fade.
But what they didn¡¯t know¨Cwhat they couldn¡¯t know¨Cwas that the sickness was a lie.
Carefully crafted. Painfully executed.
And entirely necessary.
Far beyond the estate, tucked in the brush and trees like a shadow east from the past, a figure crouched in silence. His hoodie clung to him, scent dampened with iron and eucalyptus, human in appearance, yet unmistakably wolf beneath.
Ken.
He watched the estate through slitted eyes, mouth curled into a smile that had no warmth. His fingers gripped the edge of his cracked phone, screen dim but still visible.
Katrina: She said she¡¯s unwell, that¡¯s it. I tried thanking her and asked if I could visit. She didn¡¯t t reply again..
Katrina. His mate. His tool.
She¡¯d yed her part better than he¡¯d expected, Befriending Eine. Earning her trust. Getting close enough to pass the potion during one of their night tea rituals.
And now, the results were everything he could¡¯ve hoped for.
Ken tapped out a cold, emotionless reply.
Ken: Good. That means it¡¯s working. Stay quiet.
Then, he stood.
1/4
11:18 Mon, 14 Jul
He didn¡¯t bother hiding the satisfaction in his expression as he turned away from the estate. Let the guards swarm. Let this ant¨¦es parka, mene al tema. suspected him. No one had seen him. And by the time they realized what was really happening, it would be far tote.
Because this wasn¡¯t just wolfsbane. This was something deeper. Mare insidious.
His rogue Alpha was known had been testing blends for yearsbinations of rare herbs, supernatural extracts, even diluted blond magie, mesot to weaken not just the body, but the spirit of a wolf. And now, thanks to that and Katrina¡¯s naivepliance, it had finally been delivered into the bloodstream of the most protected she wolf in Europe.
The Luna of the Italian Pack.
Eine Rollin.
The Alpha¡¯s fated mate.
A weak Luna meant a weak Alpha. And a weak Alpha left his entire territory exposed. Vulnerable.
It was everything the rogue packs had been waiting for.
As Ken melted into the woods, his steps quick and light, he didn¡¯t notice the silent figures shadowing him¨Cthree wolves in human form, moving like ghosts.
Francesco Totti, Alpha Lycan of the Italian territory, stood at the edge of the hill with two of his warriors and his ever¨Cwatchful Beta, Alfonso Their presence was masked¨Cnot by chance, but by design.
A design created by Eine herself.
¡°The hidden potion is sessful. He can¡¯t smell us,¡± Beta Alfonso mindlinked, tone grim.
Francesto didn¡¯t respond at first. His eyes were trained on Ken¡¯s retreating form. Rage simmered beneath his skin, barely contained. He could still taste the bitterness in the back of his throat¨Can echo of what could have happened had they not discovered the n in time.
He thought of Eine. Of her hands trembling as she worked side¨Cby¨Cside with Lira, their chief herbalist, to reverse¨Cengineer the potion Katrina had unwittingly introduced.
She had known something was wrong. Not because of how Mika, her wolf told her¨Cthose had been subtle¨Cbut because she could smell it too. And Eine, brilliant and quietly relentless, had followed that thread like a hunter to its prey.
Together, she and Lira had analyzed the residue in her drink. It hadn¡¯t taken long to realize the truth: a synthetic blend, masking as wolfsbane, specifically designed to break a mate bond from the inside out.
It was horrifying.
And brilliant.
And useful.
Francesco¡¯s n had formed within hours.
Instead of exposing the traitor, they would y along. Eine would pretend to be sick. Gravely sick. The estate would react. The guards would tight And the enemy, thinking themselves victorious, woulde close.
Close enough to catch.
Ken was their bait.
Francesco turned to Alfonso and nodded. ¡°Let him run. We follow. But not too close. He¡¯ll lead us straight to the others.¡±
¡°And the human?¡± asked Matteo, one of the warriors.
Alfonso¡¯s voice was calm. ¡°We watch her too. But do nothing yet. Luna wants to speak personally with her on their graduation day at the University
Francesco¡¯s jaw tightened at that. He had no care for the human girl. But he knew Eine did care because she¡¯s one of her friend. And that mattered.
They disappeared from the ridge like smoke, following Ken from a distance only a tycan pack could manage
Back at the estate, time ticked in double speed.
Einey on a cot in the infirmary, breathing steady but eyes closed. Her skin was pale, her scent dulled just enough to fool even trained noses. She looked fragile. Fading.
Audrey stood near her, arms crossed, fury coiled in her spine.
¡°She should be resting for real,¡± she muttered. ¡°She¡¯s barely slept in days.¡±
Lira stepped forward, adjusting one of the fake monitors on the side table. ¡°We have no choice. The potion was too strong. We need to check it fast-
¡°We have to move faster,¡± Eine¡¯s voice interrupted softly.
Audrey¡¯s head snapped to her. Eine¡¯s eyes were open, clear and sharp beneath the guise of sickness.
¡°We¡¯re running with the time, make sure that we¡¯re faster than the rogues¡±
Audrey¡¯s throat tightened. She stepped forward and ced a hand on Eine¡¯s arm.
¡°Graduation days is in a week,¡± Eine whispered. ¡°I want to face Katrina that day and I thought it was also the day the rogues will ambush us.¡±
The women exchanged a nce¨Cunspoken but fierce. They had no time for fear. Not now.
¡°Any word from Francesco?¡± Eine asked, pushing herself into a sitting position, despite Lira¡¯s protest.
Audrey hesitated.
Then nodded. ¡°He¡¯s following the rogue. Along with Alfonso. They won¡¯t engage. Not yet.¡±
Eine exhaled, rubbing her forehead, ¡°Ken won¡¯t stop with just me. He thinks he¡¯s smart¨Che¡¯s probably already reporting back to someone higher.¡±
¡°Luca?¡± Lira said, her voice like a curse.
Eine didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°If he gets even a hint that Francesco knows about the poison, he¡¯ll find a way to reverse it. Or worse, weaponize it.¡±
Audrey looked at her, eyes narrowing. ¡°So what¡¯s next?¡±
Eine turned toward the window where a soft breeze fluttered the white curtain,
¡°We make them keep think I¡¯m dying,¡± she said. ¡°And then we bury them in their own lies.¡±
Francesco returned just before midnight, slipping into the infirmary where Eine waited. The guards bowed in silence as he entered, expression
unreadable.
Eine sat up immediately. ¡°You saw him?¡±
Francesco nodded, pulling off his coat. ¡°He thinks he won and went to Luca.¡±
A faint smile curved her lips. ¡°Then the trap is working.¡±
He sat beside her, brushing her hair gently from her face. ¡°Yes, it was sessful.¡±
She exhaled. ¡°Then we can start phase, two.¡±
11:18 Mon, 14 Jul
Francesco¡¯s eyes burned with quiet fire. ¡°We let theme. We give them the taste of victory. And then¡¡±
Eine¡¯s fingers curled over his. ¡°We take everything back.¡±
He leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers, the warmth of their bond surging through the tension.
They were ready.
Still His 91
Graduation day had arrived.
1 stood before the tall mirror in my dorm room, trying to slow my breathing as I adjusted the neckline of my ivory dress. The soft fabric felt light against. my skin, but the weight inside my chest made every movement feel heavy. My fingers trembled¨Cnot from nerves over walking the stage, but from everything this day meant.
This wasn¡¯t just a celebration. It was a deadline.
A quiet sigh slipped past my lips as I studied my reflection. My long, curled hair had been carefully swept over one shoulder. My makeup was light¨Cmy eyes lined softly, cheeks brushed with a gentle flush. I looked like any other graduate¨Chopeful, aplished, radiant.
To the human world, I was exactly that. A sess story.
In my world I am a werewolf girl who had crossed species boundaries, integrated into human academia, and emerged triumphant. A symbol of progress and possibility.
But I knew better.
The mask I wore had been carefully constructed,yer byyer. Beneath it¡ was the truth.
Today wasn¡¯t just the end of an academic chapter.
It was the day the rogues nned to strike.
I could still see Francesco¡¯s face from thatst, tense meeting in his office¨Chis jaw clenched hard enough to crack teeth, storm¨Cgray eyes shing with fury. Audrey had been there too, her nails digging crescent moons into her palms. The reports were clear. The rogues had grown bolder, more reckless thinking their n was sess.
And the rumors they whispered through the underground had a name.
The ill Luna. The Alpha¡¯s weakness.
The girl who should¡¯ve died.
How ironic, I thought, pressing a hand to my chest as if I could contain the ache there. They didn¡¯t understand. What they thought was a weakness¡ had made me unbreakable.
My gaze drifted to the folded blue sash on my desk¨Cthe symbol of my academic achievement. I should have felt pride. And I did. But pride was tangled with something deeper. Something more fragile.
I hadn¡¯te to this university chasing dreams.
I hade here running; running from heartbreak. From rejection. From the broken bond that had shattered me.
Ruben¡ His name once burned like fire. Now, it barely stung¡ªa faint echo of the pain that had nearly destroyed me. He¡¯d chosen another. Power over. love. His future over our bond.
And I had chosen escape.
A ne ticket to Florence. Ast¨Cditch schrship application that shouldn¡¯t have worked. A trembling hope that maybe, just maybe, I could rebuild myself in a ce where no one knew my name,
It was Maria who had made that hope real. A quiet helper from my former pack, too clever for her own good, too kind to stay silent. She was the one who handed me the application. The one who told me, softly but firmly, that I was more than the rejection I¡¯d endured.
¡°You still have something inside you,¡± she¡¯d whispered. ¡°Don¡¯t let them bury it.¡±
Her words had be my anchor.
I hadn¡¯t realized it then, but leaving my homnd was the first choice I¡¯d made for myself in years.
And then came the museum.
It had started as an ident. A wrong turn. A hidden door.
And there she was.
An old, forgotten portrait. A woman cloaked in moonlight, sorrow etched in every brushstroke. Eyes that seemed to look right into mine.
Anastasia Totti.
I know who she was at the time and just want to paint her. I sketched her image from memory, painted her not with technique, but with instinct. Grief recognized grief, even across time.
She is thete mate of the Lycan Alpha. The ruler of Italy¡¯s
werewolf territories. The ghost that haunted his halls¨Cand his heart.
Onlyter did I learn how the Alpha react with it. Then¡ I met him.
Francesco Totti Lycaon.
The name alone carried weight. The most powerful werewolf in Italy. The Alpha Lycan whose strength made others bow, whose silencemanded entire rooms.
I¡¯d been terrified the first time I stood before him.
He was untouchable. Cold. Dangerous.
But week by week, my fear gave way to fascination. I began to see past the armor.
The grief in his silence.
The warmth in his gaze when he thought I wasn¡¯t looking.
The way he¡¯d linger in shadows, guarding me when I didn¡¯t even know I was in danger.
He never pushed. He simply¡ was. There.
Protecting. Watching. Waiting.
And somehow, quietly, I fell in love.
Not with the Alpha Lycan.
But with the man behind the title.
The man who called me ¡®mia amore¡® like it was a vow.
The man who left blue roses¨CAnastasia ros¨¦s¨Con/my birthday.
The man who held me beneath the moonlight and whispered nothing, only his presence, steady and real.
He was never meant to rece Ruben.
He was something else entirely. A second chance. A chosen mate.¡±
Footsteps approached behind me, light but sure. Before I could turn, warm arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into a solid, familiar chest.
I didn¡¯t need to look. I already knew.
¡°Francesco,¡± I whispered, a smile forming on my lips.
He met my eyes in the mirror his gaze soft, stripped of the Alpha¡¯s sharp edge. It was the way he only looked at me.
¡°What¡¯s in your mind, mia luce?¡± he asked,
I turned to him, wrapping my arms around
¡°Too much,¡± I admitted. ¡°Memories. Fea
voice low and rough, threaded with concern.
neck and pressing my forehead to
He hummed low and buried his face in my neck.
¡°You¡¯re so beautiful,¡± he whispered. ¡°You have no idea what you¡¯ve done to me.
I trembled at his words. He said them like I was sacred. Like I mattered.
his.
¡°I should be asking you the same thing,¡± I said, threading my fingers into his hair. ¡°You
ved
me,
Francesco.¡±
He shook his head, lips brushing my temple.
¡°No, amore. You saved me first.¡±
He leaned back slightly and nced toward the window where golden sunlight streamed in ¡°Are you ready?¡±
I hesitated, then whispered, ¡°Not just yet.¡±
He didn¡¯t push.
He just held me tighter.
And for a few precious moments, we stood still. Just us. The world outside could wait.
The amphitheater brimmed with life. Laughter and chatter echoed beneath the high archways. Sunlight glinted off polished chairs and camera lenses. Professors lined the front, smiling proudly. Rows of students filled the stage, dressed in gowns and caps¨Chuman and werewolf alike.
I walked tall, blue sash across my chest. Audrey strode beside m
step.
e me, the trained warrior in her hidden form, her lc dress softening the sharpness of her
¡°Smile a little,¡± she nudged with a grin. ¡°This is your moment. Let us handle the rest.¡±
+smiled faintly, touched by her protectiveness.
Then I saw them¨CMaria, Patricia and Louis, seated near the front, beaming. Monica sat beside them, her arm still in a sling, but her expression radiant.
And then¡ I saw her.
Katrina¡
She wasn¡¯t seated. She stood at the far edge, arms crossed, eyes locked on
met, I felt it.
Shock. Rage. Hatred.
Why didn¡¯t I see it before?
215
mine. She spoke with Jose and Ang casually, but the second our eyes
The girl I¡¯d called my friend. The girl who had tried to poison me.
Jose and Ang, unaware, waved excitedly and moved on¨Cleaving her alone.
Be patient, love, Francesco¡¯s voice drifted through the mind¨Clink, calm as a still sea.
He knew me.
He knew what I wanted to do.
But I breathed deeply and held my ground before I smiled at her¨Csmall, knowing.
She must have thought I¡¯d die. That her n had worked.
And yet¡ here I stood. Alive. Healthy. Whole.
¡°Kat, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Jose asked, frowning as Katrina stood frozen.
She didn¡¯t answer. Just stared at me.
And I knew¨Cshe knew.
The music began, and we took our positions. The ceremony began.
The next hour passed like a dream.
Names were called. Cheers rose. Professors beamed. Students grinned and posed.
And then¡ My name.
A hush.
Then thunderous apuse¡. Not just from my friends. But from others. Humans who hade to respect me and werewolves who had seen me rise as their Luna.
Professors who had once doubted me¡ªand now smiled with pride.
I walked the stage, heart racing. I shook hands. epted my certificate. And held back the tears that threatened to fall.
This wasn¡¯t just graduation.
It was proof¡. Proof that I had survived. That I had rebuilt myself.
That I was no one¡¯s weakness.
But as I returned to my seat, my smile faded slightly.
Because this wasn¡¯t over.
Not yet.
The rogues were here.
They believed I was poisoned, weakened. That would fall. That I would break Francesco by dying in his arms.
They were wrong.
I¡¯m still standing. And I¡¯m not alone.
11:19 Mon, 14 Ju
¡®There are many of them,¡® I mind¨Clinked, my thoughts steady and clear.
Francesco¡¯s answer came like thunder wrapped in silk. ¡®Let theme.¡®
And as the wind shifted through the open¨Cair amphitheater, I felt it.
The end of one chapter.
And the beginning of war.
Still His 92
The moment I saw her walk into the hall, a chill crept down my spine like frost biting into flesh. Katrina Powell. A name I once associated with harentes. empty chatter and overly sweet perfume. A girl who used to share coffee in the university lounge, who once lent me her umbre and ow terrible jokes.
But now¡
Now I see her for what she is¨Cor at least, what she¡¯s trying so hard not to reveal.
She hadn¡¯t seen me at first. Her posture was casual, her smile charming, rehearsed. But the second her eyes met mine across the grand auditorium, I saw
it¨Cthe flicker. Fear.
Real fear.
Her smile wavered, just for a heartbeat, before she looked away and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear like it would somehow hide her panic. I didn¡¯t look away. I couldn¡¯t. I kept my gaze locked on her like a predator waiting to strike, silent and still.
She looked¡ nervous. Not just stage¨Cfright nervous. This was something else. Something deeper. Guilt? Shock? Maybe both.
She had tried to kill me. I was sure of it now.
The n had failed. I had survived¨Cstronger, sharper, more aware than ever. And here she was, alive and breathing like she hadn¡¯t done anything wrong.
I clenched my jaw, feeling Mika stir beneath my skin. My wolf was restless, growling lowly inside me. Not in rage. In warning. This wasn¡¯t just a betrayal. This was a threat.
But what I couldn¡¯t understand¨Cwhat gnawed at me more than anything¨Cwas how.
How could a human like Katrina know who I was? What I was? Our kind was hidden from most of humanity. Shielded by ancient treaties and enforced silence. Only select humans¨Cthose in government, or bound by sacred oaths¨Cknew of our existence. And even then, their knowledge was limited. They were never given full ess to our world.
But Katrina¡ she had known enough to orchestrate an attempt on my life.
Why?
Audrey¡¯s voice echoed in my mind from our earlier discussion. ¡°Maybe she mated with someone in the rogues?¡±
At the time, it had seemed like a far stretch. Katrina, sweet, harmless Katrina? A rogue¡¯s mate?
But as I watched her now, standing stiffly near the stage, something clicked.
She wasn¡¯t harmless. She was dangerous.
And worse¨Cshe wasn¡¯t alone.
When they called her name, ¡°Katrina Powell,¡± her movements turned robotic, rehearsed like she had practiced for this moment a hundred times. She walked to the podium, trying to mask the tremor in her steps. But then¡ she did something she shouldn¡¯t have.
She waved.
At first, it seemed innocent. A simple wave toward the crowd. But I followed the direction of her hand.
And that¡¯s when I saw him.
In the back row, partially hidden by shadows and the gleam of the chandeliers, stood a man I recognized.
Chapter 92
My blood ran cold.
Scar on his left temple. Faded tattoo near his corbone. The same eyes that I had seen several time in Florence.
So, he was a rogue..
A killer.
I didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡®That man in the back,¡® I mind¨Clinked Francesco, my thoughts sharp and urgent. ¡®He¡¯s one of them.
There was a pause. Then his voice, calm andmanding: ¡®Rogues. A lot of them blend in with humans now. Hold on!¡¯
I swallowed hard and sat back into my chair, fists clenched tightly in myp to keep from shaking. The hall felt smaller now, the walls pressing in. The scent of polished wood and perfume couldn¡¯t mask the danger I sensed all around me.
They were here. Not just that man¨Cbut others too. Blending in. Watching.
Waiting.
A bold move. A public message. They wanted us to know they weren¡¯t afraid anymore.
They wanted a war.
I forced a smile onto my lips. It felt brittle. But I kept it there. I would not give them the satisfaction of seeing me rattle.
My eyes never left the rogue in the back.
Tik¡ tok¡
Tik¡ tok¡
Time slowed. Every word spoken on stage blurred in my ears. Every p, every cheer, every polite chuckle from the audience sounded distant. I could hear my own heartbeat, steady and hard.
I scanned the room again, focusing on the scents and energy around me. My senses, though dulled in human form, still picked up traces. Faint hints of blood, metal, sweat. Wolves disguised in human skin.
My gaze returned to Katrina.
She was speaking now, giving some speech about ¡°unity¡± and ¡°the beginning of future¡°. Her voice was steady, confident even. But her eyes¡ they kept darting in my direction. Like she couldn¡¯t believe I was still breathing.
She wanted me dead.
Why?
Suddenly, an image came to my mind¨Cher hand brushing against my arm months ago. The slight hesitation, the flicker in her eyes. She had known even then, hadn¡¯t she?
Did she hate me for being different? For hiding something from her? Or was this deeper? Personal?
A memory shed¨CKatrina arguing on the phone in the dorm hallway. I had thought it was just a fight with her boyfriend. But now¡
What if she wasn¡¯t just involved with a rogue?
What if she was bred for this?
A human spy? A handler? The rogues had been evolving¨Cadapting, recruiting, twisting the rules of engagement.
I felt cold.
¡®They must¡¯ve been called by Luca,¡® I whispered through the bond with Francesco. ¡°He¡¯s connected to this somehow. I can feel it?
¡®He¡¯s not here today. But I¡¯ve already sent warriors to quietly surround the building. We¡¯re ready?
Good.
Because something was going to happen today.
I could feel it in my bones.
My gaze wandered to the exits. Too few. Too narrow. Not enough space for a clean escape if things went south. There were too many humans here. Innocents. If the rogues decided to attack now¡
No. They wouldn¡¯t. Not yet. Not with so many witnesses.
They were waiting.
For what, I didn¡¯t know.
But I would be ready.
I slowly stood from my seat as the speech ended. Polite apuse echoed around the room. Katrina bowed slightly, eyes flicking toward me again.
This time, I smiled. A real one. Cold and knowing.
Her face paled.
She knew.
The game was over.
The reception afterward was a haze of handshakes and forced pleasantries. The mayor gave a short speech about interspecies cooperation. The dean o the university spoke about academic excellence and diversity. All around me, people smiled andughed,pletely unaware of the predators in their midst.
I stuck close to Audrey and Beta Alfonso, both dressed formally but alert. Their eyes scanned every movement, every breath.
¡°Three more in the west wing,¡± Audrey murmured under her breath. ¡°We confirmed. All rogue.¡±
¡°Another two near the catering table,¡± Alfonso added. ¡°One of them smells like silver.¡±
Francesco hadn¡¯t arrived yet. He wanted me here first. A test. A trap. We wanted to see how far the rogues would go.
I sipped my wine slowly, pretending to listen to the professor beside me drone on about art history and symbolism. My mind, however, was focused on
Katrina.
She hadn¡¯t left. She stood near the back, talking quietly to the same man I¡¯d identified earlier.
Their bodynguage told me everything I needed to know.
This was coordinated.
nned.
War wasing.
And I would be the spark that lit the re.
Chapter 92
Two hourster, the hall began to empty. The human guests started saying their goodbyes,ughing, unaware of the tension rippling beneath the
surface.
The rogues hadn¡¯t moved yet. But their eyes had followed
me all night.
I walked past Katrina one final time, close enough to see
the sweat forming on her temple.
¡°I know,¡± I whispered to her without stopping. ¡°And they will too.¡±
She froze.
That was all I needed.
¨C
By the time Francesco arrived, dressed in dark tailored formalwear, People stepped aside instinctively.
Me room had thinned. His power filled the space like a thunderstorm rolling ma
at
me from the shadows all night.
He looked at me once¨Cjust once¨Cand that was all I needed.
It was time.
I turned to the remaining rogues and locked eyes with the one who¡¯d stared
¡°Let¡¯s not do this here,¡± I said softly, my voice carrying. ¡°There are innocents.¡±
He didn¡¯t speak. Just smiled.
Francesco stepped forward, voice low and final. ¡°You¡¯ve been warned.¡±
The rogue chuckled. ¡°And you¡¯ve been found.¡±
That was the signal.
Chaos erupted.
3
Still His 93
Chapter 93
Ssh!!
Blood sprayed across the floor like dark crimson paint.
1 froze.
Everything around me stopped. Time, Breath. Sound. All of it vanished into a void of disbelief.
Katrina¡¯s eyes widened in shock before the light faded from them. Her lips parted, as if she wanted to say something, but nothing came out except a wet gurgle. Her body trembled once, twice¨Cthen copsed forward onto the rogue¡¯s w.
The rogue grinned. His long, jagged ws glistened red as he yanked his hand out of her chest, letting her lifeless body fall to the ground with a dull, final thud.
The world came crashing back in an instant.
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!¡±
A woman screamed¨Ca human. One of thest few who hadn¡¯t left the auditorium yet. Panic exploded in the room. Chairs ttered. People tried to run,
to hide, but the rogues moved fast. Too fast.
One lunged at the screaming woman-
SLASH!
He would¡¯ve killed her if Francesco hadn¡¯t intercepted, ws out, shing across the rogue¡¯s chest and sending him crashing into the far wall.
All around me, our warriors leapt into motion. Audrey¡¯s voice rang out,manding order. ¡°Protect the humans! Secure the exits! Move, move!¡±
Ang¡¯s broken sob behind me pierced deeper than the screams.
¡°Katrina¡?¡± she whispered. Her voice was trembling, shattered, confused.
Why was she still here? I thought in shock.
She should¡¯ve been escorted out with the rest. She wasn¡¯t a fighter, just another student¨CA bystander.
¡°Why?¡± I choked, my voice shaking as I stared at the rogue who had just murdered Katrina like she was nothing more than a rag doll. ¡°Why did you kill
her?¡±
The rogue tilted his head, his smile twisted and cold. ¡°Why so surprised?¡± he said mockingly. ¡°She wanted to kill you. I figured I¡¯d give you a hand.¡±
A cruel chuckle followed his words, as if my horror was his favorite joke.
¡°What¡? Kill¡?¡± Ang¡¯s broken voice cracked through the madness. She looked at me with wide, wet eyes, seeking answers¨Cseeking truth. ¡°Eines
What does he mean¡?¡±
She didn¡¯t get the chance to finish.
WHACK!
Audrey moved swiftly, hitting her on the back of the neck with a precise blow. Ang slumped into her arms, unconscious.
¡°Get her out of here!¡± Audrey barked. ¡°Secure the human witnesses. Now!¡±
Two of our pack warriors rushed to carry Ang to safety. I knew Audrey had done the right thing. The rogues would use any human left as a hostage of
Chapter 93
shield.
And Ang¡ didn¡¯t need to see what was about toe next.
I turned back toward the rogue. My heart pounded with rage. ¡°Coward.¡±
The word slipped from my mouth like venom.
Something shifted. His smirk faded, just slightly. Around him, the rogues stilled. Their eyes darkened.
Francesco stepped forward, his hand sliding into mine with a quiet strength. ¡°You use hurnans, then discard them when they fail?¡± he said, voice like thunder. ¡°My Luna is right. That¡¯s cowardice.¡±
The rogue sneered, uncaring. ¡°She failed. Means she wasn¡¯t useful anymore.¡±
How dare you¡
The thought didn¡¯t even have time to finish.
Mika.
Her fury red in my chest, like fire igniting from the core of my soul.
¡®Pets¡¡® she snarled in my mind. ¡®They treat them like pets. Kill them all. Punish the ones who murdered the innocent.
Something surged within me.
The energy. The power. It crackled through my bones like lightning. My eyes glowed white. My vision sharpened, and my skin felt too tight for my body.
¡°Eine¡?¡± Francesco¡¯s voice sounded distant, almost muffled, even though he was standing right beside me.
But he knew.
He felt it too.
The shift.
The change.
I growled. Low. Guttural.
And in the blink of an eye-
SNAP!
I shifted.
My body stretched and morphed into the form I hadn¡¯t used in weeks. A towering, elegant white wolf with glowing silver eyes. My paws hit the marble floor, ws digging into the stone.
Gasps echoed around the roorn. Even the rogues hesitated.
I saw fear in their eyes.
BANG!
A gunshot cracked through the air. I dodged instinctively, the bullet whizzing past my shoulder. It hit a column behind me, leaving a deep crater
They shot at me.
Chapter 93
They dared to shoot at me.
A furious roar followed.
¡°HOW DARE YOU TRY TO HARM MY MATE!!¡±
It was Francesco.
The ground shook beneath us as he transformed.
His Lycan form towered above everyone, nearly three meters tall, ck fur glistening with fury. His golden eyes glowed with deadly intent, fangs bared in unrelenting rage.
The moment he shifted-
All hell broke loose.
ws against ws.
Fangs against flesh.
Our warriors collided with the rogues in a storm of violence. Growls and snarls filled the air, echoing like thunder.
I leapt forward, aiming straight for the rogue who killed Katrina. He tried to run¨Ctoote. I mmed into him, my jaws locking around his shoulder.
CRACK!
Bone snapped as I tossed him aside like garbage.
Another rogue charged me. I spun, catching his throat in my jaws and tearing it open. He fell gurgling to the floor.
Francesco was a beast of destruction. Each of his blows sent enemies flying. He grabbed one rogue and smashed him against a wall so hard the ster cracked. Another rogue tried to nk him¨CFrancesco twisted, grabbed his leg, and ripped it off before tossing him aside like a rag doll.
The rogues were uncoordinated, wild. But we were trained. Precise.
Audrey led the nk team, her wolf form fast and agile, cutting down rogues like a de through water. Beta Alfonso roared orders as he fought, keeping our lines steady.
A rogue lunged at a human hiding behind a curtain. One of our wolves took him down before he reached her, pinning him until backup came.
I killed four rogues.
Francesco killed more.
The room became a bloodbath.
And still¡ we fought.
Then-
BOOM!
The floor shook.
BOM!!!
A blinding light exploded in the center of the room. A concussive st knocked me off my paws. Francesco was thrown into the side wall.
Inded hard on my ribs, pain blooming across my body.
Smoke. Fire, Crumbling stone.
My ears rang. I couldn¡¯t hear anything but the aftershock.
I forced myself to stand. My limbs trembled, muscles screaming. Blood dripped from a gash
on my nk.
Francesco groaned, struggling to rise. Audrey¡¯s form limped through the smoke, covered in ash and blood.
We were hurt. Shaken. But not broken.
Then I saw him.
Standing in the crater left by the bomb.
A figure, untouched by dust, calm andposed.
Luca.
His dark hair slicked back, eyes glowing faintly red with power.
His mouth curled into a cruel smile as he looked down on us.
¡°Impressive,¡± he said, his voice smooth and condescending. ¡°But you should¡¯ve stayed dead, Eine.¡±
I growled low in my throat. My vision wavered with pain, but my fury held me upright.
Francesco was beside me in seconds, shielding me with his massive Lycan form.
¡°Luca,¡± he spat. ¡°You¡¯ve gone too far.¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t even started,¡± Luca replied. ¡°That was just a warning.¡±
He raised one hand. Dozens of rogues appeared behind him, stepping out from the shadows, outnumbering us two to one.
Our warriors regrouped. Bloodied. Bruised. But not defeated.
I limped forward, still in wolf form, and stood beside Francesco.
Mika was growling deep inside me.
¡®He dies tonight. He hurts our people. He killed her. No mercy.
tnodded.
No more games.
No more hiding.
This¡ was war.
And I would lead it.
Still His 94
Chapter 94
Smoke curled into the night sky, thick with the stench of blood, ash, and broken promises. The stone floor beneath my paws was cracked and stained crimson. My body trembled from the explosion.
Pain sang through my ribs, my left hind leg throbbed, and Mika was struggling to stay upright inside me.
Yet I stood.
We stood.
All around me, our warriors were battered¨Cwounded but not giving in. Audrey was limping, her white fur singed. Alfonso had a deep gash down his side but was still guarding the injured. Francesco was next to me, his Lycan form bloodied, his golden eyes never leaving Luca¡¯s.
And Luca¡
He stood like a king iming his battlefield. Not a speck of dust on his ck coat. His arms behind his back, eyes glowing red with satisfaction.
¡°Look at you,¡± he sneered. ¡°Broken. Bleeding. This is the strength of the Lycan pack?¡±
Francesco growled low and dangerous. I could feel his fury humming in the air like a storm waiting to strike.
¡°I should kill you myself, Luca,¡± he snarled. ¡°But I don¡¯t think you¡¯re worth it.¡±
Luca¡¯s smirk didn¡¯t fade. ¡°You¡¯re not in a position to choose, Totti. Surrender, and maybe I leave your precious Luna alive-¡±
¡°Don¡¯t,¡± I said.
My voice was hoarse but steady, even in wolf form.
¡°Don¡¯t speak about me like I¡¯m a trophy or a gift you get to take home.¡±
His red gaze slid to me.
¡°And what will you do, little white wolf?¡± he mocked. ¡°You¡¯re bleeding. Barely standing. Your mate is exhausted. Your people are dying. The rogues will take thisnd, and we¡¯ll bury you beneath it.¡±
Behind him, dozens of rogues were gathering. Too many. Some shifted into partial wolf forms, ws gleaming, muscles tensed.
We were outnumbered. Outmatched.
This was the end.
Unless¡
Unless I made it not the end.
Mika stirred again, her energy flickering. Weak¡ but still there.
¡®They¡¯ll die,¡¯ she whispered in my mind. ¡®Francesco, Audrey and your other member¡ if he fights anymore in this form, his body might copse. They¡¯ll die unless you rise.¡®
¡®I can¡¯t¡¡®
¡®Yes, you can. We¡¯ve waited for this. You were born for this. Open the door, Eine
¡®What door?¡® I whispered.
¡®The one inside you. Let the Luna blood awaken¡®
The Luna blood.
My breath caught.
I remembered something¨Ca dream, or maybe it was a memory. My mother¡¯s voice, soft and distant, whispering a luby in anguage I didn¡¯t understand. Her hand on my forehead. Her tears the night she died.
¡°You¡¯ll be more than they¡¯ll ever understand, my love¡¡±
The world began to fade around me. The smoke thinned. The pain dulled. I closed my eyes.
And I opened the door.
The power didn¡¯t rush in like lightning.
It rose¨Cslowly, surely, like the sun lifting over the horizon. Gentle warmth filled my chest. Then light. Then fire.
My white fur began to glow faintly. First silver, then pale gold.
Francesco turned toward me, eyes widening.
¡°Eine¡?¡±
The rogues paused. Confused.
Luca narrowed his eyes. ¡°What are you doing?¡±
I opened mine.
They were glowing¨Cpure, blinding silver. My paws shimmered like starlight. My voice echoed through the clearing, not loud, but unstoppable.
¡°I am Luna¨Cborn. Daughter of the line they feared. Protector of bnce. Punisher of the fallen.¡±
The earth beneath me pulsed. The stone cracked.
BOOM!
A shockwave of golden light burst from my chest, washing over the battlefield. It didn¡¯t hurt my allies¨Cinstead, Audrey gasped as her wounds began to knit shut. Alfonso blinked, confusion on his face as he stood taller, strength returning.
Even Francesco breathed deeper, his golden eyes softening as he looked at me.
walked forward. One step. Then another.
The rogues backed away.
¡°Witch,¡± one of them hissed, ¡°She¡¯s a witch-¡±
¡°No.¡± My voice shook the air. ¡°I am Luna.¡±
I howled.
Not a rageful, painful howl¨Cbut a call. A song
The air shimmered.
The moon above the ruins broke through the clouds and bathed me in its silver light. My fur turned blinding white.
TUTU
Behind me, I heard our warriors howl back. A symphony.
A chorus.
And then¨Cbattle began again.¡±
I moved like wind. Like a spirit. I didn¡¯t run¨CI glided.
My ws shimmered with divine silver. My teeth glowed.
The first rogue who dared charge me didn¡¯t even scream. One touch¨Cone w across his chest¨Cand his body convulsed, wrapped in radiant light, and then turned to ash.
Another tried to nk me. I turned, roared, and my voice sent him flying backward.
I was faster than I had ever been. Stronger. More in control.
This wasn¡¯t just Mika.
This was something ancient. Luna magic.
Behind me, Francesco fought like the Lycan king he was. The rogues couldn¡¯t touch him anymore. His body was healed. His blows hit harder. He protected our warriors with new fury.
¡°She¡¯s feeding us!¡± Audrey shouted. ¡°The Luna¡ she¡¯s giving us her strength!!¡±
And I was.
Because I could feel them. All of them.
Their pain. Their hope. Their courage.
And I gave it back, tenfold.
The rogues began to retreat.
Toote.
Francesco ripped one in half.
Audrey and Alfonso took down another pair, moving with unnatural coordination.
Even the youngest warriors fought like seasoned champions.
We drove them back. Inch by inch.
Luca¡¯s smug expression was gone.
His jaw clenched.
His red eyes narrowed.
And then¨Che screamed.
¡°ENOUGH!!¡±
He pulled something from his coat. A small, dark object¨Cround and mechanical.
My eyes widened.
A second bomb.
NO! Iran.
He threw it.
BOOM!!!!
It detonated midair. A sh of purple¨Cck fire.
The explosion was magical¨Cenchanted. I felt it in my bones. The force mmed into us like a hammer, throwing us backward.
I hit the ground hard, my body skidding across broken stone. Pain bloomed again. My magic flickered.
Francesconded near me, blood on his lips. Audrey was motionless for a moment before groaning, moving slowly.
The smoke swirled again.
And through it-
Luca stood.
Unburned. Smiling again.
¡°Beautiful,¡± he said softly. ¡°Now I see it. You¡¯re the real threat, Eine. You¡¯re not just a Luna, You¡¯re the Luna.¡±
He looked down at me like a collector admiring his prize.
¡°Good,¡± he whispered. ¡°I love a good challenge.¡±
My body trembled.
But my eyes¨Cmy heart¨Cmy soul¨Cwere not broken.
I rose slowly. Francesco took my hand. Our warriors gathered again. Wounded, yes. But still standing.
Still alive.
Luca stepped back into the shadows.
¡°This isn¡¯t over,¡± he called out, voice fading. ¡°The real game starts now.¡±
And he was gone.
Silence fell.
Only our breathing remained.
And the moon above. Watching. Guiding.
I shifted back into my human form. My clothes were tattered, my skin bruised, but I was whole.
Francesco came to me, pulling me into his arms/His breath was ragged, his grip tight.
¡°You saved us,¡± he whispered. ¡°You saved all of us, Eine.¡±
¡°No,¡± I said softly, resting my forehead against his chest. ¡°We saved each other.¡±
But deep inside¡ I knew.
This wasn¡¯t the end.
G
It was only the beginning.
The war had started.
But now, I was no longer just a white wolf.
I was their Luna.
And I would burn the world before I let anyone take my family again.
Still His 95
Chapter 95
The night hung heavy in the aftermath of battle.
The fires had been extinguished. The smoke had thinned. The echoes of growls and howls faded, reced by quiet breathing, by pain, by relief.
And loss.
I stood barefoot on the ruined stone, dust and dried blood covering my skin. My muscles ached, my body sore and drained from the power I had unleashed.
But I was still standing.
We all were.
The rogues were gone¨Cscattered or dead.
And Luca¡ had vanished into the shadows.
Yet this wasn¡¯t victory. Not truly. Not yet.
¡°Eine!¡±
428
Audrey rushed toward me, limping slightly, blood streaked on her shoulder. But her eyes were alive, bright with disbelief and something more¨Cawe.
¡°You did it,¡± she breathed. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you did, but¨Cgoddess, El¨Cyou were glowing. I felt it. We all felt it. You saved us.¡±
I shook my head. ¡°We saved each other. If you hadn¡¯t acted so fast¨Cif Francesco hadn¡¯t-¡±
¡°Don¡¯t downy it,¡± she said firmly. Then, softer, ¡°You¡¯ve changed. And so has everything else.¡±
Before I could answer, I felt a gentle pulse in the air.
Magic.
Warm, ancient, and floral.
I turned, and there she was.
pay
Lira.
The pack¡¯s healer and our only known true magic user¨Can old soul with long braids streaked with silver and a gaze that always looked too far ahead
She moved slowly through the rubble, wearing robes of palevender, her hands glowing with the soft green hue of healing energy.
In her other hand: a small leather pouch, filled with delicate ss vials.
¡°Lira,¡± Francesco called, walking toward her in human form, his shirt torn and blood¨Cstained. ¡°Are the humans¡?¡±
She nodded. ¡°Safe. Most are unconscious. I ced them under a mild spell for now to keep their minds quiet.¡±
Lira walked to us and opened the pouch, revealing small vials filled with shimmering blue liquid.
¡°This,¡± she said, lifting one, ¡°is a memory wash. They¡¯ll believe it was a powerful earthquake. A natural disaster. The kind that strikes and leaves only confusion in its wake.¡±
My chest ached with a strange, bittersweet relief.
1/3
¡°Will they remember anything?¡± I asked softly.
She looked at me with old, kind eyes. ¡°Maybe a few shes. A strange light. A howl in the dark. But nothing more.¡±
Good.
They didn¡¯t need the burden of this world. Not tonight. Not ever.
Francesco sent a few of our younger wolves to distribute the vials to those still breathing.
Within minutes, the auditorium was quiet once more¨Cjust the murmur of healing, the rustle of movement, the slowing down from a storm.
I walked among the wounded.
Our warriors¨Cour family.
Alfonso had three cracked ribs and a torn shoulder, but when he saw me, he straightened with visible effort.
¡°My Luna,¡± he said softly, bowing his head.
My breath caught.
The first time he¡¯d said it. Truly said it with respect and proud.
I nodded, unsure what to say, until he added, ¡°We thought we were lost. And then¡ I saw ypu. Shining like a star. You¡¯re not just his Luna. You¡¯re ours.¡±
He touched his heart, and for the first time, I truly felt the weight of it¨Cwhat it meant to be theirs.
Not a title.
A promise.
One by one, others bowed their heads. Some touched their hearts. Some whispered my name like a prayer.
I didn¡¯t need them to worship me. But I would die to protect them.
Later that night, after the wounded were stabilized and the humans escorted away safely, I found myself standing alone beneath the moon.
The ruins of the auditorium around us still whispered with ghosts of fire and magic.
But the stars above were clear.
And behind me¡ I felt him.
¡°Eine.¡±
Francesco¡¯s voice, low and tired but full of affection.
I turned.
He was still bruised, a cut beneath his eye, but otherwise healed. His shirt was gone, reced by a jacket, open and loose. His dark hair was mussed, his eyes glowing faintly gold in the moonlight.
He looked like a warrior.
But when he looked at me¨Che softened.
Like I was the only thing in the world that made sense.
2/3
20:26 Tue, 15 Jul
¡°Are you alright?¡± he asked.
I nodded, then shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I feel¡ everything. So much pain. But also¡ I¡¯ve never felt so alive.¡±
He stepped closer. ¡°I saw you change.¡±
I looked down. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. Not really. It was something older. Something deeper. Mika and I¨Cwe¡ became one. For the first time.¡±
2.38%
28
Francesco gently cupped my face, brushing his thumb along my jaw. ¡°You were magnificent,¡± he whispered. ¡°When you howled, I felt it in my bones. You woke something in all of us.¡±
I leaned into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed. ¡°I thought we might die tonight.¡±
¡°So did I.¡±
He kissed my forehead, then leaned down until our brows pressed together.
¡°But we didn¡¯t,¡± he whispered. ¡°You¡¯re here. I¡¯m here. That¡¯s enough for now.¡±
Tears pricked at my eyes. I wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my face to his chest. He held me close, strong and safe.
For a long time, we didn¡¯t speak.
We just stood beneath the moon, holding each other as if we were thest two souls on Earth.
After what felt like an eternity, he tilted my chin up and kissed me.
Slow. Tender. Real.
The kind of kiss that doesn¡¯t ask for anything¨Cjust gives.
When we finally pulled apart, he whispered, ¡°We still have battles ahead. But tonight, we survived. You survived.¡±
¡°And so did you,¡± I said, resting my hand over his heart.
He smiled softly. ¡°I¡¯ll always find a way back to you.¡±
My heart swelled.
In this broken, bleeding world¨Che was my peace.
And I¡ I would be the strength that held us all together.
AD
Comment
Still His 96
Chapter 96
38%
+287
I slept longer than I expected. The warmfort of the bed, the soft silk sheets, and the lingering scent of pine and cedar¨Chis scent¨Cwrapped me in a cocoon of safety I hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. No nightmares. No voices. No panic. Just sleep. Deep, uninterrupted sleep.
When my eyes finally fluttered open, the golden hue of sunlight streamed in through the tall windows. I blinked a few times before ncing at the ornate clock on the wall.
2:03 PM.
¡°What?!¡± I gasped, jolting upright.
As if on cue, the chamber door swung open and three familiar faces burst inside. Audrey, Monica, and Mar¨ªa greeted me with wide grins.
¡°Finally, our Luna has awakened,¡± Audrey teased, a yful twinkle in her eye. Monica and Mar¨ªa giggled behind her.
I groaned, running a hand through my tangled hair. ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone wake me? I¡¯m so ashamed¡ It¡¯s past two!¡±
Monica approached first, cing a gentle hand on my forehead. ¡°You needed the rest after everything that happened. No fever, that¡¯s good.¡±
Maria nodded in agreement. ¡°After what you¡¯ve done for us, Luna, the least we could give you is time to rest.¡±
Their words warmed my heart. I smiled gratefully. ¡°Thank you. Truly.¡±
The three of them smiled back, then stepped aside to let me rise. As I stood, I noticed faint sounds drifting up from below. At first muffled, but now that my chamber door was open, I heard them clearly: voices,ughter, clinking silverware, distant footsteps.
¡°What¡¯s going on outside?¡± I asked, walking to the bathroom to freshen up.
Audrey leaned against the doorframe with a mischievous grin. ¡°Just go down and see for yourself, Luna.¡±
Her tone made me suspicious, but curiosity got the better of me.
Half an hourter, after brushing my hair and slipping into a soft emerald dress Maria hadid out, I made my way down the grand staircase. The moment my feet touched the marble floor of the main hall, my eyes widened.
A long dining table¨Cno, banquet table¨Cstretched from one end of the grand hall to the other. Decorated with pristine white linens, intricate silver cutlery, and vibrant wildflowers in ss vases. tes of untouched food steamed gently on every side.
Dozens of pack members sat quietly, all turning their heads toward me the moment I stepped into view.
¡°What¡¡± I murmured, stopping in my tracks.
Audrey, right behind me, smiled and gestured forward. ¡°Go on.¡±
Then Francesco stood up from the head of the table. Beside him were Beta Alfonso, Marlow the head warrior, Joshua, and two other high¨Cranking pack leaders. My mate approached me first, his presencemanding yet warm. He reached for my back, wrapping his strong arms around me.
¡°Wee, Luna,¡± Alfonso greeted, bowing his head respectfully.
Francesco leaned down, his breath brushing my ear. ¡°The pack wants to show their gratitude to you, amore.¡±
I blinked in confusion, my heart pounding as I looked around.
¡°Gratitude? For what?¡±
Alfonso stepped forward. ¡°This was the warriors¡® and the pack¡¯s idea, Luna.¡±
1/3
20:26 Tue, 15 Jul
Marlow nodded. ¡°We realized we never weed you properly. So today¡¡± He spread his arm toward the feast and the people standing to attention behind him. ¡°This is our way to honor and thank you for your bravery, your heart, and your strength.¡±
Joshua stepped closer too. ¡°You fought with us. You saved many. And for that, we are proud to call you our Luna.¡±
Then, as if rehearsed, every single person in the hall rose from their seat, bowed their head, and said in one united voice:
¡°Grazie, Luna.¡±
I froze.
My hands trembled. My heart swelled. No one had ever shown me this kind of respect, this kind of love. Not even in my own pack. And now, here they stood¨Cnot just as strangers, but as my people.
I couldn¡¯t stop the tears that spilled from my eyes.
Francesco tightened his arms around me, pressing a gentle kiss to my temple. ¡°You deserve this, amore.¡±
I stepped forward, lifting my chin despite the tears.
¡°You are all my pack,¡± I said, voice trembling. ¡°It is my honor to be your Luna.¡±
A loud cheer erupted, echoing through the hall, and finally¡ the feast began.
I sat beside Francesco at the head of the table, in awe of how quickly and beautifully everything had been prepared. Maria personally brought over te after te of food¨Croastedmb with rosemary, creamy mushroom risotto, fresh¨Cbaked bread with garlic butter, sweet tomato and basil sd, and a of it, I¡ I had stood with them.
As the feast continued, warriors stood and offered toasts.
Marlow raised his goblet. ¡°To our Luna, who did not hesitate to stand at our side.¡±
Alfonso followed. ¡°To the strength of a true leader, not just in power but in heart.¡±
Even the young warrior Matteo, barely twenty, stood with his arm still bandaged from the battle. ¡°To the Luna who protected us all.¡±
More cheers.
Maria then surprised me by bringing out a cakeyers of dark chocte and raspberries, topped with cream and white roses. A gift from the kitchen staff.
Francesco leaned to me and whispered, ¡°They said they didn¡¯t want to wait for your birthday to celebrate you.¡±
Iughed softly. My chest ached from how full my heart felt.
213
20.20
???
38%
After dessert, the tables were cleared from the middle of the hall and music began to y¨Ctraditional Italian folk melodies at first, then a gentle instrumental tune that filled the air with warmth.
¡°Dance with me,¡± Francesco said, holding out his hand.
I smiled shyly, cing my fingers in his.
He led me to the center of the hall, and as we moved together in rhythm, I noticed the other couples joining. Monica with Matteo Maria dancing with shockingly, Lucio. Audrey even coaxed Alfonso into a stiff but sweet sway, which make me and everyone chuckle in amusement.
Francesco gazed into my eyes, his voice low. ¡°You stood before the pack not just as a Luna, but as someone who carries their pain and joy equally¡±
¡°I was terrified,¡± I admitted.
¡°And yet you still moved forward. That is what makes a Luna.¡±
My head rested against his chest, the steady beat of his heart calming my nerves.
The music yed. Theughter echoed. And for a moment, the horrors of the past weeks melted away, reced by a newfound hope.
Later that evening, Francesco led me to the balcony overlooking the courtyard. The moon had begun to rise, casting its silvery glow across the packnds. Fires were lit below, children roasting marshmallows and elders sharing stories.
¡°This¡ is beautiful,¡± I whispered.
¡°You gave them something they had nearly lost,¡± Francesco said. ¡°Unity. Strength. Faith.¡±
We stood in silence for a moment.
Then he turned to me. ¡°They say you awakened something in me, Eine. That your presence has changed me.¡±
I looked up into his eyes. ¡°And what do you say?¡±
He brushed his knuckles along my cheek. ¡°I say¡ I finally found the piece I never knew I was missing, with Anastasia, I never like this.¡±
My breath caught.
And in that quiet moment, with the stars above and the pack celebrating below, I allowed myself to believe¨Cthat maybe my power isn¡¯t bad, that having magic and white wolf is a blessed.
Still His 97
Chapter 97
The stories of me spread faster than any messenger could run..
They weren¡¯t just stories anymore. They were legends passed between lips in hushed awe, repeated in every corner of the territory¨Cfrom the training grounds to the nursery, to the markets and the campfires. Children whispered them like bedtime tales, and elders spoke of me with reverence reserved for ancient prophecies.
The White Wolf with glowing fur.
The howl that healed wounded warriors.
The Luna who could bend magic to her will.
They said my name with pride. With love. With loyalty.
I wasn¡¯t just a Luna anymore.
I had be something more.
A few days had passed since the battle. The scent of ash still clung to the wind in ces, despite the rain that had tried to wash the past away. The ruins of the human university auditorium, where it had all happened, were still being cleared. Rubble by rubble. Brick by broken brick. Reconstruction had begun, but between each hammer strike and broom sweep, whispers filled the silence like wind weaving through trees.
I walked slowly through the healing grounds, my hand tucked safely in Francesco¡¯s. The path beneath our feet was muddy, softened by the drizzlest night, and I could still hear distant construction sounds from the city walls. But all of it felt like background noisepared to what stirred inside me.
¡°I haven¡¯t heard anything from Ang or Jose,¡± I said quietly, watching two nurse wolves carry fresh bandages across the corridor. ¡°Last I heard, they returned to their parents¡® home. Lira made them believe it was just an earthquake, and¡ I¡¯m d. I¡¯m d they¡¯re okay.¡±
Francesco nced at me. ¡°Lira is clever. Too clever sometimes.¡±
I nodded absently. ¡°Sometimes I wonder what they¡¯d say if they knew the truth. That I¡¯m not just some foreign student but a she¨Cwolf¨Cno, a White Wolf -with magic.¡± I gave a faintugh. ¡°They¡¯d probably run screaming.¡±
¡°No,¡± Francesco said with a soft growl. ¡°They¡¯d kneel.¡±
I smiled faintly at that, but my heart was elsewhere.
Katrina.
Her name returned like a shard of ss beneath my ribs, cutting deeper each time I tried to forget. The only human friend I had trusted before Ang. A girl who smiled with me,ughed with me, shared pastries after ss. And then-
The betrayal. The poison. The lies told to her by rogues hiding in shadows.
And finally¡ her death.
Killed by the same rogues she trusted.
I sighed, closing my eyes for a moment, it was sad. No, it was painful. Not because I missed her¨Ctruth be told, I didn¡¯t know if I did. But because her story ended with her still believing the wrong thing. Still thinking I was the monster.
But life moves on.
It must.
I lifted my head as we reached the temporary infirmary inside our northern territory. The scent of herbs and blood still lingered, but it was less sharp,
20:26 Tue, 15 Jul
now. Fewer groans filled the air. Warriors were healing. Some already returned to training. Some, though¡ some would never return.
The moment I stepped through the doorway, all conversation stopped.
Heads turned. Eyes widened. Murmurs followed like waves.
¡°My Luna,¡± someone whispered.
The next moment, a young warrior¨Cbarely more than eighteen¨Cstepped forward with bandages still wrapped around his ribs. His amber eyes welled with tears as he reached out, his fingers trembling.
He touched my hand with the gentleness of someone touching a sacred relic. ¡°You saved me,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°You healed me. I¡ I heard your howt and I could feel my pain melt away.¡±
I blinked rapidly, throat tight.
One by one, the others began to gather. Warriors. Nurses. Elders. They bowed¨Cnot just their heads but their hearts. Some touched my hands, others simply whispered thank you over and over.
It overwhelmed me. The reverence. The quiet devotion. The love.
I wasn¡¯t used to this. I never expected this.
I turned to Francesco, who stood beside me silently, his broad frame a wall of strength and silent pride. He didn¡¯t speak. He didn¡¯t need to. His eyes told me everything. He saw them honor me, and his heart swelled with it.
¥Á¥ã©`
¡°They treat me differently now,¡± I whispered to him once we stepped outside again. ¡°They look at me like I¡¯m something divine. Not just a Luna.¡±
Francesco chuckled low in his throat. ¡°Because you are.¡±
I shook my head. ¡°No. I¡¯m still Eine. I still doubt myself. Still cry when no one¡¯s looking. Still wake up from nightmares.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what makes you their Luna,¡± he said. ¡°Not the magic. Not the glowing fur. Not even the howl. But your heart.¡±
I didn¡¯t know what to say to that.
But not everything was bathed in light.
As always, the brighter one glows, the more the shadows want to snuff it out.
The Council had sent a letter regarding me. Francesco received it this morning.
I remembered the way he scoffed, nearly tearing the envelope in half before even finishing it.
¡°They move fast,¡± he muttered darkly. ¡°Faster than they ever did when rogues attacked our borders or when treaties were threatened. But the moment they hear the Luna has awakened magic¡ they send threats disguised as concern.¡±
He handed the letter to me, and I read it slowly. Each word carefully chosen, each sentence dripping with veiled fear and barely restrained authority.
¡°Your mate¡¯s sudden awakening of ancestral power must be reviewed.¡±
¡°Magic, even of natural origin, is still under Council scrutiny.¡±
¡°White Moon myth or not, unchecked magic is a threat to the stability of our kind.¡±
My grip tightened on the parchment.
I remembered thest time they came.
D
38%B
+28
Months ago.
The youngest among them, Alpha Malek, had looked at me with sharp, calcting eyes. His voice was cold, emotionless.
¡°You are dangerous,¡± he said, without hatred. Just fact. ¡°A Luna with magic is an unknown. Unknowns disrupt bnce. What happens if you lose control?¡±
And Elder Marsen¡ his words were heavier,ced with ancient fear. ¡°Magic is forbidden for a reason. The White Moon is a legend. There is no way a creature of light exists within a witch.¡±
Witch.
His word hurting more to me.
Now, after seeing what I had done¨Chow I had healed, how I had protected my pack¨CI wondered what they thought of me now.
Were they afraid?
Were they nning something?
Francesco saw the questions in my eyes.
He reached out, his hand strong and steady as he cupped my cheek. ¡°No Council. No rogue. No fear. Nothing will take you away from me, Eine.¡±
There was such raw conviction in his voice that my knees nearly buckled.
His forehead pressed against mine, his voice softer now. ¡°We¡¯ll face them together. Always.¡®
A small smile curved my lips as I nodded. ¡°Together.¡±
The days that followed were full of preparations.
Not for war. But for diplomacy.
Francesco called his Beta, Alfonso, and Gamma Mateo into our strategy room. We sat for hours, going overws, magic records, ancient scrolls. We consulted our elders and even some witches from the neutral covens. If the Council wanted to challenge my ce beside Francesco, they would find not just power¡ªbut knowledge¨Cwaiting for them.
I trained harder, too.
Not with ws. With my heart. My mind. My magic.
Lira helped me, guiding me in control, in bnce. My wolf Mika was more present than ever, her voice clear, her strength feeding mine.
¡°You are not just born of magic,¡± Mika whispered one night under the full moon. ¡°You are magic.¡±
The pack, meanwhile, continued to heal¨Cand thrive. They began to embrace the idea that magic wasn¡¯t a curse. That perhaps, the legends of the White Moon weren¡¯t just fairy tales but prophecies long overdue.
They followed me not because they feared me¨Cbut because they believed in me.
And I¡
I was learning to believe in myself.
One evening, I stood atop the watchtower overlooking the valley below. The wind tugged at my hair, and moonlight bathed the trees in silver. Francesco stood behind me, arms wrapped around my waist.
¡°They¡¯ll soon,¡± he murmured. ¡°The Council.
20:27 Tue, 15 Jul OR
¡°I know.¡±
¡°And when they do?¡±
I tilted my head, resting against his chest.
¡°Then I¡¯ll show them that the White Moon still shines,¡± I said softly. ¡°And she stands with her Alpha¨Cnot above him. Not below. But beside him.¡±
Francesco smiled against my temple.
And in that moment, I realized:
No matter what darkness tried to rise¡
No matter what fear whispered in the corners of the world¡
As long as we stood together,
There was nothing we could not face.
Still His 98
Chapter 98
Francesco¡¯s Point of View:
Another letter came without ceremony. A pale parchment bearing the seal of the High Council, delivered not by emissaries but by a crow. That alone told me everything I needed to know.
They weren¡¯t visiting.
They were summoning.
My grip tightened as I read the carefully chosen wordsnguage veiled in courtesy, but steeped in authority.
Luna Eine is hereby summoned to the High Council Chambers to rify the recent manifestations of ancestral power observed during the incident at the Florence university grounds.
No offer to meet. No request for dialogue.
Just amand.
My mate was being called as if she were a problem to be fixed.
¡°They must be nning something,¡± Alfonso said from beside me, voice low and watchful.
I didn¡¯t answer yet. My eyes remained on the letter, but my mind had already gone further. I could see their faces¨CMalek¡¯s cold disdain, Marsen¡¯s tired suspicion, Roderic¡¯s concealed fear. I knew them too well.
¡°They forget who you are, my Alpha,¡± Marlow added, stepping forward. His arms were crossed over his chest, expression unreadable.
Alfonso nodded in agreement. ¡°They truly fear the power you hold now. Not just as thest Lycan Alpha, but with Eine as your Luna¡ the White Wolf, and magic¨Cborn. It¡¯s more than they ever expected.¡±
¡°They fear what they cannot control,¡± I murmured, finally lowering the letter.
It had been too long since I reminded them of who I was.
After Anastasia¡¯s death, I stepped back. I let Alfonso take over most council dealings. I had no heart for politics, no patience for old men clinging to dustyws. I turned inward. I fought quietly in the shadows. I rebuilt what was broken.
They mistook that silence for submission.
They forgot that I am not a ruler because of titles or traditions.
Jam the Lycan Alpha.
And Lycans do not kneel.
I moved to the wide window of my study. Outside, the summer sun poured across the gardens, bathing the wildflowers in gold. And in the midd! -her.
Eine.
She was sitting on the grass, her hair gleaming in the light as two children chased her with flower crowns in their hands. Sheughed, real and unburdened, even as a woman nearby scolded the children gently for tugging too hard. The sound of her joy drifted up to me, unfiltered and bright.
That smile¡ it had taken months to nurture.
That peace¡ it had cost us everything.
And I would let no one¨Cno one¨Ctake it from her.
¡°It¡¯s time I reminded them,¡± I said quietly, still watching her. ¡°Time they remembered who I truly and
I turned to my men. They didn¡¯t hesitate.
Their heads dipped in unified loyalty.
¡°Tell the Council,¡± I said to Alfonso. ¡°We wille tomorrow.¡±
The Beta nodded. ¡°Understood, Alpha.¡±
My gaze shifted back to the garden.
Let them prepare their chamber, their tests, their traps.
If they wanted to question my Luna, then they would first answer to me.
The journey to the High Council took a night and a half, riding through mountain passes under a waning moon, escorted by my finest warriors. Eine remained quiet most of the way, watching the trees slip past the window of our vehicle, her hands folded over herp.
When she finally spoke, her voice was calm.
¡°I¡¯m not afraid of them.¡±
I looked at her, proud. ¡°I never thought you were.¡±
She turned her head slightly. ¡°But they want me to be.¡±
I reached over andced my fingers through hers.
¡°They want you uncertain, because they¡¯re already afraid.¡±
She didn¡¯t reply after that. She leaned her head against the window, but she never truly rested.
Her magic stirred beneath the surface now like it breathed with her a presence, no longer dormant. Controlled, not suppressed. Her wolf, Mika, had grown stronger too. The two had be one heartbeat inside her.
When we finally arrived at the gates of the Council¡¯s domain, the guards said nothing. No greeting. No formality. Just opened the towering iron gates with nk expressions and let us pass.
Their insult did not go unnoticed.
They weren¡¯t just summoning a Luna.
They were challenging a bond.
The Council Chamber was colder than I remembered. It stood like a relic from another age, carved from ancient ck stone veined won silver. Seven thrones stood in a crescent on a raised tform, each one marked with the crest of an elder pack or house.
None of them rose as we entered.
They meant to diminish us with silence.
But Eine walked beside me with her head high, her every step filled with quiet dignity. No fear. No shrinking. If anything, her presence seemed to make the stone walls crackle faintly, as if her very magic couldn¡¯t be dimmed in their presence.
214
€
We came to a stop before them.
¡°Alpha Francesco Totti,¡± said Marsen, the oldest of the council, voice rasping like dry parchment. ¡°And your Luna.¡±
¡°She has a name,¡± I said tly. ¡°Eine Rollin.¡±
A few exchanged nces, and I saw a muscle twitch in Malek¡¯s jaw.
¡°Luna Eine,¡± Marsen corrected, tone dripping with forced civility. ¡°You¡¯ve been summoned to rify several¡ rming reports.¡±
rming.
That word again.
As if healing the wounded and protecting their people were acts of terror.
¡°You¡¯ve disyed powers thought to be either extinct or myth,¡± Malek said, cutting to the point. ¡°Magic, Wolf¨Clight. A howl that heals.¡±
¡°I did what I had to,¡± Eine said. Her voice didn¡¯t tremble. ¡°My pack was under attack. I responded.¡±
¡°But with forbidden forces,¡± another councilman said from the far end. ¡°That is what concerns us.¡±
¡°I was not taught to fear what was born in me,¡± she replied. ¡°Only to understand it.¡±
¡°A convenient justification,¡± Malek scoffed. ¡°What if it consumes you?¡±
¡°It won¡¯t,¡± I said before she could speak. ¡°Because she has control. Because she is not alone.¡±
Roderic sneered. ¡°And when you¡¯re not there to hold her leash?¡±
My jaw flexed. But I didn¡¯t rise to the bait.
Instead, I stepped forward, eyes steady. ¡°You assume she needs control because you cannot understand her strength. That¡¯s the failure here¨Cnot hers.
Yours.¡±
The room shifted at my words.
The Council, so used to leading with veiled threats, didn¡¯t know what to do when the prey stared back like a predator.
¡°She will be tested,¡± Marsen finally said. ¡°Not by punishment. By tradition.¡±
I didn¡¯t like the sound of that. Neither did Eine.
He gestured to the center of the chamber. An ancient circle carved into the stone, etched with old runes glowing faintly.
¡°She must be tested,¡± Roderic interrupted, already rising. ¡°We¡¯ve prepared the Circle of Oaths. If she endures it, she proves her bnce. If not¡ª¡±
¡°No.¡± I stepped forward, my voice rising. ¡°There will be no test.¡±
Tension splintered the chamber like a struck gong.
Marsen¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°You would deny a centuries¨Cold rite, Alpha?¡±
¡°I would deny you, Elder.¡±
Gasps rang through the balconies. Alfonso and Marlow stepped closer behind me, on high alert.
I raised my voice, the weight of my authority pressing against every stone wall of that chamber.
¡°I am Francesco Totti. Thest true Lycan Alpha. I walked into fire when you cowered behind borders. Your date sammen my mats kiek prisoner¨Cthen humiliate her with tricks and circles and fear¨Cmongering?¡± My growl reverberated like thunder Them vil he is fast h¨¦t ville
Malek stood, eyes burning. ¡°You are out of line.¡±
¡°No,¡± I said, lowering my tone to something more dangerous. ¡°I am done with lines.
A pause.
Then Marsen waved a hand to a cluster of guards by the side hall. ¡°Remove the Luna for independent questioning.¡±
A heartbeat passed. Then another.
Six guards stepped forward.
I didn¡¯t even blink.
¡°You touch her,¡± I growled, voice shaking the walls, ¡°and you bleed.¡±
The guards hesitated. But themand had already been given.
Eine nced at me, not afraid¨Conly resolved. ¡°Francesco-¡±
And then they moved.
Three men reached for her arms.
Everything inside me snapped.
I unleashed a roar that shook the chamber floor, every inch of my being rising as my Lycan instincts surged. In a sh, I mmed one guard back with a single blow. His body hit the wall with a crack. Another reached for her¨CAlfonso intercepted him, ws drawn. Marlow roared and knocked a third to the ground.
Chaos erupted.
I shifted halfway¨Cmy ws lengthened, my eyes burned gold. Magic crackled around Eine, reactive and wild. The air buzzed.
But then-
A hiss.
Psssss.
A barely visible mist spread across the chamber from small vents in the walls. The scent was faint¨Cbut unmistakable.
Wolfsbane.
I froze, mid¨Cbreath. My lungs burned.
¡°No,¡± I growled.
Cowards.
The Council¡ they had prepared this all along/
My warriors faltered first, eyes wide as their legs wobbled. Alfonso went down to one knee. Marlow coughed, blood flecking his lips.
I staggered forward, eyes locked on Eine as she was yanked from the circle of chaos by three guards dragging her toward the eastern hall.
¡°No!¡± My voice broke like thunder. Flunged forward, striking down another guard, but my strength was fadingst, My vision blurted
I saw her face as they dragged her away¨Cterrified, not for herself¡ but for me.
Her mouth shaped my name-
¡°Francesco-!¡±
The wolfsbane thickened, like fog. My chest heaved, body rebelling.
Still, I kept fighting.
One.
Two.
Three more guards fell by my hands, but thest blow came not from ws¡ but from the air.
Thick.
Poisoned.
Every breath I took was acid.
I dropped to one knee.
Then another.
Still¨CI looked to where they¡¯d taken her.
Still¨CI reached for her with one shaking hand.
¡°I¡¯lle for you¡¡± I whispered. ¡°I swear¡¡±
Darkness finally took me.
And Eine was gone.
Comment
Still His 99
Chapter 99
Eine¡¯s point of view:
The moment the vents hissed, I tasted betrayal.
A metallic tang hit the back of my throat. Wolfsbane. Subtle, but deadly. My eyes flicked toward Francesco, whose golden gaze sharpened in warning. Og bond sparked, a silent thread of rm passing between us.
Guards moved with precision. Not uncertainty. Not hesitation.
They weren¡¯t reacting to a disruption.
They were following a n.
Francesco felt it too. I could see it in the slight shift of his stance, the way his hand slid protectively in front of me. But he wasn¡¯t fast enough to stop what
came next.
My magic rose before thought could intervene. It red through my veins like liquid moonlight, coiling around my fingers and ring to life in silver and white. A shield of energy burst outward from my palm, catching the nearest three guards mid¨Clunge and hurling them back.
They crashed against marble pirs with sickening cracks.
Gasps filled the air. A few council members stood, startled. Some began shouting.
I took a breath, grounding myself. I could feel the ancient runes beneath my feet vibrating, as if the very stones of the chamber remembered what I was.
The White Wolf.
But before I could move again¨Cbefore I could prepare another ward or pull Francesco closer¨Che shouted something I couldn¡¯t hear.
A hand gripped my arm.
Too fast.
Not one of the guards. A healer. Or what I thought was a healer.
Something stung. My breath caught.
My head snapped toward my attacker. A syringe. Glinting ss. A heavy, viscous liquid inside.
Wolfsbane.
Not in the air. Not inhaled. Injected.
Direct to the bloodstream.
The magic around me stuttered. It faltered like a me drowning in oil. My body screamed against the intrusion. Every cell revolted. My heart beat twice in a row¨Cthen skipped the third.
I staggered back.
My legs gave way.
¡°Eine!¡±
Francesco¡¯s voice. Shattering.
1/4
D
He roared, a sound that made the floor tremble, but he was already choking on the wolfsbane mist. His goldreyes widened in house he has in
reach me.
I tried to raise a hand to him.
To say something.
To do anything.
But the light went out.
Darkness swallowed me whole.
Third¨Cperson omniscient:
The council chamber descended into chaos.
Francesco copsed an instantter, face¨Cdown beside his mate. His ws raked marble, leaving gouges in the polished stone. Hisst conscious breath was a promise torn from his throat.
He would not forgive this.
Silence fell heavy in the aftermath.
Then voices.
Harsh. Shaken.
¡°What have you done?!¡± Councilor Viona shouted, rising to her feet. Herposure, usually wless, had shattered into something close to fear.
Councilor Malek looked pale. His jaw clenched. ¡°Do you understand what that Alpha will do when he wakes?¡±
¡°You¡¯ve just dered war,¡± another muttered, his hand trembling against the armrest of his chair.
Elder Marsen exhaled, slowly, as though carrying a burden no one else could. ¡°You all act as if this wasn¡¯t inevitable. Francesco was never going to obey forever. The White Wolf? She¡¯s a variable we can¡¯t afford.¡±
¡°That doesn¡¯t mean we should¡¯ve poisoned them like traitors!¡± Viona hissed.
Marsen turned to her with cold eyes. ¡°What would you have done? Waited until she burned down a city in a fit of magical grief? Waited until he crowned himself Emperor over all packs? We had a window to contain them. And we took it.¡±
¡°And now?¡± Malek asked, voice bitter. ¡°When he wakes?¡±
Marsen said nothing.
Instead, he reached into his robe and pulled out a small crystalmunicator. Ancient. Etched with runes older than the Council itself. He whispered a
name.
¡°Luca.¡±
A moment passed.
Then a door at the far end of the chamber hissed open.
And the past walked in.
17:28 Wed, 16 Jul &
Luca, rogue Alpha, entered with the rxed grace of a predator. Tall, dressed in dark leathers, and beating a smirk that had hunted more than the council member¡¯s nightmares. Scars ran up his throat and across his temple, but his eyes held the sharpness of a man who had survived long enough o enjoy his reputation.
He walked in as if summoned to a party.
¡°You called?¡± he drawled.
Councilor Viona recoiled. ¡°This wasn¡¯t part of the agreement.¡±
¡°No,¡± Marsen said. ¡°This is my contingency.¡±
Luca examined Francesco and Eine with a curious tilt of his head. ¡°Well¡ This is easier than I thought.¡±
He approached slowly, crouching beside Francesco¡¯s body. He tapped the unconscious Alpha¡¯s shoulder lightly,
¡°Still breathing. That¡¯s good. I was worried you overdosed the bastard.¡±
He turned to Marsen. ¡°I trust my payment is guaranteed?¡±
¡°If you deliver them to containment.¡±
Luca smirked. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll do more than that. But first-¡±
With the flick of his wrist, a small device snapped into his hand. Not a de. Not a dart.
A tube.
He spun, aimed, and fired.
Thwk.
The dart hit Councilor Renna in the neck. She barely made a sound before copsing.
Thwk.
A second dart struck Councilor Darius. He tried to rise, but his legs folded.
The chamber exploded in shouts.
¡°What are you doing?!¡± Malek roared, trying to stand.
Viona drew a de¨CLuca disarmed her with a flick and sent her crashing to the floor with a wolf¨Cenhanced kick.
¡°What the hell is this?!¡± Malek cried.
Luca grinned, ¡°Control. You people are very bad at keeping it.¡±
He walked past their fallen bodies, whistling a low tune, then turned to Marsen.
¡°Now you have a real choice, old man. Keep your deal, or lie beside them.¡±
Marsen stared at him. He didn¡¯t blink.
Then, slowly, he nodded.
Luca turned to two of his rogues waiting at the door.
¡°Take the Luna to the transport chamber. And chain the Lycan Alpha. Silver. Double¨Cthick. I want him waking up pissed and powerless.¡±
17:28 We?, 10 JUL G
The rogues moved to obey
Luca took onest nce down at Eine. He crouched beside her, brushing & fock of hair from her theek,
¡°So much light,¡± he murmured. ¡°Let¡¯s see what happens when we drag it through darkness¡±
Behind him, the runes etched into the ancient stone flickered. Their glow dimmed, as if even the walls themselves recoiled from what had jud been set
in motion.
And so the White Wolf and the Lycan Alpha were taken from the cradle of their people.
Not in.
But imed.
And the war, long feared, now breathed with open eyes.
Still His 100
Chapter 100
GO
Darkness pressed against me like a second skin.
I couldn¡¯t tell how long I¡¯d been unconscious. Time had unraveled, slipping into a fog of distant echoes and numbed limbs. I was floating, drifting in a heavy, poisonous sleep.
Until pain woke me.
A sharp, aching cold ran through my arms. I tried to move, but my muscles barely responded. My tongue felt thick in my mouth, and the weight on my chest made every breath feel like drowning under gravel.
Then came the scent.
Silver.
Burning silver.
Not touching my skin, but near. Close enough to weaken, close enough to threaten.
I opened my eyes with effort.
The room was dim. The walls were made of thick stone, old and uneven. Chains hung from iron loops embedded in the stone. A small rune¨Ccarvedmp flickered in the corner, casting dancing shadows.
The floor beneath me was cold.
I was lying on my side. My hands were bound in front of me with braided silver cords, etched with runes I recognized from ancient scrolls. My ankles were bound, too ¨C not tight, but firm. Ritualistic.
A restraint meant not just to hold¡ but to contain.
I wasn¡¯t in the Council chamber anymore.
I wasn¡¯t anywhere familiar.
And Francesco-
Linhaled sharply, my heart seizing.
Where was he?
I tried to reach for our bond. The golden thread that had always connected us since that first spark in the dark. But it felt¡ faint. Still there, but dimmed. Like a star buried under storm clouds.
¡°Francesco¡¡± I whispered.
No answer came.
Just the quiet hum of the runes around me.
I shifted again, pain ring in my arms. The injection site throbbed¨Cwhere the healer had stabbed me with wolfsbane. My blood still burned with its poison.
But I was still conscious.
They didn¡¯t expect that, did they?
15:58 Thu, 17 J¨¹l | ] G o
The door creaked.
1 tensed, instinct ring despite my weakness.
Boots clicked against the stone as a man stepped into view. Dressed in ck leather, hair like coal, eyes glinting with cruel amusement.
Luca.
I recognized him instantly- The rogue Alpha. The one Francesco had once nearly killed. The one who vanished into the dark and came back with an army of shadows.
And now he stood over me like a vulture.
¡°Well,¡± he said smoothly, ¡°the White Wolf rises. I was beginning to worry they¡¯d broken you too quickly.¡±
I stared up at him, forcing steel into my voice. ¡°You¡¯ll regret this.¡±
He crouched beside me, ignoring the threat. ¡°You and your mate make quite a storm. But you¡ you fascinate me more.¡±
His fingers hovered just inches from my cheek, but I turned my face away.
¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡±
Heughed. ¡°You still have fire. That¡¯s good. I want to see what happens when it burns too hot.¡±
I nced around quickly ¨C no windows, no exits but the one door. No visible weapons. No visible allies. But I wasn¡¯tpletely helpless.
My wolf, Mika, stirred inside me.
Weak. Dazed.
But there.
¡®I¡¯m here,¡¯ Mika whispered. ¡®I never left.¡®
I let that anchor me.
¡°I know what you are,¡± I said to Luca, turning back slowly. ¡°You¡¯re afraid. You¡¯ve always been afraid of power that doesn¡¯t bow to you.¡±
That flicker in his eyes ¨C just a moment ¨C confirmed it.
¡°You think this will end with me in chains?¡± I pushed. ¡°You¡¯ve underestimated both of us.¡±
He rose to his feet. ¡°I¡¯m counting on it.¡±
Then he snapped his fingers.
The door opened again. Two guards entered with vials. Thick, glowing green liquid inside. Wolfsbane ¨C stronger, more concentrated than before.
They approached me, one holding the vial, the other a cloth soaked in the stuff.
¡°No!¡± I thrashed as they came closer. My skin burned even from the scent.
But my magic was weak. My limbs were slow.
They forced the cloth over my nose and mouth.
Mika screamed in my y mind.
15.58 Thu 17 JUL T?
The light dimmed again.
But before it fadedpletely, I heard Luca¡¯s voice:
¡°We¡¯ll see how long you shine, little moon. In the dark¡ everything breaks.¡±
His boots echoed as he circled me slowly. Like a predator with too much time.
Then he reached into his coat.
And pulled out a ss vial.
It shimmered¨Cnot green like wolfsbane, but iridescent. Shifting colors. Like oil and light mixed with nightmare.
He held it up between two fingers, smirking.
¡°I also saved something special for you.¡±
The moment I saw it, something in my instincts recoiled. A deep, primal warning rose in my chest.
¡°What¡ is that?¡± I rasped in my weak condition.
Luca crouched in front of me again, far too close. His breath brushed my face as he leaned in, eyes glittering with amusement.
¡°It¡¯s called Veritas Nihilum. Ancient name. Forgotten poison.¡±
He tilted his head, enjoying the moment like a child with a magnifying ss over a burning insect.
¡°Tranted crudely? ¡®Forgetful poison.¡°¡±
My heart stuttered.
His grin widened.
¡°You know what it does?¡± he whispered. ¡°It severs bonds. Erases them. Memory. Emotion. Even fated connections.¡±
My breath caught in my throat.
¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±
He chuckled darkly. ¡°You really think I¡¯d lie about this? No, little moon. It¡¯s very real. The witches who created it died for the secret¨Conly I save thest thing. I gave you a drop once, long ago, when you were still new to Francesco. Funny thing is¡¡±
He leaned in closer, brushing my cheek with the back of his knuckles.
¡°Your white wolf rejected it. Burned it out. You still remembered him.¡±
I trembled, revulsion crawling up my spine.
¡°But this time,¡± he said, shaking the vial gently, ¡°I¡¯m not giving you a drop.¡±
He pulled out a second. A third.
¡°I¡¯m giving you all of it.¡± - NO.
¡°No¡¡± I whispered.
15:58 Thu, 17 Jul
GO
His smile turned cruel.
69%
¡°Let¡¯s see what happens when you wake up¡ and don¡¯t remember that Francesco is your mate. Let¡¯s see if you still cry for him when the bond is gone. Or maybe¡¡± he stood and walked around me, whispering into my ear, ¡°maybe you¡¯ll love me instead. Pledge your loyalty. Give me your power. Or¡. Be
mine.¡±
¡°Hahahahaha!¡± Hisugh echoed around the stone chamber like a knife against ss.
¡°NO!¡± I screamed. I thrashed against the silver bindings, panic overtaking me. ¡°Let me go! DON¡¯T¨CNO! NO¨CFRANCESCO!!¡±
He turned away, as the guards stepped forward again¨Cthis time with the forgetful poison ready.
¡°I¡¯ll enjoy watching your heart die before your eyes,¡± he said over his shoulder.
Then darkness surged in again¨Cthis time not from wolfsbane¡
..but from despair.
1558 Th? 17 Jii
Still His 101
Chapter 101
Francesco¡¯s Point of View:
When my consciouness back pain met me first.
It crept up from the edges of my mind like frostbite¨Cslow, cruel, and relentless. Then came the fire. Wolfsbane, thick in my bloodstream, burning my nerves from the inside out.
I didn¡¯t open my eyes right away because I couldn¡¯t..
What is this?
Every instinct in me screamed that I was in danger¨Cand worse¨Cthat she was in danger.
My Luna, My mate.
My Eine¡.
Where is she now?
I forced my fingers to curl. Metal resisted. Chains.
Silver.
My eyelids peeled open, vision blurring. A narrow, torch¨Clit cell. The air was heavy. Enchanted stone. Sealed runes in the mortar. No wind. No sound beyond the drip of water.
And no scent of her, I can¡¯t smells her, my Luna, My Eine anywhere near me.
And that was wrong.
So wrong.
I tried to move. My body was sluggish, every muscle fighting the aftershock of poison. But the fear¨Cthe raw, pulsing panic¨Cwas stronger.
What is this? My heart beating fast when I notice it.
Something was wrong with Eine.
I can¡¯t feel her.
Why?
I tried to reach her through the bond. That soft, ever¨Cpresent hum that tethered us¨Clike sunlight against my ribs. But it wasn¡¯t there. It was dim, flickering, fading.
No.
No, no, no.
What is going on? Is like she¡¯s nowhere in this world.
My heart mmed against my ribs. I growled, a deep, guttural sound that shook the chains.
They did something to her.
I knew it.
1/4
15.58 InUFT
Because I could felt it.
I remembered everything¨Cher falling. Her scream. The way she reached for me as she copsed. The council. The guards. The treachery,
I remembered that bastard rogue¨CLuca before I fainted.
How is he here? Howe the council work with him?
And now, all I felt was empty cold because of the betrayal and anger.
I yanked against the chains. Once. Twice. They didn¡¯t budge. They were old magic. Lycan¨Cforged. But I didn¡¯t care.
¡°Let me out,¡± I snarled. My voice was a rasp, soaked in venom.
There was no answer.
I growled again, louder this time, letting the beast inside me rise to the surface. My ws burst from my fingertips. My eyes burned gold. The air rippled.
The wolf inside me screamed her name.
Eine.
Where was she?
Why couldn¡¯t I feel her?
Then came the pain in my chest. Not poison. Not silver,
Something else.
Severance.
A pull, like someone was trying to peel her memory out of my soul.
My mate bond wasn¡¯t just dimming.
It was being cut.
I roared.
???????????? ???
The kind of roar that splits mountains and rattles the bones of cowards. My body convulsed. My shoulders burned as I mmed my back against the wall, using the angle to push¨Cpush¨Cpush against the chains until the cuffs cut into skin.
Blood spilled. Sizzled against silver.
But I kept going.
The room pulsed with my fury.
I would kill them.
Everyst one.
They touched my mate.
They tried to put her in danger.
And I would show them what thest Lycan Alpha truly was.
Chapter 101.
Not a political figure.
Not a council dog.
A storm.
A force of vengeance with teeth and rage and a heart that only beat for one thing¨CEine.
Then¨Cfaint. So faint I nearly missed it.
A whisper in the back of my mind.
Marlow¡
I had ordered him to keep the link open. Hours before we left, I gave themand:
¡°If something happens, keep our link open, no matter how far I go. No matter what blocks you feel. Just keep it open.¡±
I didn¡¯t know then how important it would be.
But now, I reached for it. For him.
¡°Marlow¡ Marlow, can you hear me?¡± I growled through the bond. ¡°They have us. Council betrayed us¡ Luca is here. Eine¨Cshe¡¯s¨C¡±
¡°Alpha?¡± came the reply. Choked. Staggered. But there. ¡°Alpha, we feel you. We¡¯ve been waiting. You¡¯re alive!¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know where the others are,¡± I hissed. ¡°They separated us. I haven¡¯t seen Alfonso or the rest of the warriors since they used wolfsbane. But Eine¡ They¡¯ve done something. She¡¯s slipping away from me.¡±
Silence.
Then Marlow¡¯s tone turned to steel.
¡°We¡¯reing. Give us a way in.¡±
¡°Not yet,¡± I said. ¡°It¡¯s trapped. Sealed in magic. You won¡¯t make it in time.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t care. I¡¯ll break the sky if I have to.¡±
I closed my eyes and sent him what I could. The details. The scent of the halls. The temperature. The runes. The guards¡® faces. I sent it all through the mindlink.
Marlow grunted. ¡°Underground. That narrows it. I¡¯ve got four stealth teams on the edge of Councilnds. Give me one hour. We breach from below.¡±
¡°Make it thirty minutes,¡± I growled. ¡°I don¡¯t know how long she has. They¡¯re using something else. Not just wolfsbane.¡±
¡°What do you mean?¡±
¡°They¡¯re trying to break the bond. I don¡¯t know, I almost can¡¯t feel her.¡±
Silence.
Then a snarl ripped through the link.
¡°They die,¡± Marlow spat. ¡°Everyst one of them.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± I said. My vision sharpened. My body trembled with the strain of fury. ¡°But save her first.¡±
I heard Marlow¡¯s breath hitch before he responded. ¡°We¡¯lle through the western tunnels. Old ones. From before the council hall was rebuilt. We¡¯ll
1958 Thu 17.
st through if we have to, but I¡¯ll get a team into the containment level. We¡¯ll mark every magic anchor. Our witch is already working on countedn We¡¯ll cut the spell first, then the chains.¡±
¡°Good,¡± I murmured. ¡°Use smoke. Shift if needed. Take the guards alive only if necessary. If you see Luca
¡°He¡¯s mine,¡± Marlow snarled.
¡°No,¡± I said darkly. ¡°He¡¯s ours.¡±
The bond flickered. Faded. But not gone.
Not yet.
And I would tear this entire kingdom apart before I let it die.
E
Still His 102
Chapter 102
Eine¡¯s Point of View:
I was floating.
At first, I thought I was dead.
There was no pain. No chains. No weight in my limbs. No silver pressing against my wrists. Just light.
Soft and golden.
It felt like sunlight through a window I couldn¡¯t see, like the warmth of summer pressing against my skin.
But the warmth didn¡¯tfort me.
Because it was empty.
I stood in a vast, white field.
Flowers stretched as far as the eye could see ¨C white roses, blooming endlessly under a pale sky. There was no sun. No wind. Just silence. Time didn¡¯t
move here.
It felt¡ wrong.
Familiar, but twisted.
I turned slowly, confusion threading into my chest like smoke.
And then I saw him.
A man in ck.
Walking between the roses like a shadow made flesh.
Luca.
But different. Sharper. Smiling in that eerie, wolfish way.
¡°You made it,¡± he said, hands behind his back. ¡°This is where your mindes when it lets
go
of pain.¡±
¡°This isn¡¯t real,¡± I whispered.
¡°It¡¯s real enough,¡± he said, shrugging. ¡°Your body is bound. Your magic is muted. But your soul? Still fighting.¡±
I tried to move, but my legs felt heavy. Like wading through mud.
He stepped closer.
¡°You feel it, don¡¯t you?¡± His voice dropped, soft as honey. ¡°That warmth around your chest fading? That silver thread snapping like silk?¡±
My heart clenched.
Francesco.
Where was he?
I reached out instinctively, searching for the bond.
IL
But I couldn¡¯t feel him.
Not even a flicker..
Luca¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Yes. That¡¯s the poison working. Little by little, it¡¯s eating through your memories. First the sound of his voice. Then the votes in eyes. His name¡ his scent¡ the way your heart beats when he says your name¡¡±
¡°No¡¡± I breathed.
¡°You¡¯ll forget he ever existed.¡±
My knees gave out.
I copsed into the roses- soft, too soft. They felt like ash under my hands.
And when I looked down, they were.
The petals ckened beneath my fingers.
Dissolving into dust.
¡°Stop this,¡± I gasped, wing at the air. ¡°Please!¡±
He crouched beside me, smiling with mock pity.
¡°I gave you a chance to love me as your mate, don¡¯t refused. When your mind forgets your precious Lycan, your heart will find a new home.¡±
He reached out- to touch my face.
But a growl echoed behind me.
Low.
Female.
Familiar.
Mine.
A sh of silver fur lunged through the field, mming into Luca¡¯s chest and sending him flying back into the flowers.
And there she was.
Mika.
My wolf.
Eyes glowing. Hackles raised. Fur bristling with magic
¡°Get up,¡± she said, her voice a snarl in my mind. ¡°You don¡¯t belong here. Not with him.¡±
Tears burned in my eyes.
¡°He¡¯s taking him away from me, Mika. I can¡¯t feel him. I¡¯m forgetting-¡±
¡°Then fight,¡± she snapped. ¡°We don¡¯t surrender. Not to them. Not to poison Not to fear.¡±
¡°I¡¯m weak-¡±
¡°You¡¯re not weak. You¡¯re Eine Rollin. Luna of the Lycan Alpha. White Wolf of the Moonlight. You¡¯re mine. And we don¡¯t bre
Something flickered in me.
A heartbeat.
A pulse of gold in the distance.
I looked up.
And saw a figure standing far away, just a silhouette.
Broad shoulders.
Hands clenched at his sides.
Watching me.
Francesco?
I tried to run.
But the field dragged at my feet.
The flowers turned to rot as I stepped.
Luca rose again, snarling now. ¡°You don¡¯t get to have him.¡±
He lifted his hand a wave of shadows crashing toward me like a storm.
I closed my eyes.
I remembered-
His voice calling my name.
The warmth of his coat on that cold night.
The weight of his hand on my waist.
The kiss on my birthday.
The howl under the full moon.
topened my eyes.
And screamed.
Not in fear.
In defiance.
The shadows shattered.
The rot recoiled.
The figure in the distance stepped closer.
Who is that?
Chapter 102
That¡ Francesco?
I woke up screaming.
My voice tore through the silence like thunder, raw and panicked, my throat burning from the sound. The room was dark cold. The four bont hard like stone.
I barely had time to breathe when I heard someone curse behind a nearby door.
¡°Shit! I haven¡¯t given her the wolfsbane yet! Why are they here already?! STOP THEM!¡±
Footsteps. Scrambling. Shouts.
Then the m of a door closing, the sound of retreating boots fading fast.
I blinked rapidly, heart pounding. Wolfsbane?
What¡¯s wolfsbane?
I tried to think¨Ctried to remember¨Cbut the inside of my head was fog. Just heavy, damp confusion.
I looked down.
Chains.
Silver glinted around my wrists.
I frowned.
¡°Why¡ am I chained?¡± I murmured aloud, dragging my fingers over the links.
A question echoed louder in my head:
Where am I?
I tried to stand¨Cmy knees shaky, vision swimming¨Cand gasped when I tugged at the chains.
They snapped like brittle twine.
ttering to the floor.
I stared down at my hands in stunned silence. The metal still burned faintly from my skin, but it was nothingpared to the shock spreading through my chest.
How did I do that?
The silver¡ shouldn¡¯t silver be strong? Shouldn¡¯t it hold me?
What am I?
BOOM.
A thunderous crash from beyond the wall jolted me. The whole room seemed to shake. Dust trickled down from the ceiling.
Another roar. Like something massive had hit stone.
I stumbled back, heart pounding faster now.
I didn¡¯t know where I was.
I didn¡¯t know who had locked me up
I didn¡¯t even know¡ who I was.
But I knew one thing.
I had to get out.
Swallowing down my fear, I moved toward the door. My hand hovered over the cold handle. I didn¡¯t know if it would creak, if there would be someone waiting, if another trapy just beyond.
But staying wasn¡¯t an option.
Carefully, I turned it.
The hallway was dimly lit by flickering torches. The walls were rough stone, aged, marked with faint runes that glowed softly. A corridor twisted to the right.
Screams echoed through it.
And growls.
Wolves.
I tiptoed closer to the end of the corridor, my bare feet silent against the cold floor, and peeked around the corner-
Only to freeze.
A full battle raged in front of me.
Wolves. Massive ones. ck, gray, silver. ws bared. Fangs dripping with blood. Some had eyes glowing gold. Others red.
Blood sttered the walls. Broken weaponsy scattered across the floor. The air stank of sweat, steel, and magic.
One of them ¨C a huge, dark¨Cfurred wolf with a jagged scar across its nk ¨C mmed into another, throwing it through a wooden beam.
I gasped and stepped back quickly, my breath catching in my throat.
What is this?!
I didn¡¯t know who they were.
+didn¡¯t know what they were.
And worst of all¡
I didn¡¯t know which side I belonged to.
A scream pierced the chaos.
A voice.
Familiar.
But it vanished before I could focus.
No¡ think¡ think..
15:56 Fri, 18 Jul T
I turned and fled¨Caway from the battle, down another corridor. My heart thundered in my chest, my feet pping the stone as I ran through shade we halls that felt too small, too tight, too haunted.
My mind spun with questions.
Who am I?
Why was I chained?
Why do I feel like something¡¯s missing inside me?
I clutched my chest as I turned another corner and found an empty room.
Stone floors. A mirror hung on the far wall.
I stepped toward it, slowly.
My reflection stared back at me.
Long dark hair, a faint shimmer of silver in the strands. Pale skin. Eyes¨Cwide and wild¨Cglowing faintly blue.
¡°Do I know you?¡± I whispered to the girl in the mirror.
No answer.
Only my own confusion reflected back at me.
I clenched my fists.
No. I wouldn¡¯t stay like this.
Whoever I was¡
Whatever had been taken from me¡
I would get it back.
Still His 103
Chapter 103
Third¨CPerson Point of View:
They breached the walls like shadows made flesh.
The tunnels beneath the Council Hall had long been forgotten by most, buried under centuries of reinforced stone and magic. But Marlow hadn¡¯t forgotten. Nor had the old Lycan bloodline that taught him the paths that could not be sealed with runes or deception.
Marlow led the pack of elite warriors, nked by witches who worked tirelessly to dismantle every magical barrier they encountered. They moved with purpose, driven by the bond between Alpha and Luna, and the sheer wrath building in the hearts of every wolf loyal to Francesco.
Francesco had gone silent in the link five minutes earlier. Not dead. Not broken. But close. Too close,
¡°We¡¯re almost there,¡± Marlow hissed. ¡°Keep tight. No sound. Kill only if you must.¡±
A nod of affirmation rippled through the group.
Then they reached the chamber.
It was sealed with silver¨Clined doors reinforced with ancient glyphs. But one touch from the head witch ¨C a whispered incantation and a pulse of red light¨Csent the runes sputtering.
Marlow kicked the doors open.
Chainsy scattered across the floor. A dark figure crouched at the center of the room, shoulders heaving.
¡°Alpha!¡±
Francesco looked up like he¡¯s waiting for him toe, like he just stay to collect his power, like the wolfbane is nothing for him.
His eyes gleamed with gold fire. His wrists were scorched with silver burns, still weeping blood, but he stood tall. His expression wasn¡¯t pain¨Cit was fury incarnate.
¡°They took her,¡± he said, voice hoarse. ¡°I don¡¯t know where.¡±
Marlow took his arm and nodded. ¡°Then we get her back. We¡¯ll burg through everyst chamber of this damned ce.¡±
Francesco stood fully now, shaking with rage. ¡°Find the others. Free them. We end this.¡±
They swept through the halls like a storm.
Warriors peeled off in teams, taking out guards and opening cells. Every loyal soldier was found¨CAlfonso, barely conscious but still breathing, and others beaten, drugged, or restrained in silver cuffs.
Their rage fed the fire.
Francesco led them deeper, toward the main Council Chamber.
When the double doors loomed, the pack stood behind him in silence.
With one strike, Francesco sted the doors inward. Magic crackled, but it bent to his will.
The Elders inside turned in shock.
¡°You dare bring war into these sacred halls?¡± Elder Renna hissed.
¡°You brought war the moment you touched my mate,¡± Francesco growled.
¡°You don¡¯t understand the threat she poses!¡± cried another Elder. ¡°A Luna with magic¨C¡±
¡°I understand exactly,¡± he said. ¡°That you fear what you cannot control.¡±
The Elders summoned their guards. Runes lit the air. Magic and steel shed.
Francesco let loose his power.
The Lycan Alpha in full fury was a storm given flesh. With ws elongated and body surrounded by a faint golden aura, he was untouchable. He moved like thunder, knocking aside two guards with one
swipe.
Marlow took on three mages at once, ducking between sts of fire and energy to snap necks with brutal precision.
The chamber became chaos.
Wolves shifted mid¨Cfight, fur exploding from skin as they took their battle forms. Magicshed through the air ice, me, lightning- met with fang, w, and raw strength.
Francesco lifted an Elder by the throat and mmed him into the council table, shattering it into splinters.
¡°Where is she?!¡± he roared.
The Elder coughed blood and spat, ¡°Gone¡ you¡¯re toote.¡±
The words drove him into deeper rage.
One by one, the enemies fell.
Blood pooled beneath the ivory floor. Screams echoed. Until, finally, only silence remained.
Francesco stood in the center of the chamber, breathing heavily.
Then a whisper-
¡°Alpha¡ here.¡±
A scout emerged from a side corridor, blood staining his side.
¡°We found a hidden path¡ leads downward. There¡¯s a chamber¡silver restraints¡ a broken chain.¡±
Francesco ran.
The hallway narrowed as he reached the hidden chamber,
He stopped at the door.
The scent¨Cher scent¨Cwas there.
Roses, Ash, Magic.
He stepped in.
Empty.
Chains on the floor.
A glowing sigil on the wall¨Crecently activated. A teleportation rune.
¡°She was here,¡± he whispered, picking up the chain.
14:01 Sat, 19 Jul
Then a sound.
pping.
Slow. Mocking.
Luca appeared in the corridor, nked by two rogues.
He looked exactly the same.
Cruel smirk. Arrogant stride. The snake who had haunted Francesco¡¯s past.
¡°Touching, really,¡± Luca said. ¡°So much blood for a single girl.¡±
Francesco turned.
The ground vibrated.
¡°You took her.¡±
Luca tilted his head. ¡°Let¡¯s not pretend she didn¡¯t choose me, in the end. Once the poison settles, she won¡¯t even remember your name.¡±
Francesco¡¯s growl shook the walls.
Marlow stepped forward. ¡°Alpha, give the word-¡±
Francesco raised a hand to stop him.
His golden eyes locked with Luca¡¯s.
¡°No one touches him. He¡¯s mine.¡±
The rogues lunged.
Marlow and the others intercepted them, leaving only Francesco and Luca.
A slow circle began between them.
Predator versus predator.
Old blood.
Old grudges.
tuca drew a curved daggerced with poison. ¡°Let¡¯s see if thest Lycan is more myth than man.¡±
Francesco¡¯s ws glinted.
¡°No more talking.¡±
They shed.
Steel met fang. Poison met fury. Francesco¡¯s strikes were thunderous, but Luca was fast¨Cslippery and cruel. The battle raged through the corridor, both mennding brutal hits.
Luca¡¯s de grazed Francesco¡¯s ribs¨Cburning.
Francesco responded by mming him into a wall with a bone¨Ccracking roar.
14:01 Sat 19 jul OBD
Chapter 103
Dust fell. Runes sparked.
¡°You don¡¯t get to touch her,¡± Francesco hissed. ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to speak her name.¡±
Luca spat blood andughed. ¡°She¡¯ll forget you. Just like she forgot her past.¡±
That broke something inside the Alpha.
Francesco lunged-
The ground shattered beneath their weight.
Their howls echoed.
The pack above felt the power ripple through the stone.
But no one dared enter.
This fight was sacred.
This was vengeance.
This was war.
Still His 104
Chapter 104
Francesco¡¯s Point of View:
¡°Touching, really,¡± he said. ¡°So much blood spilled for a single Luna.¡±
My teeth bared. ¡°You took something sacred. You touched my mate.¡±
Luca tilted his head, pretending curiosity. ¡°She didn¡¯t fight it for long. The poison worked better than I thought. Even now, she¡¯s wandering like a lost doe, looking for a name she can¡¯t remember.¡±
Rage boiled up. My ws slid free with a sound like steel unsheathing.
¡°She¡¯ll remember,¡± I growled. ¡°She¡¯ll remember who she belongs to. And you-¡°I took a step forward ¡°-will not leave this chamber alive.¡±
Luca grinned wider. ¡°Let¡¯s see if the Lycan Alpha lives up to his legend.¡±
He signaled his guards. They lunged.
Before they reached me, shadows mmed into them from the side. Marlow and my warriors, feral and hungry for blood, tore them down in seconds.
¡°Alpha,¡± Marlow said, stepping back. ¡°He¡¯s yours.¡±
I nodded once.
Then lunged.
Luca was fast. Faster than I remembered. He twisted and rolled under my first strike, de drawn¨Ccurved, ckened, tipped with wolfsbane.
Our ws and steel met in a shower of sparks.
Pain bloomed in my ribs. He shed deep. But I kept moving, letting the fairy push me forward. Every second I wasted here, Eine was slipping further away.
¡°Still slow, Francesco,¡± he taunted.
I backhanded him, sending him sprawling into a stone pir.
¡°You talk too much.¡±
He coughed, grinning through blood. ¡°What, no speech about honor?¡±
¡°No honor for traitors.¡±
He lunged, dagger shing toward my throat. I caught his wrist mid¨Cair and twisted hard. Bone cracked.
His scream was music.
But he kicked my knee, rolled backward, and threw a vial of something dark toward my face.
It shattered midair¨Cburning smoke exploded. Poison.
I held my breath, eyes watering, and charged through it.
He wasn¡¯t expecting that.
I tackled him to the ground.
1/5
Fists. ws. Fury.
I lost count of the blows.
Blood coated my knuckles¨Chis or mine, I didn¡¯t care.
He struck my jaw with the hilt of his de. I reeled for a second¨Cjust enough for him to roll away, coughing, panting,ughing.
¡°She¡¯s forgetting you, you know,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°She cried when the memories started to fade. It was beautiful.¡±
Something snapped inside me.
I charged. He raised the dagger again, but I was faster now. Stronger.
My ws caught his chest¨Cripping through leather, through skin. He gasped. The dagger dropped.
I mmed him against the wall, one hand crushing his throat.
¡°You poisoned her.¡±
He wed at my wrist.
¡°She¡¯ll never love you again,¡± he rasped.
¡°She already does.¡±
I reached into his chest with my free hand.
His eyes widened.
He realized what I was about to do.
¡°You don¡¯t have the guts-¡±
I gripped his heart.
It pulsed once.
Then I ripped it free.
Luca¡¯s body jerked. A choked gurgle left his lips. I held his heart high¨Cbeating still in my palm.
¡°For my Luna.¡±
Then I crushed it.
The explosion of blood painted the walls.
Luca¡¯s body crumpled to the floor.
Silence.
I stood there, chest heaving, the weight of it all finally hitting me.
She was still gone.
I turned to Marlow. ¡°Burn him into ashes and find Lira. I want every teleportation rune traced. We find her now.¡±
¡°Yes, Alpha.¡±
Ten minutester, Lira, the most trusted person with the magic from the pack wasing, surrounded the glowing rune in Eine¡¯s chamber.
¡°It¡¯s old magic,¡± one said. ¡°Mixed with wild blood and rogue symbols. This wasn¡¯t a council spell it¡¯s something darker.¡±
¡°Can you follow it?¡± I asked.
¡°We can,¡± she said. ¡°But we¡¯ll need time.¡±
Time. The one thing I didn¡¯t have.
d still, I felt no peace.
I stepped back into the ruined hall. The rogues were dead. The council was destroyed. And s
Only a hollow space in my chest where she should be.
Eine, wherever you are¡
I¡¯ming.
Third¨CPerson Point of View:
Silence fell over the battlefield.
The blood had dried. The cries of pain and war had faded. The council chamber¨Conce a seat of corruption and control¨Cnowy in ruins. The walls that held centuries of oppression crumbled beneath the weight of truth and retribution.
Smoke curled upward from the shattered runes and broken pirs. The bodies of fallen rogues and disgraced council membersy scattered, reminders of the war that had just ended.
And in the center of it all stood Francesco.
Chest bare and bloodstained. Shoulders squared. Golden eyes burning. The heart of the storm.
Thest true Lycan.
He stood tall over the remains of his enemy, every line of his body -thick and undeniable.
Behind him, Marlow stepped forward, still breathing heavily, his arm
his king.
diating raw power and unyielding dominance. His presence filled the air like gravity
dented and stained, but his eyes alive with pride to be standing beside his Alpha,
Other warriors emerged from the smoke¨Csome limping, some bruised, all weary¨Cbut their gazes found their Alpha, and they stood straighter.
The witches, once pressed to the edges of battle, now bowed their heads in reverence. Even the surviving council aides¨Cthose who had refused to side with the Elders¨Clooked upon him with wide, humbled eyes.
It was Beta Alfonso who knelt first.
One knee to the blood¨Csoaked ground. Head bowed. Fist over his heart.
¡°My Alpha,¡± he whispered.
The sound echoed.
Then Marlow followed.
Then the warriors. - Sat, 19 JEUDI
Chapter 104
Then the council left.
One by one, every werewolf, every loyal soul, dropped to their knees.
Not just in loyalty.
In recognition.
Of who he truly was.
Not just an Alpha.
A King¡
The King of Wolves.
Francesco stood still for a moment, staring at the kneeling masses, his breath catching at the sight.
He hadn¡¯t asked for this.
Hadn¡¯t fought for a crown.
He had fought for her. For Eine.
But in doing so, he had reimed something the world thought lost.
Himself.
He looked down at his blood¨Cstreaked hands.
And then, slowly, he lifted his chin.
¡°This is not my victory alone,¡± he said, voice clear andmanding. ¡°This was earned by every w that struck for freedom. Every voice that rose against tyranny. Every wolf who remembered who we are.¡±
His gaze swept across the room.
¡°You kneel now not because I demand it, but because we rise together.¡±
A powerful wind swept through the broken chamber, catching the edges of banners, rustling ash into the air like snow. Moonlight pierced through the cracks in the ceiling.
And in that light, Francesco looked like something out of legend.
The King returned.
A howl broke the silence.
Low. Deep. From the soul.
Marlow raised his head and joined it.
Then another.
And another.
Until the chamber vibrated with the chorus of wolves.
A song of allegiance.
14:01 Sat, 19 Jul
A song of triumph.
A song for the King.
Francesco closed his eyes, letting the sound wash over him.
But in his mind, he saw only one thing.
Eine.
Her face. Her scent. Her touch.
She was still out there.
And now that the world knew who he was again, he would make it move to find her.
He opened his eyes.
The howls faded.
And he spoke with a voice that rumbled like thunder across the world:
¡°I am Francesco Totti Lycaon. Last of the Lycans of Lycaon. King of Wolves. And I will not rest until my Luna is returned to me.¡±
Wait Eine¡ I wille and find you.
Still His 105
Chapter 105
Francesco¡¯s Point of View:
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks into months.
And tomorrow¡ marks one full year since I lost her.
Eine¡
My Luna. My mate. My heart.
I remember the moment the witches told me the rune trail had gone cold. That wherever they took her, the magic used was older than any traceable line -dark, primal, twisted to sever memory and scent. It was like she vanished into mist.
I¡¯ve torn through kingdoms since then.
Scoured forests, broken safehouses, leveled rogue hideouts across continents. Every whisper, every rumor of a white wolf, a magic user, a girl who once cried beneath the moon¨CI chased it.
None of them were her.
I am the King of Wolves now.
The packs across the world bow before me. Council systems have been rebuilt under new governance. Rogue activity has been purged from half the globe.
But none of it matters.
Not without her.
This crown weighs heavier than war.
This silence louder than the screams I once endured.
And this pain¡It is worse than anything I¡¯ve ever known. Even worse than when I lost/
stasia.
Because Anastasia¨Cshe used magic to bind me. To make me believe it was love. And when she died, yes, it hurt. But it was grief soaked in guilt. Manipted love.
But Eine¡
Eine was real.
She didn¡¯t need spells. Didn¡¯t ask for power. She stood beside me with nothing but a trembling voice and a brave heart.
And now she¡¯s gone.
Gone like starlight swallowed by morning.
She left me back in this cold, dark shell I thought I escaped.
Beta Alfonso knows it. He watches me every day from behind those sharp eyes of his, always knowing when to step back and when to stand beside me,
Marlow knows it. He trains harder now, like fighting is the onlynguage he can speak while we wait for a miracle.
Ta
Audrey tries to keep me busy with war reports and treaty negotiations, but I see it in her eyes¨Cshe misses her friend.
And Monica¡
She visits once every moon cycle, leaves drawings and messages from Eine¡¯s students¨Cthe ones she inspired before vanishing, the children whom she ys in the garden. She believes Eine is still alive. I want to believe it too.
But belief without hope is just pain with a leash.
I sit alone most nights in the observatory tower. It¡¯s where
found
I her painting by moonlight, humiming to herself. Where she cried once, and I held
her. Where I first truly saw her.
Now all I have left is silence and stars.
Sometimes I close my eyes and reach for the bond. Sometimes I feel it¨Cfaint, like a thread brushing against my soul. But every time I pull, it slips rough my fingers.
They say a year changes everything.
But for me? It just made the ache deeper.
Eine¡¯s Point of View:
I sigh when I sat beside the river.
The river speaks to me sometimes.
Not in words, not in sound, but in soft ripples and quiet songs only the trees seem to understand. I often sit by the bank, watching the way the current moves like memory¨Calways forward, never still.
That¡¯s what they call me here.
Edith¡
A name I woke up to, wrapped in bandages and pain, my body weak and broken, but somehow still breathing.
The couple who found me said I was near death. Covered in cuts, burns, silver wounds that hadn¡¯t closed. Drenched in blood and magic residue. They
said I must have escaped whatever battle had happened at the Council¨Ca war that tore apart the power structure of our kind.
But I don¡¯t remember anything.
Not my name.
Not my past.
Not who I was.
Nothing¡..
All I knew when I woke was pain. So much pain.
And the eyes of two old werewolves who looked at me not with suspicion¡ but with sorrow,
They introduced themselves as Mara and Elias.
They were kind couple I could dream of to help me.
2/4
Quiet. Weathered by time. The sort of love that exists in silence and shared tea.
They had no children left. The war had taken them. Their only son had died years ago. The house was too big, the fire too empty.
And so they kept me.
Tended to my wounds.
Fed me with soup and silence..
They asked no questions. Perhaps afraid the answers would break me - me.
So, I stayed.
At first, because I could not walk. Then, because I had nowhere
elso
to - go.
Now¡ because I¡¯m afraid that remembering will hurt more than forgetting ever has.
They let me help around the vige. It¡¯s small, hidden between forest and river, far from the noise of kingdoms and politics. The other wolves here are like shadows¨Csurvivors, not fighters.
And I am something between them all.
I¡¯m not strong. Not anymore I thought since I can¡¯t remember a thing.
But I heal, meaning I have wolf inside me.
Bu I haven¡¯t hear from my wolf, Mara mentioned because I am wounded and give it time until she¡¯s healed, so I wait.
Iugh sometimes when Mara scolds Elias for forgetting to salt the stew. I cry quietly when I find an old sketchbook in the attic, its pages nk but inviting.
And I paint.
I guess I am so good with painting. Sometimes, my hand moves on its own. Rivers. Wolves. A golden glow I can¡¯t name.
And eyes.
Always the same golden eyes.
Who? I don¡¯t know.
And why I keep dreaming of him? Always him¡
They haunt my dreams.
I hear a name whispered in the wind sometimes. A name I can¡¯t hold onto. A name that makes my chest ache when I wake up alone.
Something inside me is¡ waiting.
I don¡¯t know what.
But I know this isn¡¯t the end of my story.
Even if I don¡¯t remember the beginning.
Still His 106
Chapter 106
Eine¡¯s Point of View:
The market in the vige is never loud. It hums with quiet life¨Cbaskets thudding softly on worn tables, murmurs exchanged over bunches of herbs, old wolves haggling with kind smiles and crooked hands. There¡¯s a peace in this small river settlement that I¡¯ve never questioned, though I often wondered why it feels bothforting and iplete.
I was with Mara, gathering rosemary and dried mint to help Elias soothe his bad knees, when it happeried.
A traveler.
He arrived just before the midday sun, his boots covered in dust and his shoulders slumped from long roads. His cloak had been torn and hastily sewn, and a faded scar ran from jaw to corbone¨Can old wound from a battle he didn¡¯t speak of. The vige, cautious but kind, offered him broth and ater without hesitation. In return, he brought stories.
I wasn¡¯t paying close attention at first. I was helping Mara sort the herbs, my mind half¨Clost in the odd way my fingers moved on their own¨Cbraiding¡± stems and bunching leaves like they¡¯d done it all before.
Until I heard his voice shift.
¡°They say the Council has fallen.¡±
The words drew a quiet from those nearby.
He leaned in, his voice lower, conspiratorial. ¡°A new King reigns now. A Lycan.¡±
That word. It brushed against something buried deep inside me.
¡°Thest of his kind. A monster, they say. Golden¨Ceyed. His name is Francesco Totti Lycaon, thest Lycaon family.¡±
My hand froze mid¨Cmotion.
And my heart¡ It stuttered.
I stared at the dried mint in my palm, but it wasn¡¯t what I saw. Not really.
I saw shes.
Golden light.
Eyes. Wolves. A balcony under moonlight.
A voice calling out¨Cbut the words were muffled. Garbled. As if underwater.
Mara noticed my stillness and touched my arm. ¡°Edith?¡± she asked, her voice warm with concern.
The name she gave me when I woke with no memory. The name I¡¯d answered to for nearly a year.
The traveler¡¯s story continued.
¡°They say his mate vanished. Some say she¡¯s dead. Others think she was taken. But I tell you¡¡± he nced around, lowering his voice again, ¡°they say he still searches for her. Hasn¡¯t smiled since. Some say he¡¯s mad with grief.¡±
Mate.
Luna¡
Chapter 106
Words that stirred something deep within me¡ and yet never rose to the surface.
I felt pressure in my head. A cold tightness behind my eyes. Like I should remember. Like I was reaching toward something I once knew.
But the harder I tried, the worse the pain grew.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
It was like pulling on a thread that snapped and vanished.
Mara helped me to a bench. I couldn¡¯t exin what I was feeling. It wasn¡¯t fear. It wasn¡¯t longing. It was emptiness¡ paired with a strange grief that made no sense.
That name¨CFrancesco¨Cfelt carved into my bones. And yet, when I tried to follow it, darkness met me.
Later that night, I sat by the river alone.
I watched the water curl around the stones and ripple beneath the wind.
I whispered the name to myself.
¡°Francesco.¡±
It tasted familiar.
But nothing came. No images. No memories. No answers.
Only pain¡.
Why? Why hearing the name put the pain in me?
I touched my chest as if that might quiet the ache there. But it never left.
Whoever he was, this Lycan King¡
He mattered to me?
I knew that much.
But I didn¡¯t know why.
Or how.
And I feared I never would.
Elias and I were going over the list Mara handed us¨Cherbal roots, dried blossoms, and the peculiar moss she swears helps her sleep when I heard a
familiar voice.
¡°Hi, Edith.¡±
I looked up and smiled. ¡°Hi, Damon.¡±
Damon, the vige¡¯s most energetic and often clumsy young courier, came bounding toward us. He always had a task in hand, a bag slung over his shoulder, and a sheepish grin that made it hard to stay annoyed with him for long.
He turned to Elias. ¡°Elias, did you get the things I asked you?¡±
17:17 Sun, 20 Jul J
Elias nodded and reached into therger bag strapped behind him, pulling it forward. ¡°Here¡ everything you asked for
Damon sighed and made a tck sound with his tongue. ¡°I don¡¯t know which one is which, Elias. Why can¡¯t you just join us and take it to the King?¡±
I froze.
The King?
I swallowed and forced myself to speak casually. ¡°Um¡ I heard the King?¡±
42%
201
Damon nodded without hesitation. ¡°Yes. Lately his Beta has been requesting more deliveries¨Csaying it¡¯s for their magician, or something, I don¡¯t know exactly. But now I have to deliver this personally because I messed up thest order. That¡¯s why I asked Elias.¡±
Elias frowned, waving a hand. ¡°I¡¯m too old to travel, Damon. You know that. Why don¡¯t you take a moment and learn what each herb looks like? it¡¯s been months and you still can¡¯t tellfrey from mugwort.¡±
Damon groaned in defeat. ¡°You know I¡¯m stupid.¡±
I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle softly.
¡°Well¡ maybe I could help,¡± I offered.
Both of them blinked at me, stunned.
¡°You sure, Edith?¡± Elias asked quickly. ¡°It¡¯s a two¨Cday trip to the King¡¯s territory.¡±
I nodded, already understanding the value. Elias and Mara had done so much for me. I couldn¡¯t exin why I felt drawn to help this time¨Cbut the idea of going didn¡¯t frighten me.
Besides, I knew the herbs better than most. Damon could carry the load, and I could make sure nothing was mibeled.
Elias still looked unsure, but slowly nodded. ¡°You¡¯re sharp with nts, girl. Might just keep him from getting into trouble again.¡±
Damon grinned, triumphant. ¡°Finally! Maybe they¡¯ll stop yelling at me now.¡±
We quickly made a n¨CI¡¯d leave at dawn with other traders who were scheduled to travel toward the Lycan King¡¯s territory. Damon and I would ride with them for safety and split off near the castle gates.
I told myself I was doing it to help Elias.
To repay kindness.
But something stirred in me that I couldn¡¯t name.
I didn¡¯t know that the path I chose would bring me face to face with a destiny couldn¡¯t remember.
Still His 107
Chapter 107
The journey began before sunrise.
The sky was still wrapped in a soft violet hue, and the chill of dawn clung to the air as we packed the cart. Damon, still yawning, offered to take the reins while I double¨Cchecked the bundles of herbs, making sure everything wasbeled clearly. Elias had seen us off with a tired smile, pressing a wrapped pastry into my hands and whispering, ¡°Travel safe, girl.¡±
I promised I would.
I waves my hand to them when we start moving with a smile ster on my face.
The road was long but peaceful. The forests whispered in the wind, and small streams asionally crossed our path. Other traders rode ahead and behind, forming a slow¨Cmoving caravan ofughter, stories, and steady progress. Damon was talkative at first, pointing out birds and chatting about the King¡¯s guards he¡¯d met before.
But I was quiet.
The closer we got, the more uneasy I became¡ªnot in fear, but in something I didn¡¯t understand.
My heart began to beat faster the moment we crossed the outer ridge.
There was no danger. No sound of threat. Just the distant view of towering stone walls and spires rising from the misty valley ahead¨Cthe castle of the Lycan King.
But the moment I saw it, something inside me stirred.
My fingers trembled. My breath caught.
Familiar.
Why did it feel familiar?
I gripped the edge of the cart, staring at the distant silhouette. My chest tightened with something like longing, or dread, or both.
I didn¡¯t speak for the rest of the road.
It wasn¡¯t just the castle. It was everything around it. The scent of pine in the air. The curve of the mountain road. The faint whisper of wind that felt like it was calling me.
Something within me pulsed. A yearning I couldn¡¯t exin.
Damon didn¡¯t notice my silence. He simply handed me the reins when we made camp, trusting me with the horses while he snored beside the fire. Iy awake for most of the night, watching the stars between the tree branches, feeling like they, too, were familiar.
A memory tried to rise in the back of my mind¨Cmoonlight on skin, a hand brushing hair from my face¨Cbut it slipped away before I could grasp it.
By the time we reached the capital outskirts, I was pale and breathless. My skin prickled like it remembered what I could not. The streets bustled with people and noise, yet I felt apart from it all.
Then I saw it.
The castle.
Not just from afar, but up close¨Cits walls carved from pale stone and lined with banners I couldn¡¯t recognize. Soldiers in ck and silver armor guarded the gates, their postures firm but calm.
My heart pounded in my chest.
19:00 Mon, 21 Jul M
We joined the line of merchants waiting to enter. My eyes swept across every corner. Every tower. Every doorway.
And then it hit me-
The scent.
Warm, wild, ancient.
It hit me like a thunderp.
I staggered slightly, gripping the side of the cart.
My chest ached.
I blinked rapidly, trying to shake the sudden vertigo. Damon steadied me, frowning. ¡°You okay?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± I lied, my voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Just¡ dizzy.¡±
I didn¡¯t know what was happening. My mind was still nk. But my body remembered something my heart did not.
And someone was near.
Third Person Point of View:
The castle courtyard bustled with quiet order. Guards moved in practiced rhythm, patrolling the stone corridors. Merchants passed through the outer gates under watchful eyes.
Monica, now working with the pce as a healer and teacher, was walking a group of pups toward the market garden when she paused.
There, in the crowd of arrivals, her eyes caught a sh of movement.
A woman.
Silver hair. Long, soft waves tied in a simple braid.
Graceful.
But it wasn¡¯t the hair that made Monica stop. It was the face.
Her heart thudded once.
¡°Luna?¡± she whispered without thinking, her voice barely audible.
But no.
It couldn¡¯t be.
Eine¡¯s hair had been dark. Rich brown, like the earth before winter.
Yet this woman¨Cthis stranger¨Cwore silver like moonlight.
And still, the face.
The shape of her eyes. The line of her jaw. The way she looked up at the sky, lost in thought.
Monica gasped.
214
White.
The wolf. Eine¡¯s wolf¡ had silver fur that glowed like snow under moonlight
Could it be¡?
Her hands began to tremble.
She dropped the basket she was carrying, the fruit rolling out across the path.
One of the children tugged on her sleeve. ¡°Miss Monica?¡±
But Monica didn¡¯t answer.
She turned quickly, eyes locked on the woman walking beside a young courier.
She followed.
Quiet. Careful.
Her heart racing.
Am I dreaming?
Is this her?
No. It couldn¡¯t be. But¡ what if it is?
She watched the womanugh quietly at something the courier said. The sound was soft. Familiar.
Tears threatened Monica¡¯s eyes.
She reached into her pocket, fumbling for the small stone she always carried¨Cthe one connected to Audrey.
Her voice shook when she whispered into it.
¡°Audrey¡ you need toe to the castle gates. Now. I¡ I think I just saw our Luna.¡±
Meanwhile, in another wing of the castle,..
Audrey had just finished debriefing with the southern scouts when the stone pulsed in her pocket.
She answered it out of habit, expecting a supply update or healer¡¯s call.
Instead, Monica¡¯s breathless voice filled her ear.
She froze.
¡°What did you say?¡± Audrey whispered.
Monica¡¯s voice came again, tighter now. ¡°I saw her. I swear. Come quickly. Don¡¯t bring attention. Just you.¡±
Audrey¡¯s heart pounded. She didn¡¯t ask for proof.
She didn¡¯t need it.
Within seconds, she was gone from the training hall, her cloak flying behind her.
3/4
1
Mon, 21
Whatever this was, she had to see it with her own eyes.
Comment
Still His 108
Chapter 108
Audrey¡¯s Point of View:
The stone in my pocket pulsed again, but I was already moving.
Monica¡¯s voice echoed in my thoughts, shaky and disbelieving: ¡°I saw her. I swear.¡±
I didn¡¯t allow myself to hope. Hope had teeth. Hope could rip you apart if it proved false.
But Iran.
The courtyard bustled with life¨Cguards shifting ranks, traders shouting greetings, childrenughing near the garden wall¨Cbut all of it faded to the background as I spotted Monica.
-just beyond the line
She was half¨Chidden behind an herb stall, her back pressed against the wooden beam, her eyes locked on something¨Cor someone¨Cj of market carts.
I followed her gaze.
And the world stilled.
She stood not far away, her back turned to us, speaking gently to a young man I recognized as Damon, the courier. She wore a simple traveler¡¯s cloak, dust on the hem and a bundle of wrapped herbs in her hands. Her silver hair was tied in a loose braid that shimmered in the sunlight.
But her profile-
My throat closed.
The curve of her cheek. The angle of her jaw. The way her lips moved, calm and soft.
Monica had been right.
¡°Moon above,¡± I whispered.
¡°She looks different,¡± Monica said beside me, ¡°but¡ it¡¯s her, Audrey., The way she smiled. The way she walks.¡±
I didn¡¯t answer. I stepped forward just enough to catch a better view¨Cand in that moment, she turned slightly.
Eyes like starlight. The same haunted light that had once looked at me from across the moonlit hills of Italy.
My Luna.
Eine.
But she didn¡¯t look at me with recognition. She didn¡¯t freeze or call my name. She didn¡¯t shift. She just handed Damon a cloth pouch and pointed toward the courtyard,pletely unaware of the storm building behind her.
¡°She doesn¡¯t know,¡± I murmured.
Monica nodded. ¡°She¡¯s pretending to be someone else. She¡¯s with the traders, traveling like a healer.¡±
We watched a few more moments in silence.
¡°She answered to ¡®Edith,¡± Monica whispered. ¡°That¡¯s what the boy called her, Edith.¡±
Edith.
1/4
19:01 Mon, 21 Jul M
They must¡¯ve renamed her. Whoever found her after she disappeared. The poison¨Cthe forgetful poison¨Chad taken more than her memory, it had stolen, her identity.
And yet, here she was.
In our territory.
In his territory.
The threads of fate had begun to weave again, pulling her back.
¡°She¡¯s here for a delivery,¡± Monica added, her voice trembling. ¡°Herbs. Some of it for the King¡¯s court. I overheard the courier mention it.¡±
That made things easier.
We couldn¡¯t simply run to her. Not yet. The trauma of recognition too sudden might send her mind reeling, especially with the poison still in her blood.
But we could observe. We could begin to bring her home slowly. Gently.
I turned to Monica. ¡°Stay with her. Watch where they go. Don¡¯t engage unless something goe
¡°And you?¡±
I clenched my fists, heart pounding.
¡°I¡¯m going to the Beta, he knows what to do.¡±
Because the King Alpha, Francesco needed to know.
n
He had been searching for her without rest. Traveling between territories. Erasing rogues, yes¨Cbut always with the same question on his lips.
Have you seen her? My mate. My Luna.
And now¨Cshe was here.
Francesco¡¯s Point of View:
They say a King Alpha¡¯s duty is to his court. That his throne is sacred. That his presence alonemands order, unity, and fear. But what good is a throne if your soul has vanished?
Since the day Eine disappeared, I have barely been able to breathe inside the pce walls.
The stone halls once held herughter, her footsteps, her scent. Now they suffocate me. So I left. Months ago. And I haven¡¯t stopped moving since.
What began as a mission to stabilize rogue activity across neighboring territories quickly became something else¨Ca personal pilgrimage. An endless, desperate search. Each journey cloaked in official reasons¨Csupport for allies, strategic interventions, border strengthening¨Cbut underneath it all, I was just a man searching for the woman who held his soul.
My Eine.
The world believed she was dead. The healers and seers imed she had passed to the stars¨Cthat her energy had scattered. But I refused to believe it. Not because I¡¯m a fool. But because the bond didn¡¯t die.
It changed.
When I tried to reach her through our connection, I felt something broken, muted¡ªbut not gone. There were shes of pain, sharp and sudden like a scream swallowed by silence. My wolf paced endlessly inside me, growling at the emptiness, confused by the severed threads but unwilling to let go.
That¡¯s when I knew.
She was alive.
Wounded, maybe. Hidden. Maybe even¡ made to forget.
So I began to move.
I rode north, helping the Hignd Packs fortify their defenses after a sudden surge of rogue attacks. We cleared a dozen camps hidden beneath frozen cliffs, and I interrogated every survivor. Some knew nothing. Some lied. But one old rogue¨Cdying in a pool of his own blood¨Cwhispered of a girl taken by a hidden faction. He didn¡¯t know her name. But he said she screamed like she¡¯d lost everything.
I nearly tore him apart for not remembering more.
Next, I went west¨Cto the Rainfold Enve¨Cwhere an allied Alpha begged for support rebuilding his border town after a mysterious fire. We stayed a week. In that time, I scoured their underground shelters, searching among healers, refugees, and wandering witches for anyone who might¡¯ve helped a woman with a broken memory. I found a blind herbalist who said she once treated a girl who cried in her sleep and smelled of moonlight. But by the time I reached her vige, it had already been abandoned.
Still, I followed the trail.
Everywhere I went, I left behind rumors of the King Alpha looking for something he wouldn¡¯t name. I let them talk. Let the whispers spread. Sometimes information came back to me. Sometimes it didn¡¯t.
I didn¡¯t care.
I kept going.
I visited packs who had once been enemies¨Coffering aid, protection, even treaties¨Cif it meant I could search theirnds, ask their people, look into the eyes of every woman in every vige and hope to see her.
I didn¡¯t sleep much. Didn¡¯t eat properly. My men worried. Audrey begged me to rest. Even Alfonso¨Cthe most stoic of us¨Csaid I was beginning to unravel.
But none of them stopped me.
They knew.
This wasn¡¯t just about love.
This was about a bond fated by the Moon herself. A connection that shouldn¡¯t have been broken.
Eine was not just my mate.
She was the one light that made all this power bearable. Without her, I ruled a world that no longer meant anything.
Some nights, I sat alone in the mountains, staring into the mes of my campfire and wondering if she was doing the same. If she remembered anything. If she cried for something she couldn¡¯t name.
I would¡¯ve burned down the world to bring her back.
Instead, I searched every inch of it I could reach.
And now, after all these months of failure, silence, and bone¨Cdeep exhaustion¨Ca whisper.
Beta¡¯s voice in my head, he sounds worry and nervous: ¡°My King, you need toe home.¡±
For a moment, I couldn¡¯t move. Couldn¡¯t speak, hoping he will give me a great news.
¡®Something¡¯s wrong?¡® I growled through the link.
19:01 Mon, 21 Jul M
¡®My King. We found her¡± My heart mmed once, painfully hard, then again. ¡°She¡¯s in the courtyard. She¡¯s with traders. Her name¡¯s different, her hair s It changed¡ It was silver, white¡ But it¡¯s her. I swear to the Moon, Alpha Francesco¨Cit¡¯s her.¡±
Time cracked open.
I was hundreds of miles away in the western mountains, but I didn¡¯t care.
¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± I said to the Joshua and Marlow as I stalked toward my horse. ¡°Now.¡±
They followed without question.
Still His 109
Chapter 109
Francesco¡¯s Point of View:
I didn¡¯t remember saddling the horse.
Didn¡¯t remember barking the order to my guards or shifting into my Lycan form long enough to tear through the cold mist of the Western border.
All I remember is running¨Ca blur of pine, wind, and rage.
Because hope, real hope, is a brutal thing.
It seizes your lungs like fire and whispers lies even as it dares you to believe.
It¡¯s her. It¡¯s her. It¡¯s her!
Alfonso wouldn¡¯t have called untess he was certain. Monica and Audrey wouldn¡¯t have risked reporting unless she¡¯d looked Eine in the eyes and felt it.
Still¨CI had been let down before. Too many times. Too many false leads. Too many women with haunted eyes who weren¡¯t her.
And yet this time¡
My chest burned with something I hadn¡¯t allowed myself to feel in months.
What if it is her?
I rode without stopping. The rogue camps we¡¯d nned to raid tomorrow would have to wait. Let them fester another day. Nothing mattered now except this. Her..
The terrain blurred beneath my horse¡¯s hooves as we thundered through the narrow pass out of the western territory. The guards I¡¯d left behind would catch upter. Only Marlow and Joshua kept pace beside me¨Csilent, grim, but never once asking questions.
They knew better.
My bond with Eine had once been an open current¨Cgolden, gentle, vibrant. But when she vanished, it copsed into a void so ck it left my wolf howling in confusion. I¡¯d searched across Europe trying to feel her again, even if it was only a ghost of her pain. I¡¯d epted I might never hear her voice again, that I¡¯d spend the rest of my immortal life walking the earth with half a soul.
Until now.
Until my Beta¡¯s mind¨Clink had shattered the numbness.
¡°She answered to Edith,¡± Audrey added. ¡°She smiled, Alpha. She smiled like she used to¨Csoft, like sunlight.¡± She¡¯s her protector, her bodyguard who always with her, so she know her better.
I clutched the reins tighter, knuckles bloodless.
It couldn¡¯t be coincidence. Not again.
I stopped once to switch horses at a ry station near the Southern Ridge. My first mount had run itself nearly to copse. I whispered thanks to it¨Cmy. voice hoarse¨Cand swung onto the next without waiting to breathe. My wolf paced just beneath my skin, restless and tense, as if even he was afraid to believe it.
By dusk, the moon had risen, faint and half¨Cfull. Her moon. Her light.
And still I rode.
We cut through the northern forest under the cover of nightfall. Trees blurred like memories. I passed familiar watchtowers, trade routes, river crossings.
19.01 M
Normally I¡¯d pause to greet the border scouts or update them on orders. Not tonight.
Tonight I was just a man possessed by hope.
The final stretch home was the hardest.
I slowed briefly at the cliff trail overlooking the valley below¨Cour valley. The lights of the capital glimmered like stars reflected in still water. From here, the pce loomed tall against the night sky, distant and unreachable.
My heart thundered.
If Alfonso, Audrey and Monica was right¡ if it truly was Eine¡
She¡¯s down there.
Alive.
Breathing.
So close I could almost feel her.
I pressed my heels into the horse¡¯s side, urging it forward.
We reached the gates just after sun down. The guards at the wall recognized my scent and opened them instantly. No one dared question why I returned with such speed, sweat¨Cslicked and blood¨Ceyed like a creature out of war.
Alfonso was there to coordinate our arrival; he knew I aming. Marlow dismounted first and ran ahead to clear the main courtyard.
And me? I stood still for a long moment under the moonlight, gripping the reins so tightly I nearly tore the leather.
I was afraid to move.
Because this was the moment.
After months of searching, chasing shadows, bleeding across enemynds, begging witches and seers for answers¡
She might be just a few steps away.
I exhaled once.
Then I moved to where Audrey and Monica stood waiting at the edge of the inner courtyard.
Their expressions were tight with caution, but behind their calm, I sensed the ripple of barely restrained urgency.
¡°Tell me how you found her. Is it truly her?¡± I demanded, my voice a low growl as my boots echoed against the marble floor. I didn¡¯t stop walking. My pace was that of a man chasing time. ¡°Where is she now?¡±
Monica, ever respectful, fell into step beside me. ¡°She wandered into the market, Alpha. At first I thought she was one of the trader since shees with them. But then-¡± she swallowed hard. ¡°I saw her face.¡±
My pulse quickened.
¡°I mind¨Clinked Audrey right away. Her hair, it¡¯s silver now,¡± Monica added, ncing at me nervously. ¡°Almost white. Her scent is faint, masked by something¨Cher wolf is silent, like she¡¯s buried it deep.¡±
Audrey caught up on my other side, her tone firm butced with concern. ¡°They call her, Edith. She didn¡¯t recognize the ce. Didn¡¯t recognize me either. But there¡¯s something familiar in her mannerisms. The way she tilts her head when she listens, or how she steps back when nervous.¡±
¡°I have to meet her,¡± I said hoarsely.
19.02 Mon, 21 Jul M
¡°Please hold, Alpha.¡± Audrey stepped in front of me, and I almost growled at the obstacle in my path.
She raised both hands. ¡°Forgive me, Alpha, I¡¯m not stopping you. But listen to me: she doesn¡¯t remember anything. Not you. Not the pack. Not even her
own name.¡±
I froze. My wolf surged against my ribs, howling in grief. Is it because of the poison?
I stopped moving.
A tree stood to my right, part of the pce¡¯s indoor garden, and before I could stop myself¨CSMACK!
My fist mmed into the thick trunk.
The bark split open, bark splinters cracking and falling like snow. The sound startled everyone around me.
Monica and Audrey tensed but didn¡¯t move. Alfonso and the other warrior who¡¯s around stayedpletely still.
I heaved, my breath ragged, my chest tight. The scent of sap and fresh blood from my knuckles mingled in the air. I wasn¡¯t angry at them¨CI was furious at fate. At the world. At myself.
¡°Sorry,¡± I muttered, my voice low and hoarse. ¡°I just¡¡±
¡°I understand, Alpha¡± Audrey said gently. ¡°We all do. But if you charge in there now with that storm in your chest, you might scare her. She doesn¡¯t know what a Lycan is anymore, let alone who you are to her.¡±
I clenched my jaw. My wolf was pacing inside me, desperate to see her, to catch her scent properly¨Cto know. But Audrey was right. The man she once knew wasn¡¯t the man standing here now, bleeding and shaking.
I didn¡¯t want to frighten her.
Slowly, I lowered my hand. My fingers throbbed, blood dripping down my wrist.
Monica stepped forward and bowed slightly, speaking with soft determination. ¡°We will get to know her, get closer.¡±
I closed my eyes briefly.
My Eine¡ªgoddess help me, even if she called herself Edith now¨Chad crawled her way through pain and poison, all the way back to my territory. Back to me. She didn¡¯t know it. Maybe didn¡¯t even want it.
But she was here.
I opened my eyes, meeting each of their gazes. ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait. We should do what we can do for her.¡±
Audrey blinked. ¡°Alpha-¡±
¡°I¡¯ll wait,¡± I repeated more firmly. ¡°I won¡¯t barge in and scare her. But I need to see her. Just from a distance if necessary. Let me just¡ look at her. Please.¡±
They exchanged giances, for the first their Alpha king show differences, he even say please.
So, Monica nodded.
Still His 110
Chapter 110
Eine¡¯s Point of View (as Edith):
The great hall was alive with light and warmth. Laughter echoed off the high¨Cvaulted ceilings. Music from a soft string trio flowed beneath the murmur of voices and the clink of goblets.
I hadn¡¯t realized how long it had been since I¡¯d been in a ce like this. Not just beautiful-
-but
weing.
¡°Here,¡± Damon said, pulling out a bench for me at the lower table, not too far from the center where nobles and court officials were seated, yet far enough to keep usfortable in our simplicity. ¡°This is the spot reserved for the
I sat, brushing invisible dust from my skirt as my eyes flicked around finished dream. Familiar. Terrifyingly familiar.
the
delivery tea
team.¡±
The longer I stayed, the more this castle gnawed at my mind like a half-
But every time I tried to focus, it vanished¨Clike fog slipping through my fingers.
¡°Edith, this is Monica,¡± Damon said, nodding toward the red¨Chaired woman across from me. ¡°She¡¯s the one who helped us set up your room for the night. Told me I needed to stop calling myself a merchant and start dressing like I wasn¡¯t raised by wolves.¡±
Monica chuckled, her eyes never leaving mine. ¡°It¡¯s true. He had twigs in his hair when I first met him.¡±
I smiled politely, but a strange tension pulled at
my chest.
Monica extended her hand, and when I took it, a shiver went through me.
She held it a beat longer than necessary. Her touch was warm, grounding¨Cbut her expression unreadable.
¡°I¡¯ve never heard of a healer with your precision,¡± she said after a moment. ¡°Elias spoke highly of you.¡±
¡°Elias has poor eyesight and a kind heart,¡± I said gently, trying to deflect the sudden attention.
¡°Don¡¯t be modest,¡± Damon chimed in. ¡°Tell them what you did when Elias¡¯s leg wound festeredst winter. You crushed that ckroot into salve like it was second nature.¡±
Monica tilted her head. ¡°Where did you learn that?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± I admitted softly. ¡°It¡¯s like it was already in me. I just¡ know things. I don¡¯t remember where from. Sometimes I wake up and feel like I¡¯ve forgotten something important, but when I try to chase it, it¡¯s gone.¡±
A long silence followed my words.
Then Audrey approached, her tall form moving like shadow and
¡°I¡¯m Audrey,¡± she said. ¡°May I sit?¡±
steel i
line
one.
I nodded and shifted to make space. She sat beside me, her eyes careful, like someone reading a very old book.
¡°You said you don¡¯t remember?¡± she asked casually, pouring herself s
I hesitated, unsure how much to say, but Damon answered for me.
goblet of wine.
¡°She¡¯s not lying. The old couple¨CElias and Nara¨Cthey found her half¨Cdead by the riverside near the old ruins, about eleven months ago. Looked like she¡¯d been mauled or tortured, or both.¡±
1 flinched slightly at his bluntness.
¡°She had silver hair, blood everywhere, wounds deep into the bone. And yet, she was breathing. Nara said it was like she refused to die.¡±
1/4
I stared down at my hands. Those memories- those awful, blinding shes of pain¨Ccame only in dreams. I never spoke of them.
¡°They cared for her,¡± Damon went on. ¡°Treated her like their own daughter. Their kids died in thest rogue war, so Edith filled that gap. She helped rebuild their garden, learned the trade with Elias. She has a talent, I swear¨Clike she was born with herbs in her blood.¡±
Audrey and Monica exchanged a nce I couldn¡¯t read.
¡°You don¡¯t remember your name?¡± Audrey asked me.
¡°No,¡± I whispered. ¡°Not even my own. One night I was nothing. Then I woke up with the name ¡®Edith¡® because Nara said I looked like her grandmother.
¡°Does it ever¡ feel wrong?¡± Monica asked gently. ¡°That name?¡±
I looked up, startled.
All the time.
But I didn¡¯t say that.
¡°I don¡¯t know what feels right,¡± I said instead. ¡°Only that sometimes I get this ache. Like I¡¯m trying to remember someone I love¨Cbut their face is missing.¡±
A silence spread across the table.
Then Audrey spoke, her voice softer than before. ¡°That sounds like the kind of love that survives even when the mind forgets.¡±
Goosebumps rose on my arms.
I swallowed and reached for the tea.
At the far end of the hall, the King¡¯s seat remained empty, but asionally, I felt like
above.
someone was w watching me. Not from within the room¨Cbut from
The hall had balconies. Shadows.
I caught myself looking toward them more than once, and every time I did, my heart would
After the feast, Monica offered to walk me to the guest wing.
race
The corridor was quiet, dimly lit with glowing orbs hanging in sconces, casting long shadows across the walls.
¡°You¡¯re staying just down the hall from the apothecary,¡± she exined. ¡°If you want, we can show you our garden tomorrow. It¡¯s not as wild as Elias¡¯s but the greenhouse has herbs from the western marshes.¡±
¡°That would be lovely,¡± I said.
Monica paused at the door. Her eyes lingered on me again.
¡°You¡¯re safe here,¡± she said.
¡°I know.¡±
¡°No, I mean truly safe. No one will hurt you here. Even if you can¡¯t remember¡ your body will.¡±
She left me with those words, closing the door behind her.
I stood there, heart pounding, as the room embraced me in silence.
Who was before all of this?
2/4
Chapter 110
And why did this castle feel like it once held my soul.
That night, I couldn¡¯t sleep.
Something hummed beneath my skin. Not fear. Not quite.
Something ancient. Familiar. Hungry.
I found myself walking the corridors alone.
I didn¡¯t know where I was going¨Cbut my feet seemed to know. My hands grazed the walls as if they were speaking to me in silence.
Every guard I passed didn¡¯t stop me. They only nodded, bowed slightly, and let me through without question.
Why?
Why did they trust me so easily?
It didn¡¯t make sense.
I kept walking.
Down a winding hall, through an archway of blooming ivy, across a quiet garden path.
Then I stopped.
My breath caught in my throat.
Blue roses.
A single bush stood at the center of a moonlit courtyard, bathed in silver glow. I¡¯d heard of them. Rumors. Legends. Rare and sacred.
Why were they here?
Drawn forward, I walked until I knelt beside them. The petals were cool to the touch, kissed by dew. My fingers reached out, trembling.
I had never seen them before.
And yet¡ my chest ached with a memory I couldn¡¯t grasp.
When I touched a bloom, a sharp prick caught my skin.
¡°Ow¨Cshit,¡± I hissed, drawing back as blood welled at my fingertip.
¡°Careful.¡±
The voice was deep. Familiar.
I gasped as a warm hand gently caught mine, wrappingrge fingers around mine before I could pull away.
I froze.
Slowly, I looked up¨Cmy breath caught in my throat.
Golden eyes.
Fierce, glowing. Devastated.
3/4
He was beautiful.
Terrifying. Broken. Like a storm barely caged in a man¡¯s skin.
And those eyes weren¡¯t looking at me.
They were looking into me.
Who¡ who was he?
Why did my heart break just seeing him?
Still His 111
Chapter 111
Chapter 111
Still Eine (as Edith) point of view:
¡°You okay?¡± he asked, his deep voice rumbled with concern, snapping me from whatever trance I¡¯d fallen into.
I quickly shook my head and gave him a shaky nod.
¡°Yes. Sorry,¡± I murmured, suddenly conscious of how close he was.
I tried to pull my hand back¨Cbut he didn¡¯t let go. Instead, to myplete shock, he leaned forward and¨Cwithout hesitation¨Cput my finger in his mouth, gently licking the wound.
My breath caught in my throat. A strange heat bloomed beneath my skin. I could feel it rising to my cheeks, a warmth I couldn¡¯t stop.
When he looked up again, his golden eyes gleamed¡ªlike he saw it. My flustered expression. My blushing skin. And to my horror, he looked amused.
Iyanked my hand away quickly, cradling it close to my chest.
¡°I¡ I¡¯m okay, thanks,¡± I mumbled, embarrassed beyond belief.
He didn¡¯t look offended. If anything, his expression softened, almost fond.
¡°How did you find this ce?¡± he asked after a pause, his gaze flicking briefly to the blue roses behind me.
The question made my chest tighten. I looked up quickly, worried.
¡°Why? Is this forbidden?¡± I blurted out. ¡°I¨CI didn¡¯t know, I just¡ I don¡¯t know how I got here, my feet just kept walking, and suddenly I was here. I didn¡¯t
mean to¨Cif this is the king¡¯s garden-¡±
He lifted a hand gently, calming my panic.
¡°No. Not like that. It¡¯s just a question. You¡¯re not in trouble.¡±
I let out a shaky sigh, pressing my hand over my heart.
¡°I thought I walked into a forbidden ce,¡± I admitted.
His brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Why do you think the king would be mad?¡±
Thesitated.
Because he feels like someone who would be. Because everyone speaks of him like a ghost wearing a crown.
¡°I heard¡ stories,¡± I said carefully. ¡°People said the king is a cold man. Ruthless.¡±
He didn¡¯t say anything at first.
I studied him instead¨Chis strong jaw, the dark hair slightly tousled from wind or training. The way his shoulders moved under the soft warrior¡¯s shirt. The sword strapped to his back glinted under the garden lights.
¡°You just finished training?¡± I asked, tilting my head. ¡°Are you
a
warrior?¡±
His eyes widened slightly, like my question caught him off guard. Then he nodded.
¡°Yes. I am a warrior.¡±
I smiled, feeling a little less nervous.
¡°My name is Edith. Nice to meet you.¡±
He looked at my hand for a second, then took it carefully. I didn¡¯t expect him to kiss it.
But he did.
A feather¨Clight brush of lips against my skin.
¡°I am Frans,¡± he said. ¡°Nice to meet you too, Edith.¡±
Frans. The name rolled easily off his tongue, but something in his eyes twisted when he said it. Like it wasn¡¯t a lie¨Cbut not the whole truth either.
Still, I smiled.
¡°It¡¯s a beautiful garden,¡± I said softly. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen blue roses before.¡±
¡°They¡¯re rare,¡± he murmured, stepping beside me, gazing at them. ¡°I nted them for someone. A long time ago.¡±
¡°Oh,¡± I said, unsure why my heart clenched hearing that. ¡°Someone special?¡±
He didn¡¯t answer at first. His golden eyes stayed locked on the flowers.
¡°Yes,¡± he said finally. ¡°The most special.¡±
I looked away, feeling suddenly out of ce. I shouldn¡¯t pry.
But before the silence grew awkward, he spoke again..
¡°You¡¯re staying here long?¡± he asked gently.
I shrugged. ¡°Just for the night, I think. I came with a delivery team. Damon¡¯s the merchant. We¡¯re leaving at dawn.¡±
His jaw tensed.
Then he gave me a small smile, though it didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes.
¡°I hope you¡¯ll visit again,¡± he said.
I nodded politely, even though I knew I probably wouldn¡¯t. The castle was beautiful, but it wasn¡¯t mine. I didn¡¯t belong here. Not with nobles. Not in strange gardens with mysterious warriors.
But part of me¡ a very small, very quiet part¡ wanted to stay a little longer.
Just to see him again.
¡°Goodnight, Edith,¡± he said.
¡°Goodnight, Frans.¡±
And with that, I turned and walked back the way I came.
But even as I moved farther from the garden, I could feel I his presence lingering behind me¨Clike moonlight warming the back of my neck.
Francesco¡¯s Point of View:
¡°I am Frans,¡± I said, and the lie tasted like/ash in my mouth.
But her smile made the pain worth it.
¡°Nice to meet you too, Edith.¡±
Gods. That name. Wrong in every way, and yet hearing it fall from her lips made my chest tighten with a desperate kind of longing. Her voice, theme one that used to say my name in sleep and song, now called herself something that wasn¡¯t her.
But I couldn¡¯t tell her yet.
So, I stood there, holding her hand gently as if it were made of fragile ss, and kissed it.
She blushed. I saw the way her cheeks warmed, how her eyes flicked away shyly, like she didn¡¯t know what to do with the feeling. And gods, that innocence¨Cher innocence¨Cwas still there.
That¡¯s when I knew.
Whatever they tried to poison¡ they didn¡¯t kill her soul.
She was still there. My Eine. Buried deep beneath forgetfulness and pain, but still alive.
I let her go.
Only physically. Not emotionally. Not spiritually. I watched her walk away from the garden like she was taking half my soul with her all over again.
And for the first time in a year, I didn¡¯t feel broken watching her leave.
Because I knew where she was.
I had touched her again. Heard her voice. Looked into those eyes that no longer remembered me¨Cand I still found peace in them.
When she disappeared into the corridor¡¯s curve, I closed my eyes, letting my senses drink the scent of her magic, her wolf, and her sadness. That same soft cinnamon and moonlight.
¡°She still walks like a Luna,¡± Marlow said behind me.
¡°She is,¡± I replied softly.
Alfonso exhaled slowly. ¡°You okay?¡±
¡°No,¡± I answered honestly. ¡°But I will be.¡±
We stood in silence for a while, before 1 turned to them, fire returning to my veins.
¡°We need a n.¡±
By the time we returned to the war room, the maps had already been cleared and reced with the most sensitive files I had kept hidden since the fall of the council. Audrey and Monica were waiting¨CAudrey already had Lira contacted via mindlink.
¡°Lira says she¡¯s preparing a slow¨Crelease potion,¡± Audrey said. ¡°One that won¡¯t cause damage. But it has to be delivered over time. Her mind is still fragile. Too much, too fast, and she might copse.¡±
I nodded. ¡°And we can¡¯t risk drawing attention. Not to her. Not yet.¡±
Monica stepped forward. ¡°She trusts me. She likes the greenhouse. I can guide her in small doses. Familiar smells. Artifacts. We¡¯ll let her lead the way.¡±
¡°Good,¡± I said. ¡°She doesn¡¯t know it, but everything around her must start reminding her of home.¡±
¡°She is home,¡± Marlow muttered.
My heart ached. ¡°But she doesn¡¯t remember¡±
¡°Yet,¡± Alfonso added firmly.
I looked around at the people I trusted most. The ones who were with me during the wars, who held me together after Anastasia. Who wanted as fak again after Eine was taken.
¡°She looked at me like I was a stranger,¡± I whispered, unable to hold it in.
Silence.
¡°She flinched when I touched her.¡±
¡°Only at first,¡± Audrey said gently. ¡°Then she smiled. Don¡¯t forget that.¡±
I swallowed hard.
¡°I wanted to fall to my knees when I saw her in that garden. I wanted to scream the truth at her. Shake the memories back into her. But I didn¡¯t
¡°Because you love her,¡± Monica said.
¡°Yes,¡± I breathed. ¡°More than my own name.¡±
That night, I couldn¡¯t sleep. I paced my chamber, restless. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her hand, bleeding from the thorn. Her smile when I kissed it. Her voice calling me Frans.
It was a dagger and a balm.
I went to the chamber beside mine. The one we had prepared. It had sat empty since we cleared out the council.
Now I filled it with new blue roses.
One by one, I plucked each rose and set them in the carved marble basin¨Cletting them float like memories on water. Each petal a wish. A promise.
I will not lose her again.
I will not let her be stolen.
I will earn her heart again¨Cmemory or not.
And if the gods are cruel enough to keep her from remembering me¡ then I will fall in love with her again, piece by piece, until she falls in love with me
too.
Even if she calls me Frans until the day I die.
At dawn, I stood behind the balcony curtains, watching the courtyard.
She was there.
Laughing softly with Monica, walking with Damon and the merchant team toward the stables. Her hair, even silver now, looked like a halo under the rising sun.
Every time she moved, something in the air shifted. Wolves paused. Guards instinctively bowed. Even without knowing, she stillmanded the respect of an entire kingdom.
Because she was born to.
And they knew.
The world knew before she did.
¡°Do you want to talk to her?¡± Audrey asked quietly beside
I shook my head. ¡°Not yet.¡±
¡°She¡¯ll be leaving today.¡±
¡°I know.¡± - me.
I exhaled.
¡°I¡¯m ordering Marlow and Alfonso to keep a protective team on her. Damon won¡¯t know. She¡¯ll be watched from a distance. Safe.¡±
Audrey nodded. ¡°And what if she neveres back?¡±
¡°She will,¡± I whispered.
Audrey tilted her head.
waz
¡°Because her soul still knows,¡± I said. ¡°Even if her mind has forgotten, her soul still aches for something. I saw it in her eyes. She doesn¡¯t know why she feels this pain¨Cbut she feels it. And it will bring her back.¡±
Audrey nodded slowly. ¡°Then we prepare. Gently. Carefully.¡±
¡°Lira muste soon,¡± I added. ¡°And when she does, I want her working with Monica. One dose at a time. Nothing too strong. Let Edith¡°¡ªmy voice trembled ¡°let Eine find her own way back.¡±
Audrey¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°She will. You already reached her once, Alpha. You¡¯ll do it again.¡±
As the gates opened and the caravan began to leave, I didn¡¯t step outside.
I only whispered into the wind:
¡°Find your way back to me, my Luna. Even if it takes a lifetime, I will wait.¡±
1
Still His 112
Chapter 112
Chapter 112
Eine (Now Edith) Point of view:
¡°Frans¡¡±
His name lingered in the air like the soft aftertaste of honey tea¨Cwarm, strange, and unexpectedlyforting. I couldn¡¯t s stop smiling. My fingers, idle, traced the fabric of the nket I sat on, brushing over a seam again and again as if doing so would help me make sense of the feelings swirling inside my
ch¨¦st.
Why?
Why did his name stir something in me¨Csomething gentle yet chaotic?
We had barely spoken beyond what could be considered polite conversation. A few words. A few nces. And yet, his voice, low and rough like velvet dragged over gravel, clung to my memory more stubbornly than it had any right to.
I sighed and rolled onto my back on the bed, staring at the ceiling of the small, warm inn room. The wooden beams above were old, carrying the scent of pine and the creaks of stories long forgotten. Themp flickered gently beside me. I was supposed to rest. Damon said we¡¯d leave early in the morning, but I hadn¡¯t even begun to pack.
I was¡ hesitating.
Something about this ce¨Cit clung to me like dew in the morning. Something I didn¡¯t understand. Something I didn¡¯t want to leave behind.
Knock. Knock.
The sound startled me, and I sat up abruptly. The smile that had been fading returned, reced by surprise as I padded softly to the door and opened it.
¡°Damon?¡± I blinked.
He smiled, shifting the weight of his satchel on his shoulder. ¡°Sorry if I disturbed you,¡± he said with a kind smile. ¡°But the others mentioned we¡¯ll be leaving early morning tomorrow. Just wanted to give you a heads¨Cup.¡±
I nodded, slightly confused. ¡°Okay¡ I¡¯ll collect and prepare everything. But why the rush?¡±
He shrugged, ncing down the hallway before meeting my eyes again. ¡°Just a rumor, maybe nothing. But¡ the others are a bit uneasy.¡±
My brows knit together. ¡°Uneasy? Why?¡±
He scratched the back of his neck. ¡°It¡¯s just¨Cthis treatment we¡¯ve been getting. It¡¯s¡ unusual.¡±
I tilted my head, still not understanding. ¡°What treatment?¡±
¡°Dinner. A warm wee. A ce like this to stay. It¡¯s all very generous.¡± He looked around, then added, ¡°In all our trading trips, we¡¯ve never been offered this kind of hospitality. So¡ we¡¯re being cautious. Just in case.¡±
The words settled in my chest like dust. Suspicion. Doubt. I didn¡¯t want them.
¡°I see,¡± I said softly. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll follow your lead.¡±
He smiled again and raised a hand in a casual wave. ¡°Alright. See you at sunrise.¡±
The door clicked shut as I leaned against it, exhaling slowly.
So¡ we¡¯re going.
I looked around the room¨Cso simple, yet it felt more like home than the past few ces we¡¯d stayed . My gaze fell to the window. The
moonlight cast soft shadows over the wooden floor. I crossed the room and pulled the curtain slightly aside.
The city outside shimmered quietly in the night, alive but calm. I remembered walking through the marketce earlier, how everything had felt born old and familiar. The smell of spices. The hush of whispers in a dialect I didn¡¯t fully understand but still felt I should have. And then there was the moment
met him.
Frans.
Just thinking his name felt like pressing against an old bruise I didn¡¯t know I had. Not painful¨Cbut it made me aware. Like something in me stirred. Not fully awake, but certainly not asleep either.
A part of me wanted to dismiss it. I had always been good at pushing things away, burying emotions, building walls and walking away with a straight spine. But this¡ this was different. This wasn¡¯t just curiosity.
I hugged myself, resting my forehead against the cool window ss.
Why do I feel sad about going back?
It wasn¡¯t logical. I had Mara waiting. She¡¯d be worried if I dyed more than this. The others had no intention of staying either. I had no ties to this city
Or so I thought.
Why did this ce feel like it was¡ calling me?
Maybe it was the way Audrey had looked at me earlier. Gentle. Protective. Familiar. Or the soft pat on the shoulder Monica gave me, like we¡¯d been friends for years. Or maybe¡ it was something deeper. Something in the bones of the city. The heartbeat under its cobblestone skin.
Maybe¡ it was him.
¡°Stop it,¡± I muttered, pushing away from the window and grabbing my travel bag from under the bed.
It¡¯s ridiculous, I told myself. I just met him. Barely even talked to him. I¡¯m projecting. That¡¯s what Mara would say.
But my hand hesitated on the clothes I was folding,
Would I ever see Audrey again? Monica? The kindness in their eyes¡ it had felt real. Not forced, not formal. Like they knew me.
No. That was ridiculous.
I kept packing. Silently, efficiently. I folded everything I had, even though I moved slowly¨Clingering just long enough on each item as though hoping they¡¯d argue back and tell me to stay.
When I finished, I ced the bag by the door and crawled back into bed. But sleep didn¡¯te easily. My eyes stayed open, staring into the darkness.
Just before my eyelids grew too heavy, a whisper stirred in the back of my mind. Familiar. Soft.
¡°Stay.¡±
1,
The Next Morning
The inn was alive with movement. People whispering, bags being shuffled, footsteps creaking across the wooden floors. Damon greeted me with a short nod when I stepped out, my pack slung over one shoulder, my cloak draped over my arm.
¡°We¡¯ll move fast today,¡± he said. ¡°No stops if we can help it.¡±
I nodded, my throat too tight to answer.
Chapter 112
The group began to gather outside in the courtyard, the sun still barely stretching its fingers across the sky. I noticed the guards agam. More than usisa Quiet. Watching.
We left without fanfare, the city waking slowly behind us. As the horses trudged forward along the path leading out of the stone gates, I nced back
once. Just once.
And there he was.
Standing just beyond the far arch, leaning against the wall like he had every right to be part of my memory. Dressed simply in a dark coat and boots, a scarf tucked loosely around his throat.
Frans¡
He didn¡¯t wave. He didn¡¯t call out. He just stood there, watching
And I¨Ccoward that I was¨Clooked away.
Two Days Later
I had hoped distance would dull the ache.
But it didn¡¯t.
meg
This is weird¡
With every mile we put behind us, the feeling only grew. This pull. This ache. This¡ longing. I had never felt anything like it before. It wasn¡¯t just about a man. It wasn¡¯t infatuation or the thrill of a stranger¡¯s attention.
It was something else.
A memory that wasn¡¯t mine.
A yearning I couldn¡¯t exin.
Sometimes I dreamed of water. Ake or a river. Sometimes a voice I couldn¡¯t ce whispered in my sleep, calling me a different name. Not Edith. Not Eine.
Something older.
The dreams made my hands tremble and my heart race, but the worst part was how familiar it all felt. Like I was remembering, not imagining.
On the third evening, I pulled Damon aside while the others made camp.
¡°Did you¡ ever feel like something¡¯s missing?¡± I asked.
He looked up from the fire he was building. ¡°What do you mean?¡±
¡°Like¡ a piece of your story is gone. Like you¡¯re walking in the wrong direction, but you can¡¯t remember where you were going in the first ce.¡±
He stared at me for a moment before nodding slowly. ¡°Sometimes. But usually, I just me the road and keep walking.¡±
I smiled faintly but said nothing.
That Night
3/4
I walked alone, past the edge of the camp, guided by moonlight and the sound of the wind in the trees. The path was faint, almost invisible, but my feet followed it without effort. Like I¡¯d walked it before.
I stopped near an old stone wall, partially crumbled and overgrown with moss. It wasn¡¯t on any map. I knew that much.
And yet¡ I reached out and touched the stone with reve fingers.
¡°Who are you?¡± I whispered to no one.
But the wind shifted.
And a scent hit me¨Cfaint but unmistakable.
Pine. Leather. Smoke.
Him.
I closed my eyes.
¡°Frans¡¡±
+
Still His 113
Chapter 113
Chapter 113
Still Eine (Now Edith) Point of view:
SHITI
It wasn¡¯t Frans.
My heart stuttered as a low growl rumbled through the forest. It was deep and feral, echoing through the trees like a warning from the shadows.
Growll¡
That sound didn¡¯t belong to the man who had upied my thoughts these past days. It wasn¡¯t warm or reassuring. It was hungry.
¡°Shit!¡± I cursed aloud, stumbling to my feet.
Why had I wandered off again?
Why did I always follow that strange pull in my chest?
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Damon and the others had warned me about rogues. Wild werewolves without a pack, driven mad by istion or pain¨Cmonsters in the shape of men. And I had wandered away from the firelight, lost in thoughts of him.
And my wolf¡
Still silent. Still gone.
I was alone.
Crack!!
A heavy branch snapped, and I froze.
From between the trees, a massive rogue wolf emerged. Its silver coat was matted with old blood, and its fangs glistened red in the moonlight. Its eyes locked on me, glowing with hatred.
I couldn¡¯t move.
I just stood there, breath frozen, as the thing began stalking toward me. Each step was deliberate. I was prey. And it knew.
My mind screamed at me to run¨Cto scream for help.
But my legs barely obeyed.
Climb the tree. Just run. Anything!
I turned on instinct, bolting toward the nearest tree¨Cbut the rogue roared, and I knew it wasing.
I didn¡¯t make it more than three steps before it lunged.
¡°AAAHHH!¡±
I screamed, flinging my arms up uselessly.
But something strange happened.
Chapter 113
A burst of light-
Brilliant, Blinding. It exploded from my palms in a rush of heat and wind. The Togue was sted backward, yelping as it crashed through the underbrush with a heavy thud.
I stood there, panting, trembling, and stared at my glowing hands in shock.
¡°What¡ the hell¡?¡±
Before I could think, before I could even move
The rogue growled again, enraged, and charged.
I backed up in terror, heart pounding-
And then he was there.
??????????????????????????????????????
A blur of motion. A man. No¨Ca knight.
He collided with the rogue mid¨Csprint, knocking the beast off course with brutal force. They hit the ground in a tangle of limbs, and I watched, frozen, as the man rose first, blood on his hands, breathing hard.
I knew that stance. That profile. The way he moved, so controlled, so precise.
Frans¡??
But this wasn¡¯t the gentle man I met in town. This wasn¡¯t the quiet smile or the kind eyes.
This was a warrior.
And he was fighting without shifting.
Why he didn¡¯t shift?
The rogue snapped and lunged again, but Frans ducked low, grabbing a thick branch and swinging it like a de. He struck hard¨Conce in the jaw, again in the ribs. The beast howled.
Frans was fast¨Ctoo fast for a normal human. Every motion was exact. Efficient. Lethal.
The rogue lunged for his throat, and Frans spun, catching it under the jaw with his elbow. The beast reeled back, dazed.
With a roar, he drove the branch into its chest with both hands.
The rogue let out a strangled yelp¨Cthen copsed, unmoving.
Silence¡
I dropped to my knees, breath ragged, heart thundering.
Secondster, Damon and the others burst through the trees, weapons drawn, panic on their faces.
¡°Edith!¡± Damon dropped to my side. ¡°Are you-¡±
His voice caught when he saw the body.
And the man standing above it.
The others stared. Stunned. Wordless.
1:27 Ft 2500!
Blood pooled on the ground. A rogue. Dead.
And Frans¡ calm, steady, as if this were just another duty.
¡°The King ordered us¨Cknights of the crown to eliminate all rogue threats near the outer towns,¡± he said, breaking the silence. ¡°I was on patrol and didn¡¯t realize your camp was nearby.¡±
His voice wasposed. Controlled.
B¨²t his eyes were on me.
Only me.
Damon frowned as he wiped a scrape on my knee. ¡°You¡¯re lucky he was
He didn¡¯t finish.
ore,¡±
muttered. ¡°A second slower and¡¡±
Frans stepped forward, and I felt the tension shift.
I met his gaze. ¡°Thank you¡ Frans.¡±
He tilted his head slightly, lips curling into a soft, knowing smile. ¡°Always, El¡ Edith.¡±
¡°You know each other?¡± Damon asked, narrowing his eyes.
I nodded. ¡°We met yesterday in the market.¡±
Damon nced between us again, clearly suspicious.
And just when I thought Frans might vanish back into the night-
Another man arrived on horseback, armored and stern¨Cfaced. He dismounted quickly and bowed briefly toward us before turning toward Frans.
¡°Sir Francesco,¡± the man said firmly. ¡°The rogue reports match the ones from the southern trail. This one was on the run.¡±
Francesco? I frown¡
Frans gave a short nod. ¡°He nearly reached the girl.¡±
The man looked at me, brows furrowing, then turned back to Frans. ¡°The Captain requests you remain with the group until further notice. Escort them to their next post. Orders from Marlow himself.¡±
Frans nodded slightly. ¡°I understand-¡±
¡°Until the roads are cleared of all rogue activity, your protection is required.¡±
Frans didn¡¯t argue. He just looked at me again.
My breath caught.
He wasn¡¯t leaving.
Why I feel happy to know him here?
That Night we traveled no further.
The campfire crackled low. Damon sat across from me, sharpening his de, asionally ncing toward the edge of camp¨Cwhere Frans now stood on
215
Chapter 113.
quiet watch, aims crossed, eyes scanning the trees.
I pulled my nket tighter, the events of the day still a blur.
The light. The rogue. The way Frans had moved. Fought.
The way he looked at me.
¡°You good?¡± Damon asked suddenly, his voice quieter than usual.
I nodded slowly. ¡°A little shaken. But I¡¯m okay.¡±
He leaned in, whispering, ¡°That guy¡ he¡¯s not just a knight, is he?¡±
I said nothing and just shrugs.
Because I also don¡¯t know who he is.
Later on, I can¡¯t fall asleep, so I stepped away from the camping air. The trees whispered above me, and the stars blinked through gaps in the
canopy.
Frans was still at his post, back straight, watching.
He turned when I approached.
¡°I never said thank you,¡± I murmured.
¡°You did,¡± he said, voice soft. ¡°But I didn¡¯t answer properly.¡±
He turned fully toward me then.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said softly, his voice low and steady. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have been alone. I should¡¯ve gone with you.¡±
I gave a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I shouldn¡¯t have wandered off. Damon warned me.¡±
His jaw clenched, and his eyes darkened with something sharp¨Cfrustration, guilt, maybe both. ¡°Even so¡ you¡¯re safe.¡±
it¡¯s my responsibility now. I¡¯ll make sure
A pause stretched between us.
I looked up at him. His presence¨Csolid, grounding¨Cmade my chest feel strange and weightless at the same time.
¡°Why is it your responsibility?¡± I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
His gaze held mine for a long moment. For a second, I thought he wouldn¡¯t answer.
But then he let out a breath and turned slightly toward the trees, as if searching for the right words in the shadows.
¡°As a knight,¡± he said atst, ¡°it¡¯s our duty to protect everyone.¡±
I nodded slowly. It made sense. It was the kind of answer I should¡¯ve expected.
But why did I feel disappointed?
Why did part of me want him to say something different?
Something more¡
Ugh. What¡¯s wrong with me?
Chapter 113
He nced at me again, eyes flickering with quiet curiosity. ¡°They said you lost your memory?¡±
I nodded. ¡°Mara and Es found me near the river¨Chalf¨Cconscious, freezing. They brought me in and took care of me. Since then. I¡¯ve been trying to piece myself together.¡±
He studied me closely, expression unreadable. ¡°So, you don¡¯t remember anything at all?¡±
I gave a small, sad smile. ¡°No. Nothing. Not even my wolf. I haven¡¯t heard her voice since I woke up.¡±
Something shifted in his gaze. A flicker of something deep and unreadable passed through him, and for a moment, the silence between us grew heavier
But not ufortable.
Not at all.
In fact¡ for the first time in a long while, I didn¡¯t feel lost.
Not when I was near him.
I didn¡¯t understand why¨Ccouldn¡¯t exin it¡ªbut his presence calmed the storm inside me. something real.
Why?
Why did being with him feel like safety?
Why did it feel like¡
Home?
As if just by standing there, he was anchoring me to
Still His 114
Chapter 114
The fire crackled gently in the silence of the night. The soft flickers of amber and gold danced across Edith¡¯s tired features as she sat beside Frant. They had been talking for over an hour now, their conversation starting from simple questions¨CWhere are you from? What do you like to draw to thing neither of them had expected to share. Things that felt too fragile to voice but somehow safer in the quietpanionship they now shared,
Frans sat just a little too close, his warmth protecting her from the chill that settled over the forest. His arm rested on his knee, gaze flickering between her and the fire. Edith could still hear his softughter echoing in her chest from earlier, when he had teased her for her clumsy attempts at packing
She didn¡¯t know when she had leaned into him. Or when her eyes grew too heavy to keep open. All she knew was that she felt safe¨Cprotected.
And so she drifted.
It wasn¡¯t a nightmare. Not in the usual sense. It felt¡ different.
She feels like she was floating¡.
Above trees, above rivers, through clouds. There was no weight, no pain, just movement. Light.
Then the vision shifted.
A figure appeared¨Cno, painted itself into her dream, line by line, like her own sketching to life. A woman. Dressed in royal blue robes, long silver-
blonde hair twisted with ribbons. Familiar.
¡°Anastasia?¡± The name tumbled from her lips, but she didn¡¯t know why.
Or how she know her.
The woman turned. Her eyes, the same storm¨Cgray as Edith¡¯s, widened with recognition¨Cand sorrow.
Behind her, a man emerged from the shadows. Broad shoulders, noble stance, but face hidden.
Until he spoke¡
¡°Eine¡ Mio amore.¡±
Edith froze.
Eine? Who¡¯s Eine?¡±
The name echoed. And with it, the image sharpened. The man stepped into the light.
It was¡. Frans?
But not in the clothes he wore now. He was regal. Cloaked in gold¨Cstitched velvet, a crest on his chest that pulsed with something ancient. His face held pain¡ and love.
Then fire.
The forest burned. Screams. Magic surged from their hands¨Chers too? She was casting. Fighting.
Wolves. So many wolves.
And then-
Separation. A pull so sharp it cracked something inside her dream¨Cself.
And that¡¯s when she gasped.
2127
122-001
Chapter 114
¡°Edith!¡±
The voice jerked her from sleep. She shot up with a sharp inhale, chest heaving, her skin drenched with sweat,
Frans was already on his feet, his band at the hilt of his dagger, eyes scanning their surroundings for danger. But there was nothing. Only the dying fuc and sleeping traders.
Then his gaze found hers. ¡°Are you okay?¡±
as she wiped her forehead. ¡°Yeah¡ I¨CI¡¯m sorry. Just a nightmare.¡±
She tried to breathe evenly, her hands trembling ached forward and gently ced the back of his hand on her forehead.
His brow furrowed. ¡°You¡¯re soaked. Are you
His touch was warm. Too warm. And gentle..
Her heart raced, not from the dream, but from the way
looked at her. Like she was important. Like she mattered.
further, voices stirred behind them. Damon and the other traders began to rise,
She quickly shook her head. ¡°No, I think I¡¯m fine. Just the heat from the fire, maybe.¡±
Frans didn¡¯t look convinced, but he didn¡¯t argue. Before he could preparing for the early departure.
Damon came over, rubbing his eyes, ¡°You good, Edith? We¡¯ll ride out in an hour.¡±
fine. Just a weird dream.¡±
Frans opened his mouth, clearly about
to
mention her condition,
Edith subtly grabbed his wrist. He stopped. She smiled at Damon and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m
Damon gave her azy nod and walked away.
When she let go of Frans, he stared at her hand for a second, then back at her eyes. Something passed between them¨Can understanding.
Without a word, he began helping her pack.
He moved like a man with purpose, his movements precise and practiced. Edith, still shaken, watched him as he folded her nket, secured her satchel, and adjusted her cloak. He even helped her mount the horse, insisting she ride while he walked alongside.
¡°You don¡¯t have to-¡±
¡°I do,¡± he cut in gently. ¡°You¡¯ve had enough of a scare.¡±
She smiled, touched. But deep inside, questions screamed louder than before.
Who was Anastasia?
Why did Frans call her mio amore?
And why did he look like the man in her dream?
The day passed in a blur¡
Edith couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the dream. Every leaf rustle and bird call reminded her of fire and howls. Her fingers kept twitching, remembering the glow of magic.
She looked at her hand. The same hand that had lit up the night when she was attacked.
Was it real? That light? Or just adrenaline and fear?
Frans didn¡¯t bring it up. Not once. But he stayed close. Always within reach, always watching the trees as if expecting trouble.
¡°Edith!¡±
The voice jerked her from sleep. She shot up with a sharp inhale, chest heaving, her skin drenched with sweat.
Frans was already on his feet, his hand at the hilt of his dagger, eyes scanning their surroundings for danger. But there was nothing. Only the dying fire and sleeping traders.
Then his gaze found hers. ¡°Are you okay?¡±
She tried to breathe evenly, her hands trembling as she wiped her forehead. ¡°Yeah¡ I¨CI¡¯m sorry. Just a nightmare.¡±
His brow furrowed. ¡°You¡¯re soaked. Are you sick?¡± He reached forward and gently ced the back of his hand on her forehead.
His touch was warm. Too warm. And gentle.
Her heart raced, not from the dream, but from the way he looked at her. Like she was important. Like she mattered.
She quickly shook her head. ¡°No, I think I¡¯m fine. Just the heat from the fire, maybe.¡±
Frans didn¡¯t look convinced, but he didn¡¯t argue. Before he could press further, voices stirred behind them. Damon and the other traders began to rise, preparing for the early departure.
Damon came over, rubbing his eyes, ¡°You good, Edith? We¡¯ll ride out in an hour.¡±
Frans opened his mouth, clearly about to mention her condition, but Edith subtly grabbed his wrist. He stopped. She smiled at Damon and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just a weird dream.¡±
Damon gave her azy nod and walked away.
When she let go of Frans, he stared at her hand for a second, then back at her eyes. Something passed between them¨Can understanding.
Without a word, he began helping her pack.
He moved like a man with purpose, his movements precise and practiced. Edith, still shaken, watched him as he folded her nket, secured her satchel, and adjusted her cloak. He even helped her mount the horse, insisting she ride while he walked alongside.
¡°You don¡¯t have to-
¡±
¡°I do,¡± he cut in gently. ¡°You¡¯ve had enough of a scare.¡±
She smiled, touched. But deep inside, questions screamed louder than before.
Who was Anastasia?
Why did Frans call her mio amore?
And why did he look like the man in her dream?
The day passed in a blur¡
Edith couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the dream. Every leaf rustle and bird call reminded her of fire and howls. Her fingers kept twitching, remembering the glow of magic.
She looked at her hand. The same hand that had lit up the night when she was attacked.
Was it real? That light? Or just adrenaline and fear?
Frans didn¡¯t bring it up. Not once. But he stayed close. Always within reach, always watching the trees as if expecting trouble.
214
When they stopped to rest, he helped her off the horse, offering his hand with a silent nod. She epted it, his grip tint but not forceful.
They sat together again by the fire that night.
¡°Do you believe dreams mean something?¡± she asked, stirring the stew in her small tin bowl.
Frans was quiet. ¡°Sometimes. Not always.¡±
¡°What if¡ what if you dreamed of someone you¡¯ve never met? But felt like you knew them?¡±
He looked at her. Not just looked¨Cstudied. ¡°Who did you see?¡±
¡°A woman. Beautiful. Blonde hair. Her name was¡ Anastasia?¡±
Frans stiffened.
Edith noticed. ¡°You know her?¡±
He nodded slowly. ¡°She was¡ important. To the kingdom.¡±
To you? she wanted to say.
But then she added, ¡°There was also a man¡ And strangely he called me¡ Eine.¡±
Frans froze. His eyes locked on her with such intensity she almost recoiled.
¡°What did he look like?¡±
I keep staring without saying anything for a moment.
I sighed ¡°You.¡±
He looked away, jaw tightening.
Edith felt her heart pound. ¡°Frans. Who is Eine?¡±
¡°Someone lost.¡±
His voice was rough. Final. But his eyes, when they met hers again, held something deeper¨Csorrow, longing, guilt.
¡°You loved her,¡± she said quietly.
He nodded.
She lowered her gaze to the fire. ¡°Then I¡¯m sorry. For reminding you.¡±
But he shook his head. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be sorry, Edith. Some things¡ aren¡¯t so easily buried.¡±
Why? Where is she now?
She felt something stir in her chest. Pain¨Cbut not hers. His.
And she wanted to carry it for him.
They continued traveling, the terrain rougher as they entered the outskirts of the next vige. Still, Frans never left her side.
The bond forming between them was unspoken but undeniable. He always knew when to hand her water, when to offer his cloak. When she stumbled, he steadied her. When sheughed, he smiled like her happiness mattered.
By the time they reached the safety of a fortified trade post, Damon looked between them and smirked.
¡°You two keep this up, people will start calling you mates.¡±
Edith¡¯s face turned scarlet. Frans didn¡¯t speak, only stare at her with his jaw tight again.
That night, Edith sat alone in her temporary room, staring at her reflection. She ran a hand through her hair and whispered to herself.
¡°Eine¡¡±
She expected nothing. But then-
A faint echo.
¡®Yes¡ finally.
She gasped. Her eyes widened.
A voice. In her head.
Her wolf?
But then silence. Like it had never happened.
Her heart thudded wildly. She pressed her palm over her chest and whispered again.
¡°Who am I really¡?¡±
AD
Comment
Still His 115
Chapter 115
Chapter 115
My head kept pounding¡ªharder and harder until the pressure made me wince the next morning as I slowly woke up.
¡°You okay?¡± Frans¡¯s voice broke through the haze.
I blinked, the sunlight filtering through the forest canopy making it worse. Why¡ why was he still here? Why did he care so much? Even Elias and Mara, the kind souls who took me in, hadn¡¯t shown this much consistent concern. Not like him. Not like Frans.
¡°Just a bit of a headache,¡± I managed, forcing
a small smile.
But Frans wasn¡¯t convinced. His sharp eyes scanned me like he could read beyond my and pulled out a small tin. From it, he slid a single lite pill into his hand.
words. Without saying a thing, he reached into his travel satchet
¡°The healer from the capital gave us these,¡± he said, offering it to me. ¡°Take it. It helps.¡±
I hesitated, but something in me¡ªsomething deeper than trust¨Cnudged me forward. I reached for it and took the ss of water he poured from his thermos.
Swallowing it down, I sighed. Maybe I just needed rest. Maybe I was overthinking everything¡
wn before returning home. You up for it?¡±
Damon approached, his armor clinking softly as he walked. ¡°We¡¯re headed to ourst trade
I opened my mouth, but Frans beat me to it.
¡°She has a bad headache,¡± he said firmly. ¡°It¡¯s better if I take her home instead. I¡¯ll exin to the town elders.¡±
¡°Frans, no need,¡± I protested quickly, sitting up straighter. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Really.¡±
But he wasn¡¯t even looking at me. He was already talking to Damon.
Within minutes, it was decided. Damon and the others would continue to thest city on their route, while Frans and I returned to our town by a different path.
I groaned internally. Why was this headache so intense today?
Then it struck again.
Not just pain¨Cbut images.
A sh. A Woman¡¯s face. Familiar.
Then fire. Screams.
Magic. Chaos.
I staggered and sank back down onto a nearby log, clutching my head as colors and voices swirled inside me.
Frans noticed immediately, cutting off his conversation with Damon to rush to my side. I kept my gaze low, not wanting him¨Cor anyone¨Cto see me like this. That¡¯s when I noticed something strange.
My palm. It glowed.
A soft, pulsing light, like golden embers embedded beneath
my skin.
Panic surged through me. I clenched my hand into a fist, then tried to wipe it on my tunic, but the light wouldn¡¯t fade. It pulsed stronger.
I stood abruptly and walked into the woods, heart hammering.
1/4
No. No one could see this. I didn¡¯t even understand what was happening
¡°Calm down,¡± a low voice said,
I gasped and spun around. Frans was there, kneeling before me.
He took my hands gently but firmly
I expected him to flinch. To recoil.
He didn¡¯t.
Instead, he watched the light like h
in
ng them between his palms.
it¨Clike it was something he¡¯d seen before.
¡°Frans¡ what is this?¡± I whispered.
He didn¡¯t answer right away. Instead, he held
I exhaled sharply when it disappeared.
¡°It¡¯s gone¡¡± I breathed.
I my hands until, slowly, the warmth and light faded.
My eyes met his. ¡°What am I, Frans?¡±
His brows furrowed. ¡°Has this happened before?¡±
¡°Not always,¡± I whispered, ¡°but sometimes¡ in dreams. Visions. Headaches before ites.¡±
His jaw clenched. ¡°You should¡¯ve told me sooner.¡±
I winced again as pain spiked behind my eyes. Without hesitation, he scooped me up into his arms like I weighed nothing.
¡°Frans¨Cwhat are you-¡±
¡°You¡¯re not walking another step. The others left for the city. I¡¯m taking you back to Mara and Elias.¡±
I blinked at him, stunned by the certainty in his voice.
We rode for hours¨Cwell, I rode. He walked beside the horse, leading us along the river path through a quieter, safer route. The further we went, the heavier my eyelids became, the pounding headache slowly fading into a dull throb.
By the time the sun began its descent, we reached the river town near home.
The familiar cottage appeared at the edge of the tree line. I tensed as we approached.
Frans helped me down gently, steadying me with one hand while the other knocked firmly on the door.
It opened slowly.
Mara¡¯s face appeared first. Her eyes widened.
Then Elias joined her, and both of them froze.
¡°M¨Cmy King!¡± Mara gasped, dropping into a low bow.
Elias followed, eyes filled with disbelief.
I blinked in confusion/
Chapter 115
King?
Frans stood taller beside me, but his brows furrowed as he recognized them too.
¡°Renna? Darius?¡± he asked slowly..
The air grew still.
Mara¨CRenna¨Cand Elias¨CDarius¨Cexchanged a look. One of guilt. One of fear.
I felt my breath hitch.
¡°What¡ what¡¯s going on?¡± I asked.
Frans didn¡¯t look away from them. ¡°They were members of the old Council,¡± he said atst. ¡°Renna and Darius disappeared after the war. No one knew where they went.¡±
My mind reeled.
Council? War?
I stared at the couple who had taken me in. The ones who had called me Edith. Given me a life. A home.
A lie?
¡°Why?¡± My voice cracked. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±
Renna¡¯s eyes filled with tears. ¡°To protect you, child¡ You were just a girl when the spell shattered. We thought we lost you.¡±
Frans turned to me then, slowly, his face unreadable.
¡°Eine¡¡± he said, almost reverently.
I shivered.
That name again.
¡°I¡¯m not-¡±
¡°Yes,¡± he interrupted gently. ¡°You are.¡±
A vision surged again behind my eyes¨Chim, in armor, his hand bloodied, calling my name in the midst of chaos.
¡°Francesco¡¡± I whispered aloud, not even realizing it.
He inhaled sharply.
Thest piece slid into ce.
Frans. Francesco. King Alpha of Lycaon.
My mate.
My past.
My future.
A sudden howl tore through the woods in the distance¨Clow, long, and unmistakably mournful.
Magic stirred in the air.
And for the first time in years, I heard her.
¡°Finally¡ you hear me again, my Eine¡
My wolf.
Mika?
Was myst thought before I lost consciousness.
O
Still His 116
Chapter 116
Go to Francesco Point of view:
The moment Edith fainted, something inside me snapped. My instincts overruled everything else. I moved before anyone could speak, catching her in my arms before she hit the ground. I could feel the tremble in her body, the remnants of the magic that pulsed from her palms still clinging to her skin.
Darius stepped forward, silent and steady, guiding me through the narrow stone corridor of their modest home to the room she had been using. My steps were heavy, emotions weighing me down¨Crelief, rage, confusion, hope¨Call tangled within me.
¡°This always happens when her memories try toe back,¡± Renna whispered behind me.
I turned to her sharply. ¡°This has happened before?¡±
She nodded gravely. ¡°Every time her memories surface, she copses and wakes up without remembering anything.¡±
I clenched my jaw. So it was true. The poison that had nearly killed her¡ it was still inside her, waging war on her soul, on her memories, her truth.
Laying her gently onto the bed, I pulled the nket up around her shoulders, brushing a silver strand of hair away from her damp face. Her breath was steady now, but the echo of magic was still lingering in the room. I could feel it. My Lycan could feel it too, growling with protective fury inside me.
When I turned back to face the two who called themselves Mara and Elias, my gaze hardened.
¡°Now, would you two like to exin why you¡¯re here¨Cand more importantly¨Cwhy you hid my Eine from me?¡±
They exchanged a long nce. Darius sighed heavily before stepping forward.
¡°We understand you must be furious, my King. Please know it was never our intention to hide her from you.¡±
My fists clenched at my sides. ¡°Then exin quickly. My Lycan is not known for patience.¡±
Renna spoke first. ¡°It was the former High Councilor, Marsen. He aligned with the rogue Alpha, Luca, and staged a massacre. No council survived their ambush except us.¡±
Marsen¡ I should¡¯ve know.
¡°They sedated us,¡± Darius added, bitterness coating his voice. ¡°Renna woke first and managed to free me. We escaped the council chambers in chaos. And that¡¯s when we saw her.¡±
Renna nodded slowly. ¡°She was barely conscious, wounded, and looked nothing like the woman you once loved. Her hair was silver, not the dark mahogany we remembered. We thought¡ she couldn¡¯t be her.¡±
My heart panged at the thought¨Cmy Eine, left alone and broken. Changed by pain.
¡°Her memory was shattered,¡± Darius said. ¡°She didn¡¯t even know her name. But something about her¡ we couldn¡¯t leave her.¡±
¡°So we took her with us,¡± Renna whispered. ¡°We fled far, to the rivends. Changed our names. Became Mara and Elias. We hoped, one day, when she was ready, she would find her way back to you.¡±
¡°We thought maybe the Kingdom¡¯s schrs or medics could help her. But we¡ we were too weak, my King. The poison destroyed our wolves. We couldn¡¯t shift, couldn¡¯t contact you. Couldn¡¯t fight.¡±
She dropped to her knees then, her voice breaking. ¡°We¡¯re sorry, Alpha. For hiding her, for not recognizing her sooner.¡±
I stared at them in silence, trying to process it all.
My Eine had been here all this time¨Calone, lost, among those who meant well but could not fix what was broken. My Lycan growled low in my chest, a mixture of fury and sorrow.
I looked at Edith¨CEine¡ªstill lying motionless on the bed. Her face peaceful despite everything. So many years I believed hat died, how her And still, the danger hadn¡¯t ended.
¡°Luca¡¯s dead,¡± I said aloud, to no one in particr. ¡°But the poison he used is not.¡±
Darius looked up. ¡°It¡¯s embedded deep. It fights against every fragment of truth she tries to reim.¡±
I inhaled slowly, forcing calm into my voice. ¡°At least I¡¯ve found her now. You did what you could, I thank you for that.¡±
They both looked stunned. Perhaps they expected wrath. But all I could feel was aching relief and burning determination.
A knock broke the silence.
¡°My King.¡±
Marlow entered with Audrey, Monica, and Lira at his heels. My most trusted people. The ones I had ordered to stay close.
They moved immediately to Eine¡¯s side. Monica knelt beside the bed, checking her pulse and temperature while Lira examined her aura, magic flowing gently from her fingertips. Audrey moved to the window, scanning outside, ever alert.
Marlow approached me. ¡°We¡¯ve doubled security around the city. Scouts are stationed at all points.¡±
I nodded. ¡°Good. Keep it that way. We¡¯re staying until I understand everything.¡±
The girls whispered among themselves about her vitals and magic levels. Lira looked up. ¡°Her condition is stable. But there¡¯s a residue¨Cdark magic.
Faint, but consistent.¡± - up. m
Carlow. ¡°I need every schr, every healer back at the kingdom ready when we return.¡±
I turned to
He gave a sharp nod. ¡°Consider it done.¡±
¡°What about the rogue remnants?¡± I asked.
Marlow¡¯s expression turned grim. ¡°Some escaped the northern border after Luca¡¯s fall. We suspect they may be seeking the girl¡±
My fists clenched. Of course they were. They knew the power she held. The magic they tried to suppress.
I stepped out into the hallway with Marlow and the old council. The scent of wood and herbs surrounded us.
¡°You said her memories return asionally?¡±
Renna nodded. ¡°Always in dreams. Fragments, feelings, visions. But something is blocking her fully waking to the truth.¡±
¡°Can it be broken?¡±
¡°Maybe,¡± Darius said carefully. ¡°But at great risk. If we force it too fast, her body might not survive the bacsh.¡±
¡°And if we do nothing, she may never remember who she truly is,¡± I whispered.
Silence.
I stared down at my hands.
How long had I longed to hold her again?
And now, I was holding a woman who both was¨Cand wasn¡¯t¨Cmy mate.
My Eine was in there. I knew it with everything in me. But the war inside her hadn¡¯t ended. And I would not lose her again.
¡°Prepare the horses. We¡¯re heading back to the kingdom as soon as she¡¯s strong enough.¡±
¡°And if she refuses to leave?¡± Marlow asked.
I turned back toward the room.
¡°Then I¡¯ll remind her who she is. Who we are. Even if I have to do it one memory at a time.¡±
Later that night, I stood beside her bed once more.
The others had retired. The air was still, the room lit only by candlelight. I watched her sleep, peaceful but asionally twitching, murmuring in anguage I hadn¡¯t heard in centuries.
¡°Eine,¡± I whispered, brushing her cheek. ¡°Mio amore¡ I¡¯m here now. No more running. No more hiding.¡±
Her hand twitched.
And then, softly, her lips moved.
¡°Francesco¡¡±
My heart thundered.
Maybe¡ just maybe¡ she was starting to remember.
And I would be here. Always.
To protect her.
To bring her back.
To love her again.
Still His 117
Chapter 117
Still Francesco Point of view.
The candlelight flickered low as the room fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the soft crackle of the fire.
¡°But if I remember correctly,¡± Marlow said, his tone sharp with suspicion, ¡°there were thirty¨Csix burned bodies in the council manorst time we searched. Thirty¨Csix.¡±
The weight of his words settled heavily between us. Thirty¨Csix bodies. Thirty¨Csix council members. None survived¡ªor so we believed.
Renna and Darius exchanged a nce, their expressions shifting from guilt to confusion.
¡°We¡ don¡¯t know how that¡¯s possible,¡± Renna murmured. ¡°We barely escaped ourselves.¡±
¡°Could it have been the rogues?¡± Audrey asked, arms crossed, gaze narrowed.
I shook my head, dismissing the thought. ¡°No. Rogues and council members smell vastly different. And scorched bones still retain the essence of who they once were. The scent at the manor was unmistakable¨Cpurebloods. Not rogues.¡±
¡°Then who?¡± Marlow pressed, his voice low, deadly, ¡°Who were the thirty¨Csix bodies?¡±
Renna lowered her gaze. Darius answered quietly, ¡°We¡¯ve wondered the same. There were¡ times, especially in the early weeks of our escape, when we
were hunted. By wolves we didn¡¯t recognize. Not rogues. Not Kingdom guards. Something else.¡±
¡°And they knew who you were?¡± I asked.
He nodded. ¡°At the beginning, yes. That¡¯s why we changed our names. Hid in the deepest parts of the rivends. Used every trick the old magic taught
us.¡±
Renna added softly, ¡°We stopped seeing them after a year. Thought maybe they gave up.¡±
But something wasn¡¯t sitting right in my gut. I paced, my mind racing, pieces clicking into ce.
¡°I killed Luca,¡± I said aloud, almost to myself. ¡°But¡ that wasn¡¯t the first time.¡±
Audrey¡¯s head snapped toward me. ¡°What?¡±
Marlow went rigid. ¡°You mean¡ª¡±
¡°I killed him years ago,¡± I growled, clenching my fists at my sides. ¡°Tore his throat open. Saw his blood stain the snow. His wolf didn¡¯t rise again. Or so I thought.¡±
¡°But you met him again,¡± Marlow said grimly.
¡°And I killed him again.¡±
A chill spread in the room, like the darkness itself was listening.
¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Renna whispered, her eyes widening. ¡°A rare kind of blood binding magic¨Cold, illegal even in the forgotten circles. It allows resurrection, but at a cost.¡±
Darius¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°The caster must offer another life in exchange for their own.¡±
Thirty¨Csix lives.
Thirty¨Csix council members.
¡°Dio mio,¡± I whispered. ¡°He didn¡¯t just ambush the council. He sacrificed them.¡±
A sickening silence fell over us. Audrey cursed under her breath. Marlow looked as if he might punch through the stone wall.
¡°If that¡¯s true,¡± Marlow growled, ¡°he¡¯s not just dangerous¨Che¡¯s unnatural.¡±
¡°And worse,¡± I muttered. ¡°If he used the ritual once, what¡¯s stopping him from using it again?¡±
Renna looked up, fear etched deep in her tired eyes. ¡°That¡¯s why the poison in her soul won¡¯t fade. It¡¯s not just a tool¨Cit¡¯s an anchor. A thread. As long as part of that magic still clings to her, he can stille back.¡±
I stared at the doorway behind which Eine slept.
So she wasn¡¯t just a victim.
She was the key.
And he would never stop hunting her as long as that magic remained.
Go to Third Party Point of view:
Deep beneath the ashden mountains, in the cold heart of the ruins he now imed as hisir, Luca stood before a bloodstained table littered with bones, torn maps, and faded council emblems.
The strange thing wearing Luca¡¯s skin grinned¨Cinhumanly wide, too many teeth behind those cracked lips. The smell of decay clung to him, more magic than man now, a product of dark rituals that should never have been reborn.
He had once been a trusted knight.
Respected. Feared.
But that man was long gone¨Cburned and bartered for the dark price of resurrection.
Now, he was something else.
His pale fingers traced the jagged scar at his throat¨Cthe same spot where Francesco Totti had ripped it open years ago. He remembered the pain. He cherished it. Because it reminded him of the hatred that kept him alive.
When he discovered that two council members had survived the massacre he orchestrated, he didn¡¯t scream.
He didn¡¯t curse.
He simply turned¡ and ripped apart every rogue responsible for that mission.
Blood had sprayed across the stone walls. Bones snapped like twigs. Pleas for mercy were swallowed by silence.
¡°They were supposed to be thorough,¡± he murmured now, voice like cracked ice. ¡°Kill all thirty¨Ceight. But they missed two. And worst of all¡¡±
His ws curled against the table.
¡°¡they took her.¡±
Eine Rollin Lycaon.
The white wolf. The witch.
Francesco¡¯s beloved.
The key.
The obsession that had haunted his visions ever since he wed his way back from death.
¡°1 will not stop,¡± he muttered to the shadows. ¡°Not until I¡¯ve destroyed his mate. Until I¡¯ve broken the great Alpha King. Until I watch his soul burn like
mine did.¡±
Footsteps echoed beyond the corridor¨Cquick and cautious.
A momentter, one of his trusted spies stepped into the dim chamber and dropped to one knee.
¡°Lord Luca,¡± the man said, breathless, ¡°there¡¯s news.¡±
Luca turned, eye twitching with anticipation. ¡°Speak.¡±
The spy swallowed. ¡°Rumors out of the River City. Three of our hidden guards stationed there have¡ vanished.¡±
That gave Luca pause. ¡°Vanished?¡±
The spy nodded. ¡°Locals whisper of a powerful knight¨Cimpossibly fast¨Cprotecting a woman. No one¡¯s seen his face. But his aura¡ many imed they felt magic and Lycan blood.¡±
Luca¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°A knight¡ protecting a woman.¡±
The pieces clicked together like teeth snapping shut.
Could it be¡
¡°Francesco,¡± he said, almost reverently. ¡°He found her.¡±
His grin stretched again¨Ctwisted and ted. ¡°After all these months. After all the blood I spilled looking for her¡ she showed herself.¡±
He let out a low, hissingugh.
¡°They think they¡¯ve won. That hiding her among the riverfolk would keep her safe. Fools.¡±
He turned to the spy, voice sharp and hungry. ¡°Take twenty of our best. Not rogues¨Cuse the shadow¨Ctouched. Quiet, quick. Track the Alpha King. Confirm it¡¯s him. But do not engage.¡±
¡°Yes, my Lord.¡±
¡°Report to me the moment you see her. The moment you smell her.¡±
His gaze darkened. ¡°And if she¡¯s truly awakened¡ if her memories are returning¡¡±
He stepped forward, lowering his face close to the trembling spy¡¯s ear.
¡°¡then I want her alive. Long enough to rip Francesco apart while she watches.¡±
The spy fled with a nod, disappearing into the shadows.
Luca turned back to his blood¨Csoaked map. His ws drummed against the parchment.
This time, he would not fail.
This time, he would destroy them both.
And no magic, no love, no fate¨Cwould stop him.
3/4
Still His 118
Chapter 118
Back to ine Point of view:
My head pulsed with a deep, splitting ache that refused to let go. It felt like a war raged inside my skull. I stirred beneath unfamiliar sheets, the weight of exhaustion still pulling at my limbs. A warm light filtered through thick curtains, and the scent of herbs lingered faintly in the air. I blinked slowly, trying to recall where I was or how I¡¯d gotten here.
Then, a voice¨Clow, gentle, and achingly familiar¨Cbroke through the silence.
¡°You¡¯re awake.¡±
My eyes shifted. There, seated beside me, was him.
Frans.
No¨CFrancesco.
I remembered now. The knight who had been following me. The man who looked at me as if I meant everything.
He was sitting with his hands sped, as though in silent prayer or quiet restraint. The lines of concern etched into his face were too raw to ignore. He rose slightly when I sat up, then paused, cautious.
¡°How do you feel?¡± he asked, his voice careful.
I opened my mouth, but the words failed. A thousand questions clogged my throat. My heart pounded faster than my head now, beating to a rhythm I didn¡¯t understand. Why did he look at me like that? Why did I feel this pull toward him, this heat in my chest that made no sense?
¡°Where¡ am I?¡± I asked hoarsely.
¡°You¡¯re safe,¡± he said gently. ¡°We¡¯re in Riverhaven, in a guesthouse not far from the main market. You fainted in the woods yesterday. Darius brought us here.¡±
Darius.
That name stirred something in me. A sh of an old man, a council chamber, a woman crying¡ And then it was gone.
I clutched my forehead and groaned. The pain came in waves, followed by brief, burning images I couldn¡¯t hold on to.
Francesco stood suddenly, stepping closer.
¡°Here,¡± he said, and held out a small ss of water. ¡°Drink this, Slowly.¡±
Thesitated, staring at his hand. He didn¡¯t force it. He simply waited. Something about the way he did that¡ªhis patience, the way he knew my fear before I voiced it¨Cmade my heart ache.
I took the ss.
¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered.
He nodded, and resumed his seat. The silence that settled between us was thick with something unsaid.
¡°Why are you here?¡± I finally asked.
He lifted his gaze to mine. The intensity in his eyes nearly took my breath away.
¡°To protect you. To find you. To bring you home.¡±
My heart skipped.
Home.
A word that meant both everything and nothing.
I frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why do you care so much?¡±
His jaw clenched, and for the first time, he looked away.
¡°Because you are my mate,¡± he said, so quietly it was almost a whisper.
The words hit like lightning.
¡°What?¡± I gasped.
He looked at me again. ¡°You are my fated mate. My Eine. The woman I thought I¡¯d lost forever.¡±
I recoiled as if struck. ¡°No. I¡¯m not her. My name is Edith.¡±
¡°It was,¡± he said gently. ¡°But your real name is Eine Rollin. You were taken from me, poisoned so your memories wouldn¡¯t return. You¡¯ve been living under a false name, hidden by those who wanted to keep you from me.¡±
I shook my head, tears burning in my eyes. ¡°That¡¯s not true. You¡¯re wrong.¡±
¡°Look me in the eyes,¡± he said, standing and walking toward me. ¡°You feel it. Don¡¯t you? The bond. The pull. The way your heart responds to mine.¡±
¡°No,¡± I lied.
He stopped just short of the bed, arms at his sides, tense with restraint.
¡°You don¡¯t have to say it,¡± he said after a pause. ¡°But I know you feel it. Because when I thought I¡¯d lost you, it almost destroyed me. And now that I¡¯ve found you again, I swear on the moon goddess, I will never let anyone take you from me.¡±
His voice cracked at the end. The rawness of it twisted something deep in me. My throat tightened.
¡°Why me?¡± I whispered. ¡°Why do I matter so much to you?¡±
He took a breath. ¡°Because you are the missing piece of me. Because even without your memories, you still smile the same way. You still cry beneath the moonlight when no one sees. You still love art, and freedom, and peace.¡±
I was trembling.
He knelt.
¡°Eine¡ Edith¡ whatever name you need to wear, I will wait. I will protect you from everyone¨Ceven from yourself if I must. But I won¡¯t lie to you. I love you. I always have.¡±
Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them.
This wasn¡¯t fair.
He was too kind. Too good. Too sure.
But I¡ I was broken.
And terrified.
¡°Please¡¡± I whispered, backing away from him. ¡°Don¡¯t say these things. I can¡¯t feel this. I can¡¯t trust this.¡±
He froze.
¡°You don¡¯t have to trust me now,¡± he said. ¡°Just let me be near. Let me protect you.¡±
I turned my face away.
¡°I want to be alone.¡±
A pause.
Then the softest of sighs.
¡°As you wish.¡±
And just like that, he rose and walked out, closing the door behind him with the quietest click.
The moment he left, I crumbled.
I clutched my chest, as if something had been ripped away.
I didn¡¯t understand it. I didn¡¯t
t somethin
inside me was unraveling.
Then, faintly¨Ca voice, soft and familiar, echoed in
my
mind.
¡°He never hurt us.¡±
My eyes widened.
¡°Mika¡?¡±
My wolf.
Gone for so long. Silent since the day I woke up as Edith.
But now¨Ca whisper.
I fell onto the pillow and sobbed, torn between the truth wing its way back into my heart and the lies I¡¯d wrapped myself in to survive.
Was I really Eine?
Did I want to be?
Outside the door, Francesco leaned against the wall, eyes closed, fists clenched, holding back the roar in his chest.
He had found her.
But she was further away than ever.
3/3
Çú
AD
Comment
Still His 119
Chapter 119
The silence wrapped around me like a second skin, cold and suffocating. Iy in the unfamiliar bed, staring at the ceiling as shadows from the flickering candlelight danced across the stone walls.
My body was still weak, my limbs heavy, and my head throbbed with a dull ache. But it was my heart that hurt most of all.
Francesco¡¯s words wouldn¡¯t stop reying in my mind. ¡°You are my mate. My Eine.¡±
He had said it with such conviction, such tenderness.
And it shattered me.
Because I wanted to believe him.
Wanted to believe that I belonged somewhere¨Cwith someone. That this ache inside me had a name, a reason. But I couldn¡¯t. I couldn¡¯t believe in a life! couldn¡¯t remember. In a love I didn¡¯t understand.
Tears silently trailed down my cheeks. I didn¡¯t know how long I stayed like that, curled beneath the nkets, trembling beneath the weight of an identity that wasn¡¯t mine¨Cand yet somehow, was.
Eventually, exhaustion pulled me under.
But there was no peace waiting in sleep.
There was only the forest.
I stood barefoot beneath a canopy of ancient trees, bathed in a silver light that made the world shimmer. The air was thick with the scent of earth and magic, and the wind carried whispers I couldn¡¯t understand. I wasn¡¯t alone. I could feel eyes watching me, not with menace, but with recognition.
And then, I saw her.
A great white wolf stood on a rise ahead of me, silhouetted against the moon. Her eyes glowed likenterns in the dark. Familiar. Fierce. Sad. My chest ached at the sight of her.
¡°Mika¡¡± breathed.
She didn¡¯t speak with words, but her voice curled into my mind, soft and sad.
¡°You left me behind.¡±
I fell to my knees in the soft grass. ¡°I didn¡¯t know. I forgot¡ I forgot everything.¡±
¡°They made you forget. They poisoned your truth. Hid your soul beneath a new name.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know who I am,¡± I whispered, shaking. ¡°Everyone keeps calling me Eine. But I only know Edith.¡±
Mika stepped closer, her paws silent as falling snow,
¡°You are both. But I am part of Eine. And I am still here.¡±
I reached out a trembling hand, and she nudged it with her muzzle. Warm. Real. Tears welled in my eyes.
¡°I don¡¯t know how to be her.¡±
¡°Then let me help you remember.¡±
The wind shifted. Trees bent as though something powerful approached. Mika¡¯s ears twitched.
1/3
+30
¡°We don¡¯t have much time. She is waiting.¡±
¡°Who?¡±
¡°The one who gave you the gift. The one who knew before anyone else what you would be.¡±
Before I could speak, the forest began to change. The silver light grew brighter, until it consumed everything.
Now I stood in a vast de, the air humming with ancient magic. Flowers that shimmered with moonlight bloomed all around me. In the center stood a woman cloaked in silver and midnight blue. Her hair was the color of starlight, and her presence made my knees buckle.
¡°You,¡± I gasped.
She turned. Her eyes were crystal clear, timeless and kind. Sadness lingered in their depths, but also immense strength.
¡°Eine,¡± she said with reverence. ¡°Atst.¡±
I stepped closer, heart pounding. ¡°Who are you?¡±
She smiled. ¡°I am Anastasia. I was once Luna of the Lycan Kingdom. Francesco¡¯s first mate.¡±
The words stunned me. I staggered back.
¡°But¡ you¡¯re dead.¡±
¡°In body, yes. But not in spirit.¡±
I couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Why are you here?¡±
¡°Because it was I who chose you. Who passed the gift of the moon to you before
my
final breath.¡±
¡°What gift?¡±
She raised a hand, and light flowed from her palm. It poured over me like warm rain. Visions flickered behind my eyes¨Cmoments I didn¡¯t understand. My hands glowing with magic. Francesco¡¯s arms around me. A crown of silver. A burning hall. A man with eyes like pitch.
¡°You are not just his mate,¡± Anastasia whispered. ¡°You are the bearer of the Moon¡¯s Grace.¡±
I stumbled backward. ¡°No. No, you¡¯re wrong. I¡¯m just¡ I¡¯m just Edith. I work in a library. I paint. I don¡¯t want any of this.¡±
Anastasia stepped forward. ¡°I understand your fear. But what was done to you was not your fault. And it is not your destiny to remain in hiding.¡±
¡°Then what is my destiny?¡± I shouted.
The sky darkened. Thunder rolled across the dreamscape.
Anastasia¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°To fight the one who defied death. To end what I could not.¡±
¡°Luca?¡± I breathed.
She nodded. ¡°He grows stronger. And he seeks you now. Because he knows you are the only one who can end him.¡±
I shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t remember how. I don¡¯t remember anything.¡±
?
¡°Then remember this,¡± she said, cing her glowing hand over my heart. ¡°You are loved. By me. By your wolf. By Francesco. That love is your light. Let it guide you.¡±
The world cracked. The light began to shatter.
¡°No, wait! Don¡¯t go!¡±
Anastasia¡¯s voice echoed as the dream faded: ¡°Find the moonstone. It holds the rest.¡±
I woke with a scream.
Sweat clung to my skin. My heart thrashed against my ribs. The candle was nearly dead. The window was fogged with morning mist.
I sat up, breath ragged, and whispered, ¡°Anastasia¡ Mika¡ the moonstone¡¡±
Everything hurt. Everything felt like it was waking up inside me.
Knock.. Knock¡
A knock at the door.
¡°Eine?¡± It was Francesco. ¡°Are you alright?¡±
I couldn¡¯t speak. I just opened the door.
One look at my face, and he stepped inside quickly.
¡°You saw something, didn¡¯t you?¡±
I nodded slowly.
¡°She was there. Anastasia.¡±
Francesco went still. His mouth opened, but no words came.
I gripped his wrist. ¡°She said I had a gift. That I have to stop him. That the moonstone can help me remember.¡±
His expression turned grave. ¡°Then we have to find it. Before Luca does.¡±
And in that moment, for the first time since this nightmare began, I felt something bloom in my chest.
Not fear.
But purpose.
Chapter 120
Ugh¡.
The next morning, I awoke with another pounding headache, the kind that made the light feel like needles against my skull. My body ached, but not from anything physical¨Cit was the ache of something deeper. Something missing.
I blinked against the haze, and slowly, the world came into focus.
Frans¨Cno, Francesco¨Cwas there, sitting quietly on the couch beside my bed. His elbows rested on his knees, fingers woven tightly together as he leaned forward, watching me with eyes too intense to belong to a stranger.
¡°Eine¡?¡±
His voice was soft, like a cautious hope he was afraid to voice aloud.
I stared at him for a long moment, the name hanging in the air like a fragile thread I couldn¡¯t quite reach.
¡°Who¡?¡± I asked, blinking again. But even as the question left my lips, a strange pressure bloomed behind my eyes, like something was trying to
resurface.
Then it hit me in a wave. My name. My real name.
Eine¡
The memories were like broken fragments¨Cunreachable, scattered¨Cbut the name¡ it wasn¡¯t foreign. It was familiar in the way a childhood luby
might be, soft and echoing from a ce I couldn¡¯t fully touch.
I shook my head slowly, and gave him a small, apologetic smile. ¡°Sorry¡ I almost forgot again.¡±
He didn¡¯t flinch. No frustration crossed his face. Instead, he exhaled, as though he¡¯d been holding his breath the whole time, and leaned closer.
With both of hisrge, warm hands, he gently cradled mine.
¡°Never say sorry,¡± he said, voice steady, but threaded with emotion. ¡°Not to me.¡±
The warmth of his touch seeped into my skin. My heart thudded harder in my chest, reacting before my mind could catch up. I didn¡¯t know this man¨Cnot
in the way I should¨Cbut my heart¡
My heart acted like it had been waiting for him all along.
I looked down at our joined hands, then back at his face. The faint shadows under his eyes, the tension in his jaw, the soft creases on his forehead¨Cthey told a story I couldn¡¯t remember, but one he¡¯d lived every day.
I swallowed hard. ¡°Why do you look at me like that?¡± I whispered.
His fingers curled around mine, protectively. ¡°Because I¡¯ve waited so long to see you again. And even if you forget me a hundred more times, I¡¯ll wait a
hundred more.¡±
Tears welled in my eyes, uninvited. I didn¡¯t even understand why I wanted to cry. But something in me ached for him¨Cthis man who knew me better than I knew myself.
¡°I don¡¯t understand anything,¡± I admitted in a choked voice. ¡°I feel like my brain is a fog. I wake up and it¡¯s like¡ pieces are missing.¡±
Francesco nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t need to understand everything yet. Just stay. Breathe. Be here. That¡¯s enough.¡±
I closed my eyes, his words wrapping around me like a nket. Safe. Steady. Home.
1/4
Slowly, my brows puing ingethei
g
T¡¯s tkey¡± he breshing his the d
By the ligand
ther are something way
love that emand anding To
Company.
Ks ng back of my eyes agan e¡¯t mad his
sotho road the doo
is shoulder love my words, toilet widest was the repression, followerk by constthing thingx wwe Like he couldn¡¯t believe i wann
h
Hame
The word echoed to any he
while sanrio
Lil Boogie fading in the reinating out but no one dared s
endid
sale Ery it the big of a ting to be and going
the wen fiber Francesca has
k
ahould feel shadet
like was on the edge of semeng something important. Something that matured more than anything
¡°No, wait! Don¡¯t go!¡±
Anastasia¡¯s voice echoed as the dream faded: ¡°Find the moonstone. It holds the rest.¡±
I woke with a scream.
Sweat clung to my skin. My heart thrashed against my ribs. The candle was nearly dead. The window was fogged with morning mist.
I sat up, breath ragged, and whispered, ¡°Anastasia¡ Mika¡ the moonstone¡¡±
Everything hurt. Everything felt like it was waking up inside me.
Knock.. Knock¡
A knock at the door.
¡°Eine?¡± It was Francesco. ¡°Are you alright?¡±
I couldn¡¯t speak. I just opened the door.
One look at my face, and he stepped inside quickly.
¡°You saw something, didn¡¯t you?¡±
I nodded slowly.
¡°She was there. Anastasia.¡±
Francesco went still. His mouth opened, but no words came.
I gripped his wrist. ¡°She said I had a gift. That I have to stop him. That the moonstone can help me remember.¡±
His expression turned grave. ¡°Then we have to find it. Before Luca does.¡±
And in that moment, for the first time since this nightmare began, I felt something bloom in my chest.
Not fear.
But purpose.
3/3
Still His 120
Chapter 120
Ugh¡.
The next morning, I awoke with another pounding headache, the kind that made the light feel like needles against my skull. My body ached, but not from anything physical¨Cit was the ache of something deeper. Something missing.
I blinked against the haze, and slowly, the world came into focus.
Frans¨Cno, Francesco¨Cwas there, sitting quietly on the couch beside my bed. His elbows rested on his knees, fingers woven tightly together as he leaned forward, watching me with eyes too intense to belong to a stranger.
¡°Eine¡?¡±
His voice was soft, like a cautious hope he was afraid to voice aloud.
I stared at him for a long moment, the name hanging in the air like a fragile thread I couldn¡¯t quite reach.
1
77
¡°Who¡?¡± I asked, blinking again. But even as the question left my lips, a strange pressure bloomed behind my eyes, like something was trying to
resurface.
Then it hit me in a wave. My name. My real name.
TE
Eine¡
The memories were like broken fragments¨Cunreachable, scattered¨Cbut the name¡ it wasn¡¯t foreign. It was familiar in the way a childhood luby might be, soft and echoing from a ce I couldn¡¯t fully touch.
I shook my head slowly, and gave him a small, apologetic smile. ¡°Sorry¡ I almost forgot again.¡±
+
¤Û¤¦
333
34
He didn¡¯t flinch. No frustration crossed his face. Instead, he exhaled, as though he¡¯d been holding his breath the whole time, and leaned closer.
With both of hisrge, warm hands, he gently cradled mine.
¡°Never say sorry,¡± he said, voice steady, but threaded with emotion. ¡°Not to me.¡±
753375
+
¡±
The warmth of his touch seeped into my skin. My heart thudded harder in my chest, reacting before my mind could catch up. I didn¡¯t know this man¨Cnot in the way I should¨Cbut my heart¡
My heart acted like it had been waiting for him all along.
Éç
>
³ö
I looked down at our joined hands, then back at his face. The faint shadows under his eyes, the tension in his jaw, the soft creases on his forehead¨Cthey told a story I couldn¡¯t remember, but one he¡¯d lived every day.
I swallowed hard. ¡°Why do you look at me like that?¡± I whispered.
4
H
His fingers curled around mine, protectively. ¡°Because I¡¯ve waited so long to see you again. And even if you forget me a hundred more times, I¡¯ll wait a
hundred more.¡±
Tears welled in my eyes, uninvited. I didn¡¯t even understand why I wanted to cry. But something in me ached for him this man who knew me better than I knew myself.
¡°I don¡¯t understand anything,¡± I admitted in a choked voice. ¡°I feel like my brain is a fog. I wake up and it¡¯s like¡ pieces are missing.¡±
Francesco nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You don¡¯t need to understand everything yet. Just stay. Breathe. Be here. That¡¯s enough.¡±
I closed my eyes, his words wrapping around me like a nket. Safe. Steady. Home.
Chapter 120
But somewhere in the back of my mind¡ something stirred.
¡°Did you remember what you told mest night?¡± he asked gently.
I blinked slowly, my brows pulling together as I searched the recesses of my aching mind. But it was nk, like a mist swallowing up everything before the morning light. I shook my head.
A flicker of disappointment crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant, reced with a warm, understanding smile.
¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he murmured, brushing his thumb across the back of my hand. ¡°Let me do the remembering for both of us.¡±
My chest tightened.
There was something about the way he said it¨Cso soft, so heartbreakingly patient¨Cthat made tears sting the back of my eyes again. He wasn¡¯t mad. He wasn¡¯t even sad. Just¡ steady. Steady in a way I didn¡¯t know I needed until now.
He took a deep breath, gaze growing serious. ¡°But we need to go back to the kingdom. Fast. Are you okay with that?¡±
I looked at him, at the way he held my hands like they were the most precious thing in the world. At the way his voice carried no pressure, only urgency wrapped in care.
I didn¡¯t know everything. But I felt it.
His aura wrapped around me like the warmth of a firece in the dead of winter. His presence, even without words, screamed devotion. Love. A kind of love that didn¡¯t demand anything from me, not even my memory¨Cjust my safety.
And I trusted him. Completely.
¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± I said softly, my voice barely a whisper. ¡°As long as it¡¯s with you.¡±
His shoulders rxed at my words. Relief washed over his expression, followed by something deeper. Something like awe. Like he couldn¡¯t believe I was here, with him, choosing him¨Ceven with all my pieces scattered.
Francesco leaned forward, pressing his forehead gently to mine. His breath was warm, and his voice barely a murmur between us.
¡°Thank you for trusting me. I¡¯ll get you home. I promise.¡±
Home.
The word echoed in my chest.
I didn¡¯t know where home was anymore. But if he was there¡ then maybe that was enough.
It took half a day for everyone to prepare.
Weapons were discreetly packed. Essential supplies gathered. Lira moved between rooms with quiet efficiency despite her fading strength, while Marlow gavemands with his usual calm authority. The air buzzed with tension, like everyone knew that time was running out¨Cbut no one dared say it aloud
in front of me.
I sat near the window with a thick nket wrapped around my shoulders, watching the sunlight creep across the wooden floor. Francesco hadn¡¯t left my side. Every time I felt the fog of confusion threatening to take over, his voice¨Clow and grounding¨Cbrought me back.
I should feel afraid. Disoriented. But strangely, I didn¡¯t.
Instead, I felt like I was on the edge of remembering something important. Something that mattered more than anything,
That feeling only deepened when Renna¨Cno, Marra¨Cand Darius, now known as Elias, sat across from me.
¡°We were waiting for the right time to tell you,¡± Renna said, her voice gentle, almost motherly. ¡°But¡ you already knew, before.¡±
2/4
I blinked, frowning a little. ¡°I¡ did?¡±
Darius nodded, his gaze kind but heavy with guilt. ¡°You even helped us remember ourselves.¡±
Renna reached out, her fingers brushing mine with the same tenderness she¡¯d used so many mornings before when bringing me tea. ¡°You saved us more than once, Eine. But the magic takes¡ pieces, sometimes. It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t remember. We¡¯ll carry it for now.¡±
I didn¡¯t know what to say to that, so I just nodded slowly, heart fluttering again at the sound of my real name on their lips.
Francesco sat beside me, his hand resting protectively on my knee. ¡°They¡¯ll being with us,¡± he said, speaking to me but also addressing the room. ¡°They lost their wolves escaping the council. They¡¯re no longer safe here.¡±
I turned to Marlow, who entered the room just in time, nodding in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s best they return to the kingdom,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯ll be protected there. Reconnected to the werewolf circle, even without their wolves.¡±
Renna and Darius exchanged a look¨Crelief and uncertainty all at once. Even after everything, their faces were etched with the weight of survival. I suddenly realized how many lives had been destroyed. How many threads tied to me were frayed or burning.
And I had forgotten them all.
¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I whispered.
¡°You don¡¯t need to be,¡± Darius said firmly. ¡°What matters is that you¡¯re alive. That we¡¯re going back together.¡±
I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded.
Not long after, the door creaked open and Marlow stepped inside with Audrey close behind him. The air shifted the moment they entered¨Cbrisk, efficient, ready.
¡°All is set,¡± Marlow announced. ¡°The horses are saddled. Supplies packed. We can leave at any time.¡±,
Audrey, her arms crossed and expression firm, added, ¡°Beta Alfonso already sent a team of warriors. We¡¯ll meet them halfway through the journey, just before we cross into neutralnds.¡±
Francesco nodded once, his jaw tight as he stood from the couch. ¡°Good. We won¡¯t slow down.¡±
I watched him exchange a look with Marlow. No words were needed,between the two men. The air was thick with silent understanding¨Cthis wasn¡¯t just a journey. It was a strategic retreat. And possibly¡ a beginning of sophething greater.
¡°Marlow is only bringing six men with him,¡± Audrey said with a nce my way. ¡°But the Alpha insisted on doubling that. At least twelve will ride behind us. Four will circle us from the nks.¡±
I looked at Francesco then, surprised. ¡°That many?¡±
¡°We can¡¯t take chances,¡± he said, meeting my gaze. ¡°Not with you.¡±
The sincerity in his voice made my throat tighten.
He wasn¡¯t just talking about protecting me from danger.
He was speaking as if losing me would be the end of him.
Renna¨Cno, Marra¨Ccame up beside me and began fastening my travel cloak gently over my shoulders. ¡°We¡¯ll be close,¡± she said softly. ¡°No matter what.¡±
Lira stepped forward too, slower than usual, Her hands sped around a leather pouch filled with her dwindling supply of herbs. Her skin looked pale, and even the glow in her eyes seemed dimmer. ¡°The journey will be hard,¡± she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. ¡°But the magic is changing. The kingdom¡ it will awaken more than just memories.¡±
That sent a chill down my spine.
3/4
Frame extended a hand - e. ¡°Are you ready
Thevated My mind was still foggy. Names and memories danced just outside my grasp, unreachable. But when I ced my ha togparted just a little. Enough for my heart to speak louder than my doubt.
inadded. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.
AD
Comment
Send gift
No Ads
Still His 121
Chapter 121
The road toward the kingdom had never felt this long before.
The sun climbed steadily above the trees, casting long shadows on the path where carriages, horses, and warriors moved in tense formation. Birds chirped overhead, but their songs were dulled by the thick anxiety lingering in the air. Eine sat quietly inside the main carriage, eyes unfocused, hands trembling in herp beneath her cloak.
It began subtly¨Ca strange warmth behind her ribcage, pulsing slowly like a heartbeat not her own.
At first, she thought it was her nerves or maybe the memory fragments she couldn¡¯t ce. But then the warmth intensified. It climbed her spine, licked at her neck, and crawled into her skull. Her breath caught. Her vision blurred. Every hoofbeat on the ground outside echoed in her ears like thunder.
Every breath she took felt shallow and scorched.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the fire blooming inside. It didn¡¯t help.
¡®What¡¯s wrong with me?¡® Eine chant silently.
Francesco had checked on her earlier. He had leaned in through the small window, his face etched with worry. She had forced a smile then, told him she was just tired. And he¨Cgods bless his patience¨Chad epted it without pressing further, though his golden eyes lingered too long on her face.
Around midday, they paused to rest beside a shallow stream that glistened under the sun. Horses drank. Warriors rotated shifts. Lira remained close to her saddle, preparing a light tonic for energy. Eine knew she should stay seated. But the heat was unbearable.
She needed air.
With unsteady hands, she pushed open the carriage door and stepped down slowly. Her legs wobbled, knees nearly giving out. Every motion sent sparks dancing under her skin. The world tilted. Her stomach twisted. Still, she walked¨Cslow, uncertain steps toward the shade of a nearby tree.
That¡¯s when Lira turned.
The healer¡¯s gazended on her, and the change in her expression was instant.
Shock.
Panic.
Fear.
¡°My King Alpha!!¡± Lira¡¯s voice cracked through the air like lightning. ¡°The Luna¨Clook at the Lupa!¡±
The warriors snapped to attention. Francesco appeared from behind a tent, eyes scanning until they locked on Eine.
And he froze.
She stood like a ghost in the sunlight, her white hair caught in a breeze that hadn¡¯t existed moments before. Her cloak billowed behind her, and her hands were raised, wing at her temples. But it was her eyes that brought silence to the camp.
They glowed.
Red.
Not crimson like blood, but deep molten ruby/swirling like liquid fire. Ancient. Unfamiliar. Wrong and right all at once.
Audrey was the first to move, sprinting toward her. She drew her de instinctively, cing herself between Eine and any potential threat ¡°Luna, can,
you hear me?¡±
1/4
16:23 Tue, 29 Jul
Eine didn¡¯t respond. Her lips moved, soft and barely audible.
¡°Noise¡ too much noise¡¡±
She sank to her knees.
Francesco was at her side in two strides, kneeling beside her but careful not to touch. ¡°Eine,¡± he whispered, voice low and steady. ¡°It¡¯s me. I¡¯m here.
She whimpered. Her body trembled violently, like something inside was trying to w its way out.
¡°Lira!¡± Francesco barked. ¡°What¡¯s happening to her?!¡±
The healer reached them quickly, her eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°She¡¯s awakening,¡± she breathed. ¡°The magic in her¨Cit¡¯s tied to thisnd, to the Kingdom. The closer we get, the more unstable it bes. She was sealed before, but now¡ it¡¯s unraveling.¡±
¡°Unraveling?¡± Audrey echoed. ¡°What does that mean?¡±
¡°It means she can¡¯t control it,¡± Lira snapped. ¡°And if it continues like this, she might burn herself from the inside.¡±
Francesco gritted his teeth. ¡°We need to get her to safety.¡±
Then it happened.
A howl.
Low. Sharp. Near.
Another followed.
Then two more.
Rogues.
Marlow appeared at Francesco¡¯s side, sword already drawn. ¡°My king, movement in the south woods. We¡¯re surrounded. At least a dozen, maybe more.¡±
¡°Fuck,¡± Francesco growled.
His golden eyes shifted as his beast surged forward, fighting to protect. He turned, torn between battle and his mate writhing beside him.
¡°Marlow,¡± he barked. ¡°Split the men. Hold them off. Do not let them near her.¡±
Marlow saluted and shoutedmands. The warriors moved swiftly into formation.
Francesco turned back to Eine. She was glowing now. Not just her eyes, but her entire body shimmered with a faint red hue, like embers under skin. The grass beneath her browned. The air warped with heat.
He reached out and cupped her cheek.
¡°Eine,¡± he whispered again. ¡°Come back to me.¡±
Her eyes flickered, briefly turning silver. Recognition. Fear. And then red again.
¡°Too much¡¡± she gasped. ¡°Too loud¡ too many¡¡±
Suddenly, she screamed. ¡°AAAAAAAAARRRRGHHHHHHHH¡..!!!!!!¡±
Not a normal scream..
It was silence made thunder. A st of energy rippled from her body, invisible but felt in every bone. It knocked over tents. Horses neighed and bucked.
16:23 Tue, 29 Jul G
Trees swayed.
Lira was thrown backward. Audrey dropped to one knee. Marlow stumbled.
Only Francesco remained.
He endured it.
He bore the full weight of her magic and stayed.
When the shockwave faded, Eine copsed.
Francesco caught her.
Her skin burned, but he didn¡¯t let go.
¡°Lira!¡± he shouted, eyes never leaving Eine. ¡°Help her. Now.¡±
The healer crawled over, coughing. She ced her hands above Eine¡¯s chest, muttering a spell.
¡°Her magic is wild,¡± she whispered. ¡°We need to sedate her power. I can bind it temporarily, but we must get her to the kingdom before nightfall¡±
Another howl pierced the air.
Francesco stood slowly, cradling Eine in his arms.
His golden eyes turned to Audrey. ¡°Form the perimeter. Kill anything that gets close.¡±
Audrey nodded and vanished.
Francesco looked to Marlow. ¡°Prepare the backup horses. We ride now.¡±
¡°But the rogues-¡±
¡°I will handle the rogues,¡± he growled. ¡°Go!¡±
Lira stayed close to Eine, whispering chants, weaving small protective runes across her forehead and chest. Francesco looked down at her again.
Even in this state, she looked like fire made flesh. Beautiful. Untouchable.
He kissed her forehead.
¡°Hoid on, my moon,¡± he murmured. ¡°You¡¯re almost home.¡±
And with that, the convoy moved.
The forest around them burned with tension.
And in the distance, shadows stalked the trees.
But none would reach her.
Not while he lived.
Still His 122
Chapter 122
Third Party Point of View:
The moment Luca felt the surge of ancient magic ripple through the ley lines of thend, his eyes snapped open.
The wind howled around the shattered ruins he called his sanctuary, thick with shadows and death. Bones littered the ground, cracked and ckened from years of decay and forbidden rituals. The corrupted heart of the forest pulsed faintly beneath his feet¨Ca sick, slow thrum of something long dead trying toe back to life.
He smiled, lips cracking and curling into something no longer human.
¡°So¡ it has begun,¡± he rasped, his voice a low, guttural whisper that made the shadows curl tighter around him.
His body¨Cmisshapen, stretched, and scorched by centuries of dark magic¨Cshifted slightly, bones popping under unnatural strain. Tendrils of shadow coiled around his deformed fingers, pulsing with the same cursed rhythm that echoed through thend. His eyes glowed¡ªa deep, burning red, not with heat but with rot, the color of ancient hate.
¡°The girl¡ she awakened.¡±
He stood, letting the veil of shadow slip over his form like a second skin. The ground beneath him shriveled, nts wilting
into ash beneath his steps. The air around him buzzed with death.
With a flick of a wed hand, he summoned one of his remaining spies¨Can obsidian¨Ceyed creature that had once been a
man. Now it slithered from the cracks of the ruin, hunched and broken.
¡°Tell the others,¡± Luca hissed. ¡°I will go myself.¡±
Eine¡¯s Point of View:
The world burned with sensation.
Heat. Cold. Light. Darkness. It pulsed and rippled across her skin like crashing waves. Her breath came in uneven gasps, sharp and shallow, as if the very air refused to stay inside her lungs. Magic surged violently inside her, as if something inside had finally torn free of its cage¨Cand it wanted out.
The carriage had been left behind. Now, they were deep in the forest, on foot, surrounded by chaos.
She barely saw the battle, though she could hear it¨CFrancesco¡¯s low,manding voice ordering warriors, Marlow¡¯s urgent calls, Lira¡¯s breathless incantations, Audrey¡¯s focused, steady tone anchoring everyone around her.
But for Eine, it was all too loud.
¡°Too much¡¡± she whispered, staggering a few steps away from the heart of the fight. Her arms trembled violently, glowin with veins of white¨Cblue lightning, her fingertips buzzing with untamed energy.
Francesco turned, cleaving a rogue in half before sprinting toward her, panic breaking through his usual calm. ¡°Eine! Stay behind me!¡±
She looked up at him¨Chis eyes filled with worry, devotion, love and her chest tightened painfully.
Why does my heart ache?
?????
Why does something inside me want to protect him, even when I can¡¯t remember why?
¡°I need to go,¡± she whispered hoarsely. ¡°I¡¯ll hurt you¡¡±
He reached out. ¡°No, Eine, please-¡®
But she stepped back.
And then-
A scream tore through the air.
Monica.
Eine¡¯s gaze snapped toward the sound. A rogue wolf, massive and twisted by ck magic, lunged through the trees straight toward the woman who had once cradled her through her worst nights.
¡°No!¡±
The scream wasn¡¯t just a cry. It was amand. It was magic.
A dome of white¨Cblue light exploded from her chest, like the release of a storm. The rogue wolf was hit mid¨Cair, sted backward into a tree with such force that bones cracked like thunder.
Monica copsed to the ground, alive but trembling.
Audrey let out a sharp gasp. Marlow stopped, staring with wide eyes. Francesco cursed under his breath, sprinting toward her again.
But Eine didn¡¯t stop.
Another rogue came from the side. She turned with a flick of her hand. A st of air and magic sent it flying like a ragdoll. Then another. And another.
Her body was no longer just hers¨Cit was a vessel of pure, ancient fury.
Magic screamed through her veins, singing in her blood, wrapping around her fingers like living me. She raised her hands and let it all go.
The world erupted.
Waves of energy tore through the forest, incinerating anything they touched. Earth was ripped from its roots, trees groaned and cracked, rogue after rogue disintegrated under her wrath.
She was a storm.
And nothing could stop her.
Francesco tried. ¡°Eine! Enough! They¡¯re gone! You¡¯re safe!¡±
But she couldn¡¯t hear him.
Not over the roar of her own magic.
Thest of the rogues fell. Silence returned, heavy and absolute. Ash drifted through the air like snow. Eine stood in the middle of it all, chest heaving, glowing with a crimson light that pulsed like a second heart.
She turned to Francesco.
Her eyes once silver¨Cwere glowing blood red.
He froze.
¡°Luna Eine?¡± Audrey whispered, horrified.
¡°She¡¯s losing herself,¡± Lira muttered, her voice shaking. ¡°The magic is consuming her. She doesn¡¯t remember who she is- her soul is adrift. If she turns on us-¡±
They didn¡¯t finish.
Because suddenly, the air grew cold.
Too cold.
The shadows thickened. The ground pulsed.
And then¡ the rot came.
The smell of death and decay slithered in on the wind. The trees seemed to bow away from it. The warriors tensed, weapons raised.
A figure stepped from the woods.
Tall. Crooked. Drenched in darkness and bone.
His presence was suffocating. Like a curse made flesh.
Lira dropped her potion vial. Audrey took a defensive stance. Marlow whispered a curse.
Francesco¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°No¡ it can¡¯t be
The creature stepped forward, pale as parchment, his bones jutting at strange angles under skin too thin to be alive. His eyes were pits of red fire. His grin¨Csplit far too wide¨Coozed delight.
¡°Luca,¡± someone whispered.
A death sentence.
¡°He¡¯s dead,¡± one knight gasped.
17.54¡ä Wed 30 Ju[[{
Chapter 122
¡°The King killed him¡¡±
Luca let out a soft, hollowugh. ¡°You really thought heartfire would end me? Oh, sweet children.
Francesco snarlow
ws unsheathing. ¡°Stay away from her!¡±
But Luca ignored him entirely.
His eyes locked on Eine.
¡°My sweet girl,¡± he cooed, his voice soft and slick like poison. ¡°You¡¯ve finally awakened. You remember the pain now, don¡¯t you? The betrayal?¡±
Eine tilted her head, confused. Her body hummed with power, unstable and flickering. Her eyes shed red, then silver. Her breath quickened.
Francesco stepped closer. ¡°Eine, it¡¯s not real. He¡¯s lying.¡±
Luca kept speaking, his voice like honeyced with venom. ¡°They never told you the truth, did they? That man¨Che¡¯s the reason you hurt. The reason you were broken. He wanted you for power.¡±
¡°No,¡± Francesco growled, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him!¡±
But Eine stepped forward.
Just once.
Toward Luca.
¡°Eine!¡± Francesco shouted, reaching out.
She flinched.
It shattered him.
Luca smiled wider. ¡°That¡¯s right. Come to me, child. Let me take it all away. The pain. The fear. The confusion.¡±
The shadows wrapped tighter around him, and around her. The magic pulsing from Eine turned darker, redder, wilder.
The warriors couldn¡¯t move. Couldn¡¯t act.
The forest held its breath.
She stood between them¨Cher past, her future, her pain.
And inside her, something began to crack.
A voice¨CMika¡¯s voice¨Cechoed faintly: ¡°Don¡¯t forget who you are¡¡±
But Eine couldn¡¯t answer.
Because she no longer knew.
Still His 123
Chapter 123
Chapter 123
Eine¡¯s Point of View:
The dark haze twisted around me like vines made of nightmares, slithering around my ankles, rising toward my throat. I couldn¡¯t breathe.
The sky above warped with shadows, swallowing the stars, the moonlight drowned by Luca¡¯s presence. His power wasn¡¯t just darkness¨Cit was despair, grief, bitterness that had festered for centuries.
Luca¡¯s voice slithered into my ear, coated in honey but sharp like thorns. ¡°You were never meant for them,¡± he whispered, stepping closer. ¡°You are not theirs to keep. You are power incarnate, Eine. And I¡ I am the only one who understands what that means.¡±
I stared at him.
by
His face was barely recognizable¨Cmore bone than flesh, of corruption, but his eyes were hauntingly clear, burning with desperation¡ and something like hunger.
¡°They only want your power,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯ll praise you until they fear you. Then they¡¯ll try to destroy you. But I won¡¯t. I never will.¡±
My body felt heavy.
My heart thundered in my chest.
Behind me, I could hear the cries of the others¨CAudrey shouting, Lira sobbing, warriors calling my name¨Cbut their voices were distant, muffled under the pounding of blood in my ears.
¡°I can teach you,¡± Luca said softly, ¡°to rule. Not hide. Not beg for scraps of affection. I will make them kneel for what they¡¯ve done to you.¡±
I staggered forward, breath shaking.
My magic red around me again¨Chot, wild, desperate.
The storm inside surged like a tidal wave, crashing against the edges of my mind.
Too loud. Too much. The light and the dark warred within my
bones.
Then¡ other voices rose from the storm.
¡°A dangerous power can¡¯t be owned by one person¡¡±
¡°She must choose. She can¡¯t have two powers at once.¡±
¡°One must die, or the other will survive.¡±
¡°You know what to do.¡±
¡°No¡ shut up¡ shut up¨CSHUT UP!¡± I screamed, dropping to my knees, clutching my head as pain cracked like lightning thro my skull.
My vision pulsed red and white.
The world spun.
I wanted it to stop. I wanted peace. Just one moment of stillness.
And then, a voice broke through.
Soft. Familiar Home.
¡®I am always here, Eine.¡®
I gasped, eyes wide. ¡°Mika¡?¡±
¡®Yes, my El.¡®
The warmth of my wolf¡¯s presence flooded through me like sunrise after a long, cold night.
Mika¡¯s voice was calm, steady, the thread that kept me from unraveling.
¡®And you already know who he is to you.¡¯
I turned.
There he was.
Francesco¡.
Bloodied, battered, limping¨Cbut still standing. Still fighting. For me.
His voice cracked with pain. ¡°ELLAINE!!!¡±
And something shattered inside me. Not from fear. Not from magic.
From memory¡.
It all came rushing back, like a broken dam flooding a silent valley.
The quiet garden under moonlight.
The way he knelt beside me in silence when I cried, never asking for anything in return.
The gentle way he always said my name¨Clike it mattered.
The way he looked at me the night I firstughed again.
The birthday morning¨Cthe blue roses no one else had.
The warmth of his hand over mine. The patience. The respect.
The love he never forced but always gave
½ñ
He had always been there. Never once turning away, even when I was broken, even when I pushed him.
He never asked me to choose him.
He just stayed.
Chapter 123
And in that moment, I knew truly knew¨Cwho he was to me.
My soul didn¡¯t ache for him because I was weak. It called for him because it remembered.
Because it belonged to him.
I rose to my feet, light flickering in my hands. Francesco¡¯s breath caught. He didn¡¯t move. He trusted mepletely, even now. His eyes¨Cthose warm, ancient, stormy eyes¨Cwere filled with nothing but love.
Luca¡¯s voice rose in panic. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him, Eine. You¡¯re stronger than this¨Cstronger than their pathetic idea of love. Don¡¯t waste what you are for him.¡±
I turned my head to him slowly. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I said softly.
Luca smiled.
But I wasn¡¯t finished.
¡°I am stronger. Strong enough to choose love. Strong enough to protect the people I care about. Strong enough¡ to end this.
His smile faltered.
¡°I remember everything,¡± I said, stepping back toward Francesco¨Cbut only to whisper: ¡°I love you.¡±
His face broke, tears springing to his eyes. ¡°No. Don¡¯t. Please¡¡±
But I was already turning.
I walked toward Luca, eyes burning with light.
He frowned. ¡°What are you-?¡±
I reached for him.
And I saw the flicker of fear in his eyes.
¡°You don¡¯t own me,¡± I said.
Then I grabbed him.
Luca screamed, tried to pull away¨Cbut it was toote.
Magic surged through me, not wild anymore¨Cbut sure. Steady. Complete. I wasn¡¯t a storm anymore. I was the eye of it.
A goddess forged in pain, love, and choice.
The ancient power within me ignited like a star copsing inward. Light erupted, white¨Chot and blinding, enveloping us both.
¡°NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! NO! LET ME GO! LET ME-¡±
His voice was ripped away as the explosion swallowed everything.
¡°ELLAINE!!!¡±
Francesco¡¯s voice was thest thing I heard before the world disappeared into light.
3/5
Chapter 123
Third Person: Moments Later
The crater where the explosion had detonated still steamed. All around it, the rogue wolves were gone¨Cdisintegrated into ash
Trees were bent outward, scorched at their edges. The wind had gone still.
Francesco stood at the edge, blood dripping down his cheek, every breath a stab of pain.
He stared at the center of the crater, at the spot where Eine had stood.
There was¡ nothing.
Just her body.
No sound.
Just the echo of her name in the void.
He dropped to his knees.
¡°Eine¡¡±
Audrey arrived first, her de still drawn, face pale and stricken. Then Marlow. Then Lira, silently weeping. The warriors stood back, stunned and reverent. No one knew what to say. No one could speak.
¡°She did it,¡± Audrey finally whispered. ¡°She saved all of us.¡±
Marlow¡¯s hand clenched over his chest. ¡°At what cost¡¡±
Lira dropped beside Francesco, cing a hand on his shoulder¨Cbut he didn¡¯t move. He couldn¡¯t.
And then¡
A flicker.
A gentle breeze swept through the clearing.
A single white light¨Cnorger than a firefly¨Crose from the ground, dancing through the smoke. It twirled once, then twice, before vanishing upward into the air.
Francesco raised his eyes.
He saw it.
Felt it.
And a whisper¨Cso soft it might¡¯ve been imagined¨Ccarried in the wind.
¡®Not gone. Not yet.¡±¡®
Meanwhile¡
Somewhere between worlds¨Cbeyond life, beyond death¨CEine opened her eyes.
Light surrounded her. Endless, infinite. But it was warm. Gentle. Safe.
She looked down at her hands, at the threads of magic winding between her fingers.
And she smiled.
¡°I¡¯m not done yet.¡±
Still His 124
Chapter 124
Spirit Realm
Between Death and Life
Soft light surrounds me.
At first, it feels like floating in nothingness¨Cno sound, no pain, no pressure on my body. Just¡ peace. My breath doesn¡¯t hitch. My heart doesn¡¯t race. It¡¯s part of the air itself. Free.
as if /
Then, I see her.
A woman with long silver¨Cblonde hair flowing like moonlight stands before me, dressed in a white gown that shimmers like frost on a stillke. Her eyes are striking¨Ckind, deep, and knowing. Familiar in a strange, aching
way.
¡°Anastasia¡?¡± I whisper, even though I¡¯m unsure how I know her name.
She smiles, that soft, ethereal kind of smile that eases every frantic thought in my head. ¡°Hello, Eine.¡±
My chest tightens. ¡°I¡¯m¡ I¡¯m dead, aren¡¯t I?¡±
The way her expression falters¨Cjust slightly¨Cis all the answer I need. She nods solemnly. ¡°Your physical body¡ is broken. You used everything¨Cyour magic, your soul, even your pain¨Cto end him.¡±
I lower my eyes. ¡°Luca.¡±
Anastasia nods. ¡°You destroyed himpletely. But it came at a cost.¡±
I pause. ¡°Then why am I still here? If I died¡ why do I still feel like me?¡±
¡°Because of me.¡±
That voice¨Cfamiliar, fierce, and warm¨Cechoes gently across the light. I turn, and there she is.
Mika.
My wolf. My other half.
She stands tall and strong, golden eyes glowing with a quiet pride. A spectral presence, radiant and real. The same voice that had whispered to me in the darkest nights. The one that never left¨Cnot even when I did.
¡°You have me,¡± Mika says, her voice like a forest breeze. ¡°And I will always be with you, Eine.¡±
Tears blur my vision. I step closer, trembling, and she touches her forehead to mine.
In that moment, I feel it. The bond. The truth. The depth of who I am.
1/4
I am not just a girl.
Not Just a mate.
Not just the vessel for a power passed down by fate.
1am Eine Rollin Lycaon. Luna. Fighter, Survivor. A daughter of the moon and me. A soul forged through rejection and reborn through sacrifice.
¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± I murmur, ncing between Mika and Anastasia. ¡°Am I alive or not?¡±
Anastasia smiles again, gentler this time. ¡°Your soul is here. But your body¡ lies wounded in the realm of the living. Burned, fractured by the magic you unleashed. It¡¯s holding on¨Cbut barely.¡±
A cold chill slips down my spine. ¡°And if it can¡¯t hold on?¡±
¡°Then this bes your permanent home,¡± Anastasia says softly.
I close my eyes. Thest thing I remember was Francesco. His voice screaming my name. His eyes filled with something deeper than fear¨Csomething more consuming than pain.
Love.
¡°Francesco,¡± I whisper, the name fragile on my lips.
Mika lifts her head. ¡°He hasn¡¯t left your side.¡±
¡°You saved his world,¡± Anastasia says. ¡°But you also shook it. Francesco doesn¡¯t know if you¡¯re still in there. He¡¯s afraid of believing¨Cof hoping¨Conly to lose you again.¡±
¡°Can he hear me?¡± I ask, desperate now.
¡°The bond is faint,¡± Mika says. ¡°But it¡¯s not broken. You still carry his mark, even here.¡±
I reach up, instinctively touching the side of my neck¨Cremembering his lips, his warmth, the way he never rushed me, never forced anything, even when his soul screamed for me.
¡°Then I need to go back. I need to tell him-¡±
¡°You¡¯re not ready,¡± Anastasia interrupts gently. ¡°Your soul and power are out of bnce. And the path back to life¡ it isn¡¯t open yet.¡±
I drop to my knees. ¡°So I¡¯m just trapped?¡±
¡°No,¡± Mika says, kneeling beside me. ¡°There is still a way.¡±
¡°But it cannot be walked alone,¡± Anastasia adds.
I blink. ¡°Then what do I do?¡°.
Chapter 124
¡°You call for him, Mika says. ¡°And if his heart reaches for yours¡ the veil may open.
A silence follows, heavy and holy.
Then Anastasia moves toward me, her movements slow, as if each step takes away a part of her. Her light has begun to fade her edges no longer shine like before.
I notice it instantly. ¡°You¡¯re¡ disappearing.¡±
She smiles, but her voice carries a quiet ache. ¡°My time is ending, Eine. When I gave you my magic, I gave you
everything that was left of me. I was never meant to stay.¡±
¡°No.¡± My voice cracks. ¡°I still have questions. I don¡¯t know how to do this without-¡±
¡°You can,¡± she whispers. ¡°Because you¡¯re not like me. You¡¯re stronger.¡±
She kneels and takes my hands into hers. ¡°I lived in the shadow of my mate, of expectations, of the curse I carried. But you¡ you broke the chains. You stood in front of death and chose love. That makes you more than a vessel. It
makes you a light.¡±
¡°I¡¯m afraid,¡± I admit.
¡°And yet you still want to go back,¡± she says, tears brimming in her glowing eyes. ¡°That¡¯s courage, Eine. That¡¯s
what makes you Luna.¡±
Her light grows fainter still.
¡°Promise me you won¡¯t let guilt hold you,¡± Anastasia whispers. ¡°Promise me you¡¯ll live¨Cnot just survive.¡±
I squeeze her hands. ¡°I promise.¡±
She leans in, pressing her lips to my forehead, a mother¡¯s final blessing. ¡°Then rise, Luna.¡±
And with that¡ Anastasia fades.
Her light drifts into the realm like stars dissolving into dawn.
I¡¯m left with Mika, whose eyes never leave mine.
¡°Are you ready?¡± she asks.
I nod.
I ce my hand over my chest and close my eyes. I think of Francesco¨Cthe way heughed when I rolled my eyes, the way he touched my fingers like they were ss, the way he said, ¡°Don¡¯t ever say sorry for being you.¡±
I whisper into the bond.
¡°Francesco¡¡±
3/4
A heartbeat.
Then another.
The light around me ripples.
He heard me.
Even through pain, through silence, through the fog of death he heard me.
And suddenly, Mika smiles.
¡°Then hold on,¡± she says.
The realm begins to shift. The stars pulse. The thread between soul and body tightens.
And I feel it¨Cheat, pressure, sensation. Fingers around mine. His hand.
His voice, hoarse and cracking: ¡°Eine¡ pleasee back to me.¡±
I¡¯ming, I whisper in return, as the veil begins to open.
Still His 125
Chapter 125
Go to Francesco Point of View
¡°NOVELLAINE!!!¡±
His scream shattered the air, raw and primal. Francesco surged forward, but the light¨Cgods, the light was too much. Blinding, deatening, and full of ar magic that did not belong to this world.
Then everything¡ stopped.
A choking silence spread like thick fog. The birds had gone still. The trees no longer swayed. Even the wind held its breath.
And when the re faded, when the shadows returned¨Cthere was nothing.
No Eine.
No Luca.
Only a smoking crater carved deep into the earth, its edges scorched and cracked. The once¨Clush forest had been ttened by the sheer force of the explosion.
Treesy in splinters, ash drifted in the air like ck snow, and the scent of burned earth and magic choked every breath.
Francesco stumbled, his vision swimming with the afterimages of the st. His skin burned, deep gashes bleeding down his arms and legs, but he didn¡¯t feel them. He didn¡¯t care. His only focus was the spot where she had stood.
His Eine¡
Gone.
But, he just found her.
He dropped to his knees, not with grace but as if the ground had pulled him down by force. His hands dug into the dirt, trembling.
No, please tell me this isn¡¯t real.
Moon Goddess, please tell me this is just a nightmare.
Please¡
Not my Eine¡ Not again¡.
Don¡¯t take her away from me again¡.
Please¡..
¡°Eine¡¡± he whispered, his voice hoarse, broken¨Clike a prayer never meant to be answered.
Behind him, Audrey and Lira stood in stunned silence. They had survived. Somehow, they had survived¡ªbut it hadn¡¯t been a victory.
Not when she was gone.
Marlow arrived secondster with his knights, his sword dripping with rogue blood. His sharp eyes scanned the battlefield¨Cbut his hardened warrior expression faltered the moment itnded on his Alpha, kneeling in ash like a grieving god.
¡°She¡ she did it,¡± Audrey whispered. ¡°She saved us all.¡±
1/4
But at what cost?
Francesco could feel nothing.
No bond pulling him toward her..
No heartbeat echoing in his soul.
No soft, stubborn presence whispering across the tether that bound fated mates.
There was only void.
Until-
A distant sound. A beat of paws. Dozens.
The reinforcements had arrived.
From the north, over twenty¨Cfive knights and elite warriors burst through the trees, armor glinting, weapons drawn¨Cready for war. They moved like a
wave of steel and fury, until they saw him.
Their king.
The Alpha Lycan.
On his knees, shoulders shaking.
They stopped instantly, formation copsing into hushed chaos. Some gasped. Others froze. All eyes widened in disbelief.
Francesco didn¡¯t turn. He didn¡¯t move.
He just stared at the earth in front of him¨Cat the still body lying in a ring of scorched magic.
Eine.
Her clothes were torn. Her skin pale. Her golden¨Cbrown hair spread around her like a halo, speckled with soot and dried blood. Her hand¨Chis hand, her beautiful hand¨Crested open, as if she had been reaching for something. For him.
Beta Alfonso dismounted and strode forward, urgency in every step. His breath caught the moment he saw her.
¡°My King Alpha-¡± he started, but the words died in his throat.
He turned to Marlow, demanding answers through their link.
Marlow closed his eyes and shared everything¨Cthe explosion, the whispers from Eine before she unleashed the spell, the heartbreaking final moment.
Alfonso staggered back, barely able to breathe.
He looked to the left¨Cand saw what remained of Luga. A charred husk. A twisted shadow of the man who had tried to y God.
Now, nothing more than ash and bone.
¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± one knight whispered. ¡°Did she kill herself¡ to kill him?¡±
¡°Looks like Luna carried hisst soul fragment,¡± Lira murmured. ¡°She chose¡ One had to die for the other to vanish forever.¡±
A heavy silence followed.
Francesco lifted his head slowly. His lips trembled. His eyes, once zing with divine fury, were now wet with grief.
He crawled forward and gathered ine into his arms, cradling her like a broken treasure,
¡°Don¡¯t leave me, he breathed. ¡°Please, don¡¯t¡ I didn¡¯t get to say¡ I didn¡¯t¡¡±
He pressed his forehead against hers.
never got to tell you 1-
His voice broke.
The warriors bowed their heads.
Even the fiercest of them¨Cmen and women who had faced death without blinking had tears in their eyes.
Their king.
Their Luna.
They had won the war, yes. But in doing so, they had watched their Alpha break.
Then-
¡°Wait-¡°Lira¡¯s voice cut through the quiet. ¡°She¡¯s¡ look-
Francesco¡¯s eyes snapped open.
¡°What?¡±
¡±
Lira rushed to her side, her fingers trembling as she pressed them to Eine¡¯s throat. Then her wrist. Then her heart.
¡°She¡¯s breathing!¡± Lira gasped. ¡°It¡¯s faint, but¨Cshe¡¯s stil
A flicker of something¨Chope¨Ccracked through the storm of Francesco¡¯s grief.
He held her tighter. ¡°You¡¯re still here¡¡±
Beta Alfonso was already signaling the warriors. ¡°Get the medic runes ready! We don¡¯t have much time.¡±
Three knights rushed forward with a reinforced stretcherced with protective magic.
¡°We must stabilize her,¡± Marlow barked. ¡°The magic inside her body¨Cit¡¯s unstable. She might notst the journey.¡±
Francesco growled low, eyes shing gold. ¡°No one touches her. I¡¯ll carry her myself.¡±
No one dared argue.
He rose to his feet, holding her against his chest. Her head fell into the crook of his neck, her body limp¨Cbut there. Still warm.
The warriors moved around him, forming a protective ring. Not just out of duty, but out of reverence. For her. For them.
And as they began their return journey¨Cthrough the quiet forest and broken battlefield¨Cthe only sound was the soft whisper of Francesco¡¯s voice, repeated again and again against Eine¡¯s ear.
¡°Come back to me, cara mia. Please,e back to me.¡±
Still His 126
Chapter 126
Francesco¡¯s POV ¨C Return to the Castle:
The journey back felt like both an eternity and a blur.
Francesco didn¡¯t speak to anyone.
He didn¡¯t let anyone get close.
The only sound that mattered was Eine¡¯s faint, uneven breaths against his chest. He counted them with every step¨Cone, two, three¨Ceach one a fragile thread tying her soul to this world.
The warriors marched in silence around him.
No victory chants. No howls of triumph. Just reverent stillness, as if even the trees bowed to the weight of what had urred. As if the world itself dared not disturb their Alpha¡¯s grief.
But something was different.
Francesco felt it long before the castle came into view. A pressure that had once always lingered in the air- subtle, suffocating¨Cwas gone. The ever¨Cpresent hum of dark magic that clouded his kingdom for years¡
had vanished.
He narrowed his eyes.
The path to the castle that once twisted unnaturally under enchantments was now straight and clear.
Trees that had stood like silent sentries looked softer, as if relieved of their duty.
The wind moved again¨Cnot in gusts of warning, but in gentle sweeps, brushing through his bloodied hair
like a promise.
The barrier. The ck shroud.
It was gone.
He nced down at Eine.
You¡ did this, he realized. You didn¡¯t just save us. You saved thisnd.
They passed through the outer gates without needing the usual unlocking rituals. The magic seals were no
longer active. The warding runes etched in ancient stone had dimmed. Some flickered faintly, others cracked as though rejecting the absence of dark power they once thrived on.
Francesco didn¡¯t stop.
¡°Open the royal quarters!¡± Beta Alfonso shouted ahead. ¡°Get Lira everything she needs!¡±
Maids and guards scrambled inside the castle. News had spread¨Cof the explosion, of the battle, of the
Luna¡¯s sacrifice.
Some wept at the sight of her. Others fell to their knees as their Alpha passed.
Still, Francesco said nothing.
His boots echoed through the halls until they reached the Luna¡¯s chamber¨Cno, her room.
His arms trembled as he lowered her gently onto the bed. The sheets were still warm from the morning sun, undisturbed as if waiting for her to return.
¡°Lira,¡± he said hoarsely.
The witch was already beside him, carrying a satchel of glowing bottles, herbs, and sacred stones. Her eyes were red from earlier tears, but her hands were steady.
¡°I need silence,¡± she murmured, cing a protection rune above Eine¡¯s head. ¡°And trust.¡±
Francesco stepped back reluctantly, his hand brushing the strands of Eine¡¯s hair onest time before giving her space.
5
Lira began her work¨Ccleansing potions, energy¨Cbinding spells, sealing her aura to stop the unstable flow of magic that still shimmered under her skin.
Francesco walked to the window, staring out.
Then he felt it again.
The air was lighter.
Not just emotionally¨Cphysically. The weight on his shoulders, the tension in the castle walls¡ it had all lifted.
The suffocating fog that gued certain areas of the pce¨Cthe ones no one dared enter alone¨Cwas gone.
He narrowed his gaze.
From this high tower, he could see the western gardens. Once overgrown and withered, as if cursed by sorrow, now shimmered under the moonlight.
A faint pulse of color bloomed there. Flowers long dead peeked out from the soil. A fountain that hadn¡¯t flowed in years trickled with silver water.
The hidden garden.
He spun on his heel. ¡°Alfonso.¡±
His Beta appeared at the door. ¡°Yes, my King?¡±
¡°I want patrols across every border of the pce. Check the libraries, the sealed wings, the catbs. Everything that was once cloaked in ck magic¡ªI want it documented.¡±
Alfonso¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°You think the magic died with Luca?¡±
¡°No,¡± Francesco said softly, his gaze returning to the woman on the bed. ¡°I think it died with her¡ and rose
again in another form.¡±
Alfonso didn¡¯t question it. He bowed and left to carry out the order.
Francesco turned back to Eine and exhaled a shaky breath. He moved to the edge of the bed and sat
beside her.
She looked peaceful.now.
Too peaceful.
Her pulse was faint but steady beneath the skin of her wrist. Her chest rose and fell in a slow rhythm. Her magic¡ less chaotic now, though still dangerous in its potency. Lira was right¨Cit was changing.
He reached up and brushed his fingers along her temple. ¡°You carried something dark,¡± he whispered. ¡°And still, you chose light.¡±
As he sat there, the firece crackled.
A strange warmth bloomed in the room, as though the castle itself was waking up.
The paintings lining the hallway outside glowed faintly. Old relics, once dormant, thrummed with quiet
magic.
Everything that had been sealed, silenced, or hidden¨Cwas being unveiled.
And then-
BUMP.
A thud echoed from his private study across the hall.
Francesco stood.
His senses red, alert but not rmed.
He walked toward the room slowly, his boots muffled by the thick carpet. The door was ajar, the fire inside still burning low. He hadn¡¯t lit it.
When he entered, the scent of old parchment and dried herbs hit him instantly. The shelves along the walls
-lined with history, war records, spellbooks, and Journals¨Cwere untouched.
Except for one thing.
A single book had fallen from the highest shelf, lying open on the floor.
Francesco approached it cautiously. His eyes narrowed.
It was Anastasia¡¯s journal.
Thest one.
The final volume he had never been able to read¨Cbecause it had been hidden. Protected by magic only she
could wield.
Until now.
He knelt and picked it up, running a hand over the aged leather cover. The symbol embossed on the front- the entwined wolf and moon¨Cglowed faintly as if acknowledging his touch for the first time.
He opened to the first page.
To my beloved Francesco,
If you are reading this, it means the curse has lifted.
And if it has lifted¡ it means she hase.
His breath caught.
His hand tightened around the edges.
Page after page was filled with elegant handwriting. Notes, memories, warnings.
And a single prophecy.
¡°When the chosen heart awakens, the shadow shall vanish. The garden shall bloom. And thest secret shall rise from ash and fire. You will know her¨Cnot by her magic, but by the way she heals what even time
could not.¡±
Francesco staggered back, gripping the book.
He turned, his gaze flying toward the bed.
Eine.
She was the final key.
Not just to the war. Not just to Luca¡¯s madness.
But to the curse that had haunted his bloodline for generations.
His chest rose and fell as a quiet, almost painful hope burned in his heart.
He was beginning to see it now¨Cthis wasn¡¯t the end of their story.
It was only the beginning.
Still His 127
Chapter 127
Chapter 127
Francesco Point of View:
It¡¯s been a month, and yet Eine stilly motionless¨Cbeautiful and still, like a sleeping beauty trapped in time.
Francesco sat by her side every morning, his fingers gently brushing her silver¨Cwhite hair, his other hand cradling a cup of untouched coffee.
Lira, ever patient, continued to inject the nutrient potions and healing elixirs into Eine¡¯s delicate arm. Day by day, her color began to return. Her once pale face slowly regained its glow, her lips no longer the shade of ash but kissed with pink. Yet, her eyes remained closed. Her soul still wandered, lost in the wreckage of magic that had nearly torn her apart.
Every day, Francesco followed the same ritual.
He would wake early, bathe and dress meticulously, and sit with Eine while the castle slowly came to life. He would speak to her softly, tell her about the day, the discoveries, the people. Then, once the castle clock chimed ten, he would kiss her forehead, promise her he would return soon, and leave to oversee the territory.
Since the ck magic had been lifted, an eerie rity had swept across hisnd. Things that once hid behind veils of darkness were nowid bare. Secret passageways. Lost forests. Caves filled with ancient symbols. Hidden strongholds used by Luca. Even a forgotten city buried deep within the northern cliffs.
He¡¯d been stunned to discover how deeply Luca¡¯s influence had rooted itself. Whole regions had been cloaked in illusions, manipted and twisted to appear as uninhabitable terrain. No wonder the rogue army had moved with such ease. Thend had been warped to serve their
evil.
And the people¨Cgods, the people.
He¡¯d found survivors. Viges living in fear, generations trained to obey Luca or die. Tortured minds, broken wills. Some had been grateful to
see his warriors. Others had panicked, wing at their chains, screaming in fear. It wasn¡¯t until Francesco approached them himself, his
Alpha aura softened and voice gentle, that they began to trust again.
Not all had been victims.
Some were loyal to Luca¨Cwillingly, fanatically so.
Francesco and his warriors had no choice but to fight them. He gave each one a chance to surrender. When they didn¡¯t¡ he erased them without hesitation. Mercy had no ce where darkness still thrived.
This morning had started like any other. He had just left Eine¡¯s room, whispering his daily promise to return, when Beta Alfonso¡¯s voice whispered into his mind.
¡°I¡¯m sorry to disturb your morning time with Luna, my King.¡±
Everyone knew his mornings belonged to her.
Francesco replied immediately, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m on my way to the training field anyway. What¡¯s wrong, Alfonso?¡±
¡°We¡¯ve found a new hidden city. There are several of Luca¡¯s royal rogues¡ and hostages.¡±
Francesco¡¯s stride quickened. ¡°Hostages? Where are you?¡±
¡°In Marlow¡¯s office, my King¡°.
¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡±
1/3
18:33 Mon, 4 Aug 1 JU
Chapter 127
Within minutes, Francesco stepped into Marlow¡¯s war chamber. Several senior warriors were already present. The room fall dent entered, all heads bowing in respect.
¡°Good morning, Marlow, Alfonso, everyone,¡± he said calmly. The men and women before him raised their heads.
¡°Tell me what you found.¡±
One of the scouts, Kurt, stepped forward. ¡°Last night, during my patrol, I caught a scent of something¡ wrong, I followed it north. About a mile past the cliffs, I found a hidden valley. And a citypletely concealed by old magic. There were rogue banners¡ and women in
chains.¡±
¡°Hostages?¡± Francesco confirmed.
Kurt nodded grimly. ¡°Yes. Handcuffed. Guarded. I counted at least eighteen rogues. Possibly more underground.¡±
Francesco turned to Marlow.
¡°We¡¯ll send twenty¨Cfive knights and elite warriors,¡± Marlow said. ¡°I¡¯ll lead the charge myself.¡±
Francesco nodded. ¡°I¡¯ming with you.¡±
There was no protest. No hesitation. Everyone in the room knew what it meant when the King Alpha said he would ride.
Within an hour, the strike team assembled. Warriors in ck and steel, ready for blood. Francesco led the charge in his massive midnight wolf form, Marlow at his side. The ground trembled beneath their paws as they raced through the forest and across rivers, each stride a
thunderous promise of vengeance.
When they reached the hidden city, what they found made Francesco¡¯s blood boil.
Women¨Cdozens of them¨Cchained together. Some injured. Some barely conscious. And rogues. Eighteen of them, just as Kurt said. Two tried
to flee. The rest charged, feral and howling.
But it was toote.
Francesco leapt into the fray first, his ws slicing through the nearest rogue. His warriors followed, silent and ruthless. Magic shed with fang. Steel met bone.
Within minutes, the ground was littered with rogue corpses. Francesco stood over them, chest heaving, blood soaking his fur.
Marlow gave the all¨Cclear.
They turned to the women.
Alfonso stepped forward with a medic team. He broke the cuffs with a specialized tool, speaking softly to each woman. Some wept. Others
stared nkly.
Francesco shifted back to human form and covered himself with a long ck coat. He walked among the survivors slowly, checking on them one by one. Some flinched at his presence, but most just whispered one word:
¡°Thank you.¡±
Once the women were stabilized and escorted back toward the castle, Francesco stood alone on the edge of the hidden city. He look around at the ruins, the lies, the lives stolen and twisted by darkness. He clenched his fists.
¡°We¡¯ll burn this ce to the ground,¡± he told Marlow. ¡°Everyst remnant of what he built¨Cgone.¡±
Chapter 127
¡°As you , my King
They set the fires that night.
When Francesco returned to the castle, his body was sore, his heart heavy. But his feet still carried him straight to Eine¡¯s room.
Shey there, radiant even in her stillness. Her breathing was steady. The pulse beneath her wrist was stronger. Yet she didn¡¯t stir
He sat beside her as he always did. Took her hand. Pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
¡°I found a hidden city today,¡± he whispered, his voice rough from smoke and battle. ¡°It was covered in magic¡ probably for years. No wonder Luca moved so easily. He used the shadows. But we¡¯re clearing them, El. One by one.¡±
He smiled faintly, brushing her hair behind her ear.
¡°There were survivors¡ women. I think you would¡¯ve liked them. Brave, even when broken. Just like you.¡±
He paused.
¡°I wish you could see what the kingdom looks like now. The light¡¯s returning. Flowers are blooming again. The children are ying in the streets. You did that, you know. You saved all of them.¡±
He exhaled, his voice softer now. ¡°But there¡¯s still more I want to show you. More beauty. More peace. I want you to see it, cara mia. With me.
He stayed with her that night, as he always did. Holding her hand. Humming the luby she once told him reminded her of home.
And somewhere deep in her dreams, something stirred.
Still His 128
Chapter 128
The hidden city had been liberated.
Women once chained, their faces drawn with trauma and starvation, now sat in warm rooms, wrapped in clean nkets, receiving heating and did more than reveal physical terrain. It unearthed truths, families, and wounds.
The door behind him creaked.
¡°My King,¡± came the voice of Beta Alfonso, his tone steady as ever. ¡°A message from Alpha Gregory of Barcelona.¡±
Francesco turned slightly, his expression neutral but attentive.
¡°His daughter was among the rescued. Her name is Kiera.¡±
A beat passed before his brow furrowed. ¡°Wait¡ Gregory¡¯s daughter is one among them?¡±
Alfonso gave a tight nod. ¡°Yes, My king. Apparently, she was taken almost two years ago. Alpha Gregory had assumed she was dead. He only discovered the truth after the veil fell and saw the list of rescued names.¡±
Francesco¡¯s expression shifted with rare surprise, a flicker of guilt shing in his eyes. ¡°I never knew she was his. Gods¡ he must have suffered.¡±
¡°Yes. Alpha Gregory sends his gratitude and requested to visit in person. He is arriving in three days.¡±
Francesco turned fully to face his Beta, brows drawing slightly together. ¡°Prepare amodations. And make sure the rescued women and their families are treated with dignity.¡±
¡°Of course. There¡¯s something else,¡± Alfonso hesitated. ¡°Word is spreading across territories. More families are arriving, iming their daughters, sisters, and mates. The people are calling this ce a sanctuary.¡±
Francesco¡¯s gaze drifted toward the east, toward the wing where Eine still slept.
A month had passed, and she remained in her enchanted slumber. Lira¡¯s potions kept her stable, her skin warm and vibrant again, but her
soul was still mending.
He exhaled slowly. ¡°Let theme.¡±
The day Alpha Gregory arrived was clear and bright, with soft wind trailing the mountain air.
The courtyard was filled withughter and the scent of baked bread and roasted meat. Dozens of rescued women were reunited with their families, their tearful embraces echoing through the marble halls of the castle.
Francesco did not greet them.
As always, he delegated public appearances to Beta Alfonso, choosing to maintain distance from celebration.
Because he had never cared for praise
Chapter 128
Until a knock came at his private chamber,
¡°My king Alpha¡± Alfonso said through the crack in the door. ¡°Alpha Gregory requests an audience. He insists it must be in person
Francesco stood, brushing his cloak aside. ¡°Very well. Bring him to the southern garden.
The garden, once shrouded by dark vines and poisoned roots, had been restored since Eine¡¯s power burst. Now, golden sunlight trickled through wide trees, and the scent of fresh blossoms perfumed the air.
Alpha Gregory was a broad man with white¨Cstreaked hair and sharp eyes. He bowed deeply. ¡°King Francesco. I owe you more than words can ever express.¡±
¡°You owe me nothing,¡± Francesco replied curtly. ¡°Your daughter is alive. That is enough.¡±
The older Alpha smiled faintly. ¡°Still, you¡¯ve done something no one else could. And I see now the rumors were wrong. You are not a
monster.¡±
Francesco offered no response.
From the castle door, a soft voice called, ¡°Father!¡±
Kiera entered the garden in a flowingvender gown, her hair braided and adorned with silver pins. Her eyes met Francesco¡¯s.
And she stopped.
For a moment, it was as if the world had narrowed.
has striking. Tall, broad¨Cshouldered, with dark hair that curled
She had imagined the King as cold and grizzled, but the man before her
slightly at his neck and silver eyes that pierced like ice. A scar traced his jawline, only making him more enigmatic.
She lowered her gaze quickly, cheeks warming. But in her heart, something fluttered.
That night, a lunch was held for the rescued victims and their families. Long tables filled the outer terrace, with food and music and a sense of safety that hadn¡¯t existed for years.
Francesco walked into the celebration only because Alfonso insisted. He moved through the crowd like a phantom¨Cdistant, dignified,
untouchable.
Kiera, seated next to her father, couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him.
He barely looked her way.
Instead, his gaze was drawn to the upper floor balcony, where Lira stood, watching quietly from Eine¡¯s room.
A signal passed between them. Francesco gave a slight nod, and Lira bowed her head before returning inside.
Kiera noticed.
She leaned toward her father. ¡°What do you know of the King¡¯s Luna?¡±
Gregory sighed. ¡°She¡¯s in an enchanted sleep. Powerful magic holds her soul. It¡¯s said she sacrificed everything to destroy the ck Curse.¡±
Kiera¡¯s lips parted. ¡°Is she¡ still alive?¡±
¡°Barely. But the King believes she will return.¡±
$18.34 Mon, 4 Aug
Kiera turned her gaze back to Francesco, something sharp blooming in her chest. ¡°Belief is not certainty.¡±
The following morning, Francesco returned to Eine¡¯s side. As he did every
day.
He held her hand, spoke softly to her as though she could hear him.
He told her about the new cities discovered, the hidden rivers that sparkled with strange magic, the undergroundke he had found that glowed in moonlight.
He described it all with the hope that one day, she¡¯d see it herself.
Outside her room, Lira mixed her potions.
¡°She¡¯s healing,¡± Lira said gently. ¡°But her soul was fractured. Her magic¡ it fought against itself.¡±
Francesco didn¡¯t look away from Eine, ¡°Will she wake?¡±
¡°She will. But not if she senses despair. Her soul is sti
I searching for the way
back.¡±
In the days that followed, Kiera found excuses to linger.
To pass the training fields where Francescomanded his warriors. To visit the library where he often read in silence. She offered polite smiles, asked careful questions.
Francesco responded only as necessary.
His attention was never on her.
One day, she gathered her courage.
¡°My king Alpha,¡± she said as he exited the war room.
He paused. ¡°Lady Kiera?¡±
She stepped closer. ¡°I know you carry many burdens. But you deserve peace, too. I would be honored to help.¡± She dares herself to bravely speak.
His expression did not change. ¡°Peace is not something one receives. It is something one earns.¡±
Kiera hesitated. ¡°Then let me help you earn it.¡±
His gaze, cold and sharp, finally met hers.
¡°I have a Luna,¡± he said firmly. ¡°And I would burn the world before I dishonor her.¡±
Kiera flinched.
Francesco walked past her without another word.
Still His 129
Chapter 129
The war room buzzed with conversations as strategies were discussed and warriors from different territories exchanged updates. Maps, reports, and scouting notes filled the long wooden table.
Among those present was Audrey, one of the kingdom¡¯s most revered warriors¨Ca fierce protector of her people and one of the few who had stood by Luna Eine from the beginning.
Audrey stood tall, arms crossed, her sword resting against the edge of the wall behind her. Her golden¨Cbrown hair was pulled into a tight braid, and her eyes, sharp as des, scanned the documents before her. She was focused, but her wolf instincts remained aware of everything around her.
When a faint whisper broke the rhythm of the discussion, she turned sharply.
¡°Why should we all continue waiting for someone who might never wake?¡±
Though the words were barely above a whisper, every royal knight and warrior in the room heard them clearly.
Enhanced senses¨Cboth a blessing and a curse¨Cmade even the softest utterance echo like thunder in their minds.
Audrey turned her head slowly, her gaze locking onto Lady Kiera¨Cthe recently rescued Alpha daughter of Alpha Gregory from the Barcelona
territory.
She stood off to the side, thinking she had spoken to herself. Dressed in avish cream gown, her honey¨Cblonde curls cascading over her
shoulders, Kiera had a look of mild irritation on her face.
She continued, still whispering to herself, unaware of how clearly she was being heard: ¡°King Alpha Francesco should move on. He deserves someone beside him who is strong and awake, not someone lying unconscious in bed.¡±
Silence nketed the room.
Warriors, Betas, strategists¨Ceveryone froze.
Audrey¡¯s heart pounded as rage surged through her.
Her wolf growled inside her mind. Her eyes, already narrowed, now glinted with fire.
She took a step forward.
Kiera noticed the attention and looked around, confused by the sudden hush in the room. Her fake smile faltered as she saw the cold, hard
stares directed at her.
Audrey¡¯s boots echoed as she walked out of the war room. But instead of walking away, she turned back and waited outside the chamber.
As Kiera exited the war room momentster, Audrey met her with a re that could freeze blood.
¡°You should be grateful that Luna Eine helped you all by removing the ck magic at the risk of her life,¡± Audrey said coldly, her voice low
but razor¨Csharp.
Kiera blinked, startled, she didn¡¯t aware the she was heard. ¡°I¡ I didn¡¯t mean-¡±
¡°Save it,¡± Audrey snapped. ¡°You owe your freedom to her. You don¡¯t get to speak of her like that, not even in a whisper.¡±
Before Kiera could formte a response, Monica appeared¨CAudrey¡¯s best friend and a trusted healer in the royal household.
??? ????
75%
28
Monica, who had tended to Eine personally, had also heard what was whispered through the link between warriors.
Rumors traveled fast, and Monica stormed through the hallway, eyes zing.
She stood beside Audrey, her jaw clenched. ¡°Please, for the sake of your father, Alpha Gregory, don¡¯t speak or n stupid things anymore, Lady Kiera,¡± she said, her voice tight with fury.
The young Alpha daughter flushed a deep red, shifting ufortably as other guards, warriors, and even servants in the hall stared at her.
The weight of their silent judgment was crushing.
¡°You¡¯re lucky he didn¡¯t chomp your head off for speaking such stupidity,¡± Audrey added, her voice louder now, fueled by sheer rage.
Gasps were heard among those gathered.
The silence that followed was not kind.
Kiera¡¯s eyes widened, ncing from one face to another.
No one came to her defense.
She realized that almost everyone present was fiercely loyal to Luna Eine.
¡°I¡ I¡¯m sorry,¡± Kiera muttered, voice trembling. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to insult her. I was only thinking out loud.¡±
¡°Then keep your thoughts to yourself next time,¡± Monica said tly.
Audrey said nothing. Her re was enough.
Red¨Cfaced, humiliated, and overwhelmed, Kiera turned and bolted down the hallway, heading toward her father¡¯s guest chambers. Her shoes clicked loudly on the stone floor as if running from her own shame..
Monica exhaled slowly and looked at Audrey. ¡°Do you think the King heard that?¡±
Audrey smirked bitterly. ¡°He didn¡¯t need to. Even if he did, King Alpha Francesco never wastes time on foolish chatter. Not unless someone poses a threat to Luna Eine.¡±
That night, the castle remained tense.
Rumors spread like wildfire, whispering about the arrogant Alpha daughter who dared insult the King¡¯s mate.
Though King Alpha Francesco said nothing on the matter, his silence held weight. He had seen the shift in the energy of his warriors. He knew.
In his private chambers, Francesco sat beside Eine, holding her hand.
The moonlight bathed her pale skin in silver.
¡°You still protect this ce even as you sleep,¡± he whispered, brushing his thumb against her knuckles.
His mind drifted to the war room, to the whispers carried by the wind, to the words Kiera foolishly uttered.
He had heard them¨Cwhether by his own acute senses or through the rippling tension of his warriors, it made no difference.
He simply didn¡¯t care.
20:29 Tue, 5 Aug 0
75%
+28)
Francesco had never paid any attention to silly women fawning over him. He considered such things minor distractions¨Ctrivial, meaningless. Kiera¡¯s affection, veiled in her insult, didn¡¯t so much as stir him. He didn¡¯t entertain petty emotions or childish games.
But the moment someone dared to endanger or insult Eine, even passively, the air shifted. And those who served under him knew it.
Francesco wasn¡¯t a man who barked warnings.
He was a man who bit.
He thought of Audrey and Monica¨Chis most loyal people, whose actions reflected his unspoken will.
Their protection of Eine, even in her sleep, only deepened his trust in them.
He would not forget.
And neither would Kiera.
Some lessons came with a bruise.
Others came with silence.
But both left scars.
And Kiera had just earned hers.
Still His 130
Chapter 130
In the warriors¡® courtyard, tension hung in the air like a taut bowstring.
Audrey paced beside Monica, both of them cloaked in silent alertness. Kiera¡¯s venomous words hadn¡¯t faded into the wind. No, they lingered like the stench of blood before a storm. Every warrior who had heard her reckless outburst carried it now¨Cnot as anger, but as a memory. One that wouldn¡¯t be easily forgiven.
¡°She hasn¡¯t left her chambers since that day,¡± Monica said, her voice t as she crossed her arms tightly over her chest. Her sharp eyes never left the far end of the guest tower.
¡°She shouldn¡¯t,¡± Audrey muttered. Her arms were folded too, but her fingers flexed subtly; a readiness for battle never fully gone. ¡°And if she has half a brain, she won¡¯t speak again without thinking.¡±
Creaakk¡.
The silent tension between them cracked when the great inner hall doors opened.
Francesco stepped through, the weight of his name echoing in every footstep.
The Lycan King.
The war had ended with fire and fangs. Luca was dead. But victory didn¡¯te with peace, his Luna is one of them.
The once¨Cmighty Council Towery in ruins a memory buried under ash, itsws drowned in betrayal. Of all the high council, only two remained: Renna, the sharpest mind of her generation, and Darius, the oldest werewolf still breathing, whose known as Mara and Elias.
They had escaped death not through strength but foresight. On the day the tower fell, before Luca could inject them with madness, they had run ¨C wounded, betrayed, but alive. They had escaped Marsen¡¯s shadows along with Eine with them.
Now they stood in the war chamber, the cold stone walls thick with unspoken truths helping him to find everyone who is link to Luca, now their eyes lock to find the person who is an old high counsellor, Marsen, the betrayer.
Renna¡¯s eyes were fixed on the frostced window, her breath fogging the ss. Dark circles hollowed her gaze ¨C the toll of sleepless nights, of endless searching for the truth they still didn¡¯t fully understand.
¡°He¡¯s nowhere,¡± Darius muttered, his gravel¨Clined voice scraping through the silence. He turned toward Francesco. ¡°No sightings. No whispers. No trace of his scent.¡±
Francesco didn¡¯t speak immediately. His expression remained unreadable, forged in fire and tempered by the loss of too many.
¡°We know Marsen was always careful,¡± Renna added, her tone sharp but weary. ¡°He wasn¡¯t like Luca. He didn¡¯t lead. He watched. Listened. Learned.¡±
¡°A shadow,¡± Darius said.
¡°No man like him vanishes without a n.¡±
They believed Marsen was the reason they were hunted. But no trail led to him. No paper trail. No body. Not even magic residue. As if he had never existed at all.
But they knew better. Men like Marsen didn¡¯t disappear. They burrowed. They bided their time. And then they emerged stronger.
Francesco remained still as stone.
He wasn¡¯t one to waste words. Not on ghosts. Not on cowards who hid in the dark.
But he felt it ¨C the wrongness in the air.
The veil had shattered. Magic once hidden, once sealed away by ancient blood oaths, now pulsed freely through thend.
And with it came creatures never meant to walk under sun or moon again.
Creatures¡ and something else.
Meaning, everything unknown is still there.
Go to Kiera Point of View:
What the hell!!
She hated it.
Every second of it burned in her chest like acid.
She was the daughter of an Alpha.
She came from a bloodline of power and pride, raised with the expectation that the world would bow before her.
And yet¡
¡°How dare they.¡± Her voice dripped with venom as she stormed down the corridor of the east wing. Her heels clicked with fury on the stone floor. ¡°They humiliated me. In front of everyone. Me.¡±
Audrey¡¯s re. Monica¡¯s cold dismissal. The warriors¡® silence¨Cheavy and charged, as if she were the enemy.
All because of her. That sleeping Luna.
What¡¯s with that girl?
Why does everyone act like she¡¯s some goddess fallen from the heavens? Like she¡¯s the center of gravity, pulling every man, woman, and breath toward her?
What is she, really?
A powerless nobody. A reject. A Luna without a crown.
Kiera¡¯s hands clenched at her sides. Her nails dug half¨Cmoons into her palms.
She reached therge oak doors to her father¡¯s study and shoved them open with a loud-
BLAM.
Alpha Gregory, seated behind his desk with scrolls and letters strewn before him, looked up sharply. ¡°Kiera?¡± His eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed with concern. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, barging in like that?¡±
Kiera didn¡¯t answer at first. She marched in like a storm, pacing back and forth with wild eyes and clenched fists.
He rose from his chair. ¡°Speak, daughter. What happened?¡±
¡°I¡¯m sick of this,¡± she spat. ¡°Everyone walking around like that girl is the moon itself. I make onement¨Cone¨Cabout her, and suddenly I¡¯m treated like a criminal. As if I insulted the goddess herself!¡±
Gregory¡¯s brow creased. ¡°What did you say?¡±
¡°Nothing awfull Just the truth. I said she¡¯s always asleep and fragile and weak. That she¡¯s not worthy of-¡±
¡°Enough.¡±
She blinked as her father¡¯s hand flew up in front of her mouth, silencing her mid¨Csentence.
¡°F¨CFather?!¡± she recoiled, stunned.
But his face was not the warmfort she¡¯d always known. It was cold. Serious. Commanding.
¡°I said enough, Kiera,¡± he growled, his voice low butced with warning. ¡°Don¡¯t speak like that again. Not in this house. Not in this kingdom. I don¡¯t care if you are my daughter.¡±
Her heart thudded. This wasn¡¯t like him. He never spoke to her this way¨Cnot Gregory, who always protected her, spoiled her, chased away
the world for her.
¡°You would punish me?¡± she whispered, stunned. ¡°For her?¡±
Alpha Gregory stepped closer, cing a firm hand on her shoulder. ¡°You don¡¯t understand, Kiera. That girl is not just a Luna. She¡¯s his.¡±
¡°You mean King Francesco¡¯s?¡± she snapped.
He nodded grimly. ¡°Yes. And not just his. The goddess fated her. The mark is real. The bond is real. And what¡¯s more¡ there¡¯s power surrounding her that not even I can exptain.¡±
Kiera stepped back as if pped. ¡°So that¡¯s it? We all bend to her now?¡±
¡°No,¡± Gregory said quietly. ¡°We protect her. For him. For the kingdom. For the war that¡¯s stilling.¡±
Kiera¡¯s chest rose and fell with shallow, angry breaths. Her father¡¯s words dug into her pride like thorns.
She turned away, blinking back heat behind her eyes. ¡°I hate her already¡¡± she whispered under her breath. ¡°That girl they call Luna.¡±
And deep inside her¨Cbeneath the pride, beneath the spoiled softness¨Csomething darker, began to root.
Something dangerous.
Still His 131
Chapter 131
Go to Eine point of View:
Somewhere between worlds¨Cbeyond life, beyond death¨Cwhere Eine stay for a moment with light surrounded her. Endless. Infinite. But unlike the harsh brilliance of battle or the sterile white of fear, this light was warm. Gentle. Safe. It wrapped around her like a soft nket on a winter night, soothing the ache in her soul.
Time felt slow, like it didn¡¯t exist at all.
In here she breathed in the strange, clean air that smelled faintly ofvender and old paper.
The air shimmered faintly, tinted with a silver¨Cblue glow that pulsed gently across the strange world she was in.
Everything here felt like a dream¨Cbut not a nightmare.
It was serene, beautiful, ageless. Trees that glowed with inner light lined the horizon, and a soft wind hummed a luby through the leaves.
Eine Rollin stood barefoot in the grass¨Clike moss, her gaze lingering on the quiet form of her white wolf, Mika. Shey still, eyes closed, her breathing slow and shallow. Nearby, Anastasia watched her with gentle eyes, arms folded across her pale blue robe that shimmered like
moonlight.
¡°So¡¡± Eine finally spoke, breaking the silence, her voice cautious. ¡°Does that mean I have no magic power anymore?¡±
Anastasia shook her head slowly. ¡°All the dark magic was burned away when you sacrificed yourself to take Luca down. That moment, when your light collided with his darkness, everything that wasn¡¯t truly yours was destroyed.¡±
Eine exhaled a soft breath and gave a faint nod.
It was a good thing. Even if it meant losing something, she hadn¡¯t wanted that kind of power. Not like Luca. Not like him.
But Anastasia wasn¡¯t done. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at a distant patch of swirling mist on the edge of the world. ¡°Everything changed
after that.¡±
Eine frowned. ¡°Is that¡ a bad thing?¡±
¡°Yes and no,¡± Anastasia said softly. ¡°You destroyed Luca. But with him and your magic gone, the barrier that hid certain ancient ces also
disappeared. There arends long buried in enchantment¨Cruins, gates, sanctuaries, dungeons¨Cfilled with beings and magic long forgotten. They were hidden for a reason.¡±
Eine swallowed hard. ¡°And now they¡¯re exposed?¡±
¡°Yes.¡±
A shiver rippled down her spine.
The implications were dangerous.
Worlds of chaos could be released. Dark creatures. Twisted souls. Cursed objects. ¡°Can they be sealed again?¡±
Anastasia offered a bittersweet smile. ¡°That may be beyond anyone¡¯s power now. My ancestor was thest great wizard to weave those spells. Luca knew that, but he kept it hidden from me. I only discovered the truth after I died.¡±
Eine turned toward her. ¡°So¡ your bond with Francesco¡ it wasn¡¯t fate?¡±
20:27
0000
Anastasia smiled with deep sadness. ¡°It was crafted by me, using magic. My feelings were real, but the bond was¡ woven. Yours, however, is
different.¡±
Eine blinked. ¡°I thought Lycans don¡¯t have fated mates.¡±
Anastasia tilted her head toward Mika. ¡°Your wolf. Mika is the reason.¡±
Eine turned to her silentpanion.
Mika¡¯s fur glowed in the stillness, soft and white as snow. Even now, unconscious, she radiated purity and strength.
¡°The white wolf can contain and channel the full force of Lycan magic,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°She is rare. Meant to bnce and tame the fury of the
Lycan King. Since you bear her, you were destined to be his. Your bond is real, unbreakable, and true.¡±
Eine stared at Mika with wide eyes. ¡°So, she¡¯s the one who made it possible for me and Francesco to be¡ mates.¡±
Anastasia nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±
The revtion left Eine stunned.
All this time she thought it was some strange twist of fate.
But, turn out it was Mika, her silent guardian.
Anastasia ced a hand on Eine¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Though my power no longer lives in you, you are still strong. And now¡ now is the time for magic to leave this world.¡±
I turn my gaze at her in shock.
¡°Leave?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± she said with certainty. ¡°There has been too much destruction caused by misuse of magic. One drop of poison. One whisper of a spell. It¡¯s too tempting for the weak¨Chearted. You must destroy the remaining books. All of them.¡±
Eine hesitated. ¡°All? Even the ones with healing, knowledge?¡±
2)
¡°All of them. Without the original wielder to safeguard their use, they are weapons waiting to be abused.¡±
Eine let out a slow breath.
She understood¡.
The temptation, the shortcuts, the hunger. Luca had shown what happened when power was ced in the wrong hands.
She turned her gaze to the sky, where the horizon wavered.
¡®Eine¡ How are you, Eine?¡®
Her heart stilled. Francesco¡¯s voice echoed like a prayer.
¡°He¡¯s calling you,¡± Anastasia said with a soft smile.
Eine closed her eyes, feeling the ache in his voice. The longing. The pain.
¡°He loves you,¡± Anastasia continued. ¡°I¡¯m d he found you.¡±
2027 Thu 7 Auto
Eine opened her eyes and smiled faintly. ¡°Thever thought I¡¯d find love again after Ruben.¡±
Anastasia tilted her head. ¡°Everything happens for a reason.¡±
Then, another voice.
7 want him¡
Eine¡¯s brows furrowed. A woman¡¯s voice?
¡°Who?¡± she whispered.
Anastasia gave a dry chuckle. ¡°A young Alpha¡¯s daughter. Foolish and arrogant. She thinks she can take Francesco from you.¡±
Eine sighed. ¡°Of course.¡±
Her gaze returned to Mika, still fighting to heal. Her body had absorbed too much poison, too much wolfsbane. Her recovery was slow.
Anastasia knelt beside Mika and gently stroked her fur. ¡°It depends on her. When she heals, you can return.¡±
Eine nodded and knelt beside her. ¡°Then I¡¯ll stay. As long as she needs.¡±
Anastasia tapped her shoulder. ¡°Francesco won¡¯t falter. Not even if that woman stands naked in front of him.¡±
Oh God, really?!
Eine groaned, pouting. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that image.¡±
Anastasiaughed. ¡°It¡¯s true. You¡¯re the only one he sees.¡±
Eine nced toward the sky again, feeling the pull of his voice. His longing.
She ced her hand over Mika¡¯s chest. ¡°Then I¡¯ll fight toe back. For him.¡±
And for the world that needed healing.
Still His 132
Chapter 132
Go to Francesco Point of View:
The darkness that surrounded Francesco Totti that night was thick and quiet, far too quiet for a man who was used to hearing the whispers of the forest, the distant rustle of leaves, the heartbeat of the pack.
Heid on the couch beside Eine¡¯s bed, her breathing soft and even, her skin pale beneath the soft moonlight filtering through the window. But sleep refused toe to him¨Cuntil it did. And when it came, it pulled him into something far deeper than mere dreams.
In his sleep, Francesco found himself standing in the middle of a vast, open meadow bathed in silver light.
The moon was full,rger than he¡¯d ever seen, casting an ethereal glow over everything it touched. The air shimmered with magic. There was peace here¡ªyet something sorrowful lingered in the breeze.
He turned, sensing a pull, a force that guided his steps.
The scent of wildflowers and something unmistakably familiarvender and honey¨Chit his senses, and he knew.
Eine¡?
He saw her then.
She stood near the edge of a crystal¨Cclearke, her back to him, hair flowing like midnight silk, the silver light catching the strands and making her glow.
She wore a simple white dress, and her bare feet kissed the grass as she stepped forward, ever so slowly, as if afraid the world would break
beneath her.
His heart ached.
¡°Eine¡¡±
She turned. Her eyes met his. Those brilliant, stormy eyes¨Chaunted, tired, but still carrying the quiet strength he hade to admire. And
there, beside her, stood something that made his wolf stir with both reverence and awe.
Mika.
The she¨Cwolf was magnificent, made of stardust and shadows, her fur shimmering with ancient power. Her eyes were the same as Eine¡¯s. No, they were Eine¡¯s. The connection was undeniable.
Francesco could not speak.
He tried to step forward, but the ground beneath him shimmered like water, keeping him rooted in ce. He reached out, but his fingers only brushed the air. Mika gave a small growl, not of warning but ofmand. Then, with a nce at Eine, she disappeared into the moonlight.
Eine stepped closer.
¡°She¡¯s not ready,¡± she whispered, her voice carried on the wind. ¡°But I will be.¡±
His chest tightened. ¡°Come back¡ please.¡±
Tears welled in his eyes. Her voice; her presence¨Cit was real. It wasn¡¯t just a dream. It was a message.
She lifted her hand slowly, palm facing him.
TUL AUG
He mirrored the motion.
Though they couldn¡¯t touch, warmth spread from her gesture¨Cwarmth that flooded his chest and drove away the aching cold that had lived
in him since her copse.
And then she smiled.
A soft, knowing smile.
You came, that smile said.
You waited.
And that is enough.
The dream began to shatter like breaking ss. Theke faded. The moonlight dimmed. Her smile lingered until the end.
Francesco awoke with a sharp breath, his lungs pulling in air like it was the first he¡¯d ever tasted.
He was still on the couch. Still in her room.
His head had fallen beside her hand, close but not quite touching.
Shey as she had before¨Cpeaceful, unmoving, breathing with soft, steady rhythm. But something had changed. He felt it in the air, in the
energy around her. She had reached out to him.
He looked at her for a long moment, heart pounding.
He reached out, instinctively trying to cup her cheek, to confirm it all¨Cbut his hand paused mid¨Cair.
Still, she smiled in her sleep.
And it was enough.
¡°You came¡¡± he whispered, voice thick with emotion. A single tear slid down his cheek. For the first time in weeks, a fragile smile tugged at the corners of his lips. ¡°You came back. Even if only for a moment.¡±
She would return.
He believed it now more than ever.
Then the mind¨Clink snapped through his thoughts.
¡°Alpha¡ I¡¯m sorry. You need toe quickly to the warrior ward.¡±
Beta Alfonso¡¯s voice was calm but urgent.
Francesco blinked at the clock. 11:30.
He cursed under his breath. He had meant to join them an hour ago.
¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be there.¡±
He rose swiftly, taking onest nce at Eine before leaving the room with measured steps. Audrey and Lira stood guard nearby. He gave them a nod, and they understood.
ine onthed fi as she wondled binity never shop 19 bid tove spazio ad Bike
Anastasio tilted her hand ¡°Everything happine for a reaton.*
Then, another voice.
Eine¡¯s brows furrowed. A woman¡¯s voice?
¡°Who?¡± she whispered.
Anastasia gave a dry chuckle. ¡°A young Alpha¡¯s daughter. Foolish and arrogant. She thinks she can take Francesco from you.
Eine sighed. ¡°Of course.¡±
Her gaze returned to Mika, still fighting to heal. Her body had absorbed too much poison, too much wolfsbane. Her recovery was slow.
Anastasia knelt beside Mika and gently stroked her fur. ¡°It depends on her. When she heals, you can return.¡±
Eine nodded and knelt beside her. ¡°Then I¡¯ll stay. As long as she needs.¡±
Anastasia tapped her shoulder. ¡°Francesco won¡¯t falter. Not even if that woman stands naked in front of him.¡±
Oh God, really?!
Eine groaned, pouting. ¡°Don¡¯t give me that image.¡±
Anastasiaughed. ¡°It¡¯s true. You¡¯re the only one he sees.¡±
Eine nced toward the sky again, feeling the pull of his voice. His longing.
She ced her hand over Mika¡¯s chest. ¡°Then I¡¯ll fight toe back. For him.¡±
And for the world that needed healing.
0
AD
Comment
Send gift
Still His 133
Chapter 133
Chapter 133
Francesco left the ward with a final nce at the injured warriors, their groans still echoing in the back of his mind.
The urgency to act was clear¡ªLira was needed, and quickly.
The hall outside was quiet, but not in afortable way. The kind of quiet that pressed in on the ears, making every step sound too loud. His boots struck the polished stone floor with steady rhythm, though his mind was already moving ahead¨Ccalcting how to approach Eine¡¯s chamber without rming her.
Halfway down the west wing, a faint shift in the air made him slow. It was subtle¨Cjust a change in temperature, a hint of warmth rolling toward him from the direction of her room. Odd. The corridors here were always cool at night.
Two guards were posted outside her chamber. They straightened instantly when they saw him.
Without another word, he pushed the door open.
The scent inside was different from when he¡¯d left¨Cwarmer, tinged with something faintly metallic. Eine was still resting on the bed, undisturbed, her breathing slow. But Lira stood near the far wall, her back partially turned, hands loosely sped as if she¡¯d paused mid¨Caction.
When she looked up at him, there was no panic in her eyes, but there was¡ caution.
¡°Alpha,¡± she said quietly, ¡°is something wrong?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± he replied, his voice clipped. ¡°We have injured warriors from thest search. I need you in the healing ward¨Cnow.¡±
Lira¡¯s gaze flicked to Eine briefly before she nodded. ¡°Understood.¡±
Francesco stepped aside to let her pass, but his eyes lingered on the room for a heartbeat longer, he nodded his head toward Audrey, who never left her while he¡¯s gone.
He shut the door behind them and quickened his pace back toward the ward, the unsettled feeling following him down the corridor.
The walk back to the ward was brisk but silent.
Lira didn¡¯t ask questions, and Francesco didn¡¯t offer exnations./
When they arrived, the low groans of the injured greeted them first.
The warriors guarding the entrance straightened, bowing as Francesco passed. Inside, the smell of herbs and antiseptic mixed with something harsher- burnt, almost acrid.
Lira¡¯s steps faltered the moment they crossed the threshold. Her nostrils red slightly, eyes narrowing.
¡°Where are they?¡± she asked.
Alfonso led them past the first row of cots into the far section of the ward. Four warriorsy there¨Ctwo curled in pain, one breathing shallowly, and another clenching his jaw against the tremors racking his body. Faint reddish streaks trailed along the veins of their necks and arms, pulsing like slow embers under the skin.
¡°They check something from the city and get hurt in front of the caves this morning,¡± Alfonso exined. ¡°I guess one of them got too close to a sealed chamber? He copsed, screaming. The others tried to carry him out, and now they¡¯re all the same.¡±
Lira knelt beside the nearest man, her hands hovering over him without touching.
Her brow furrowed in wonder.
1/3
08:55 Sat, 9 Aug
¡°Don¡¯t touch them,¡± Marlow warned sharply. ¡°When we tried earlier, it burned through the gloves.¡±
Francesco moved closer, scanning the warriors.
The scent was stronger here¨Csharp enough to sting the back of his throat. This isn¡¯t natural, his instincts whispered.
Lira exhaled slowly. ¡°It¡¯s not a poison I recognize. And it¡¯s not purely magic either¡¡± Her voice measuring what to say next.
trailed off as her eyes flicked briefly to Francesco, as if
¡°Can you help them?¡± he pressed.
¡°I¡¯ll try. But whatever this is¡ it¡¯s still active inside them.¡± She nced at the faint glow tracing the injured men¡¯s veins. ¡°If I disrupt it wrong, it could finish the job.¡±
The room fell silent except for the strained breathing of the warriors.
¨C
Outside the drawn curtain, the sound of boots shifting restlessly told Francesco his guards
were
listening¨Cand waiting for orders.
¡°No one touches them,¡± Francesco said finally, his voice carrying an edge ofmand. ¡°No one enters this ward without my permission. Lira, you stay with them until you know exactly what this is. Alfonso¨Ctriple the guards.¡±
¡°Yes, Alpha.¡±
As he turned to leave, the acrid scent clung to him, lodging itself in memory.
Something about it reminded him faintly of¡ heat. Not fire exactly, but the burn of something alive and angry under the skin.
And for the first time in a long while, Francesco felt a flicker of unease crawl down his spine¨Cnot from the thought of rogues or rival Alphas¡but from the knowledge that this was a weapon he had never seen before.
But Luca is dead¡
How?
A thought struck him, sharp and unwee. Could it be truly¡ Marsen?
He raised his head, his gaze cutting toward his Beta and head warrior, Alfonso and Marlow, both watching him closely ¨C waiting for hismand.
¡°Let¡¯s go and check the cave¡ something¡¯s hiding there.¡±
They nodded sharply and moved at once, summoning the best knights and warriors to apany them.
¡°My King Alpha, wait.¡±
Lira¡¯s voice stopped him mid¨Cstep. He turned, brows drawing together. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Lira?¡±
She came forward, holding something in her hand. When she pressed it into his palm, his eyes narrowed in recognition.
A charm.
¡°Something the Luna made long ago for protection,¡± Lira exined. ¡°It was onlypleted a week ago, so I believe this is her way of telling me to give it to you. We don¡¯t know what we face since Luca¡¯s death¡ but protection is needed. Especially for you, my King Alpha.¡±
Francesco stared at the small charm for a moment, feeling the faint hum of magic within it. He knew Eine¡¯s heart¨Cbut the knowledge that she had crafted this specifically for him struck deeper than he expected.
¡°Thank you,¡± he said quietly, tucking it close to him before turning back toward the awaiting warriors.
With the charm against his chest and a storm brewing in his mind, he strode out to face whatevery in the shadows of that dangerous ce.
2/3
Still His 134
Chapter 134
The sound of raised voices met Francesco before he even stepped into the outer hall.
What the¡.
Kiera stood with her hands on her hips, chin lifted defiantly, while Beta Alfonso¡¯s expression had settled into the patient¨Cbut¨Cstrained look of a man holding back his temper.
Francesco slowed, one brow arching in mild wonder.
What is it now?¡± he asked, his tone carrying more weariness than curiosity.
Beside him, Marlow leaned against the wall, looking utterly bored. ¡°The woman insists on joining us
says she knows the city better than any of us.¡±
Francesco¡¯s gaze slid past Marlow to the young woman arguing with his Beta. Recognition sparked. ¡°She¡¯s the one we rescued, right?¡±
Marlow gave azy nod. ¡°Alpha Gregory¡¯s daughter.¡±
¡°Ah¡¡± That was all Francesco needed to hear. His voice dropped into the sharpmand tone that brooked no debate. ¡°Call her father now. We have no time for this.¡±
Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and strode toward the gathered warriors, quickly briefing them on Lira¡¯s findings and the possibility of Luca¡¯s lingering magic.
The cave was now more than a suspicion ¨C it was a threat that had to be addressed before the sickness imed more lives.
It wasn¡¯t long before the heavy tread of boots announced Alpha Gregory¡¯s arrival.
The older Alpha¡¯s face was thunderous, and the moment he saw his daughter, his voice rose in a heated sh that echoed through the corridor.
Kiera met her father¡¯s anger with defiance, but Francesco didn¡¯t linger to watch the oue. As the two argued, Gregory turned sharply and bowed toward Francesco, the tension in his shoulders betraying his embarrassment.
Francesco simply inclined his head in acknowledgment and continued past.
Behind him, Beta Alfonso remained, his role clear ¨C keep the home front steady while Francesco was gone, as he had always done.
With his warriors ready, the charm from Eine secure against his chest, and the mission set, Francesco stepped out into the cold night air.
The path to the cave awaited ¨C and with it, the answer to whether Luca¡¯s shadow truly lingered in hisnds.
The cold night air knifed through the fortress courtyard, sharp and biting, carrying the scent of frost and steel.
Francesco strode forward without hesitation, the moon¡¯s pale glow glinting off his eyes as his body shifted with fluid, bone¨Cdeep instinct.
Bones stretched.
Muscles surged.
Fur erupted in a dark cascade along his skin until the man was gone, reced by the towering shadow of his Lycan form¨Cmidnight¨Cck, broad as a fortress wall, every movement radiating power.
Behind him, the chosen warriors followed his lead, their own bodies rippling and contorting as their wolves emerged¨Chulking, battle¨Cscarred creatures bred for war. Yet even thergest among them looked small beside their king..
A low growl rumbled from Francesco¡¯s chest, so deep it seemed to vibrate in the marrow of their bones.
1/3
08:56 Sat, 9 Aug
Move.
They obeyed instantly, surging forward.
This was no horseback ride. This was the hunt.
Paws struck the frozen earth in unison, sending up sprays of dirt and frost. Wind roared past their ears, carrying the mingled scents of pine sap, damp stone, and the faintest trace of old blood. The fortress walls and sleeping city fell away behind them, swallowed by the vast, untamed dark of the wilds
Every heartbeat brought them closer to the ce that reeked of danger.
When the acrid tang of stale blood and damp rock grew stronger, Francesco slowed, his enormous frame blending into the treeline like a shadow born of the forest itself.
They halted at the edge of a narrow, overgrown trail, its mouth half¨Chidden beneath brambles.
Marlow¡¯s wolf padded forward, ears pricked, eyes glinting in the gloom. This way.
The pack moved in silence. The forest seemed to hush around them, the air growing heavier, thicker, as though the night itself pressed down upon their
backs.
Then, it appeared ¨C the mouth of the cave. A jagged wound in the earth, yawning wide and ck.
Francesco shifted partway back, retaining his towering height, a blend of man and beast that exuded both intelligence and primal menace. Against the
¨C a quiet heartbeat of protection, her love woven into its core. dark fur at his chest, the charm Eine had given him hung warm to the touch
Two wolves broke away, circling the perimeter. When they returned, their ears were t, eyes hard. No movement. No heartbeats. Nothing alive near the
entrance.
And yet¡
Francesco could taste something in the air. Metallic. Rotten. And beneath it ¨C the faint hum of old magic.
They shifted back to human form in unison, their breath clouding in the cold as they prepared to speak.
¡°This is it,¡± Francesco murmured. His voice echoed against the stone, too loud in the stillness.
Torches red to life, but their mes trembled as if resisting the darkness. The moment they stepped inside, the temperature plummeted. Damp walls seemed to drink in the light, shadows clinging to the stone like living things.
Scorch marks marred the walls in jagged, unnatural patterns ¨C not from fire, but from spells long spent.
Marlow crouched, running his fingers over strange grooves in the floor. ¡°Something heavy was dragged through here¡ not long ago.¡±
Francesco joined him, eyes narrowing. The marks weren¡¯t ws. They weren¡¯t tools. This was something other.
They moved deeper. Each step was muffled, as though the cave swallowed sound. The shadows shifted along the walls, rippling like ink in water.
The tunnel opened into a wide chamber littered with shattered bones and scraps of scorched cloth. At its far end, a ckened circle pulsed faintly on the ground¨Cthe ghost of a dying spell.
Francesco¡¯s jaw tightened. Luca was dead. And yet this reeked of him.
If this magic lingered, then someone still carried the knowledge to use it.
And that someone was still out there.
¡ª
A sound broke the silence ¨C faint, deliberate.
08:56 Sat, 9 Aug
Chapter 134
Francesco¡¯s head snapped up. The growl that left him
And there he was.
Marsen.
was
pure warning as he stalked toward the darkest corner, his warriors fanning out behind him.
But something was wrong.
He sat slumped in the shadows, his body gaunt, his movemenatural. Hie something else, something ancient and foul.
My cent was wrong.
His eyes lifted, glowing red in the torchlight, staring at them like he
No one moved closer. Instinct screamed at them to keep their distance.
Because in Marsen¡¯s hands, bound in chains of dark smoke, was
Luca¡¯s book.
The book of dark magic.
And that meant only one thing ¨C Marsen had been trying to use it.
book Francesco knew all too well.
no trace of wolf, no trace of man. Only a void¡ and
AD
Still His 135
Chapter 135
Marsen didn¡¯t move, didn¡¯t blink ¨C just sat slouched against the jagged wall, those blood¨Cred eyes locking onto Francesco with something
between hatred and defiance.
His skin looked wrong, stretched too tight over bone, veins dark as ink crawling up his neck.
The cave¡¯s air thickened, pressing in on them. Even the torches seemed to dim, their light bending away from him.
Francesco stepped forward, his ws extending in a low, deliberate threat. The warriors behind him growled under their breath, wolves ready to spring, but they didn¡¯t- couldn¡¯t cross that invisible line of corruption bleeding from the book in Marsen¡¯s hands.
It wasn¡¯t just a book.
It was breathing.
¨C
The cover, ck as obsidian, shivered with every pulse of the red symbols etched into it.
Francesco recognized those markings ¨C twisted glyphs meant to bind life to death, power to decay. Luca¡¯s legacy.
His chest rumbled with a deep growl. ¡°Where did you get that?¡±
Marsen¡¯s lips curved, slow and mocking, though his voice when it came was rough, like gravel dragged across stone.
¡°Your kind never burned it. Never destroyed what should have been buried with him.¡±
Francesco¡¯s eyes narrowed.
¡°You think you can control that? It¡¯ll eat you alive before it gives you an ounce of its power.¡±
Marsen¡¯sugh was sharp and dry, a sound that didn¡¯t belong to a man
or a wolf.
¡°Maybe. But if I can bleed your pack before it takes me¡ I¡¯ll consider that a victory.¡±
The warriors shifted uneasily. Francesco felt Marlow¡¯s presence at his side, tense and waiting for the signal.
But the charm against his chest ¨C Eine¡¯s charm ¨C pulsed with a faint heat, as though warning him. Whatever Marsen had started here, the book had already sunk its ws into him. If they attacked recklessly, they might unleash something far worse.
Francesco kept his voice low, lethal.
¡°You¡¯re not walking out of here with that.¡±
Marsen¡¯s gaze flicked to the shadows behind him, and only then did Francesco sense it ¨C a stir of movement deeper in the cave. The air carried a sour, metallic tang that didn¡¯t belong to any living thing.
Marlow caught it too. ¡°We¡¯re not alone,¡± he muttered.
The faint scrape of ws against stone echoed from the darkness, slow and deliberate.
Francesco took a step closer to Marsen, his Lycan form flexing with restrained violence.
¡°Who did you bring here?¡±
Marsen¡¯s smile widened
-X
and this time, the torchlight caught something moving just beyond the ckened circle on the ground
1/4
11:14 Sun, 10 Aug
Something that was answering his call.
From the ckened circle, the air began to twist.
Not just wind ¡ª the darkness itself bent, spiraling inward as if being sucked into a vold. The walls of the cave shuddered, dust raining from the jagged ceiling.
Then came the sound.
Low at first, almost like a growl¡ butyered with whispers, dozens of voices speaking in anguage that scraped against the mind.
The circle red red at its core, then ck at the edges ¨C and something began to pull itself free.
Long, skeletal ws slid out first, cker than shadow and dripping with a tar¨Clike ooze. Then a head emerged¨Cnot wolf, not human, but something that had once been both, now warped into a predator with no eyes, only a mouth filled with jagged, glistening teeth.
The stench hit them like a wall- rotting flesh and burning metal.
One of the younger warriors flinched back, hand covering his nose. ¡°What¡ is that?¡±
Francesco¡¯s lips peeled back in a snarl.
¡°Not what. A revenant.¡±
Marlow¡¯s voice went grim. ¡°Those were wiped out centuries ago.¡±
¡°They were,¡± Francesco growled, his ws flexing, ¡°until Luca found a way to bind them.¡±
The creature stepped free of the circle, its movements jerky and unnatural, its ws dragging deep gouges into the stone floor. The whispers grew louder, almost frenzied, as though it was hungry ¨C and Francesco knew it was. Revenants didn¡¯t just kill. They consumed.
¡°Marsen!¡± Francesco¡¯s voice cracked like thunder. ¡°You have no idea what you¡¯ve unleashed-¡±
¡°I know exactly,¡± Marsen spat, pushing himself to his feet. His legs shook, but the book¡¯s glow seemed to feed into him, keeping him upright. ¡°This is your reckoning, Lycan.¡±
The revenant¡¯s head snapped toward Francesco, its jaw splitting unnaturally wide as a shriek ripped through the chamber.
Francesco didn¡¯t wait.
He shifted fully, bones snapping, muscles surging, fur bursting along his skin until his colossal Lycan form towered over everyone. The warriors followed in a heartbeat, their wolves bristling.
¡°Circle formation!¡± Marlow barked.
but the thing moved faster than expected. With a blur of motion, They closed ranks, surrounding both Marsen and the revenant ws sweeping out. One warrior was thrown against the wall, blood spraying from a deep gash across his chest.
¨C
¡®d,
Francesco roared, the sound shaking the very walls, and mmed into the revenant. The impact rattled through his bones, and cold- unnatural cold ¨C sank into his muscles where they touched. He bit down on its shoulder, tearing away a chunk of ckened flesh, but the
wound closed instantly, sealing with a hiss./
Magic¨Cfueled.
Not kible by brute strength alone.
11:14 Sun, 10 Aug
Behind him, Marlow and two others kept Marsen pinned against the wall, but the book fought them it, throwing them back. Marsen staggered forward,ughing through bloodied lips.
a shockwave of force sting out from
¡°You can¡¯t stop it,¡± he choked. ¡°It¡¯s bound to me now-
Francesco¡¯s eyes burned gold.
¡°Then I¡¯ll rip you apart first.¡±
The revenant screeched again, its ws slicing toward Francesco shattering twist, tore the limb clean off.
but he caught its wrist mid¨Cswing, muscles straining, and with a bone-
It didn¡¯t scream in pain.
Itughed in Luca¡¯s voice.
And that was when Francesco realized this was no ordinary summoning.
Luca wasn¡¯t gone.
He was inside the book.
It didn¡¯t scream in pain.
Itughed ¨C in Luca¡¯s voice.
Francesco froze mid¨Cgrip, golden eyes narrowing. That sound¡ it wasn¡¯ting from the creature at all.
It wasing from behind it.
From the book in Marsen¡¯s hands.
1
The glow around the tome pulsed, shadows coiling tighter, and then a voice ¨C deep, cold, and unmistakably Luca¡¯s ¨C spilled into the air.
¡°Ah¡ Francesco.¡± The tone was mocking, dripping with venom, ¡°Still so eager to y the hero.¡±
Marlow¡¯s head snapped toward him, eyes wide. ¡°My king¡ that voice-¡±
Francesco¡¯s gaze locked on the book.
¡°Luca wasn¡¯t gone,¡± he growled, realization hitting like a de to the gut. ¡°He¡¯s inside the book.¡±
Marsen grinned, his fingers tightening on the tome as though it were a lifeline. ¡°Not just inside. Bound. Preserved. Every drop of his knowledge, his power¡ his hatred¡ all here. And now, all mine tomand.¡±
The book¡¯s pages fluttered wildly without wind, the voice of Luca growing sharper, crueler.
¡°Kill him, Marsen. Tear the Lycan apart.¡±
The revenant lurched forward as if yanked by invisible strings, moving with renewed speed, its ws slicing the air just inches from Francesco¡¯s throat.
Still His 136
Chapter 136
The cave pulsed.
It wasn¡¯t just darkness here¨Cit was alive.
The ck circle at the center of the chamber throbbed faintly with each heartbeat Marsen still had left, its faint glow crawling along the walls
like cil.
Francesco¡¯s nostrils red, the stench of scorched blood and ancient magic thick enough to taste.
Marsen didn¡¯t move at first.
He sat slumped in the corner, those eyes¨Cwrong, red, too bright¨Cwatching them with the stillness of a predator before the strike.
The book in his hands writhed as though breathing, its cover shifting between scales and skin, and a low whisper slipped from it, a voice that
wasn¡¯t his.
Luca.
The sound rippled across the chamber like a snake through tall grass. Francesco¡¯s hackles rose. His ws flexed, catching the dim torchlight.
¡°Marsen,¡± Francesco¡¯s voice was half¨Cman, half¨Cbeast, rumbling low. ¡°Put it down.¡±
The Beta stepped forward, but stopped when Marsen¡¯s lips twisted into something almost like a grin. His voice came outyered¨Chis own, but beneath it, another deeper, older tone.
¡°You think Luca died,¡± Marsen said, his head tilting. ¡°But he¡¯s been here. Waiting.¡±
The book¡¯s pages flipped on their own, faster and faster, the symbols inside burning in red light. The whispers grew louder¨Chungry. Then Marsen convulsed, a shudder ripping through his frame. His skin began to blister and peel in strips, not from fire, but from something wing
at him from the inside.
Francesco knew it instantly.
The book was feeding.
¡°MOVE!¡± Francesco¡¯s roar shook the cavern as Marsen screamed¨Chalf agony, half ecstasy¨Cand his body began to change. His limbs lengthened, but not like a normal shift. Bones cracked in unnatural angles, joints twisting until they bent the wrong way. His mouth split wider than it should, teeth jagged and too many in number.
The warriors lunged forward, wolves meeting the corrupted thing Marsen was bing. The sh was instant and brutal¨Csnapping jaws, tearing ws, and the wet, meaty sound of impact echoing off the stone walls.
One wolf leapt for Marsen¡¯s throat, but the twisted man¨Cbeast caught him midair and mmed him into the wall so hard his neck snapped before he hit the ground. Blood sprayed in a fine mist.
Francesco didn¡¯t hesitate. He charged, his massive Lycan frame a wall of muscle and fury. His ws raked across Marsen¡¯s chest, peeling flesh down to bone. But instead of falling, Marsen faughed¨Can ugly, wet gurgle¨Cand ck veins spidered out from the wounds, crawling up Francesco¡¯s arms where the blood touched.,
He ripped himself back before it spread further, his breath ragged.
¡°Don¡¯t let his blood touch you!¡± Marlow barked, shifting mid¨Cleap to wrench a spear from his back. He drove it clean through Marsen¡¯s side only for the corrupted flesh to close around the weapon and snap it in two like dry wood.
1/3
23:20 Mon, 11 Aug 01
Chapter 136
The ground beneath them trembled. The circle on the floor red bright crimson, lines of magic spilling from it like veins, shakin (up Marsen¡¯s body and into the book. And then Francesco felt it¨CEine¡¯s charm, warm against his chest, pulsing in time with the magi
Award. A shield. Something in it pushed back against the corruption wing at the edges of his mind.
Francesco gritted his teeth, using that sliver of rity to move again. He drove a wed fist into Marsen¡¯s face, the blow tracking bone, and wrenched the book half out of his grip. But the moment his ws touched it, something colder than death bit into him¨CLoca¡¯s voice, whispering into his mind.
I remember you, Lycan.
Francesco snarled and tore his hand back, blood dripping from his palm where the book¡¯s cover had cut into him like teeth
Around him, the warriors fought savagely, but Marsen was more than them now. His movements were wrong, jerky yet impossibly fast, as if Luca¡¯s will was pulling the strings. He caught one wolf in both hands and tore him in half mid¨Clunge, the sound wet and final. The two halves hit the ground with a sickening p, steam rising from the torn viscera.
Francesco felt the pull again¨Cmagic wrapping around Marsen like chains, but instead of restraining him, it fed him. The air turned heavy, breathing thick with copper and rot.
Then the charm against his chest red hotter.
It wasn¡¯t just reacting¨Cit was pushing.
He didn¡¯t question it. He threw himself back into the fight, his ws tearing deep into Marsen¡¯s shoulder. This time, the flesh there smoked where he struck, the magic hissing like water on coals. Marsen shrieked, his body recoiling.
¡°IT¡¯S THE CHARM!¡± Marlow yelled, realization dawning. ¡°It¡¯s hurting him!¡±
The warriors rallied, keeping their strikes close to Francesco so the magic in the charm would weaken Marsen each time the Lycan drew near. Still, it was a war of attrition¨CMarsen¡¯s strength was monstrous, and every blow theynded seemed to cost another life.
A wolf lunged for the book, teeth snapping at the pages. Marsen caught him by the jaw and twisted until the crack of breaking bone echoed through the chamber. He dropped the limp body without a nce.
Francesco¡¯s rage boiled over. He mmed into Marsen with enough force to dent the stone floor, his ws raking and tearing, his teeth sinking deep into corrupted flesh. ck blood sprayed, burning wherever itnded. His muscles screamed, his breathing in ragged bursts, but he didn¡¯t let go.
The book began to scream¨Cnot Marsen, not Luca, but the thing itself, a keening wail that made the torches gutter and nearly die. The circle on the floor red blindingly bright.
And then-
Light.
Not from fire. Not from magic.
From the entrance.
The warriors froze mid¨Cmotion, their ears flicking back toward it. Francesco turned, panting, blood dripping from his ws and muzzle. The light grew brighter, flooding the cavern until even the shadows seemed to cower from it.
And there¨Cframed by it¨Cstood a figure.
White fur glowed under the torchlight, pristine despite the filth of the cave. Eyes like molten silver locked on Marsen. Her presence cut
through the chaos like the first breath of air after drowning.
The White Woll.
Their Luna.
¡°Eine¡?¡±
Francesco¡¯s heart mmed once, hard, in his chest. She shouldn¡¯t be here. She couldn¡¯t be here. And yet¨Cshe was,
Marsen¡¯s red eyes widened.
The book in his hands shuddered violently, as if it recognized her.
The whispering turned to frantic, hissing voices.
And then the ground split beneath them, the circle cracking apart-
-before everything went white.
Still His 137
Chapter 137
Back in the kingdom after King Francesco left.
The great hall was silent except for the ragged, pained breathing of the wounded knight sprawled on the long wooden table.
Sweat poured down his pale face, his hands trembling uncontrobly as if an unseen fire was consuming him from the inside. His wolf had gone eerily quiet ¨C a terrible sign for any werewolf.
Lira hovered nearby, her usual calm reced by tight worry. She had tried everything- herbs, enchanted salves, even her most potent healing spells ¡ª but the moment her hand made contact with his skin, that same burning venom pulsed into her veins, leaving her hand numb for minutes afterward.
¡°Shit!¡±
She dared not touch him again.
¡°We cannot remove whatever is inside him,¡± she whispered hoarsely to the other healers. ¡°It spreads too fast. If I touch him longer, I¡¯ll be the next to fall.¡±
The knight¡¯s chest jerked violently, his eyes rolling back for a moment before he gasped for air again.
His wolf was trapped, strangled by something neither physical nor magical in the usual sense ¨C something darker.
The only thing they could do now was inject him with a diluted healing potion, hoping it might slow the spread.
The pale liquid sank into his veins, and for a moment, the shuddering lessened. But Lira¡¯s expression told the truth ¨C it was a temporary reprieve.
They needed their king Francesco.
They needed their king Alpha to return with answers.
Up in the highest tower, the air was heavy with stillness.
The only sound was the asional rustle of fabric as Eine shifted in her sleep.
She had been still for hours- unmoving, silent ¡ª until now.
Audrey, seated at her usual post by the door, heard it first: a sharp, uneven breath that didn¡¯t sound right.
Her head snapped toward the bed, her warrior instincts screaming at her.
¡°My Luna?¡± Audrey was on her feet instantly, crossing the room in long strides.
Eine¡¯s chest was rising and falling in fast, erratic bursts, her lips parting as if she were struggling for air.
¡°My Luna, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Audrey¡¯s voice betrayed her panic.
She moved to steady her, but before she could touch her, footsteps pounded up the stairs and Monica appeared, hair disheveled, Beta Alfonso right on her heels.
¡°What happened?¡± Monica¡¯s voice was sharp, urgent.
¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Audrey said quickly, ncing at them both. ¡°She just started breathing like this helped Lira before, what should I do?¡±
and she¡¯s burning up! Monica, you ve
Audrey was a warrior, forged inbat and steel she could split an enemy¡¯s skull without flinching¨Cbut this, watching her Luna suffer without knowing how to help, was unbearable.
Monica pressed her hand near Eine¡¯s temple, not touching skin directly but close enough to feel the unnatural heat radiating from her. Her face paled. ¡°She¡¯s in pain¡ but it¡¯s not fever. This feels¡ wrong.¡±
¡°We need Lira,¡± Beta Alfonso said, his voice
¡°She¡¯s with the wounded knight,¡± Monica reminded him, ncing at him with wide eyes. ¡°And she can¡¯t leave him right now. The others can¡¯t
handle his condition alone.¡±
Alfonso¡¯s jaw tightened.
But still, he reached out through the mindlink. ¡®Lira, it¡¯s urgent. Luna Eine-¡®
He never finished the sentence.
Because in the next instant, a sound ripped through the air.
It was a howl.
Not a wolf¡¯s howl of warning or rage.
Not even themanding call of an Alpha.
This was something else¡
Every bone in their bodies seemed to recognize it.
This is a sound that made their hearts lurch and their knees weaken.
¡°This is¡¡± Alfonso¡¯s voice trailed into a whisper.
Audrey¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief.
Monica¡¯s lips parted, trembling.
Then Alfonso dropped to one knee, head bowed.
His voice carried the weight of revtion. ¡°Luna Eine.¡±
HOWLLL!!!!!!
Outside, the howl spread like wildfire through the kingdom.
Every warrior stopped mid¨Cstride.
Every servant froze in their work. Heads turned toward the high tower, eyes wide with recognition and awe.
It was her.
23.20 Mon, 11 Aug O
The White Wolf had howled.
The one they had only heard whispers about. The fated mate of their king. The Luna they had yet to see in her full glory.
One by one, they began to move toward the tower, leaving behind their tasks, their conversations, their meals. Wordlessly drawn to the
source.
On the other side of the courtyard, Kiera and her father, Alpha Gregory, were still in the middle of a heated argument.
¡°Do you think this is a joke?¡± Gregory¡¯s voice boomed.
¡°I¡¯m not a child!¡± Kiera snapped back. ¡°I know the city better than they do. I can help!¡±
Her father¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Help? Or get yourself killed?¡±
Before she could retort, movement caught her eye. Warriors, healers, servants ¨C all of them were walking with the same strange purpose, their gazes fixed on the high tower.
Kiera frowned. ¡°What is going on?¡±
Gregory¡¯s eyes followed theirs. And then the sound hit them.
HOWLL..!!!!
That howl.
The world seemed to still around them.
Even Gregory¡¯s breath faltered.
Kiera¡¯s confusion deepened. ¡°Who-¡±
The question died in her throat when gasps erupted all around them.
Up in the high tower, the door opened slowly.
And then she appeared.
Luna Eine.
Not the fragile, quiet figure they had guarded in her slumber.
Not the broken woman they had feared might never wake fully again.
She stood tall, draped in a flowing white gown that seemed to glow against the soft light spilling from the room behind her.
Her long silver hair fell in waves over her shoulders, catching every glimmer of light like strands of moonlight.
She stepped forward onto the balcony.
The air in the courtyard shifted, as if every soul present took the same breath at once.
Her gaze swept over them
calm, regal, steady ¨C and then she tilted her head back.
The White Wolf¡¯s howl split the night again, pure and powerful, carrying across the kingdom like a promise.
$23.217 Mon, 11 Aug
Below,
Beta
Alfonso threw
his head back and howled
in return
the formal deration that their Luna had
awakened,
From there,
the voices rose one by
ne
until the
kingdom itself
seemed to
sing
for her.
Riera stood
frozen.
Warriors, wolves, even those too young to shift yet all howled, their voices weaving together into something fierce and reverent.
She had expected¡ she didn¡¯t even know what she had expected.
A timid girl?
Someone who clung to Francesco¡¯s protection?
But this¡
This woman stood
like she
belonged to the moon itself.
And in that moment,
Kiera understood.
A
She understood why the mighty Lycan King had chosen her as his mate.
Why
he
would move the earth to
protect her.
Because this
was
not a
woman who needed saving.
This was a woman who would change everything.
Çú
Still His 138
Chapter 138
Go to Eine Point of View:
The air in the highest tower felt wrong.
Too thick. Too still. Too heavy for anyone but me to bear.
My lungs burned with each breath, but not from weakness steady,manding pulse.
¨C
no, that fragile part of me was gone. I could feel my blood thrumming with a
My veins no longer carried pain; they carried power, and it was mine.
¡®We¡¯re ready, Eine¡® Mika voice echoing on my head.
And that¡¯s the order I needed.
Slowly, I opened my eyes to the sight of Audrey hovering over me, panic shing across her face like lightning.
¡°My Luna, what¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked, her voice trembling as though she already feared the answer.
Behind her, Monica burst through the door, Beta Alfonso a step behind, his brows furrowed and shoulders tense.
¡°What¡¯s happening to her?¡± His tone was clipped, urgent.
Audrey turned toward Monica, as though my own answer didn¡¯t matter, her hands hovering uselessly over me. ¡°She¡¯s¡ she¡¯s breathing so hard- I don¡¯t know what to do, Monica. She¡¯s starting to convulse. Lira¡¯s not here-¡®
I pushed myself up, ignoring their frantic voices.
39
My movements were too fluid, too certain for the woman they remembered lying here hours ago.
Their eyes widened.
¡°I don¡¯t need Lira,¡± I said, my voice low but resonating through the chamber like amand.
Alfonso froze mid¨Cstep, his gaze flicking between my face and the strange, fierce energy emanating from me.
His mouth opened as if to speak, but a sound cut through the air before he could.
A howl.
Not the howl of Francesco, not of any warrior ¨C but mine.
It rose from my throat without effort, spilling into the night like liquid silver, vibrating the stone walls around us.
The sound carried farther than my mind could image, echoing over the kingdom, reaching every ear, pulling every head upward toward the
tower.
Beta Alfonso stared at me, wide¨Ceyed. ¡°Luna¡¡±
Yes. They knew. They all knew.
1/4
Below, in the courtyards and streets, the people of the kingdom stopped in their tracks.
The howl of their Luna was not just a sound ¨C it was a deration.
A heartbeatter, they began to move, their footsteps gathering like a tide toward the base of the tower.
Through the open balcony doors, I saw theming¨Cdozens, then hundreds.
¡°What is going on?¡± I heard someone asked, but her words were lost under the growing roar of feet and whispers.
I could hear they gasped in unison when I stepped out into the moonlight.
I stood at the balcony¡¯s edge, d in a white gown that fluttered against the wind, my silver hair spilling like molten frost over my shoulders.
I could feel their eyes lock on me disbelief, awe,
fear
¨C
all of it feeding the electric air between us.
I didn¡¯t need Beta Alfonso to speak for me.
My voice rang out over the crowd.
¡°Ready your warriors. Help your King. Now.¡±
¨C
There was no hesitation. No question. In a heartbeat, the pack moved ¡ª shouts echoing, boots pounding, wolves beginning to shift as orders
spread.
And then I moved.
¡°My Luna!¡± Alfonso called from the base of the tower, his face pale beneath the torchlight. ¡°Please¨Cwait until the healers-¡±
¡°There¡¯s no time,¡± I said, my voice steady, carrying across the courtyard like amand. ¡°Our King Alpha needs me. Hold the lines here. Tend to the wounded. I will bring him back.¡±
I turned to Audrey, who stood frozen behind me, still gripping the balcony doorframe. ¡°Guard the heart of the kingdom. No one breaches
these walls until I return.¡±
Her throat bobbed in a hard swallow before she nodded. ¡°Yes/my Luna.¡±
The wind shifted, carrying the faint, guttural roar of a Lycan locked inbat. My chest ached at the sound¨Cit was both a warning and a plea. Francesco was pushing himself to the brink.
I stepped up onto the balcony ledge, bare feet gripping the cold stone. Gasps rippled through the gathered crowd below as they realized my
intent.
¡°Luna!¡± Monica¡¯s voice trembled from somewhere behind Audrey. ¡°It¡¯s too high-¡±
Without another word, I stepped up onto the balcony railing.
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Then, gasps ¨C sharp and unrestrained ¨C as I leaned forward and leapt.
The wind screamed past my ears, the ground rushin toward me like an executioner¡¯s de. For the briefest heartbe nothing but moonlight.
Then, with the raw snap of muscle and bone, the shift took me.
is suspended in
White fur exploded across my skin, the world sharpening into razor rity ¨C every heartbeat below, every scent carried on the wind, every flicker of torchlight a glowing star in my sight.
21:52 Tue, 12 Aug 11
Chapter 138
I hit the ground in a crouch, my paws carving deep furrows into the earth from the force of my pausing only to bow their heads before I passed.
Somewhere deep in the kingdom, the wounded knightsy groaning in pain, their voices reaching me faintly.
The scent of their sickness¨Cthat same dark taint¨Ccurled in my nostrils, sour and heavy. I could almost taste it.
The fields gave way to the outskirts, and still I ran, my speed fueled by something I couldn¡¯t name ¨C urgency, fury, the deep pull in my chest that told me Francesco was fighting for more than just victory.
Every muscle burned, but I did not slow.
The scent of blood reached me first¨Cmetallic and hot, carried on the wind. Then the screams. The wet sound of tearing flesh.
The battlefield was chaos. Wolves shed with creatures that reeked of rot and magic, their bodies twisting in unnatural shapes. Some still had shreds of fur, others nothing but bare, blood¨Cslick skin stretched over jutting bone.
I lunged through the first one without pause, my jaws closing on its neck, the crunch of vertebrae shattering in my teeth. It went limp, but its blood burned on my tongue, thick with whatever foul essence had made it. I spat it out and tore into the next.
A wolf to my left went down screaming, ck veins already crawling up his nk. I knew without touching him that it was the same poison as the knights.
Francesco¡¯s scent cut through the madness¨Cstronger now, heavy with rage and the unmistakable heat of his Lycan form.
I caught sight of him through the carnage, towering over the rest, his massive frame hewing through enemy after enemy. His fur was dark with blood ¨C some his, most not- and every movement radiated a kind of violence that belonged to him alone.
But there, beyond him, I saw it.
The cave.
And from within it, the pulse of dark magic, slow and heavy, like the heartbeat of something that should not exist. It curled out into the air in ck tendrils, touching everything, pulling.
I moved toward it, cutting down anything that blocked my path. My white fur was no longer white¨Cstreaked now with red, dripping from my jaws, clinging in matted patches. My breaths came fast, but my pace never faltered.
Closer.
The air grew colder, heavier. The screams of battle faded behind me, reced by a deep, echoing hum. The stench was worse here ¡ª rot and iron and something that made the back of my skull throb.
The mouth of the cave loomed ahead, jagged and gaping like the maw of a beast. ck smoke curled from it in slow, deliberate shapes. And then¨Cvoices. Not spoken, but felt. A whisper against the inside of my skull. Words I didn¡¯t understand, but I knew their intent. Pulling
21:52 Tue, 12 Aug J
Calling.
I stepped into the threshold
and every head near the cave turned toward me.
The warriors froze. Even the creatures shied back, their movements jerky, as though something in them recognized me.
Light broke over me then, pouring through the smoke. Not from the moon, not from fire the ck tendrils, making them hiss and curl away.
but from within. My fur zed white, casting back
Gasps echoed in the cavern, voices rising in disbelief.
¡°Luna¡¡± someone whispered.
And then, silence ¨C just for a moment ¨C before the magic in the cave surged forward to meet me.
AD
Still His 139
Chapter 139
Still Eine point of View:
I barreled forward, crashing through the melee. One rogue lunged at me, jaws snapping for my throat, but I mmed into it midair, my ws shredding deep into its neck before my fangs crushed its windpipe.
I didn¡¯t slow¨Cdidn¡¯t even nce down as its body twitched and stilled beneath me.
Warriors saw me, their eyes going wide.
¡°The Luna!¡± someone shouted before vanishing into the fray again.
My presence sent a ripple through the battlefield¨Chope and fury ring like wildfire.
The cave swallowed me in its stench and darkness.
The walls were slick with something that shimmered faintly green¨Cblood mixed with magic. Shapes moved in the shadows, ws scraping
stone.
I caught glimpses of Francesco¨Chis Lycan form towering, fur matted with gore, eyes glowing like molten gold. He was surrounded, his massive ws raking through enemies, but for every one he felled, two more took its ce.
Behind him, deeper in the cave, stood the true threat.
A ckened book, floating inches above the ground, pages turning on their own.
Shadows coiled from it like smoke, wrapping around the figure of Marsen¨Cthest of the enemy¡¯s dark mages¨Cdraining him. His skin had gone gray, his eyes sinking into his skull as his essence was pulled from him, pouring into the pages.
And within the smoke¡ a face.
I froze for half a second, my heart stuttering. Luca. His eyes were open, his expression twisted into something both familiar and monstrous.
He was inside the book, wing his way back into the world one stolen breath at a time.
Francesco didn¡¯t see it¨Chis focus locked on keeping the tide of creatures at bay.
That was when the book¡¯s shadows began to spread, reaching toward him.
A snarl ripped from my throat, echoing off the walls. The sound made Francesco¡¯s head snap toward me, shock flickering in his eyes even in the middle of war.
¡°Eine-?¡± his voice was a rough rasp in my mind¨Clink, disbelieving.
I didn¡¯t answer.
Iunched myself over the front line, paws striking stone, ws sparking against it as I tore into the enemies closest to him.
My white coat was soon sttered with crimson, but I didn¡¯t care. Every kill brought me closer to him¨Cand closer to that cursed book.
The magicshed out at me as I neared, cold tendrils wrapping around my legs, trying to drag me down. I snarled, light ring from deep within me¡ªthe charm¡¯s power thrumming through my veins like a living thing. The shadows recoiled, hissing, but I could feel the book¡¯s hunger shift toward me.
33%
Luca¡¯s voice slithered into my head.
¡®Ah¡ little sister of the moon. Come closer.¡®
The shadows surged again¨Cfaster, stronger, Francesco roared, trying to push toward me, but the rogues swarmed him, ws raking his shoulders and sides.
I dug in, holding the charm¡¯s power steady, letting it burn through the darkness inch by inch. But it was like holding back a tide with my bare hands.
The air grew heavier, the cave vibrating with a low, unnatural hum.
And then¨CLight.
Blinding, pure white light burst into the cave, flooding every shadow, forcing the darkness back.
Gasps echoed from every warrior present as their eyes turned toward the source.
Me¡ The white wolf, their Luna, standing at the mouth of the deepest tunnel, fur zing with silver fire, eyes locked on the heart of the corruption.
Francesco froze mid¨Cstrike, his chest heaving, his gaze locked on me with something raw and unguarded.
¡°Eine¡¡± he breathed.
The shadows hissed louder, the book¡¯s pages whipping faster.
Luca¡¯s face twisted in rage-
No.
I lowered my head, growl rumbling deep, ready to strike-
And the cave wentpletely ck.
The wind tore against my skin as I fell.
The stones of the high tower blurred behind me, the gasps of my people muffled beneath the rush of air in my ears.
For a heartbeat, there was only the void and my own pounding pulse.
Then¨Cimpact.
My paws struck the earth with a bone¨Cshaking thud, ws digging deep into the frozen soil. The force rippled through the ground, scattering loose snow and dust like a shockwave. My white coat zed under the pale moonlight, each strand catching the glow as if made of silver fire,
The scent of blood¨Cthick, metallic, wrong¨Cfilled my lungs. The battle was still raging far beyond the gates.
No magic thrummed in me anymore. That part of me had gone quiet, perhaps forever. But Mika was here. Stronger than ever. My wolf¨Cmy true self¨Cstood whole again, her strength not from spells or charms, but from the raw, unbreakable will that came from surviving every
wound, every rejection, every scar life had given me.
And right now, my fated mate was out there.
Fighting.
Bleeding.
2/5
Facing a monster that should never have drawn breath again.
I broke into a sprint, the ground shuddering under each stride. Every scent sharpened¨Cthe copper tang of spilled blood, the acrid bite of scorched earth, the dark rot of corrupted magic. And then, cutting through it all, his scent. Francesco.
It was like breathing again after being held under water¨Cwarm, grounding, dangerous in its pull. My mate. My Alpha. My King.
The gates were wide open, smashed inward from the earlier charge. Bodies littered the field¡ªsome human, some wolf, some reduced to little more than unrecognizable remains. The rogues were unlike any I had seen before; their eyes were zed ck, movements jerky, skin marred with crawling veins of dark magic. Marsen¡¯s essence. Luca¡¯s poison.
Francesco¡¯s Lycan form towered over them all. Massive, rippling muscle beneath dark fur, ws like onyx scythes. His roars shook the air, each one a promise of death. He fought like a storm¨Crelentless, devastating. But even storms can be overwhelmed. The enemy pressed closer, dozens of them drawn to him as if pulled by an invisible string.
And at the heart of it¨CLuca.
Or rather¡ what remained of him.
His body flickered, like a reflection on ck water. His form was only half¨Cflesh; the rest writhed with smoky tendrils, threads of shadowshing out to pull in more victims.
The book¡ªan ancient, jagged¨Cbound thing¨Chovered unnaturally near him, its pages flipping on their own, the ink bleeding like fresh
wounds.
I didn¡¯t need Anastasia magic power to tell me. I could feel it.
The book wasn¡¯t just a vessel¨Cit was feeding. Each soul, each drop of Marsen¡¯s essence, each life stolen by Luca¡¯s will was being swallowed whole, page by page.
And if we didn¡¯t stop it now, Luca would return. Fully. Permanently.
1 charged into the fray, Mika¡¯s power roaring in my veins. My howl split the night¨Cpure, sharp,manding. It wasn¡¯t just a sound; it was a call, a rallying cry that cut through the haze of fear and pain gripping my warriors. Heads turned toward me, their eyes clearing, their spines straightening. They remembered who they fought for.
I mmed into the nearest rogue, my jaws crushing down on its neck with a wet crack. Warmth gushed over my tongue¨Csickly, tainted blood -and I ripped away before it could seep too deep into me. Another came from my left; I spun low, ws shing, and its belly opened under my strike, spilling ckened innards onto the dirt.
Francesco¡¯s voice tore through the chaos, deep and resonant even in his beast form.
¡°Eine!¡±
Our eyes locked across the carnage. The bond between us red¨Csharp and bright as lightning. For a moment, everything else blurred. He didn¡¯t need to speak for me to know what he wanted.
We would end this. Together.
I leapt over the torn bodies, closing the distance between us. He swung his massive arm, clearing a path, and when Inded beside him, his presence wrapped around me like armor. We moved in unison¨Ctwo halves of one force.
But Luca wasn¡¯t idle. His voice slithered over the battlefield, smooth and venomous.
¡°Ah¡ the little Luna joins the fight. How¡ quaint.¡±
33%
His smile was wrong, too wide, too knowing.
¡°You think ws and teeth will stop me? You think love will stop me?¡± Heughed, and the sound scraped like broken ss.
The book shuddered in the air, pages whipping. I felt the pull¨Ca hungry, gnawing force wing at my mind, whispering for me to join it. For a moment, my vision dimmed, the world narrowing to ink and shadow.
No¡
I nted my paws and pushed back, Mika snarling in defiance. A pure surge of white light rippled from my chest, snapping the haze like brittle ss. Francesco¡¯s growl deepened beside me, his massive ws tearing through the tendrils reaching for us.
We drove forward.
Each step closer to Luca was harder¨Cthe air thickened, the ground slick with corrupted blood. My muscles burned, lungs seared, but we didn¡¯t stop. We tore through rogue after rogue, their bodies falling like wheat before the scythe.
Still, Luca¡¯s strength grew.
The book¡¯s pull intensified.
Francesco¡¯s massive hand closed around my shoulder¨Csteadying, anchoring. His golden eyes burned into mine. Now.
Weunched as one. He went high, crashing into Luca¡¯s half¨Cflesh body, driving him back with sheer brute force. I went low, jaws snapping onto the book¡¯s edge. Pain red instantly¨Ca thousand icy needles stabbing into my skull¨Cbut I held on, dragging it away from Luca¡¯s reach.
It screamed. Not Luca¨Cthe book. The sound was in my bones, in my teeth, vibrating through every nerve. I tasted blood¨Cmy own, hot and coppery¨Ctrickling from my nose.
¡°Eine!¡± Francesco¡¯s roar was desperate.
I couldn¡¯t answer. My vision swam. The pull was too strong. The book¡¯s darkness licked at me, probing for a way in.
And then-
Warmth.
Not physical. Deeper. The bond between us red again, but stronger this time. Francesco¡¯s will wrapped around mine like steel bands, lending me his strength. Not forcing. Not controlling. With me.
I nted my ws, shoved back against the book¡¯s hunger with everything I had. Mika roared within me, and this time, it wasn¡¯t just sound- it was light. White fire burst from my form, flooding the ground, searing through the shadows. The rogues nearest to us howled in agony, their twisted bodies unraveling into smoke.
Luca¡¯s face twisted, fury overtaking his smirk.
¡°No¨CNO! You can¡¯t-¡±
Francesco¡¯s ws drove into his chest, and with a violent wrench, he ripped the half¨Cflesh body apart. The ck smoke tried to escape, but l snapped my jaws around the book and mmed it shut. The lock clicked¨Caudible, final.
The ground shuddered. The air split with a deafening crack. Every remaining rogue froze¨Cthen copsed, lifeless.
For a heartbeat, there was silence. Just the sound of my ragged breathing and the distant hiss of fading magic.
Then-
The book twitched.
A single thread of ck seeped from the seam, curling in the air like azy serpent. My fur bristled.
¡°Francesco¡¡± My voice was a growl.
His golden eyes were still locked on me, but there was something in them now¨Cworry. He took a step toward me, but the ground beneath my paws split open.
The thread lunged¨Cnot for him. For me.
Light burst in my vision¨Ctoo bright to be moonlight¨Cand a voice, deep and cold, whispered in my ear.
¡°Luna Eine¡ your story isn¡¯t over.¡±
Thest thing I saw before the world went white was Francesco¡¯s massive form lunging toward me, his roar ripping through the battlefield.
Still His 140
Chapter 140
The battlefield was chaos.
Blood, ash, and the stench of burning earth clung to the air so thickly it felt like breathing through smoke. Around us, warriors shed with the grotesque shapes that Luca¡¯s essence had birthed¨Cthings that moved like wolves, but their bodies were warped, dripping shadows instead of flesh. They screamed with.voices that didn¡¯t belong in this world.
My paws dug into the dirt as I circled, white fur bristling, breathing fast.
The weight of the bond between Francesco and me pulsed like a second heartbeat in my chest. Even without looking at him, I could feel his massive Lycan form beside me¨Ca towering wall of dark, raw power, eyes glowing molten gold in the darkness.
We had one goal.
Bring Luca back into the cursed book.
Destroy him before his essence fully anchored itself in this world.
The booky in the middle of the battlefield, its ckened cover glowing faintly red, pulsing like it was alive. Every time a shadow creature fell, the book seemed to breathe it in, swelling with more power. Marsen¡¯s stolen essence shimmered around it like an oil slick.
¡°Eine!¡± Francesco¡¯s voice thundered through the bond, deep andmanding, even though his mouth was filled with bared fangs. ¡°We push together¨Cdon¡¯t let him split us apart.¡±
I gave a short, sharp howl in answer.
Then we moved.
I darted left, speed and precision, weaving between writhing shadow limbs. My jaws snapped shut around the throat of one beast¨Cck ichor burst over my tongue, bitter and cold. I didn¡¯t stop to spit it out. I used the momentum to fling the creature to the ground, ws raking through its formless body until it dissolved into smoke.
Francesco¡¯s massive ws tore through two more in one swipe, his roar shaking the ground beneath us. He wasn¡¯t just killing¨Che was driving a path toward the book, every step calcted, protective. Always keeping me in his shadow¡¯s reach.
¡£? ?
But Luca¡¯s voice slithered through the air.
¡°You can¡¯t cage me again, little Luna¡ your power is mine as much as his.¡±
I felt it then¨Ca sharp pull at my chest, like invisible ws hooking into my soul. The book¡¯s glow red, trying to draw me in, trying to strip away the purity of Mika and twist it into something corrupted.
I snarled, forcing my paws deeper into the soil, grounding myself. No. That part of me was mine. It had taken years of pain, loss, and rejection to reim it. I would not hand it over to him.
Francesco must have felt it through our bond because his presence mmed into my mind like a shield. ¡°I¡¯ve got you. Don¡¯t let go,
With him anchoring me, I lunged forward, our movements syncing¨Ctwo predators striking as one. The shadows fought harder near the book desperate to protect it. One leapt for my throat, but before it couldnd, Francesco¡¯s massive jaws closed around its midsection, crushing it into nothing.
We reached the base of the stone where the book sat, but a sudden wave of ck energy sted outward, sending us skidding back through the dirt. Pain red along my ribs, but pushed up immediately, shaking the dust from my fur
From the heart of the pulse, a figure began to form.
Luca.
He was no longer just a voice¨Chis body was halfway here, rising out of the book like a man dragging himself from deep water. His eyes burned crimson, his skin crawling with ck veins that pulsed with Marsen¡¯s stolen power.
The ground split beneath his feet, and he smiled at us like a man greeting old friends.
¡°You think love will save you?¡±
I stepped forward, ears t, teeth bared, tail high. Francesco moved with me, shoulders brushing mine, and for a moment, I felt the weight of
our unity¨Chis immense Lycan shadow over my white wolf form.
¡°On my mark,¡± Francesco¡¯s voice was steel through the bond.
Luca raised his hands, and the shadows obeyed, spiraling upward like a storm. They formed walls, des, ws¨Can entire army born from
his will.
The battle exploded again.
I moved in pure instinct. sh, tear, leap. Every strike was a dance between us¨Cwhen Francesco went high, I went low; when he roared, I struck in the silence that followed. But the closer we got to Luca, the heavier the air became, pressing against my fur, slowing my
movements.
The book¡¯s pull grew unbearable. My vision blurred, ears ringing. I could feel the temptation in it¨Cpower, endless and intoxicating, a way to never be weak again. My paws faltered for half a heartbeat-
-and Francesco¡¯s roar shattered it.
¡°Stay with me!¡±
It wasn¡¯t just an order. It was a lifeline.
??
I bit down hard on the nearest shadow, using the surge of rage to clear my head. Together we lunged again, pushing through the tide until we were close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off Luca¡¯s half¨Cformed body.
I saw my opening.
Drove forward.
My fangs sank into the tendrils still tethering him to the book. Light burst from the contact¨Cnot golden, not magical, but pure white, the untouched strength of Mika burning away the corruption.
Luca screamed.
Francesco moved instantly, massive ws mming into the book, forcing it to open wider. The cursed pages pped wildly, pulling at the tendrils, dragging them back.
We had him.
Or so I thought¨Cuntil the ground beneath us cracked like ss. A fresh wave of shadows erupted, knocking Francesco back and mming into me hard enough to rattle my bones. Luca¡¯sughter filled the air, ragged but triumphant.
¡°You can¡¯t hold me forever, Luna¡ and when I rise, you will be the first I im.¡±
¨C 14:41 Thu, 14 Augus
The pull was worse now, almost unbearable. I dug my ws into the dirt, muscles trembling, but before I could force myself up
A light split the darkness.
It wasn¡¯t the moon.
It wasn¡¯t magic.
It was her.
Every head turned, even the shadows. Through the chaos, down the rocky slope toward us, came a figure in white, silver hair glowing like a beacon. Her presence struck like a physical force, and for a heartbeat, everything stilled.
It was me.
Or rather¨Cit was my other self.
The white wolf stood at the ridge,¡® eyes zing with the full, unrestrained power of Mika.
Every warrior, friend and foe alike, froze. The air held its breath.
And Luca¡¯s smile¡ faltered.
I bared my fangs and lunged, knocking him back again. My ws tore at the darkness thatposed half his torso. Every strike hurt him, but I could feel his strength building¨Clike the book was filling him faster than we could drain it.
I could hear the sound of ripping leather and Francesco¡¯s deep growl as he tore the tendrils from Marsen¡¯s body. The moment the connection snapped, Luca screamed¨Ca raw, guttural sound that shook the ground. His shadowed form flickered, and I didn¡¯t hesitate.
I mmed into him with everything Mika had.
We both hit the ground hard, rolling dangerously close to the cursed book. Its pages whipped wildly, a low chant vibrating through the air.
¡°Eine!¡± Francesco¡¯s roar reached me just as the tendrils lunged for both of us.
I shoved Luca toward the book, letting the tendrils wrap around him instead of me. His scream was deafening, but the shadows obeyed the pull of their master, dragging him inside.
For a heartbeat, I thought it was over.
But just before thest of him was pulled in, his hand shot out¨Cgrabbing my throat.
His grip was ice. His voice was worse.
¡°I¡¯ll see you again, white wolf.¡±
Then he was gone. The book mmed shut with a thunderous crack.
The clearing went still.
Only the sound of our heavy breathing filled the silence.
Francesco stepped toward me, his massive form shrinking slightly as his rage ebbed. He ced onerge, wed hand on the cursed book,
but it burned even him.
¡°We can¡¯t leave it here,¡± I said, my voice low, my heart still pounding.
He nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll seal it. Hide it where no one can find it.¡±
But just as he reached for it again, the book trembled. A faint pulse of light glowed along its spine¨Conce, twice, like a heartbeat.
Then I remember Anastasia words.
¡°Though my power no longer lives in you, you are still strong. And now¡ now is the time for magic to leave this world.¡±
¡°Leave?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± she said with certainty. ¡°There has been too much destruction caused by misuse of magic. One drop of poison. One whisper of a spell It¡¯s too tempting for the weak¨Chearted. You must destroy the remaining books. All of them.¡±
I hesitated. ¡°All? Even the ones with healing, knowledge?¡±
¡°All of them. Without the original wielder to safeguard their use, they
are weapons waiting to be abused.¡±
So, this is what Anastasia mean about magic leaving this world.
Then I turn my gaze at my fated mate, Francesco ¡°Let¡¯s destroy all of the magic book. I will ask Lira to do the destroy ritual¡±
AD
Still His 141
Chapter 141
The stench of scorched earth still clung to my fur.
The cave behind us was no longer alive with Luca¡¯sughter that twisted, mocking echo that had burrowed into my bones¡ªbut I could still feel it, a phantom sound crawling in my ears.
My breathing was heavy, white plumes of frost curling into the cold air with every exhale. Francesco stood beside me, his massive Lycan form heaving with the same exhaustion I felt. The ground beneath us was scarred from ws, magic, and fire, the rock itself looked wounded.
The booky on the cracked stone a few paces ahead, its surface glowing faintly, almost like it was breathing. It pulsed¡ once, twice, as if mocking us. As if telling me it was only sleeping, not dead.
Francesco¡¯s ws were still out, ck and glinting in the weak light. His golden eyes never left the book.
¡°It¡¯s contained¡ for now,¡± he rumbled, voice low but rough, still wrapped in the power of his Lycan form.
I swallowed, my wolf¡¯s instincts prickling at the word for now.
¡°I can feel him,¡± I said quietly. ¡°He¡¯s not gone, but we will stop this. I will ask Lira to do the destroy ritual.¡±
Then we both shifted back into our human forms. The cold bit into my skin instantly, but I barely noticed.
His gaze shifted to me then, and I caught a flicker of something he almost never let others see ¨C not fear exactly, but the deep, gnawing longing of a man who had been waiting too long.
¡°You awake¡¡±
I gave him a knowing smile, and at the same time, his hand cupped my cheek.
¡°I am¡ for you.¡±
He sighed and pulled me into him, his warmth wrapping around me even in the bitter air.
¡°I missed you, amore mio,¡± he whispered before our lips met in a soft, lingering kiss ¨C the kind shared by those who know they could lose
each other again at any second.
We stood there together for a moment, absorbing this fragile peace.
But it was the kind of silence you only hear after a storm, where the wind holds its breath, waiting to see if the thunder wille back ¨C
hoping it won¡¯t, knowing it might.
Not long after we turned toward the exit, moving slowly.
My bare feet left faint imprints in the soot and ash as I walked beside him. Every step made my muscles scream, but Mika held me steady- not with magic, but with the unyielding strength of my wolf.
As we emerged into the open air, the sky was dark and bruised, streaked with restless clouds. The forest beyond the ridge smelled of blood,
fur, and smoke.
Warriors were already there, some limping, some tending to others, all of them turning as one when they saw us.
¡°Alpha! Luna!¡±
My white gown was torn and stained, my silver hair tangled in the wind. Francesco followed, towering over me even in his human skin, shirt
1/4
¨C14:41 Thu, 14 Aug
1
ripped and spattered with ck ichor that didn¡¯t belong to him.
Marlow was the first to reach us, his expression caught between relief and wariness.
¡°Are you okay?¡±
Francesco¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°Yes. But it¡¯s not done.¡±
The head knight¡¯s shoulders slumped just slightly- not enough to show weakness, but enough to betray that he¡¯d hoped for better news.
¡°We need to get back to the kingdom,¡± I said, scanning the warriors. I spotted three of them on the ground, still twitching from the wounds inflicted earlier. My chest tightened. ¡°The knights¡ how bad is it?¡±
Marlow hesitated. ¡°Worse than we thought. Lira¡¯s doing what she can, but¡ whatever Luca left in their wounds, it¡¯s spreading. She can¡¯t touch them without risking herself.¡±
My stomach dropped. That exined the grim faces, the slow movements, the exhaustion that hung on everyone¡¯s shoulders.
Francesco¡¯s hand found mine, grounding me.
¡°We move. Now.¡±
The ride back to the kingdom was grim. Wolves and Lycans cut through the forest like shadows, but the air felt heavier with every mile. I could hear the faint, pained whimpers of the injured warriors being carried sounds that gnawed at my chest.
By the time the towers of the kingdom broke through the treeline, my pulse was pounding.
From the moment we crossed the gates, I could feel it ¨C the eyes. Hope, fear, desperation. They had heard my howl earlier. They had seen me on the balcony.
Now they saw me beside their Alpha, both of us marked by battle.
We didn¡¯t stop at the courtyard. Francesco led us straight to the healer¡¯s hall.
The smell hit me first ¨C sharp herbs, copper, and that strange, acrid scent I recognized from the cave.
Lira looked up from her work, strands of hair stuck to her damp face. ¡°My Luna,¡± she breathed, half in relief, half in surprise. ¡°Alpha.¡±
I moved closer to the nearest bed before she could say more. The knight lying there was barely recognizable, skin pale with veins traced in ck, like ink bleeding under the skin. His breaths were shallow, each exhale rattling.
¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Lira warned sharply when I reached out. ¡°Whatever it is, it passes on contact. Even a touch.¡±
I stopped, my fingers hovering inches above his arm.
Mika growled low inside me. She didn¡¯t like standing here, useless, watching my people wither.
¡°How long?¡± I asked.
¡°Hours¡ maybe less,¡± Lira admitted. ¡°The healing potions slow it, but they don¡¯t cure it.¡±
Behind me, Francesco¡¯s voice was steel. ¡°Then we find a cure.¡±
Lira¡¯s eyes flicked between us. ¡°If there¡¯s one to find, it¡¯s tied to him ¨C to Luca.¡±
The truth was heavy, settling into the room like another body.
If Luca is destroyed, this dies with him.
The thought was sharp and absolute in my mind.
I turned to Francesco. ¡°Let¡¯s collect all of the magic books. We need to do the destroy ritual now.¡±
He nodded once, no hesitation, and turned to order his Beta to begin gathering them immediately.
I turned to Lira fully, letting her see the steel in my eyes.
¡°We can¡¯t wait for him toe to us,¡± I said. ¡°Every second he exists, this poison spreads. If Luca is destroyed, this dies with him. That¡¯s the
only way.¡±
Her brow furrowed, and I could see the calction in her mind healer¡¯s logic warring with the dread of what I was suggesting.
¡°I need you to understand something,¡± I went on, stepping closer until there was nothing between us but the faint warmth of the hearth fire. ¡°What we faced in that cave wasn¡¯t just Luca. It was what¡¯s left of him- pure malice, bound to that book, feeding off the magic we¡¯ve been too afraid to destroy. That¡ thing¡ it doesn¡¯t just want to hurt us, Lira. It wants to unmake us. Erase everything.¡±
She swallowed hard. ¡°Luna Eine¡ you don¡¯t have-¡±
¡°I do.¡± My voice cut sharper than I meant, but I didn¡¯t pull it back. ¡°I have to. You saw what happened to me before, you saw what he did when I was weak. I have no magic now, but that¡¯s exactly why I can stand against him ¨C nothing for him to drain, nothing for him to twist. All have is Mika, my wolf, and that¡¯s enough.¡±
Lira¡¯s gaze flickered to Francesco, but he didn¡¯t speak. He only stood there, jaw set, letting my words stand.
I took a breath, forcing my voice to steady, but not soften. ¡°This isn¡¯t going to be a healing session, Lira. It¡¯s war, concentrated into a circle of stone. And once it starts, there¡¯s no pulling me out. You need to know that before you help me.¡±
Her lips pressed together, and for a moment, I thought she might refuse.
Then her eyes dropped to the wounded knight between us
harden.
¡°What will you need from me?¡± she asked quietly.
to the ck lines crawling like roots under his skin- and I saw her resolve
¡°Every protective charm you can muster, every herb that wards off possession. Nothing for healing ¨C we won¡¯t have time for that. And,¡± nced at the other beds, at the warriors groaning softly under their breath, ¡°you¡¯ll need to keep these men alive until it¡¯s over. If Luca¡¯s influence senses what we¡¯re doing, it may strike here first.¡±
Her head dipped in a small, solemn nod. ¡°I¡¯ll ward the hall myself.¡±
I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice so only she could hear. ¡°All the dark magic has to go, Lira. Not just b
in this kingdom that has ever touched his hand. We burn it all.¡±
The book. The scrolls. Anything
Her eyes widened, but she didn¡¯t argue. She knew as well as I did ¨C if even a scrap of his magic survived, he¡¯d find a way to crawl back.
Francesco stepped forward, his presence filling the room. ¡°Beta Alfonso will start gathering the archives. You,¡± he pointed to one of the standing knights, ¡°escort the Luna to the ritual site and guard her with your life until I arrive
The knight thumped his fist to his chest in silent agreement.
The pace of the room shifted Instantly. Healers moved faster, gathering supplies. Footsteps pounded down the corridor as waniors look? the library vaults. Lira was already sweeping jars of powdered root and moon¨Csalt into her satchel, muttering under her breath th beginnings of a warding incantation.
14:41 Thu 14 Aug 6
I stood there, the ache in my muscles forgotten, feeling the air tighten with purpose.
There would be no waiting.
We were going to end this.
?
Still His 142
Chapter 142
The night air cut sharp as we stepped out of the infirmary.
Snow crunched underfoot, brittle in the cold, and above us the moon hung swollen and bright- not yet full, but close enough that I could feel Mika restless inside me, her presence like white fire under my skin.
Lira was already giving orders. She moved quickly for someone so small, her braided hair swinging behind her as she strode toward the upper courtyard where the old temple stones waited.
¡°Clear the eastern wall,¡± she barked to a group of warriors. ¡°We¡¯ll need a path wide enough for the artifacts. And no one the book without gloves spelled in silver ash.¡±
Her voice had changed.
¡ª
no one¨Ctouches
Gone was the gentle healer¡¯s lilt I¡¯d always known; in its ce was the clipped precision of someone who¡¯d led rituals before and knew the weight of them.
Francesco walked beside me, his gaze fixed ahead, but his arm brushed mine in the faintest touch
¨C
a reminder. I¡¯m here.
I didn¡¯t need to look at him to feel the heat of his presence, the controlled power simmering just beneath his skin.
When we reached the courtyard, the preparations were already underway.
The ancient stones of the temple ring jutted up from the snow like ckened teeth, their surfaces carved with runes so old I couldn¡¯t read them. A wide firepit sat in the center, unlit, its basin lined with silver and salt.
¡°This is where it ends,¡± Lira said, turning to face us.
The torchlight made her eyes look almost gold.
¡°I¡¯ll lead the binding. My magic will hold Luca in ce long enough for you two to strike. Eine ¡ª you and Mika will attack his essence directly. White wolf power is pure; it can cut through anything corrupted. Francesco ¨C you¡¯ll use your Lycan strength to anchor her, and to destroy whatever remains physically. If either of you falter¡¡± She hesitated. ¡°There will be no second chance.¡±
A warrior approached with a heavy iron chest. I knew without opening it whaty inside ¨C the book. Even sealed, I could feel its presence, a faint, oily pressure at the edge of my mind, whispering in a voice I didn¡¯t want to understand.
¡°Set it in the circle,¡± Liramanded, and they obeyed, cing the chest directly over the silver lines carved into the stone. She began sprinkling a mixture of ash, crushed moonstone, and dried wolfsbane around it, her fingers moving with absolute precision.
I stepped forward, my boots crunching over the snow¨Cpacked earth, and knelt by the edge of the firepit.
The air felt heavier here, thick with the residue of countless rituals.
Mika stirred restlessly inside me, her voice clear.
¡®We end him tonight.¡®
¡°I know,¡± I whispered back.
Francesco came to stand behind me, his shadow falling long over the circle. ¡°When Lira signals, we move,¡± he murmured. ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate, Eine.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t.¡±
Chapter 142
The rest of the preparations blurred into a rhythm¨Cwarriors cing protective totems along the perimeter, Lira chanting code conta breath, the scent of herbs and burning sage thick in the air.
Snow began to fall in slow, It¡¯s time.¡±
The iron chest was opened.
The booky inside, its cover a deep, mottled ck that seemed to writhe if I looked too long.
Symbols crawled over the leather like living things, and the air around it grew colder, sharper, as if it were drinking in the warmth.
Lira¡¯s voice rose, steady and strong, weaving the first threads of the binding. The runes carved into the stones red to life, silver light racing
around the circle.
The firepit zed into sudden me¨Cblue¨Cwhite, unnatural, beautiful and terrible all at once.
The book shuddered.
I felt it then ¨C Luca¡¯s presence.
Not as a figure, not yet, but as a pressure in my mind, a voice that slid against my thoughts like oil.
¡®Eine¡ little wolf¡ you don¡¯t belong here.¡¯
Mika snarled, and the sound tore from my throat in a low, feral growl.
¡°Hold her,¡± Liramanded, her tone like steel.
Francesco¡¯s hand found my shoulder, grounding me as Lira¡¯s magic rose higher, the air around us crackling with power.
The book opened on its own.
Pages turned in a violent blur, stopping on one scrawled in ck that pulsed like a heartbeat.
Shadows began to leak from the paper, thick and writhing, forming a shape ¨C human at first, then twisting into something far less so.
¡°Now!¡± Lira shouted.
Lira¡¯s shout ripped through the icy air.
The runes under our feet zed silver¨Cwhite, and the mes in the pit roared higher, their unnatural blue light bathing everything in a ghostly glow.
Mika surged forward inside me, pressing against the edges of my skin, not in her usual restless pacing but like a living storm demanding release.
The shadows spilling from the book writhed faster, coiling into a thick column that twisted upward.
The air reeked of burning metal and something older ¨C something wrong, like a rotting thing pretending to be alive.
Francesco¡¯s hand tightened on my shoulder.
Chapter 142
Eine. Breathe. Focus on me.¡±
I did ¨C just for a second
enough to ground myself before the shadow solidified into him.
Luca¡
But not the man I¡¯d seen in fragmented visions, not the once¨Cproud warrior who¡¯dughed in candlelight.
This was him after.
His skin was ashen, stretched tight over sharp checkbones. His eyes- ck pits rimmed with red¨Cglowed like dying embers.
The shadow clung to him like a second skin, flowing and shifting as if it breathed with him.
And when he smiled, it was like watching a corpse remember what cruelty felt like.
¡°Little wolf,¡± he purred, though his voice wasyered one sound human, one inhuman, a deep vibration that rattled my bones. ¡°Still clinging to life that isn¡¯t yours.¡±
My lips pulled back in a snarl before I even realized it. ¡°Not for long. Yours ends here.¡±
Lira¡¯s chanting grew sharper, faster, her voice cutting through the tension like a de.
The silver lines around the circle began to move ¡ª actually shift, snaking across the ground in patterns that wove around Luca¡¯s feet.
The binding had begun.
Luca¡¯s form flickered, his outline blurring as the magic pressed against him. He tilted his head, almost curious, then moved ¨C faster than I could follow ¨C mming into the invisible wall of Lira¡¯s spell.
The impact made the runes re bright enough to burn spots into my vision.
Francesco¡¯s voice was low in my ear. ¡°He¡¯ll fight harder now. When the openinges, we strike together. You with Mika
de.¡±
¨C
me with the
I nced at the weapon in his hand. It was unlike any sword I¡¯d seen restrained power. A Lycan¨Cforged relic.
¨C
ck steel veined with molten silver, the edge faintly humming with
He¡¯s serious.
Mika¡¯s growl rolled through me, and the pressure to shift became unbearable. I met Francesco¡¯s eyes, gave a sharp nod.
¡°Go,¡± he said.
I let go.
The shift wasn¡¯t slow or graceful.
It ripped through me like lightning, my bones snapping and reforming, skin tearing and reshaping, muscles knotting with r
Pain red and vanished almost at once, reced by an overwhelming rush of rightness.
Mika stood where I had been pure white fur shimmering faintly in the moonlight, her eyes glowing a molten gold.
The air seemed to still, just for a heartbeat.
Luca¡¯s smile faltered.
Now, Mika¡¯s voice echoed in my mind.
¡®We moved.
Francesco surged forward beside me, his own shift beginning mid¨Cstride.
Lycan form was massive, towering over even thergest wolves I¡¯d seen, his ck fur streaked with silver at the shoulders, his eyes an intense, unbroken gold.
The ground shook under his weight.
Lira¡¯s binding red again, forcing Luca back a step, and that was all the space we needed.
Mika lunged, teeth snapping for his throat, but the shadows writhed up his arm and solidified into a jagged weapon, blocking the strike with
a sound like metal on stone.
A
Pain shot up my jaw at the impact.
I twisted away before the shadow¨Cde could rake across my side.
Francesco was already there, swinging the Lycan de in a vicious arc. The silver edge sliced through the shadow clinging to Luca, and for the first time, he screamed.
It was a sound that made the air itself recoil ¨C rage, pain, and something deeper, something ancient. The shadows rippled violently, spilling away from his form before reforming thicker, darker.
He¡¯s pulling more power from the book, Mika snarled. ¡®Break his link!¡®
I didn¡¯t think¡
I ran straight for the chest still holding the cursed tome.
Lira¡¯s voice caught ¨C ¡°Luna Eine, wait!¡± ¨C but there was no time to exin.
Luca moved to intercept, but Francesco blocked him, their sh shaking the ground.
ws met steel, shadows meeting the unyielding force of Lycan muscle. For a moment, they were locked, neither giving an inch.
I skidded to a stop at the edge of the firepit.
The book¡¯s pages were turning again, faster and faster, the symbols glowing a sickly green. My fur bristled as the wrongness pressed against me, trying to seep in.
¡®Burn it,¡® Mika urged. ¡®But not with normal fire
¨C
with us.¡±
I leapt into the pit.
The mes didn¡¯t burn me ¨C instead, they clung to my fur, turning white¨Cgold where they touched.
I mped my jaws around the book¡¯s spine, ignoring the taste of blood and ash, and ripped it free of the chest.
It screamed.
Not just in my head ¨C the sound ripped through the courtyard, making warriors flinch and clutch their ears.
4/5
16:37 FTI, 19Aug
Luca roared, a sound of fury so raw it seemed to split the air.
Francesco took the opening, driving the ck¨Csilver de deep into Luca¡¯s side.
Shadows exploded outward like a burst dam, mming into the protective wards Lira had set.
¡®Now!¡® Mika shouted.
We hurled the book into the heart of the blue¨Cwhite mes.
The reaction was instant.
The fire roared higher, swallowing the tome whole, the runes on its pages twisting and burning away.
The shadows binding Luca to this ce began to tear, threads snapping one by one.
He staggered, his form flickering. ¡°No-
no!¡± His voice cracked, losing that inhuman echo. ¡°You don¡¯t understand-¡±
¡°I understand enough,¡± I growled through Mika. ¡°You die tonight.¡±
Francesco tore the de free and swung again, this time with both hands.
The strike hit true¨Cstraight through Luca¡¯s chest.
Light ¨C pure, blinding ¨C burst from the wound, and the shadows screamed as they burned away.
Luca¡¯s body convulsed once, twice, before copsing inward, disintegrating into ash that scattered on the wind.
The mes in the pit died all at once.
Silence fell¨Cheavy, almost crushing ¨C broken only by the sound of my breathing and the faint crackle of cooling silver.
1 shifted back, my legs trembling, lungs burning with every breath,
Francesco stood over the ce Luca had fallen, still in his Lycan form, chest heaving, eyes locked on me.
Slowly, he shifted back as well, the sword hanging loose at his side.
¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Lira said softly, almost in disbelief. ¡°The bond is broken. He¡¯s gone.¡±
Still His 143
Chapter 143
The silence after the ritual wasn¡¯t truly silent.
It was the kind of quiet that rang in your ears long after thest sound had faded¨Ca silence so dense it pressed against your skin, heavy and unnatural, as though the very air had forgotten how to move. It felt like the world itself was holding its breath, afraid to exhale too soon.
Thest of the glowing runes shimmered weakly across the cavern floor, their golden light dimming with each heartbeat before retreating into the cold, ancient stone. Where moments ago there had been zing brilliance and searing power, now there was nothing but faint scorch marks etched into the rock and the sharp metallic tang of burnt magic clinging to the air.
I breathed in, and even the air felt altered¨Cthicker, weighted with the residue of what we had done. My chest rose and fell in shallow bursts, each inhale a conscious effort. My muscles trembled from exhaustion, though I had not been the one to speak the ancient words or bear the crushing weight of the final spell. My role had been different¨Craw, brutal, physical.
I had fought with Mika¡¯s strength.
I had wed, bit, and shielded.
I had thrown myself again and again at Luca¡¯s essence, forcing him back toward the trap Lira had carved into the very bones of the earth.
But the sealing¨Cthe true binding of his spirit¨Chad been hers alone.
And it had cost her.
Lira was still kneeling in the center of the circle. Her head hung low, her sweat¨Csoaked hair stered to her pale face. Her arms were suspended in the same position they had been when she¡¯d finished thest syble of the incantation, hands hovering just above the cursed Book. Its surface, once alive with malevolent whispers and dark, oily magic, nowy still and pale in front of her.
The copper scent of blood reached me before I even saw it¨Ca single thin line trailing from the corner of her mouth down to her jaw. My heart lurched at the sight. She was breathing, but her breaths were shallow and erratic, each one sounding like it scraped against her ribs on the way out.
¡°Lira,¡± I rasped, forcing my body to move toward her. My bare feet slid across the dust, leaving faint smears of blood and dirt in my wake. My legs felt like lead, heavy and unresponsive. The wolf in me had receded long ago, leaving me human and stripped raw. ¡°Stay with me.¡±
A shadow fell over me before I reached her.
Francesco.
He was back in human form, but even like this he carried the same bone¨Cdeep presence¨Can alpha¡¯smand wrapped in the quiet, immovable force of a mountain. Blood streaked his jaw and neck, his shirt torn nearly to ribbons, deep gashes still weeping crimson across his side and shoulder. His eyes, though dulled from the battle, still carried the faint, feral glow of the Lycan within.
He crouched beside Lira, hisrge hand hesitating just above her shoulder. For once, his confidence faltered. He didn¡¯t know if touching her would shatter whatever fragile bnce kept her tethered to us.
¡°She¡¯s alive,¡± he said atst, his voice low, almost disbelieving. ¡°She did it.¡±
I followed his gaze to the Book.
Ity at the exact center of the circle, closed now, its once¨Cckened leather faded to an ashen gray, as if something had sucked the life from it. It looked brittle. Dead.
There was no whispering now, no sick pulse that made the air taste like iron. Just stillness.
¡°If Luca is destroyed¡¡± My voice cracked mid¨Cthought, the words tumbling out before I could decide whether I wanted to speak them aloud. ¡°This dies
with him.¡±
Chapter 143
I had clung to that thought like a lifeline during the fight. It had been sharp and certain in my mind a truth I could lean against white everything else burned. And yet now¡ standing in the aftermath, staring at the Book¡¯s lifeless shell¡ certainty felt like a luxury I couldn¡¯t afford.
Francesco¡¯s jaw tightened as he followed my gaze. ¡°We know he¡¯s destroyed,¡± he said carefully, his tone even, measured, ¡°He¡¯s gone now¡±
The wordsnded like sunlight on my skin¨Cwarm, almost too warm.
Finally.
Around us, the others were beginning to stir. The battlefield was littered with the wounded and the fallen. Those who still lived moved slowly, their bodies dragging with exhaustion. Beta Alfonso limped toward the nearest group of warriors, scanning for movement, for signs of life.
Audrey was already at Lira¡¯s side, kneeling opposite Francesco, her hands moving with quick, practiced precision as she fumbled for thest of her healing salve. Across the cavern, a handful of knights who had held the defensive perimetery motionless.
Too still.
Too quiet.
My stomach twisted violently.
The ground was a patchwork of broken steel and ckened ws, scraps of armor still smoking where magic had burned through them. The copper sting of blood was thick¨Ctoo thick¨Cseeping from wounds both human and inhuman
My gaze snagged on the still form of one of the younger warriors, his features soft even in death. He couldn¡¯t have been more than seventeen. His sword was still clutched in his hand, fingers stiff in rigor.
I looked away sharply, my hand flying to my mouth. My breath came in shallow, uneven gasps.
¡°Eine.¡±
Francesco¡¯s voice cut through the fog in my head, sharp but not unkind.
I looked up at him. His eyes locked onto mine, steady, unreadable.
He was still bleeding freely from his side, the gash deep enough that any other man would be on the ground. His shirt was torn in so many ces that the fabric hung in tatters. He didn¡¯t seem to notice¨Cor he refused to.
¡°We need to move,¡± he said firmly. ¡°This ce¡ it¡¯s not safe to linger. If Luca left any trace¨Cif any part of him escaped-¡±
¡°He didn¡¯t,¡± I cut in, too quickly, my voice too sharp. The words sounded almost like a plea. ¡°He can¡¯t. We sealed him for good.¡±
For a long moment, Francesco didn¡¯t answer. Then he gave a single, slow nod.
forced my feet to carry me thest few steps to Lira. I dropped to my knees beside her. Audrey and Monica were working together now, trying to coax a few drops of potion past her lips. Her eyelids fluttered faintly, but she didn¡¯t wake.
Her breathing was shallow, each inhale rattling as though her lungs had forgotten the rhythm.
¡°She pushed herself too far,¡± Monica murmured, her focus fixed on measuring the potion. ¡°Her magic¡¯s gone. Completely. It¡¯s a miracle she¡¯s still breathing.¡±
Something inside me clenched so tight I could barely inhale. I wanted to tell Monica she was wrong¨Cthat it wasn¡¯t worth it, that no victory was worth this¨Cbut I knew Lira wouldn¡¯t have listened.
¡°She saved all of us,¡± I said softly.
Audrey¡¯s jaw tightened, but she gave a small nod.
Chapter 143
It took all of us to move her. Francesco lifted her easily, his arms steady despite his own wounds. I stayed close enough that my finger, brushed against her every few steps, needing the reassurance of her warmth.
The others gathered what supplies and bodies they could. The rest¡ would have to be left behind.
The walk back to the kingdom was endless.
Each step dragged heavier than the one before. The adrenaline that had the dull ache of injuries.
Some warriors carried the dead-limp bodies draped over their st
wounds, but refused to be carried.
or
US
through the fight was gone, leaving behind only exhaustion, grief, and
adled in their arms. Others staggered under the weight of their own
By the time the kingdom¡¯s walls appeared on the horizon, the first light of dawn the clouds. It should have been beautiful. Instead, it felt like an insult¨Ctoo warm, too bright for the devastation we carried home.
bleeding into the sky. Pale gold and deep crimson stretched across
The gates opened the moment we approached. No questions. No hesitation. Wor took in the sight of us.
I had spread fast. The guards¡® expressions fell into grim silence as they
Inside, the courtyard was already filling. People whispered in hushed tones,
their
eyes scanning our battered group for answers.
When they saw Lira limp in Francesco¡¯s arms, an audible gasp rippled through them.
And then¡ their eyes turned to me.
Only then did I realize what I must have looked like. Barefoot. My white gown tattered beyond recognition, streaked with dirt, ash, and blood. My silver hair tangled and wild, my skin smeared with the grime of battle.
But they didn¡¯t seem to see any of that.
Their gazes locked on my face¨Cnot the filth, not the torn fabric, but the fact that I was walking.
A murmur swept through the crowd.
¡°Luna Eine¡¡±
The sound hit me like a physical blow, deep in my chest. I hadn¡¯t felt like a Luna in full strength had faded from me.
so long¨Cnot since
mhad been stripped away, not since Mika¡¯s
Maybe it wasn¡¯t magic that made them see me that way.
Maybe it was simply that I had stood with them. Fought with them. Bled with them.
We didn¡¯t stop in the courtyard. Francesco led us straight to the healing ward. He didn¡¯t set Lira down until we reached the inner chamber, where the healers were already preparing a bed.
They swarmed her instantly, voices low but urgent. I stood back, fists clenched at my sides, forcing myself not to hover. I had done all I could. Now, I had
to trust them.
Francesco came to stand beside me. For a moment, neither of us spoke.
¡°You fought well,¡± he said finally.
It wasn¡¯t praise. It was truth. But hearing it still made my throat tighten.
¡°We¡¯re¡ done?¡± I asked. ¡°If Luca is truly gone, the Book-¡±
¡°It¡¯s harmless now,¡± he finished, his gaze flicking to where the Book sat, swaddled in heavy cloth.
Chapter 143
For the
first
time since the
fight began, I
I felt something loosen in
my thest
Rest Eine
Mika¡¯s voice whispered
In my head,
soft and warm.
And then the
fatigue
hit me like a w wave.
My knees buckled.
The world tilted.
Francesco¡¯s arms caught
me
And darkness imed me.
before I could hit the floor.
Still His 144
Chapter 144
Chapter 144
When I woke, the world was soft and muted.
The first thing I felt was the heavy pull of exhaustion in my bones, as if my very soul had been wrung dry and left to hang in the cold.
My fingers twitched against the sheets¨Csmooth linen, faintly scented withvender and smoke. The air around me was still, save for the distant murmur of voices and the low, reassuring hum of the kingdom¡¯s heartbeat beyond the walls.
I drew in a slow breath, my chest aching with the movement. Every muscleined. Every nerve felt raw, as if I had been scraped open from the inside.
And in truth¡ maybe I had been.
Images came in fractured bursts ¡ª blinding white light from Lira¡¯s ritual circle, Francesco¡¯s roar tearing through the night, the hiss of the book¡¯s pages burning with power as we fought to force Luca back inside. The stench of ash and iron, the tremor of the ground under my paws, and the feeling¨Cgods, the feeling ¡ª of the void resisting us.
I forced my eyes open.
The room swam in soft gold from a singlemp, shadows pooling in the corners. A thick wool nkety over me, heavier than I remembered. My throat was parched, my lips cracked.
¡°You¡¯re awake.¡±
The voice was low, rough, and achingly familiar.
Francesco sat in the chair beside my bed, elbows resting on his knees, his broad frame hunched forward as if he¡¯d been guarding me for days.
His eyes¨Cstorm¨Cgrey and bloodshot ¨C searched mine with an intensity that made my pulse stutter.
¡°Francesco¡ How long-¡± My voice broke into a rasp.
¡°Two days,¡± he said. His tone was clipped, but the faint quiver beneath it betrayed the truth. ¡°You copsed right after the seal took hold. You haven¡¯t
stirred since.¡±
Two days.
I let the weight of that sink in.
Thest thing I remembered was the blinding re of Mika¡¯s power surging through me ¨C raw, pure, untamed ¨C and then the darkness swallowing me
whole.
Jlicked my lips, tasting the faint tang of copper. ¡°The ritual¡ did it ¡±
¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Francesco said, and his voice was final. ¡°Lira led it to the end. Luca¡¯s essence is sealed back inside the book, and he¡¯s gone. He won¡¯t be rising again. Not in this lifetime.¡±
Relief swept through me like a tide, but it wasced with the faint, bitter aftertaste of what it had cost.
My gaze shifted past him.
On a small table against the far wally the remnants of a shattered charm ¨C Lira¡¯s, no doubt and a basin half¨Cfilled with water, pink with someone¡¯s blood. The smell of burnt herbs still lingered.
¡°Casualties?¡± I asked quietly.
His jaw tightened. ¡°Fifteen dead. Six won¡¯t see another sunrise without a healer¡¯s hand¡ and even then¡¡± He trailed off, the muscle in his cheek ticking.
The grief was sharp, immediate.
pressed my palm against my chest, feeling the heavy thrum of my heart.
We had stopped Luca, but the kingdom had bled for it.
¡°Where¡¯s Lira?¡± I asked.
¡°She¡¯s alive,¡± Francesco said, softer this time. ¡°But drained. She¡¯s been sleeping almost as much as you. Without her¡¡± He shook his head. ¡°Without her, we wouldn¡¯t be talking right now.¡±
I closed my eyes for a moment, drawing in a shaky breath.
My wolf, Mika, stirred faintly inside ¨C still tired, still raw, but alive. Whole.
¡°I need to see the others,¡± I said, pushing myself upright.
Francesco¡¯s hand shot out instantly, steadying me with firm, warm strength. ¡°You need to rest-¡±
¡°No,¡± I said, and my voice was firmer than I expected. ¡°They need to see their Luna awake.¡±
His eyes narrowed, the Alpha in him bristling against my stubbornness, but after a moment, he exhaled sharply and rose from his chair.
¡°Fine,¡± he said. ¡°But you don¡¯t walk alone.¡±
The corridors outside were quieter than I expected ¨C hushed, as if the entire castle was holding its breath.
Soldiers we passed paused to bow low, their eyes flicking between Francesco and me with something more than respect.
There was relief there.
And awe.
When we stepped into the great hall, all conversation died. Heads turned. I saw warriors with bandaged arms, servants with weary faces, and healers moving like shadows between the wounded.
And then, slowly, they began to kneel one by one, until the entire hall was bent in deference.
A shiver went down my spine.
Not from fear, but from the weight of it.
The acknowledgment¡
I walked forward, Francesco¡¯s presence at my side like a wall of steel.
And as I passed, I let my gaze meet theirs ¨C every bowed head, every wounded soul¨Csilently telling them that I was still here.
That we had survived.
The first ce I insisted on visiting was the infirmary.
The scent hit me before we stepped inside ¨C sharp antisepticyered over blood, herbs, and the faint, lingering scorch of burned magic.
The room was dimly lit, lined with rows of cots. Warriorsy in them, some pale and still, others stirring weakly under the careful hands of healers.
Conversations hushed the moment they saw me.
Chapter 144.
A young soldier, barely older than neen, tried to sit up despite the fight bandages around his chest.
His eyes were wide, full of something between reverence and disbelief
¡°Stay down,¡± I told him gently, moving to his side. ¡°You¡¯ve done enough¡±
His lips trembled. ¡°We heard you¡ your voice, when the seal closed. It felt like¡ the moon herself was speaking¡±
swallowed hard.
Mika stirred faintly inside, sending a warm ripple through my veins. ¡°That wasn¡¯t just me,¡± I said softly. ¡°It was all of us. You stood. You fought. You stayed.¡±
The boy¡¯s eyes welled, but he nodded, sinking back into the thin pillow.
I touched his shoulder lightly before moving on..
One by one, I walked between the cots¨Cmeeting each gaze, speaking quietly.
I listened to their wounds and their fears.
I promised them that their sacrifice would be honored.
At the far end, I found Captain Roran a giant of a man whose leg was splinted and bound inyers of linen.
His skin was ashen, but his grip when I took his hand was firm.
¡°Luna,¡± he rumbled. ¡°You should be resting.¡±
I gave him the smallest smile. ¡°And you should be terrorizing the new recruits, not lying here. We both have some recovering to do.¡±
A deepugh rattled from his chest, followed by a grimace of pain. ¡°When I¡¯m up again, I¡¯ll make sure they work twice as hard. Can¡¯t have the kingdom relying on you and His Alpha for every damned thing.¡±
His words were gruff, but his eyes shone with quiet pride.
I found Lir¨¤ in the adjoining chamber, lying under a soft blue nket.
Her usually bright copper hair was dulled, her skin pale as moonlight. The deep shadows beneath her eyes told the story of how much she had given.
She stirred when I knelt beside her bed. ¡°Luna¡¡± Her voice was a whisper, fragile.
¡°I¡¯m here,¡± I said, taking her hand. It was cool to the touch, but her grip, though weak, was steady. ¡°You saved us all.¡±
Her lips curved faintly. ¡°We saved us all. Don¡¯t¡ don¡¯t forget that.¡±
For a long moment, we simply stayed like that ¨C fingers sped, the silence thick with unspoken words.
I wanted to tell her how terrified I¡¯d been when she copsed, how I¡¯d thought we might lose her.
But she would only brush it off, so instead, I squeezed her hand once more and promised, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure you rest. Even if I have to chain you to this bed.¡±
She huffed augh that dissolved into a cough. Bossy.¡±
Francesco¡¯s voice rumbled from the doorway, ¡°She¡¯s learning from the best.¡±
I nced back to see him leaning against the frame, arms crossed, watching us with that unreadable intensity.
But there was something in his gaze when it settled on Lira ¨C a rare, unguarded softness.
Chapter 144
When we left the infirmary, Inoticed the change immediately.
The corridors were busier now.
Servants carrying trays and scrolls hurried past, their voices low but urgent.
Messengers darted through the hall, their satchels heavy.
Soldiers stood in tighter formations, their armor polished but their eyes wary.
The whispers reached me in fragments as we walked.
¡°Her power, did you feel it? Like moonfire-¡±
¡°¡if the other kingdoms find out what happened-¡±
¡°¡the Alpha¡¯s chosen mate, without a doubt¡¡±
I kept my expression neutral, though my heart beat faster. In two days, everything had shifted.
The kingdom had seen me, not just as a human¨Craised she¨Cwolf, not his king fated mate too ¨C but as the woman who had stood in the circle and helped seal away an ancient threat.
And in a ce like this, that meant more than just gratitude. It meant influence. It meant political weight. It meant danger.
We end the council, now we end ancient threat too.
Sometimes, they tend to fear power especially since my fate mate, Francesco is the only Lycan left and I am the white wolf, I understand how they fear
could turn into something.
Back in my chambers, I sank onto the edge of the bed, exhaustion tugging at me again.
Francesco didn¡¯t speak at first, just stood by the window, looking out over the snow¨Cdusted courtyard.
Finally, he said, ¡°They¡¯re already moving.¡±
I frowned. ¡°Who?¡±
¡°Some of the other territory massenger. Some want to call a summit. Others want to bury what happened entirely. There¡¯s talk of using your¡ disy¡ as leverage against things.¡± His tone was cool, but his eyes when they met mine were anything but.
I wrapped my arms around myself. ¡°So I¡¯ve gone from liability to dangerous weapon, like the council used to say before they were destroy.¡±
¡°Not to me,¡± he said sharply. He crossed the room in two strides, stopping just close enough that the heat of him cut through the cold in my bones. ¡°To me, you¡¯re the reason the kingdom still stands.¡±
My breath caught. His gaze was steady, unflinching¨Cthe kind that could strip you bare without touching you.
¡°I won¡¯t let them hurt you,¡± he said, voice low. ¡°Not while I still draw breath.¡±
For a heartbeat, the room felt smaller, the air thicker. I could see strain around his eyes, the faint tremor in his jaw¨Csigns of how close he¡¯de to losing me.
And for the first time since waking, I let myself lean into that warmth, if only for a moment.
Because outside, the world was already shifting into something new.
And whatever came next¡ we would always face it together.
4/5
C
Still His 145
hapter 145
Chapter 145
The echo of footsteps down the marble corridor sounded heavier than usual.
Beta Alfonso¡¯s pace was brisk, his jaw tight, his eyes locked on the end of the hallway where the great double doors of the King Alpha¡¯s office loomed. Beside him, Head Warrior Marlow moved with the same urgency, his steps pounding against the polished floor in sync with the Beta¡¯s.
The air felt¡ different. It was early morning, yet the usual hum of the castle was missing. There was stillness, the kind that prickled along the skin.
When Alfonso pushed the grand oak doors open, the emptiness hit him.
The office was¡ silent.
servants exchanging quiet greetings, the distant clink of kitchen work ¨C
No scent of their Alpha. No faint trace of Luna Eine¡¯s calming fragrance. No sound of Francesco¡¯s low,manding voice dictating orders or shuffling through reports. The leather chair behind the desk sat untouched, slightly turned to the side as if someone had left in the middle of the night.
Marlow frowned. ¡°Where is he?¡±
Alfonso¡¯s eyes swept the room, instinctively searching for clues like a predator scanning for prey. ¡°This isn¡¯t right,¡± he muttered, his voice deep with suspicion.
They stepped farther in. That¡¯s when Alfonso saw it the center of the mahogany desk.
¡ª
a folded parchment, sealed with dark blue wax stamped with the Alpha¡¯s crest, resting precisely in
The wax glistened faintly in the morning light streaming through the tall windows. In careful, familiar handwriting across the front were two words that
made his stomach twist.
To Beta Alfonso
For a long moment, the Beta didn¡¯t move. His fingers hovered above the letter, as if touching it would confirm something he didn¡¯t want to believe.
Before he could break the seal, hurried footsteps thundered down the hall.
The doors burst open. Audrey and Monica rushed in, both breathless, their faces flushed not just from running but from the urgency in their eyes.
¡°Alpha-¡± Audrey began, but her voice faltered when she saw only Alfonso and Marlow standing in the office.
Monica stopped short, ncing between the two men, confusion and worry written all over her face.
Alfonso¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°What is it, Audrey? Monica?¡± His voice cut through the tension, low but edged with the authority of a man who did not appreciate his Alpha¡¯s office being barged into without permission.
Audrey hesitated for a heartbeat before blurting, ¡°We¡ we got letters. From Luna Eine.¡±
The room stilled.
Monica swallowed hard and stepped forward, holding up a neatly folded letter in her hand. ¡°She said¡ she needed to take a holiday.¡±
The word holiday sounded absurd in the heavy stillness of the offe. It didn¡¯t belong in the same breath as Luna Eine ¨C the woman who had stood beside their Alpha in battle, who had walked through fire and blood to protect the kingdom.
Alfonso¡¯s brows drew together, his temper simmering. ¡°A holiday?¡± He repeated the word like it was poison in his mouth.
Audrey nodded quickly, pulling out her own letter. ¡°Me too. The same thing. Said not to worry.¡±
Marlow¡¯s eyes darted to the desk. ¡°Then what¡¯s this?¡± he murmured, motioning to the sealed parchment Alfonso still hadn¡¯t opened.
Chapter 145.
Tlonso Enally broke the wax seal seith his thumb, the wound of fearing paper loud in the silence. His eyes scanned the words, with each line, his expression darkened.
Alfonso
I know you must hate me for leaving the kingdom like this in your hands. But maybe¡ if we¡¯re gone, then no other Alpha will fear me, or my Luna¡¯s power, anymore.
I know you. You will be a great Alpha ¨C perhaps even better than I ever was because you¡¯ve been the one holding the kingdom together while I chased shadows and war. You¡¯ve handled everything instead of me. You deserve the title, and I leave it to you willingly.
The kingdom is free from dark magic now. But our power¡ mine and Eine¡¯s¡ it can unbnce the peace.
We¡¯ve decided we must go
it, lead it, make it thrive.
far enough that no war will find us, far enough that no one will seek to use us. We leave the kingdom in your hands. Protect
Don¡¯t worry. You can still contact me¡ if the dayes that you truly need me.
Francesco
By the time Alfonso¡¯s eyes reached the signature, his hand had curled into a fist around the parchment.
The air in the room shifted anger, disbelief, and something heavier, unspoken, pressing down on them all.
¡°They left?¡± Monica whispered, almost to herself.
¡°They abandoned the kingdom?¡± Marlow¡¯s tone was harsher, the words bitten off like he couldn¡¯t believe he was saying them aloud.
¡°No.¡± Alfonso¡¯s voice was deep, cold, final. ¡°Francesco doesn¡¯t abandon anything. If they left¡ they had a reason. One we don¡¯t yet understand.¡±
Audrey took a shaky breath. ¡°But¡ Luna Eine wouldn¡¯t just go. Not without saying goodbye in person. Not after everything-¡±
¡°She didn¡¯t even tell us where,¡± Monica said quietly, her voice trembling.
Alfonso moved around the desk, setting the letter down carefully. His mind was already turning, already calcting. The words our power could unbnce the peace echoed in his head.
He knew what Francesco meant. He had seen the way the other Alphas looked at the King ¨C with a mix of awe and fear. He had seen the way Luna Eine¡¯s very presence shifted the air, how her white wolf was the stuff of whispered legends.
They had fought battles most people couldn¡¯t even imagine. And perhaps¡ perhaps Francesco was right. Peace built on fear was a fragile thing.
Still, the ache in Alfonso¡¯s chest was sharp.
¡°They¡¯re not gone,¡± he said finally, looking each of them in the eye. ¡°Not truly. This kingdom is still theirs, whether they¡¯re here or not. And until they return¡ I will make sure it stands.¡±
There was silence for a long moment.
Outside, the morning sun climbed higher, its light spilling across the empty chair behind the desk ¨C the ce where their King Alpha had ruled.
For the first time, that chair looked¡ abandoned.
And in the quiet, one unspoken thought lingered between them all.
22 Mon, 16 Aug
Where had their Alpha and Luna gone?
And¡ would they evere back?
One Week Before
R
16
The news had spread like wildfire.
Whispers carried through corridors, echoed in training yards, and slipped into the polished halls of foreign courts: Luna Eine has awakened.
¨C
After more than a year missing from the public eye, she had returned not quietly, but in a storm of courage and light. She had stood against Luca, a wielder of dark magic so vile that even the oldest Alphas avoided speaking his name aloud. And she had won. At a cost, yes ¨C copsing into a deep unconsciousness after sealing him away forever ¨C but she had survived.
For many, that was cause for celebration.
Alphas from distantnds began arriving within days, their entourages trailing behind them like ripples in a grand procession. They came draped in their finest silks and furs, bringing ornate gifts and borate words of praise. The grand hall was filled with the scent of foreign spices, the glitter of jewels, and the soft hum of diplomatic pleasantries.
But not all smiles were genuine.
Francesco saw it ¨C the fleeting nces, the too¨Clong pauses before they spoke her name, the way their eyes shifted from Eine to him as if calcting something unspoken. To them, it wasn¡¯t only a reunion. It was an assessment. The King Alpha of the Western Realm now stood beside a Luna who had not only fought but destroyed a wielder of ancient dark magic. Together, theirbined strength was¡ intimidating.
And in politics, what people feared, they eventually sought to control.
They didn¡¯t voice their doubts. They didn¡¯t dare. But Francesco read thenguage of their posture, their tone, their sidelong nces. They were testing the waters, weighing possibilities.
Eine, as always, faced them with quiet grace. She didn¡¯t bark or boast. She listened, answered when necessary, and smiled when it was polite. But he could see the toll it took. Every falsepliment, every thinly veiled concern, was another weight on her shoulders.
By the fifth day, the pce air itself felt heavy. Francesco noticed it in the evenings when the reception halls emptied and the candlelight softened. Eine¡¯s shoulders would slump, her smile fading into something faint and tired.
That night, he found her standing on the balcony, the pale moonlight catching in her hair. She leaned her hands on the marble railing, exhaling slowly as though trying to release the pressure building inside her.
¡°You¡¯re tired,¡± he said, stepping behind her. His arms slipped around her waist instinctively, pulling her against him.
She didn¡¯t argue. ¡°It¡¯s just¡, a lot,¡± she murmured. ¡°They say congrattions, but their eyes¡¡± She trailed off, shaking her head.
¡°I know.¡± His voice was low, a quiet rumble against her back. He led the way they looked at her ¨C as if she were some unpredictable force, a dangerous relic instead of the warm, fierce woman he knew.
Her fingers brushed the railing. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for this, Francesco. I wanted to finish my studies, see the world, maybe paint a little before-¡± She stopped herself.
¡°Before I brought you here,¡± he finished for her, guilt flickering in his chest.
She turned in his arms then, searching his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not saying I regret it. I just¡¡± Her lips curved into a small, weary smile. ¡°Sometimes I wonder if I¡¯m
3/4
strong enough for what they expect of me.¡±
Francesco cupped her face, his thumb brushing her cheekbone. ¡°You¡¯ve already proven you are. But you¡¯re still young, Eine. You¡¯ve fought battles most people never dream of. You deserve more than council meetings and forced smiles.
Her brow furrowed slightly, sensing something in his tone. ¡°What are you saying?¡±
He hesitated only a moment before speaking. ¡°What if we took a holiday?¡±
The question startled her. Her lips parted slightly, her eyes wide. ¡°Can we do that?¡±
His mouth quirked in a faint grin. ¡°No. But we can go.¡±
She let out a softugh, shaking her head. ¡°You can¡¯t just leave. You¡¯re the King Alpha.¡±
¡°And you¡¯re my tuna,¡± he said simply, pressing a finger gently to her lips when she started to object. ¡°Peace is what we have now. Our power- power¨Cis what they fear. If stepping away gives them peace, then maybe that¡¯s what we give them.¡±
Her gaze softened, though doubt lingered. ¡°You¡¯d give up your title? Just like that?¡±
His answer came without hesitation. ¡°As long as I have you, I need nothing more.¡±
your
The air between them stilled, heavy with meaning. And in that quiet moment, they both knew the decision had been made. They would go ¨C not immediately, but soon. They would prepare, arrange for the kingdom¡¯s safety, and leave it in capable hands.
And when they did, they would go without fanfare.
Without warning.
Still His 146
Chapter 146
Chapter 146
The days after our decision passed in quiet secrecy.
Francesco and I spoke of it only in the safety of our chambers, never once letting the idea slip in front of others. The kingdom bustled as always, unaware that its King Alpha and tuna were quietly preparing to step away from the throne.
Francesco handled it with a kind of calcted patience I had rarely seen in him.
Every document he signed, every order he gave, every warrior he trained¨Cit was as though he was tying up thest threads of a tapestry he¡¯d been weaving for years.
I did my part, too. I met with healers, artists, and educators, making sure my own projects were left in steady hands.
But the most important part wasn¡¯t the work.
It was the goodbyes we couldn¡¯t openly say.
Some nights I¡¯d walk the balcony, looking down at the city lights, wondering how many of them would notice our absence.
Would they see it as a betrayal?
Or would they feel, deep down, that this was the right choice?
That maybe, with us gone, the weight of fear from other kingdoms would finally lift.
Francesco seemed to sense those thoughts even when I didn¡¯t voice them.
¡°They¡¯ll be fine, mia luna,¡± he¡¯d say, wrapping an arm around me from behind. ¡°They don¡¯t need us to stand over them forever. The mark we leave is already here.¡±
Still, there was onest thing to do¨Cthe handover.
We decided Beta Alfonso was the one who should take the title. He had, in truth, been running the day¨Cto¨Cday matters for months while I was unconscious, and even before that, he was the one Francesco trusted most.
The problem was, telling him directly would mean questions, arguments, and a hundred attempts to convince us to stay. So we agreed: no announcement. Only letters.
The night before we were to leave, Francesco sat at his desk in the King Alpha¡¯s office, pen scratching across parchment with deliberate strokes.
I sat opposite him, writing my own¨Cone to Monica, one to Audrey and one to Lira. The words didn¡¯te easily; every sentence felt like closing a door behind me.
When we finished, we sealed each with wax¨Cthe royal crest for Alfonso¡¯s, a simpler seal for the others. Francesco ced his on the center of the desk, where Alfonso couldn¡¯t miss it. I slid mine into Monica¡¯s, Audrey¡¯s and Lira¡¯s quarters, where they¡¯d find them in the morning.¡±
The night before we left, the pce seemed unusually quiet.
No meetings draggedte into the evening, no warrior drills echoed in the courtyards, and even the wind that usually rattled the balcony doors was still.
It felt as though the kingdom itself was holding its breath¨Cwaiting, listening, sensing what we had not spoken aloud.
Francesco worked at his desk in the King Alpha¡¯s chamber, the warm glow of candlelight catching the sharp line of his jaw as he wrote.
His hand was steady, but I could feel the weight in his shoulders. Every stroke of his pen was final; every pause meant he was choosing his words with
care.
1/4
¡°Are you ready, mia luna?¡± he asked softly..
¡°No,¡± I whispered, then managed a small smile. ¡°But I think that¡¯s how I know it¡¯s time.¡±
We didn¡¯t take much with us. A few clothes, keepsakes that meant something to us personally rather than politically, and my worn sketchbook. Francesco carried only one weapon¨Chis favored de¨Cstrapped to his back. Not as a king¡¯s ornament, but as a man¡¯s safeguard.
Just before dawn, we walked the silent corridors for thest time. The pce guards were stationed as always, but they didn¡¯t question us; no one questioned the Alpha moving with such purpose. Out through the gates we went, our footsteps muffled by the mist still clinging to the stones. The city beyond was quiet, its lights dimming in the pale touch of morning.
Francesco didn¡¯t look back. I did. Just once.
The pce rose above the city, its towers piercing the dawn. It had been both a cage and a sanctuary.
And now, it was neither.
The farther we walked, the lighter my steps felt.
The road was damp with dew, the earth soft from the night¡¯s chill. Francesco didn¡¯t let go of my hand, not even when the trees¨Cthickened around us.
For a while, we didn¡¯t speak. It wasn¡¯t awkward silence ¨C it was the kind that felt sacred, as if the wrong word could shatter the fragile spell of our
escape.
Somewhere in the distance, a bird called, its voice high and clear. It sounded like morning had already imed the forest, but here in the shadowed path, we still belonged to the night.
I tightened my grip on my bag¡¯s strap. ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll notice before midday?¡± I asked quietly.
His eyes flicked toward me, then back to the path. ¡°They¡¯ll notice when Audrey does. She¡¯s the only one who looks for you at dawn.¡±
I felt a pang in my chest. Audrey. I pictured her finding my letter ¨C that brief moment where she¡¯d think I was just out for a walk, before the words hit her. I hoped she¡¯d understand.
Francesco slowed as we reached a fork in the path. To the right, the road sloped toward the river. To the left, it wound into the hills. Without hesitation,
he took the left.
¡°Why not the river?¡± I asked.
¡°Too many eyes at this hour,¡± he replied. ¡°Fishermen. Traders. People who talk.¡±
I tried to match his stride, though my legs ached from the pace we¡¯d kept since leaving. He noticed enough to let me breathe.
he always noticed ¨C and eased his steps, just
The air here smelled of pine and damp earth. Ayer of mist clung low to the ground, swirling around our boots as we walked. Every now and then, the wind carried a faint scent of smoke ¨C someone¡¯s hearth fire waking for the day.
¡°Once we reach the ridge,¡± Francesco said, ¡°we¡¯ll be able to see the valley road. That¡¯s where we meet the horses.¡±
I nced up at him. ¡°And after that?¡±
His jaw tightened slightly, but his voice was steady. ¡°After that¡ no one follows unless they¡¯re willing to bleed for it.¡±
I knew what he meant ¨C not just speed, but the kind of terrain that would strip the strength from anyone unprepared. And Francesco had nned every
step.
We walked on, the light growing brighter behind us.
1719 Tue 13 Aug
I didn¡¯t dare look back now.
By the time we crossed the border, my feet felt like lead.
The forest had thinned hours ago, giving way to rolling fields and the asional farmhouse, but my senses stayed sharp.
Every creak of a wagon wheel, every shout in the distance made my pulse jump.
Francesco¡¯s grip on my hand was steady, grounding me. ¡°Almost there,¡± he said softly, though his gaze was fixed ahead.
The city rose out of thendscape slowly¨Cfirst the tiled roofs, then the pale stone walls streaked with age.
Morning sunlight spilled over everything, making it look warmer than it felt. The gates stood open, guarded by two men who barely nced at us as we passed.
It was strange, stepping inside.
The air here carried a different rhythm ¨C less tension, more bustle. The streets were alive with vendors setting up stalls, their tables piled with fruit, bread, bolts of bright fabric. Children darted between carts,ughing, their bare feet kicking up dust.
I pulled my hood a little lower.
No one here knew me.
No one whispered my name or looked at me with the weight of expectation in their eyes.
The thought was so foreign, I almost stumbled.
Francesco steered us down a quieter side street, toward a modest inn tucked between a bakery and a shop selling painted ceramics.
The sign above the door swung gently in the breeze, creaking on its chain.
Inside, the air smelled of fresh bread and woodsmoke.
A woman behind the counter greeted us with a polite smile, her eyes lingering on Francesco for a moment ¨C and then flicking to me with a softer curiosity.
¡°Two rooms?¡± she asked.
Francesco shook his head. ¡°One.¡± His tone left no room for negotiation.
I didn¡¯t speak until we were upstairs, the door shut behind us.
The room was simple ¨C a bed, a wooden table, a small window overlooking the street. I dropped my bag on the floor, stretching my sore shoulders.
¡°We made it,¡± I said, almost in disbelief.
Francesco¡¯s eyes softened, but he didn¡¯t answer right away.
He stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from my face. ¡°We did. And no one will take this time from us.¡±
For the first time since we¡¯d left, I let myself breathe.
Still His 147
Chapter 147
The first thing I felt was warmth.
Not the gentle kind from a morning sunbeam, but the deep, steady heat of someone¡¯s arms holding me as though I might disappear if he let go.
I blinked awake to find Francesco¡¯s face so close that his breath brushed my cheek¨Cwarm, slow, and entirely unhurried. His eyes were open, already watching me. There was something in them that rooted me to the moment, something heavy and unspoken.
¡°Buongiorno, mia luna,¡± he murmured, his voice low and rough in the way it always was when he¡¯d just woken.
My chest tightened. That endearment¨Cmy moon¨Cwasn¡¯t just a name. It was everything I¡¯d be to him and everything he¡¯d lost before finding me again.
His thumb brushed along my jaw, a slow, reverent motion that felt almost like a prayer. ¡°Do you know,¡± he said quietly, ¡°how long I¡¯ve wanted to wake up with you like this?¡±
I swallowed, unable to speak right away.
The answer was in his gaze¨Cin the way it softened and darkened all at once, pulling me closer.
More than a year.
More than a year where I¡¯d been nothing more than a shadow to him¨Cmissing, hurt, unreachable. I¡¯d thought my absence had been mine alone to bear, but now I saw how it had carved lines of longing into him, deep and unhealed until now.
His forehead pressed lightly to mine, and for a few breaths, we just stayed there, our noses brushing, our eyes closed.
¡°I missed you,¡± I whispered.
The words seemed to undo him.
His hand slid to the back of my neck, pulling me into a kiss that was soft at first¨Ctentative, like he was afraid I¡¯d fade away¨Cbut then deepened with the kind of ache that could onlye from being starved of someone for too long.
He kissed me like he was learning me again, mapping the shape of my lips, memorizing the sound of my breath between each slow press of his mouth.
And when he finally pulled back, his eyes stayed closed, as if he wasn¡¯t ready to face the world yet.
¡°I¡¯m never letting you out of my sight again,¡± he said, and though the words were quiet, they carried the weight of a vow.
I could have stayed in that bed forever. But the city outside was calling¨Cits morning hum drifting in through the shutters, the faint smell of fresh bread curling in the air. Francesco noticed me ncing toward the window and smiled faintly.
¡°You want to see it,¡± he said. Not a question.
I nodded, and that was all it took.
He sat up, still holding my hand, and tugged me gently from the bed. His movements were unhurried but deliberate, like even getting dressed together was something he wanted to savor. When I tried to hurry, pulling on my coat, he stepped behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder.
¡°Slow,¡± he murmured against my ear. ¡°We have the whole day.¡±
I turned my head slightly, catching the edge of his smirk. ¡°And the city won¡¯t wait forever.¡±
His smirk softened into a smile. ¡°Then we¡¯ll go im it before anyone else does.¡±
1/4
Chapter 147.
We stepped out into the cobblestone street with our fingers entwined, the early sunlight stretching long across the stones the air was cool nou a make me draw my coat closer, but Francesco¡¯s hand was warm in mine.
I¡¯d expected him to lead, but instead, he let me tug him in whichever direction caught my attention a bakery with baskets of croissants starved in the window, a florist arranging buckets of tulips and daffodils, a tiny caf¨¦ with just three tables outside.
Every time I stopped, he stopped too, never impatient, never rushing me.
It felt almost unreal to move like this¡ªwith no guards, no watchful eyes, n¨® duties hanging over our heads.
Just two people, walking together in a ce no one knew us.
At one corner, we paused to watch an old man painting the street on a small canvas. His strokes were quick but certain, capturing the tilt of the buildings and the flicker of light on the windows.
I didn¡¯t realize Francesco was watching me in
¡°What?¡± I asked.
of
the painter until I turned and met his gaze.
¡°Just wondering if you¡¯ll ever look at me the way you look at art,¡± he said, the corner of his mouth lifting.
I felt my cheeks warm. ¡°Maybe I already do.¡±
His smile then¨Csoft, slow, almost disbelieving¨Cwas worth more than anything the city could offer.
We wandered like that for what felt like hours but must have been less. Each street turned into another postcard view, each shop window another excuse for me to tug him closer, lean into his arm, orugh when he murmured something teasing in my ear.
And every time Iughed, he looked at me as though the sound itself was a treasure he¡¯d been searching for all his life.
It was overwhelming sometimes, the way Francesco looked at me¨Cas though every moment was worth memorizing. I had been gone, missing, lost for more than a year, and yet here he was, holding me like he was afraid to blink and lose me again.
We never had this alone time like this, so I guess this is why he agree to do it with me.
We slipped into the rhythm of the city easily, though we were outsiders here.
The air was filled with the warmth of fresh bread, roasted nuts, and the sweet perfume of candied fruits. Street vendors called out cheerfully, their ents dancing in ways that made the words sound like music.
¡°Try this,¡± Francesco murmured, guiding me to a stall where a man sold small tarts dusted with powdered sugar. Before I could protest, he bought two and pressed one into my hands.
The pastry melted on my tongue, buttery and tart at once, making me close my eyes with a sigh. When I opened them, Francesco was watching me, not the tart. Always me.
¡°What?¡± I asked, cheeks warming.
¡°You make everything look better,¡± he said simply, brushing a stray crumb from my lip with the pad of his thumb. The touch lingered, deliberate, and I had to look away before I melted right there in the street.
We moved from one stall to another¨Ccheese sharp enough to sting my tongue, sausages grilled and steaming, strawberries dipped in chocte that left my fingertips sticky. Every time I hesitated, Francesco was there, encouraging me, as if this morning were about more than food. As if it was about reminding me how to live again.
At one stall, an elderly woman sold roses¨Cbright reds, soft pinks, and pale creams. She greeted Francesco with a knowing smile, and without hesitation, he chose one. Not red, not pink. A soft ivory bloom that seemed to glow in the sunlight.
He tucked it behind my ear, his fingers grazing the curve of my cheek. ¡°Perfect,¡± he murmured, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe.
¦£¦©¦¡
Chapter 147
The woman tooed, calling us les amoureux¡± the lovers and I wanted tough, but the words caught in my throat because they felt to LIKE,
People noticed us.
They couldn¡¯t help it.
Francesco towered over nearly everyone, broad¨Cshouldered and striking in a way that drew eyes even when he tried to blend in. Yet his attention was always on me. Hisrge hand wrapped around mine, protective and tender all at once. His dark eyes softened every time I spoke, his mouth curved in a way that made it clear he hadn¡¯t smiled like this in a long time,
Beside him, I must have looked almost fragile, my hand swallowed in his, my frame dwarfed by his sheer presence.
And yet, every time Iughed, every time I leaned into him, I could feel the ripple of envy from strangers passing by. Their gazes lingered, some smiling, some wistful, as if they couldn¡¯t help but wish for what we had.
It wasn¡¯t just the sight of us together¨Cit was the way he treated me. As though there was nothing else worth looking at. As though everyugh, every bite of food, every step we took was sacred.
We sat at a caf¨¦ table next, the chairs small and delicate beneath Francesco¡¯srge frame. The waiter smiled knowingly as he ced cups of steaming caf¨¦ auit before us, along with a te of delicate macarons in pastel shades.
I reached for one, but Francesco intercepted my hand. He held up the smallest macaron between his fingers and offered it to me, waiting until I leaned forward to take it from him. His eyes followed the way my lips brushed the sweet, his expression unreadable but intent.
¡°You¡¯re enjoying this too much,¡± I teased once I swallowed, though my voice came out softer than I intended.
¡°Of course I am,¡± he said. His smile was slow, almost dangerous in its tenderness. ¡°I¡¯ve been starving for this. For you.¡±
Heat bloomed in my chest, spreading down to my fingertips.
I looked away, pretending to admire the street beyond us, but his hand found mine across the table, steady and warm.
We lingered like that, sipping coffee, stealing bites of sweets, watching the city swirl around us. It felt like a dream, one I didn¡¯t want to wake from.
LA
Eventually, we stood again, wandering down toward the heart of the square. Musicians yed nearby¨Can ordion, a violin, voices rising in song. A little girl twirled in circles to the music, herughter ringing like a bell.
Francesco leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. ¡°Dance with me.¡±
My eyes widened. ¡°Here? Now?¡±
¡°Why not?¡± His smile was infuriatingly sure, his hand already at my waist.
Before I could argue, he guided me into the open space, his movements easy, fluid, utterly confident. I stumbled at first, but he steadied me, his hands firm and reassuring. The music wrapped around us, and suddenly the world narrowed to him and the sound of strings.
He moved as though I were fragile ss, his touch protective but never confining. I couldn¡¯t stop smiling, couldn¡¯t stopughing when he spun me gently, hisrge hands catching me again as though I¡¯d been made to fit there.
And people stopped. They watched. Some pped in rhythm, others whispered behind their hands, eyes shining with envy or delight.
But I barely noticed.
Because Francesco¡¯s gaze never left me.
Not once.
When the music ended, the crowd apuded, but I was too breathless to care, I leaned into him, my forehead resting against his chest, and felt the steady thunder of his heartbeat beneath my ear.
¡°I think they¡¯re jealous,¡± I whispered.
¡°Good.¡± His lips brushed the
crown of my head. ¡°Let
them - be. As long
as you¡¯re mine.¡±
And in
that
moment¨Cunder
the sun,
in a
foreign city that wasn¡¯t
ours
I know he
right that i
arr
his and
he i
is mine.
C
Still His 148
hapter 148
Chapter 148
The city had long begun to quiet, its vibrant hum softening into a low murmur.
Shopkeepers closed their shutters one by one, the glow of theirnterns dimming, leaving only the streemps casting golden halos onto the cobblestones.
Midnight had settled over France, and with it came the hush of winding alleys and empty squares.
It was just us.
Francesco¡¯s hand enveloped mine as we strolled through the deserted streets, our footsteps unhurried, echoing faintly against stone walls that had stood longer than either of us had been alive.
My body was tired from the day¡¯s excitement, fromughter and exploration, but my heart¡ my heart was too full to sleep.
We walked close, close enough that his shoulder brushed mine, close enough that I could feel his warmth seeping through the cool night air. He didn¡¯t release me once.
Even when he teased me for slowing to admire another disy window, even when I pulled him toward a quiet fountain just to trail my fingers in the water, he held me as if letting go was unthinkable.
There was a softness in him tonight. It was in the way he bent slightly to catch my words even though he could hear everything, in the way his thumb rubbed slow circles against my skin. A softness that belonged only to these hours when the world had gone to sleep and no one was left to watch us.
¡°Do you realize,¡± he murmured, lowering his head until his lips nearly brushed the shell of my ear, ¡°that I have waited more than a year to walk beside you like this? Tough with you? To hold your hand with nothing standing in between?¡±
The weight of his voice pressed against my heart.
I leaned into him instinctively, letting my head rest against his upper arm.
He was solid, a wall of strength and heat, and yet with me he always melted into something gentle.
¡°And do you realize,¡± I whispered back, unable to keep the smile from my lips, ¡°that I thought I¡¯d never have this at all?¡±
He slowed, tugging me closer until his arm wrapped firmly around my waist, and then he pressed a lingering kiss against the top of my head.
The kind of kiss that always made my knees weaken.
The kind of kiss that carried longing, apology, and devotion all at once.
We must have looked like lovers lost in their own world, and perhaps we were.
Passing strangers nced at us¨Cat the tall, broad man with features so striking they almost seemed carved, and at the small woman tucked into his side, face lit with joy¨Cand I didn¡¯t miss the envy flickering in their eyes.
But tonight, I didn¡¯t care about being seen.
For once, I wasn¡¯t the witch dangerous girl hiding in shadows or the rejected mate trying to rebuild herself. I was just Eine, walking hand in hand with the man who had waited for me, searched for me, and now held me as though he would never let go
11:37 Fri, 22 Aug DOL
again.
It would have been perfect.
If not for the faint tug in the back of my mind, the subtle itch that told me we weren¡¯t as alone as it appeared.
At first, I ignored it.
It wasn¡¯t unusual for strangers to linger, perhaps curious, perhaps envious.
But as the hours stretched and the streets emptied further, the feeling sharpened. The scent of night carried with it something else -a thread of familiarity.
Francesco felt it too.
His grip on me never faltered, but I noticed the way his eyes flicked to reflections in ss, the way his shoulders straightened, alert beneath his calm exterior.
We didn¡¯t speak of it. Not yet. Instead, we walked on, pretending, savoring thesest stolen moments of peace.
Until the silence around us grew heavy, until there was no one left in the square except us and the shadows we knew weren¡¯t just shadows.
And then, we stopped.
Francesco turned with me, our steps slowing as though in perfect rehearsal, and when we faced the empty stretch of alley, a smile tugged at my lips.
¡°Get out,¡± I said clearly, my voice carrying across the still air. ¡°We both know you¡¯re there¡ Audrey. Marlow.¡±
For a moment, nothing.
Just the flicker ofmplight, the quiet rustle of night.
Then, two figures emerged from the dark, and my heart squeezed with both exasperation and affection.
Audrey, tall and sharp¨Ceyed, her expression torn between guilt and pride. And Marlow, shifting ufortably as though caught in the act of doing something forbidden.
Francesco chuckled, low and rich, shaking his head. ¡°I should have known we couldn¡¯t run from you two. The best trackers in my kingdom,¡± he said, almost proudly.
¡°My king¡¡± Marlow began, bowing his head, but Francesco lifted a hand.
¡°Francesco,¡± he corrected firmly. ¡°Call me Francesco while we¡¯re here.¡±
The horror that swept across their faces was so immediate, soical, that I had to bite back augh.
The idea of addressing their Alpha King so casually clearly hadn¡¯t once crossed their minds.
Unable to resist, I let out a soft chuckle anyway.
¡°How did you find us?¡± I asked, curiosity bubbling despite myself.
22 Aug PUL
Marlow rubbed the back of his neck nervously, his hair falling into his eyes. ¡°You used your human card, my king¨CFrancesco P corrected quickly, tripping over the name.
Francesco cursed under his breath, and I could see the frustration sh across his face. Of course. His Beta, Information traveled fast, faster than even he could anticipate.
Before either of us could scold them further, something changed.
What¡..
The air shifted.
A scent, sharp and unmistakable, swept over us, cutting through the crisp night.
My breath caught, and in the same heartbeat, all four of us stilled.
Another werewolf.
Not one. Four.
Golden eyes gleamed in the shadows, catching themplight like burning embers. They stepped into view, their presence new warrior, their attention fixed unerringly on Francesco.
Instinct took over.
Audrey and Marlow stood in defends instantly, while the young werewolves kneeling, their heads bowed. The kind of submission reserved for higher rank. My pulse raced, but I remained by Francesco¡¯s side, my hand still in his.
¡°When we heard there was the scent of a powerful werewolf in the human world,¡± one of them spoke, his voice respectful, carrying authority. He seemed to be the leader. ¡°We never thought we would meet the King Lycaon himself.¡±
My chest tightened.
Even here.
Even across borders, strangers recognized him.
Francesco¡¯s jaw clenched, but his tone remained calm, steady. ¡°I did not know there was a werewolf territory so close to this ce. I apologize if my presence has rmed you. I mean no threat.¡±
The four exchanged hurried nces before shaking their heads rapidly. ¡°No¨Cno, we would never think of you as a threat, King Lycaon.¡±
I heard the sigh escape him, quiet but heavy, and my heart ached.
He had wanted this trip to be ours, hidden from duty, from eyes that judged and recognized.
Yet here, too, his identity shone too brightly to be ignored.
Then, a voice broke the silence¨Cyoung, uncertain, and trembling with hope.
¡°Are you here¡ to help us, King Alpha?¡±
The youngest among them had spoken, and the way his elder immediately shoved his elbow told me it wasn¡¯t a question he was
3/5
supposed to ask.
Aug
But the word lingered.
Help?
I nced up at Francesco, then at Audrey and Marlow.
None of us had heard of trouble in France, no whispers of threats crossing borders. Yet here was a plea, raw and desperate, spoken before it could be swallowed.
Francesco¡¯s eyes met mine, silentmunication passing between us, before shifting to Marlow. A single nod.
¡°Yes,¡± Marlow spoke smoothly, his tone authoritative yet measured. ¡°Take us to your Alpha. We will listen.¡±
The relief on the young wolf¡¯s face was immediate, almost radiant.
The leader gave a sharp nod, and together they motioned for us to follow.
As we began to walk, Audrey fell into step beside me, her expression softer now despite the earlier tension.
¡°You know, Luna,¡± she muttered, her voice pitched low enough that only I could hear, ¡°I want to hit you for thinking you could leave me behind. But again, looks like no matter where you go, you can¡¯t escape who you are. A Luna. And an Alpha.¡±
Her words sank into me, bittersweet.
I smiled faintly, ncing at her. ¡°At least here, no one looks at me with usation in their eyes. No one thinks I¡¯m a threat just for existing.¡±
Audrey¡¯s gaze softened. ¡°They were foolish. Afraid of what they didn¡¯t understand. But you-¡± she shook her head with quiet conviction, ¡°¨Cyou were never the threat. You were always the answer.¡±
Her words tugged at something deep inside me, and before I could reply, Francesco¡¯s arm slid around my back, pulling me against his side. His warmth, his silent support, steadied me.
¡°So,¡± I whispered, ncing between the three of them, ¡°have you decided to join us then?¡±
Francesco¡¯s lips brushed against my temple as he answered, his voice carrying a trace of humor. ¡°Marlow insisted on ensuring our safety. And Audrey agreed. The kingdom is empty without us, they said.¡±
I rolled my eyes, shaking my head in disbelief. ¡°The trip I thought would be just the two of us¡¡± I muttered, though there was no true anger in my voice. ¡°¡has turned into yet another adventure.¡±
And though part of me longed for the solitude we had hoped for, another part¨Cthe part that knew what it meant to belong- recognized the truth. Wherever we went, whoever we met, we could never escape what we were.
A King.
A Luna.
And now, perhaps, something farrger waiting just beyond the horizon.
Still His 149
Chapter 149
C
3
The night had gone still, unnervingly still.
34%Èf
Our footsteps echoed faintly over cobbled streets as the four French wolves led us away from the heart of the city.
The air smelled faintly of damp stone and old smoke, threaded with the stronger, more musky scent of wolves who had shifted not long ago. I held tighter to Francesco¡¯s hand, his warmth grounding me even though my pulse kept skittering.
765
Hours ago, we had beenughing¨Ctwo souls pretending to be newlyweds, losing ourselves in the illusion of freedom. Now, the weight of responsibility pressed down again, dragging us back into the world that would never stop demanding pieces of him. Of us.
Beside me, Audrey walked in silence, her sharp eyes scanning alleys and rooftops as though danger could spill from every shadow. Marlow followed just behind, broad¨Cshouldered and tense, his hands loose at his sides but ready for anything.
And ahead, the four strangers¨CFrench wolves whose golden eyes still burned faintly in the dark¨Cmoved with quick strides, ncing back every so often to make sure we followed.
I should have felt relief that we weren¡¯t being led into a trap. But the silence, the eerie emptiness of the streets, unsettled me. It wasn¡¯t just thete hour. Something was off.
We left thest stretch of lit roads behind and entered a more rural path, lined with trees whose branches arched overhead. Mist curled low over the ground, swallowing our feet. The further we went, the stronger the wolf scent became¨Cthick, heavy, too concentrated for a pack this size.
And then, atst, we saw it.
A settlement tucked deep in the valley: low houses built of pale stone, clustered around what looked like an old church repurposed into a pack hall. Lanterns burned outside the doors, their dim glow catching on the
faces of those who came out to meet us.
I slowed without meaning to.
They were¡ old.
All of them.
Not a single young woman stepped forward, not even a child peeking from behind an elder¡¯s skirts. Only men with silver hair and weathered faces, or women whose backs had already bent with age. Their eyes carried the weight of exhaustion, but when they saw Francesco, those same eyes lit with a fragile, desperate hope.
4
D
bone is j
F
²ØëŠ34%º¬
The four who had brought us dropped to one knee in unison. ¡°Alpha. We bring before you King Lycaon.¡±
Murmurs broke out. Some gasps. A few hands lifted as though in prayer. And then, like a wave, the entire gathering bent low, foreheads nearly to the ground.
+15
I froze. Even after years of being with Francesco, I hadn¡¯t grown used to this¨Cthe awe, the reverence, the way the very mention of his true title changed the air around us. He stiffened slightly, his jaw tightening. He never liked this worship. He never wanted to be anyone¡¯s god.
¡°Rise,¡± his voice rang out, low andmanding, rolling through the night air like thunder restrained.
They obeyed, but none dared meet his eyes.
A man stepped forward, tall but stooped, his dark coat patched at the elbows. His hair was iron¨Cgray, and his face carved with lines that spoke of decades of hardship. I recognized the aura before he even introduced himself: Alpha. The weight of leadership clung to him, though it was a tired, fraying weight.
¡°Your Majesty,¡± he said, bowing his head deeply. His French ent wrapped around the words. ¡°I am Alpha Henri Beaumont. This is my Beta, Luc Moreau.¡±
The second man¨Ca shorter, sturdier wolf with cropped hair¨Cbowed as well, his lips pressed tight as if holding back emotion.
Francesco gave a short nod. ¡°Alpha Henri. Beta Luc. You honor me by receiving us, though it was not my intent to intrude upon yournds.¡±
At that, Henri shook his head with a fervor that startled me. ¡°Intrude? No. No, my king. You cannot know what this means, that you havee here, with your Luna by your side. We feared our pleas would never be
heard.¡±
Pleas.
I nced up at Francesco, catching the slight narrowing of his eyes. He hadn¡¯t received any such plea. None
of us had.
¡°Tell me what is going on,¡± Francesco said, his voice a lowmand.
Henri faltered, ncing around as though afraid to speak the words in the open. ¡°Perhaps¡ within the hall, my king. It is not safe here.¡±
Francesco gave one curt nod. ¡°Very well.¡±
We followed them toward the church¨Clike hall, its heavy wooden doors creaking as they were pushed open. Inside, the air was warmer, scented with herbs and smoke, but the atmosphere was no less bleak. The walls bore scratches as if ws had raked them in desperation. A long table stood at the center, but only a handful of chairs remained upright.
+15
And again, I noticed the absence. No youngughter. No curious children. No bright¨Ceyed women. Only the shuffle of elders, their eyes hollow with hunger and fear.
My chest tightened. I drifted closer to Audrey, who had noticed the same. ¡°Where are the women?¡± I
whispered.
Her lips pressed into a thin line. She shook her head once. ¡°I don¡¯t like this.¡±
Neither did I.
We were guided to seats at the head of the table. Francesco remained standing, his presence filling the room, though he spared me a nce, his hand brushing mine beneath the table as if to ground me.
Atst, Alpha Henri exhaled heavily, his shoulders slumping. ¡°My king¡ forgive us. We did not know if our messages ever reached you. For over half a year, we have sent word¨Cletters, envoys, pleas for aid. None returned. Some¡ we suspect¡ never even left our borders.¡±
Marlow stiffened behind Francesco, his eyes shing. Audrey leaned in slightly, muttering under her breath, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. We would have heard.¡±
Francesco¡¯s jaw hardened. His voice cut through the tension like steel. ¡°No word reached Florence. Not one. Whoever intercepted your messengers¡ did not wish me to know.¡±
A murmur ran through the elders, fear sparking anew.
I forced myself to speak, my voice softer, careful. ¡°What happened here? Why are there no women?¡±
At that, the Beta, Luc, closed his eyes as though bracing himself against grief too heavy to voice. Henri¡¯s
hands clenched on the table.
¡°It began,¡± Henri said slowly, ¡°six months ago. At first, it was whispers of disappearances. Young women vanishing after going to the markets, or walking home after dusk. We searched. We sent patrols. We found nothing. Then¡ it escted.¡±
He swallowed hard. His eyes, when they lifted to us, brimmed with anguish.
¡°Packs from neighboring regions reported the same. Entire viges left without their daughters, their mates. And when we tried to fight¨Cwhen our warriors went to protect them¨Cthey never returned either. As though the darkness itself swallowed them whole.¡±
My stomach twisted. I looked around the hall, at the weary faces, the trembling hands, the eyes that dared
not hope.
¡°Now,¡± Henri whispered, his voice trembling as though the weight of his confession pressed against his very bones, ¡°only the elders remain. Our women are gone. Our children too. Stolen. Taken. And we have no strength left to find them. We prayed to the Goddess, we prayed to the wind, we prayed to the King of
12:39 Sat, 23 Aug i
+15
Wolves himself. And now-¡± His throat caught, and the final words came out as a broken rasp. ¡°Now you are
here.¡±
The silence that followed was suffocating.
The kind of silence that held not peace, but despair.
Francesco¡¯s hand found mine beneath the table, closing firmly over my fingers, grounding me in that storm of grief. His palm was warm, his grip steady, but I felt the tension that coiled through him. His eyes burned- gold and fierce, lit with the power of his Lycan blood, the weight of kingship heavy on his broad shoulders.
And yet beneath the fire, I saw it.
The same grief I felt.
The same fury at injustice.
The same ache for those who had no one left to fight for them.
Beside me, Audrey shifted, her jaw tight, her usually sharp eyes softer now. ¡°Eine¡¡± she murmured, almost a whisper, her voiceced with unease. ¡°This¡ this is bigger than I feared.¡±
I nodded faintly, unable to force sound past the lump in my throat. The sight of this pack¨Cbroken, diminished, stripped of its youth and joy¨Cwas like staring at a nightmare.
Francesco¡¯s voice, when it finally cut through the silence, was quiet but unyielding. Each wordnded like
the strike of a de.
¡°Then we will uncover who has done this. And we will end it.¡±
The Alpha¨CHenri¨Cbowed his graying head.
Tears shimmered in his eyes, though he blinked them back with the dignity of a man who had carried far
too much sorrow.
¡°Thank you, my king,¡± he whispered, reverence and gratitude trembling in his voice.
The Beta, a lean man with dark hair threaded with silver stepped forward then, his voice smoother but no less heavy with exhaustion. ¡°Now¡ let us take you to your chambers. You must be weary from travel, and there is little to gain from weary hearts tonight.¡±
We rose. Francesco inclined his head in respect, and together we bid our goodnights to the Alpha before following Lucien deeper into the Alpha Manor.
The walk through the pack¡¯s home was unsettling in its stillness.
No sound of children¡¯sughter. No giggles of young women bustling about. No footsteps light with
4/6
12:39 Sat, 23 Aug t
curiosity or mischief. Only silence. Only the soft creak of old wood and the shuffle of tired warriors watching
from shadowed corners.
I kept close to Francesco, my fingers brushing against the back of his hand, and yet I couldn¡¯t stop my eyes from scanning every hall, every doorway. The emptiness echoed.
When we reached a broad corridor, Lucien stopped before a carved wooden door. ¡°This will be your room, my king. And Luna,¡± he added respectfully, bowing his head toward me. ¡°Your guards will be taken to adjoining chambers.¡±
Before I could thank him, Marlow stepped forward like a wall of unshakable resolve. ¡°No,¡± he said firmly, his arms crossing. ¡°We will remain outside their door.¡±
Audrey gave a sharp nod, her expression daring anyone to argue. ¡°Where our king and Luna sleep, we stand
guard.¡±
I blinked at them, startled. ¡°What?! No, absolutely not. You¡¯ve both been on edge since we arrived. You need
rest too.¡±
Marlow¡¯s lips twitched, but the ghost of a smile didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. ¡°We rest better knowing no
threat touches you.¡±
Audrey smirked softly, though her tone was iron. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your breath, Eine. We¡¯ve made our
decision.¡± And with that, she all but nudged Francesco and me into the chamber before shutting the heavy
door behind us.
The echo of thetch falling into ce lingered.
I sighed, pressing a palm to my forehead before turning toward Francesco, who hadn¡¯t moved from the center of the room. His gaze was fixed on me, unwavering, golden mes burning like a storm he kept caged
inside his chest.
¡°What?¡± Tasked warily, raising an eyebrow.
¡°I am sorry,¡± he said quietly.
I tilted my head. ¡°Sorry? For what?¡±
O
He looked around the roomvish in its French d¨¦cor, yet hollow without warmth¨Cbefore shrugging with a heaviness that didn¡¯t match the casual gesture. ¡°This.¡±
Ah.
I understood immediately.
When we thought this trip would be ours alone¨Cjust the two of us, stolen time like any other couple¨Cwe had been thrown into something much greater. A broken pack. A hidden war. Another burden upon his
12:39 Sat, 23 Aug ¡¤
shoulders, upon mine.
34%
+15
I crossed the room and slid my arms around him from behind, pressing my cheek against his back. His body was solid beneath me, strong, radiating warmth like a hearth fire I would never tire of.
¡°This is who we are,¡± I whispered, holding him tighter. ¡°Yes, we hoped for a normal trip. A simple¨Cone. Just Francesco and Eine. But in the end¨Cyou are the King. And I am your Luna. If being who we are means helping those who have no one else¡ then I¡¯m d.¡±
Francesco turned in my arms, his hands cupping my face with a tenderness that contrasted his lethal strength. His lips curved into a faint smile. ¡°This could be dangerous,¡± he murmured, his voice low, rich,
vibrating through me.
I lifted a shoulder in a mock shrug, trying to lighten the weight pressing on us both. ¡°Our challenges have always been dangerous, haven¡¯t they?¡±
That earned a chuckle from him, deep and warm, rumbling through his chest. His forehead leaned against mine, and for a fleeting moment, the world shrank to just us¨Cthe King, the Luna, and the promise of facing
every storm together.
But outside our door, the shadows of grief still lingered. And in the silence of the French pack¡¯s manor, I couldn¡¯t shake the haunting thought:
What had stolen their women and children?
And why had no word reached Francesco¡¯s ears before tonight?
AD
Comment
Send gift
Still His 150
Chapter 150
The wind was cooler here¨Ccrisp and edged with the scent of pine and frost even though the season hadn¡¯t quite shifted yet.
Moonlight bathed the quiet territory in silver, but it did nothing to ease the heavy silence that clung to the air like mourning veils draped over stone.
I stood just outside the Alpha manor, arms crossed, the cool breeze stirring strands of my hair across my cheek.
My eyes followed the flickering torchlights that illuminated narrow paths winding between houses, workshops, andmunity halls that once held life.
Now, they echoed hollow.
What happened here? I thought in wonder.
Audrey stepped beside me without a word, her stance rxed yet alert. Ever the guard, the warrior, my friend. For a long moment, we said nothing, both of us listening¨Cto the rustle of leaves, the creak of old wood, the whisper of grief that lingered in every shadow.
¡°You¡¯re quiet,¡± I murmured, breaking the stillness.
¡°So are you,¡± she answered.
I offered a soft smile, though it didn¡¯t quite reach my eyes. ¡°That obvious?¡±
Audrey tilted her head. ¡°You¡¯ve always been easy to read. At least to me.¡±
My gaze drifted toward the hills in the distance, where I imagined children onceughed and ran free, where women once hungundry or gathered herbs, where the future used to bloom. Now all I saw was absence.
¡°This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen,¡± I whispered.
Audrey let out a soft snort. ¡°You mean the romantic trip with your brooding Alpha, just the two of you?¡± She bumped her shoulder against mine lightly. ¡°Yeah. Not quite the candlelit dinner you were expecting.¡±
A breathyugh escaped me. ¡°I was hoping for more stolen kisses and less political rescue missions.¡±
¡°You still got the kisses,¡± she teased.
I nced at her sideways. ¡°You spied on us?¡±
¡°Guarded,¡± she corrected with mock offense. ¡°Totally different. Marlow was ready to jump off a roof if you so much as tripped on a cobblestone,¡±
I chuckled despite myself. But then I looked back at the town. Theughter faded.
¡°They¡¯re broken, Audrey. This ce¡ it¡¯s grieving. And scared.¡±
She nodded, her face growing serious. Yeah. I¡¯ve seen war¨Ctorn territories. I¡¯ve walked through ruins and helped rebuild after bloodshed. But this?¡± She shook her head. ¡°This is different. It¡¯s like the soul of the pack was carved out.¡±
We stood there for another beat of silence before she spoke again, voice quieter this time. ¡°You¡¯re going to go with him, aren¡¯t you?¡±
11:55 Sun, 24 Aug
I blinked, startled. ¡°What?¡±
¡°With Francesco. When he goes after whoever did this.¡±
I looked down at my hands, fingers twisting together.
¡°We can¡¯t just let this go.¡±
Audrey didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°I know.¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t mean to leave you behind,¡± I said, turning toward her. ¡°I didn¡¯t even think I just¡¡±
62%
38)
¡°You didn¡¯t,¡± she said gently, ¡°because you were in pain. And because a part of you wanted to believe you could just disappear and still be whole again.¡±
Her words hit me like truth always does¨Csharp and soft all at once.
I swallowed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be.¡± She reached over and tugged me into a quick, firm hug. ¡°I never left. I never will leave you. You think I trained to be your shadow for years just to watch you run into danger with your overpowered boyfriend and not follow?¡±
I smiled into her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡±
¡°Yeah, well,¡± she pulled back, grinning, ¡°you¡¯re mine to protect. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve got a better job offer.¡±
We started walking together, past shuttered homes and long¨Ccooled forges, past fields that had been left to go wild. As we moved, Audrey did what she always did¨Ctalked to people, asked questions, listened with the patience of someone who knew that pain often came out sideways.
We met a grizzled warrior missing two fingers who had tried to track the children through three territories before losing the scent to ash and water. We spoke with an old healer, her hands trembling as she recalled the night a dozen women vanished from their
beds without a sound.
And everywhere we went, the same story repeated in whispered tones and haunted eyes:
It began with fear.
A flicker of unfamiliar scent on the wind.
A missing scout.
A dead wolf, drained of blood and buried in unmarked soil.
Then, one night¨Csilence.
No children¡¯sughter. No mothers¡® songs.
Gone. All of them. Without a trace.
¡°We thought it was witches,¡± one elder told us. ¡°But the magic felt¡ colder. Hungrier. Not the forest witches of lore. This was¡ something else.¡±
I was silent.
11
I remember Anastasia also mentioned that ¡®other creatures will be free after the dark magic lift, the hidden creature will walk freely, is this what she means?
Later, we found ourselves seated on a wooden bench outside what used to be a school. The windows were boarded. A broken swing hung limp from a crooked tree.
¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± I muttered. ¡°How could this happen without anyone knowing?¡±
¡°Someone wanted it that way,¡± Audrey said darkly. ¡°And whoever it is¡ they¡¯ve been thorough.¡±
I stared at the ground, heart twisting. My wolf, Mika stirred uneasily beneath my skin, sensing the wrongness that saturated the air. ¡°This isn¡¯t just a missing persons case. This is an eradication.¡±
Audrey¡¯s hand tightened on mine.
¡°Do you regret it?¡± I asked softly.
She looked at me in wonder what I mean.
¡°Coming back to me. Following me here.¡± I continue.
She didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Never.¡±
I smiled. ¡°Even if it means no sleep, constant travel, and creepy viges full of missing people?¡±
She snorted. ¡°Please. That¡¯s practically a vacationpared to our usual life.¡±
We bothughed, and it felt like a small victory¨Cone piece of light in a ce shrouded by shadows.
Footsteps approached, and we turned to see Francesco making his way toward us, eyes locked on me.
¡°I was wondering where you disappeared to,¡± he said, brushing a strand of hair from my cheek.
¡°Interrogating vigers,¡± Audrey replied for me. ¡°You know. Fun stuff.¡±
Francesco looked at me then, his gaze softening. ¡°Any answers?¡±
¡°More questions,¡± I whispered.
He nodded. ¡°Same from the Alpha. They¡¯re barely holding on.¡±
I rose, slipping my hand into his. ¡°Then we¡¯ll hold it for them.¡±
His expression warmed, pride and pain dancing behind his eyes. ¡°You always say the right thing.¡±
¡°It¡¯s what you do.¡± I said gently. ¡°Lead. Heal. Fight.¡±
Francesco looked at Audrey. ¡°We¡¯re leaving at first light. If there¡¯s even the smallest trail left¡ I¡¯ll find it.¡±
Audrey nodded. ¡°You won¡¯t be alone.¡±
He turned back to me and drew me closer. ¡°You sure about this?¡±
I leaned into him. ¡°Always.¡±
11:55 Sun, 24 Aug
And though we stood in a dying town, surrounded by stories of loss, the three of us together formed something stronger- something that would not be broken. Not again.
5.61%
¡°Beta Luc will take me to take a look around. You okay with Audrey here?¡± Francesco asked gently, his dark eyes searching mine.
I nodded without hesitation.
This wasn¡¯t what we had nned¨Cour quiet time together now interrupted by something much bigger¨Cbut I was still grateful we had the two best warriors by our side. ¡°I have Audrey. Don¡¯t worry,¡± I told him softly, offering a small smile.
¡°Luckily we decided to follow them, huh, Marlow?¡± Audrey murmured beside me, arms crossed and eyes scanning the hallway.
Marlow, everposed, let out a low chuckle of amusement. ¡°Fate always has a reason.¡± he said before adding ¡°Beta Alfonso just mindlinked me,¡± he added, shifting his attention to Francesco. ¡°He wants to speak with you, Alpha. Please open the link.¡±
My mate rolled his eyes in mild annoyance but didn¡¯t protest.
We all knew what wasing¨CAlfonso¡¯s scolding, no doubt. But beneath the eye roll, there was a glint of affection. He wouldn¡¯t trade their loyalty for anything.
And truthfully, neither would I.
Despite everything¨Cdespite the fear that my power stirred in other Alphas, the reason Francesco and I had chosen to leave ournds behind temporarily in the first ce¨Cour pack had never wavered. Not even once. They didn¡¯t see me as a threat. They didn¡¯t see me as unstable or dangerous.
To them, we were still their King Alpha and Luna.
And that meant more than I could ever put into words.
I watched as my mate turned and began to walk alongside Beta Luc, his tall framemanding and silent, the weight of leadership heavy on his shoulders. Marlow followed close behind, his presence quiet but alert, acting now as Francesco¡¯s shadow guard. Knowing he was there brought me a smallfort, even though I knew my mate¡¯s power could eclipse any threat that dared to face him.
Still, it eased my heart to see them together¨Cthe most trusted hands guarding the man I loved.
And now, it was just Audrey and me, standing in the quiet corridor of a broken pack house, in a ce where grief clung to the air
like smoke.
But for now, we were safe.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Still His 151
Chapter 151
The morning felt different once Francesco, Beta Luc, and Marlow left toward the forest.
? 71%
Their silhouettes vanished into the mist that clung to the horizon, and the courtyard of the manor seemed emptier without them.
A faint chill lingered in the air, the kind of cold that didn¡¯t belong to the weather but to something unseen.
28
1 inhaled slowly, forcing my heartbeat to steady. Audrey stood close beside me, arms folded, her sharp eyes scanning the few elders. who passed us with polite nods. She looked utterly at ease, but I knew her well enough by now to sense the tension underneath. Her hand lingered near the knife strapped to her thigh, a habit she had when unease slithered into her instincts.
¡°So¡¡± Audrey finally broke the silence, her voice pitched low. ¡°Do you realize how strange this is?¡±
I turned to her, blinking. ¡°Strange?¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± she said dryly, tilting her chin toward the manor. ¡°No young women. No children. A pack this big and only elders wandering around like ghosts. Doesn¡¯t that scream wrong to you?¡±
I swallowed. ¡°It does. But¡ Henri¨Cthe Alpha¨Clooked as if even he didn¡¯t know how it happened.¡±
¡°That¡¯s exactly what bothers me.¡± Audrey¡¯s lips thinned. ¡°Alphas don¡¯t just lose track of their pack. They can sense when something¡¯s wrong. They know when bonds break, when members die. But he looked¡ blind.¡±
She¡¯s right¡
Her words left a shiver across my skin. I thought back to the Alpha¡¯s face, his sorrow, the way his shoulders bent as though the weight of invisible chains pressed him down.
Could grief really cloud a leader¡¯s senses sopletely?
Or was something darker at y?
I hugged my arms. ¡°We should talk to more of them. The elders. Maybe they¡¯ve noticed something the Alpha hasn¡¯t.¡±
Audrey smirked faintly. ¡°Now you¡¯re thinking like a Luna.¡±
I rolled my eyes but smiled weakly.
Together we began to walk deeper into the settlement.
The houses here were old but tidy, timber and stone pressed together with care. Curtains fluttered in windows, but every pair of eyes that peeked out seemed to dart away as soon as they noticed us.
The first elder we approached was a hunched woman carrying a basket of herbs. Her face was deeply lined, and her hands trembled slightly as she tried to shuffle past us.
¡°Excuse me,¡± I said softly, stepping in her path. ¡°May I ask you something?¡±
The woman froze, her cloudy eyes lifting to mine. For a long moment, she just stared¨Cthen her lips trembled. ¡°You are the Luna,¡± she whispered. Not a question. A statement.
Heat flushed my cheeks. ¡°I¡ yes. I am Luna Eine.¡±
1/4
17:46 Mon, 25 Aug
The woman¡¯s gaze flickered to Audrey, then back to me. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here.¡±
What?
My stomach tightened. ¡°Why not?¡±
Her fingers clenched tighter around the basket. ¡°The forest takes what it wants. It does not care for kings or queens.¡°¨C
Audrey shifted, voice sharp. ¡°What does that mean?¡±
But the woman shook her head violently, almost dropping her basket. ¡°I cannot say. I cannot. The Goddess forgive me.¡± Then, without another word, she hurried down the path, vanishing into the mist.
I stood frozen. ¡°Audrey¡¡±
What is going on here?
¡°Yeah.¡± Audrey exhaled slowly. ¡°Creepy as hell.¡±
We pressed on, asking more questions where we could.
A stooped man repairing a fence muttered that his granddaughter had vanished on her way to gather berries. A pair of sisters whispered that they woke one morning to find their mother gone, her scent leading toward the woods and then¡ nothing. No trail. No blood. Just absence.
Every story ended the same.
The forest.
Theke.
Disappearance.
Silence.
It was like the vige had been hollowed out piece by piece, and no one could exin how.
After the third or fourth conversation, Audrey rubbed her temples. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense. No bodies, no screams, no attacks? Just gone? That doesn¡¯t happen.¡±
I nodded mutely, my chest tightening with unease.
Something about their words itched at the edge of my mind, as though Mika, my wolf, strained to warn me of a danger just out of
reach.
We reached the far edge of the settlement where thend began to dip toward the tree line.
The forest loomed there¨Ctall, silent, watching. A trail wound into the shadows, narrow and worn, like many feet had walked it.
My stomach twisted the moment Iid eyes on it.
A group of elders sat gathered near the entrance, their expressions tight as they murmured to one another.
One of them¨Ca wiry man with silver hair¨Cnoticed us and stiffened.
17:47 Mon, 25 Aug
¡°Don¡¯t go that way,¡± he rasped when we approached. His gaze darted to the trees as if afraid they might hear him.
¡°Why not?¡± I asked gently.
His lips pressed thin, then parted with a whisper. ¡°Theke.¡±
What? Lake?
I felt Audrey stiffen beside me. ¡°What about it?¡±
The man¡¯s face creased with fear. ¡°Those who pass it do not return the same. If they return at all.¡±
¡°Do you mean rogues? A threat?¡± Audrey demanded.
.71%
But the elder only shook his head. ¡°No wolves. No ws. No blood. Just¡ theke. It waits. It takes.¡± His eyes glistened with unshed tears. ¡°My wife, my daughter, my grandchildren¨Call gone. All gone after passing it.¡±
My throat tightened. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t your Alpha-¡±
¡°He does not remember,¡± the man interrupted, voice sharp. ¡°None of them do. Those of us left¡ we carry the memories alone. And
the burden.¡±
My blood turned cold.
He doesn¡¯t remember?
How could an Alpha forget his own missing pack?
Unless something¨Cor someone¨Cwas clouding his mind.
I nced at Audrey, and the same unease mirrored in her eyes.
¡°Luna,¡± she whispered tightly, ¡°Alpha Francesco and Marlow went that way. With Beta Luc.¡±
The realization mmed into me.
Oh God!
They were walking straight toward the forest.
Straight toward theke.
My chest constricted with panic. ¡°We have to warn them.¡±
Audrey didn¡¯t hesitate. She grabbed my wrist, and together we turned, sprinting down the path toward the trees. The mist thickened as we ran, swallowing the world behind us.
But as we reached the shadow of the forest, I nced back onest time.
The elders were watching us. Not with fear. Not with pleading.
But with something else.
Recognition¡
17:47 Mon, 25 Aug
As if they had been waiting for this moment. As if they had seen it all before.
And they knew what waited for us at theke.
?? ??,71%2
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Still His 152
Chapter 152
Shit!
The moment Audrey and I caught that fleeting expression in the vigers¡® eyes¨Cthe shift from fear to something far deeper, a shadowed recognition they turned their faces away as if nothing had happened.
But the damage was already done.
The truth was there, lingering unspoken, pressing against my chest like a weight.
¡°Audrey,¡± I whispered, tightening my grip on her arm, ¡°did you see that?¡±
Her jaw tightened. ¡°Yes. They know something. More than they¡¯re saying. And they¡¯re terrified to even let it slip.¡±
I swallowed hard, unease coiling in my stomach. ¡°It¡¯s connected to theke. I¡¯m sure of it.¡±
The moment I said it aloud, the air itself seemed to shift, colder, heavier, as if the forest that surrounded the manor had leaned in to listen. A chill wind. snaked past us, tugging at my hair and stirring the branches above like a warning.
Audrey nced toward the tree line in the distance, her gaze sharp, assessing. ¡°That¡¯s where they went. Francesco. Marlow. Beta Luc. Straight toward the woods. Toward theke.¡±
Oh no¡ My heart stuttered.
A cold dread settled in my chest, and before I even realized it, my feet were already moving. ¡°We have to go. Now.¡±
Audrey didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°Stay close to me, Luna.¡±
We broke into a run.
The cobblestones of the vige gave way to dirt paths, then to the soft crunch of pine needles beneath our boots as we plunged into the forest. deeper we went, the more suffocating it felt. The trees grew denser, their shadows stretching long and twisted, until it seemed as if the forest itself was trying to keep us from moving forward.
The silence was wrong.
Too wrong.
No birds, no rustle of small animals¨Cjust the sound of our breathing and the pounding of my heart.
¡°Why would they hide it?¡± I gasped, trying to keep pace with Audrey¡¯s swift stride. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they tell their Alpha?¡±
¡°Because sometimes,¡± Audrey said grimly, ¡°the truth is worse than silence?¡±
Her words sent a shiver through me.
My lungs burned, but I pushed harder, the thought of Francesco pulling me forward.
I couldn¡¯t exin it, but every step closer to theke made my skin prickle with unease, as though the very air resisted us.
Then we began to hear it.
A sound, faint at first, like the ripple of water disturbed by something heavy.
It grew louder with every step, not the softpping of waves against a shore, but a thick, sluggish churn.
Something unnatural.
We crested a small rise, and there it was theke.
Av
It stretched before us, vast and dark, shrouded by a low mist that clung to the water¡¯s surface like a living thing
The trees around it leaned inward unnaturally, their twisted roots wing toward the water as though pulled by an unseen forts.
And the smell¨Cgoddess, the smell. Not rot, not death, but something metallic, sharp, like blood diluted in endless water.
I staggered to a stop, chest heaving, eyes wide. ¡°What is this ce?¡±
Audrey¡¯s face was pale, her eyes scanning the shore. ¡°It isn¡¯t natural. That much I know.¡±
We both froze at the same moment.
On the far side of theke, barely visible through the mist, I caught the outline of figures¨CFrancesco, tall andmanding, Marlow close at his side, and Beta Luc pointing toward the water as if exining something.
My heart lurched.
Relief warred with terror.
¡°They¡¯re too close,¡± Audrey hissed. ¡°Too close to whatever this is.¡±
As if in answer, theke shifted.
The surface rippled outward, though there was no wind, no stone thrown to disturb it.
A slow, circr pattern spread across the water, and for the briefest moment, I thought I saw shapes beneath the surface¨Cdistorted, elongated, too many limbs to belong to anything natural.
I grabbed Audrey¡¯s arm, panic wing through me. ¡°They don¡¯t see it. They don¡¯t see what¡¯s happening!¡±
Audrey¡¯s lips pressed into a hard line. ¡°Then we make them see.¡±
Damn it!
We ran.
Branches wed at our arms, roots caught our boots, but we tore through the forest edge toward the clearing by theke, driven by desperation.
My lungs screamed, but I didn¡¯t care. Francesco was there. And something in my very bones told me he was in danger.
¡°FRANCESCO!¡± I tried to shout, but the word tore out of me like a strangled cry, swallowed by the heavy mist.
He didn¡¯t turn, didn¡¯t even flinch.
None of them did.
It was as though theke itself muted me.
¡°Why can¡¯t they hear us?¡± My voice cracked in panjc.
Audrey shook her head, fury shing in her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But we keep moving. Don¡¯t stop.¡±
We broke into the clearing, the earth damp and spongy beneath our boots. Closer now, the mist swirled around us, and the water seemed to pulse¡ªyes, pulse¨Cas though it was alive.
And that¡¯s when i saw it.
Faces.
Dozens of them. Maybe hundreds. Flickering in the mist above theke, pale and translucent, like echoes of the living. Women dres be qui mouths open in silent screams.
Oh God¡. The missing.
My knees nearly buckled. ¡°Oh Goddess¡¡±
Audrey grabbed my hand, her grip iron. ¡°Don¡¯t look too long. It¡¯ll swallow you whole.¡±
I tore my eyes away, heart hammering, bile rising in my throat. But even as I forced myself forward, I knew the truth. Theke wasn¡¯t just water, it was a grave. A prison. Something older, darker, and hungrier than anything I¡¯d ever known.
And Francesco was standing right at its edge.
¡°Faster!¡± Audrey urged, and we sprinted, the pounding of my heart a drumbeat of terror.
The mist thickened around us, and I could feel it now¨Csomething watching, something waiting just beneath the surface.
A whisper brushed against my mind, low and insidious, a voice that wasn¡¯t mine. ¡®Come closer. Join them. The water waits!
I shook my head violently, gasping. ¡°Do you hear that?¡±
Audrey¡¯s face was grim, her eyes zing. ¡°Ignore it. It¡¯s trying to pull you in.¡±
But still the whispers clung, beckoning, promising relief, peace, if only I stepped into the water.
I focused on one thing, one anchor. Francesco. His dark eyes, his steady strength. I had to reach him. We had to reach him¨Cbefore theke ims
too.
We were so close now, the distance shrinking with every desperate step.
Francesco turned slightly, as if sensing something, but the mist swirled thicker, hiding us from view.
I opened my mouth, desperate to scream his name again-
And then, from theke, something moved.
A shadow surged beneath the water, massive, formless, but heavy enough to make the surface bulge. The ripples spread outward with violent force, spraying cold droplets against my skin.
Audrey cursed, pulling me harder. ¡°We¡¯re running out of time!¡±
And still, the vigers¡® words echoed in my mind.
The women are gone. The children too. Taken.
Taken where?
The answer stared back at me in that cursed water
Theke.
Theke had them.
And as I stumbled forward, heart in my throat, I knew the truth: if we didn¡¯t reach Francesco now, it would take him too.
Theke the still, ck mirror of water surrounded by forest shadows¨Cwas no ordinary ce. It pulsed with something wrong, something hungry,
Every instinct in my wolf screamed at me to run away, to keep to the trees, but my heart gave me no choice,
I have to do something of my Francesco will be in danger.
So, I turned on my heel, ignoring Audrey¡¯s sharp intake of breath behind me, and walked straight toward the water.
¡°Luna?¡Eine..!¡± Audrey¡¯s voice cracked like a whip, her boots pounding the soil. Paned her tone, hard and desperate. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare
But it was toote.
My steps quickened, and before her hand could snatch mine, I threw myself forward.
The shock of icy water consumed me, swallowing my breath, dragging me into its suffocating embrace.
The world went dark.
For one heartbeat, I thought I had made the gravest mistake of my life.
A
A
AD
Comment
Send gift
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Still His 153
Chapter 153
The water hit me like a wall of knives.
Icy. Crushing. Absolute.
The breath tore from my lungs in a strangled gasp that bubbled upward, lost in the ckness swallowing me whole. Panic red sharp and hot in my chest, but I forced it down, thrashing forward, deeper, deeper¨Cbecause if I turned back now, what had been calling would im Francesco instead.
This was mine to face.
Theke¡¯s darkness pressed around me, thick as tar. My eyes stung, but I forced them open. It wasn¡¯t just water. It moved like something alive, curling around my arms, my legs, slithering into my hair, tugging me lower with greedy fingers.
Come closer.
The whisper wasn¡¯t sound, not exactly. It slithered against my bones, a pulse that wasn¡¯t mine.
Faces began to form in the murk. Pale, hollow¨Ceyed, mouths frozen in silent screams. Women. Dozens of them. Their hair floated around them live strands of weed, their hands stretched out¨Cnot to me, but through me, as though they didn¡¯t even see me at all.
My chest tightened so painfully I thought it might split.
And children. Spirits of them, small, fragile, flickering like candle mes about to snuff out. Theirughter echoed, warped and broken, chilling me gh than the water ever could.
I wanted to scream. I couldn¡¯t. My lungs burned.
Something brushed my ankle.
I jerked, spinning, my hands shing through the water. Not a fish. Not a branch. A hand. Cold as stone, gripping, trying to pull me further.
¡°No-¡± The word tore uselessly in my throat, escaping as nothing more than a bubble.
The hand tightened. Another caught my wrist. Another wound through my hair. They weren¡¯t just shadows anymore¨Cthey were bodies. The missing. The lost. Women and children who should have been safe within this pack¡¯s borders.
They were trapped here.
The water wasn¡¯t just ake¨Cit was a grave. A cage.
A force surged behind me, pressing like a current, and in the twisting reflection of the ripples, I saw it¨Csomething vast, formless, darker than the dark. Watching. Waiting. Feeding.
The realization mmed into me like thunder; this wasn¡¯t nature. This was power. Old. Malevolent. And it had been taking them one by one.
My lungs convulsed, desperate for air. Stars burst behind my eyes. My wolf stirred, restless, wing at my insides, but the grip of the , their mouths open in soundless pleas, and for a heartbeat, I couldn¡¯t tell if they wanted my help or if they wanted me to stay, to drown with them in their eternal silence.
Above, muffled and warped, I heard it. My name.
1113 Thu ¡°BAUURA B
Charter 153
Fine!¡±
Francesco.
My heart lurched, pain cutting sharper than Tear. He couldn¡¯t follow me if he did, it suld take him, ton
The hands pulled harder. My chest burned, splitting, ready to cave. This is it, I thought this is how die
And then-
Everything stilled.
The hands. The faces. Even the current.
Gone.
Like none of it had ever existed.
The water was just water again. Cold, suffocating, endless¡ªbut normal.
Confusion seared through me. My wolf howled inside, sharp and warning, but then I felt it¨Carms, strong and unyielding, wrapping and me me upward.
The surface shattered above my head.
Air mmed into my lungs with a ragged cry as Francesco hauled me out of theke like I weighed nothing I coughed, choked, water spilling down chin, my chest heaving like I¡¯d been starved for years.
The world blurred¨Ctrees swaying, sky bleeding gray, Audrey¡¯s pale face stark against the shadows.
Francesco¡¯s gaze snapped down at me, burning, wild with something that wasn¡¯t just anger.
¡°What are you doing?!¡± His voice thundered, shaking the night. ¡°Jumping into the water like that¨Cdo you have a death wish?
I blinked, dazed, my body trembling against him. My lips parted, but no sound came. My head twisted¨Cback to theke.
It was calm. Perfectly calm. Not a ripple. Not a shadow. Just ake, dark and quiet in the middle of the forest.
No hands. No faces. No children¡¯sughter.
Nothing.
My stomach dropped.
Quickly, my gaze flew to Audrey. She had stopped at the bank, her eyes wide, fixed on me like she didn¡¯t know whether to scream or run. Her lips moved soundlessly, her whole body shaking. She had felt it too¨CI saw it in her stare.
But when Francesco followed my look, she froze. Stiff, Like prey caught in the open. Her jaw snapped shut, her lips sealing over whatever truth she had been about to speak.
And everyone else Luc, the warriors¡ªthey only stared at me like I was mad. Like I had just thrown myself into an ordinaryke, not into the jaws of something that shouldn¡¯t exist.
¡°What¡¡± My voice rasped, raw, as Francesco set me down on the bank. My legs buckled, and he steadied me, though his grip was still iron, ¡°What¡¯s going
on?¡±
No one answered.
Only Luc. His eyes, sharp and unblinking, held mine. And in them, I saw it¨Crecognition. He knew. He knew that I knew. But he said nothing.
11:14
nu, z? Aug
My pulse hammered, confusion crashing through me like waves.
The whispers came back to me. No one remembers.
Is this what they meant? That the moment theke released you, it erased itself from your memory? That the terror, the faces, the truth¨Cit all sipped away like water through fingers?
But not for me.
Iremembered everything.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry despite the water still clinging to my skin. Francesco¡¯s voice cut through the silence again, softer now, though no less sharp.
*Eine?¡±
I flinched at the sound. His hand was still on my arm, anchoring me, waiting.
I had to decide.
I couldn¡¯t tell him. Not here. Not now. Not when everyone else looked at me like I had gone insane.
So I forced the corners of my mouth upward. A small, fragile smile.
¡°When I saw theke,¡± I whispered, my voice breaking into a light chuckle that didn¡¯t sound like mine, ¡°I thought I¡¯d take a swim. Sorry.¡±
Francesco¡¯s eyes narrowed, studying me with the intensity that always made my knees weak. But after a moment, his shoulders sagged. He sighed, heavy and long, rubbing a hand down his face.
¡°You and your random acts,¡± he muttered, though something darker still lingered in his tone. His gaze softened, just enough to break me. ¡°Lucky I love you.¡±
Heat red in my chest¨Csharp, overwhelming, too much¨Cbut I forced another smile, nodding as if his words had steadied me.
His attention shifted, then, to Luc. Silent, watchful Luc.
Luc didn¡¯t speak. Didn¡¯t move. Only kept staring at me, the weight of it pressing like another kind of chain. His silence screamed louder than any words could have.
I lowered my gaze quickly, my hands trembling in myp.
Something was wrong. Something terrible. And if the others couldn¡¯t remember, if they truly believed it was only ake¨Cthen that meant it wasn¡¯t just feeding on bodies. It was feeding on truth. On memory.
But not mine.
Why not mine?
I cleriched my fists, biting back the tremor in my jaw, had to pretend. y stupid. Smile andugh and let them think I was reckless, foolish, even
insane.
Because if theke knew I remembered¡ it woulde for me again.
And next time, I wasn¡¯t sure I¡¯d get out.
Still His 154
Chapter 154
¡°I¡¯m sorry, Beta Luc, but we need to make our trip shorter. I have to make sure my Luna is safe first,¡± Francesco said, his voice steady, carrying that unshakable authority only an Alpha Lycan could possess.
Before I could even react, he was already shrugging out of his shirt and draping it over my shoulders.
The warmth of his body still lingered in the fabric, a stark contrast to the icy water that had sunk into my skin. I pulled it tighter around me, swallowing down the shiver that wanted to betray just how shaken I still was.
Luc only nodded, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. Not suspicion, not outright concern¨Csomething heavier. Something I couldn¡¯t name, His silence said more than words could.
Francesco¡¯s arm stayed firmly around me as we began the walk back. His grip was strong, unyielding, as though he thought I might vanish if he let go for even a second. My wet clothes clung to me, every step squishing unpleasantly in my shoes, but his hold grounded me, a tether against the storm still raging inside.
No one spoke. Not him, not Luc, not even Audrey, who usually couldn¡¯t hide her thoughts if her life depended on it. The silence wasn¡¯t empty¡ªit was thick. Like all of us were holding our breath, pretending nothing had happened, while every nerve in my body screamed that something had.
But it wasn¡¯t just them.
As we drew closer to the edge of the packnds, people turned. Their eyesnded on me, widened, and then¡ shifted. Not in casual curiosity, not ever in polite interest. Shock. Recognition. Fear.
Warriors pausing mid¨Cstep, their hands tightening instinctively around their weapons. Young men who had beenughing a heartbeat before, now staring as though they¡¯d seen a ghost walk past them.
And maybe, in a way, they had.
Their gazes snapped away almost immediately, but not before I caught that flicker¨Clike they knew. Like they understood something I didn¡¯t.
The realization slithered through me, slow and cold: whatever happened in thatke, it wasn¡¯t just my nightmare. It was their secret.
I bit the inside of my cheek, keeping my expression as nk as I could I forced myself to ignore the dripping of my hair down my back, the weight of Francesco¡¯s shirt sticking to my skin, the way my wolf still trembled inside me. My instincts screamed to ask, to demand answers, but I knew better.
I remembered what they said. The warning whispered before.
No one remembers.
But I did¡
I remembered the hands pulling me under. The hollow faces. The children¡¯sughter warped into something broken. The ancient hunger that coiled in the shadows. I remembered everything.
And now I knew¨Cremembering was dangerous.
Francesco hadn¡¯t let go of me once, his hand firm around my waist, guiding me forward like he could sense the war inside me. His silence wasn¡¯t casual. He knew. He knew I knew something. But he wasn¡¯t calling me out, wasn¡¯t demanding I exin what I¡¯d seen. Not here. Not in front of them.
That almost scared me more.
I nced up at him, the sharp angles of his face carved in stone. His jaw was set tight, his eyes forward, but the heat of his body pressed against me betrayed the tension thrumming through him. He was holding himself together for me¨Cor for them?
I couldn¡¯t tell.
nu, 28 AugAN
When the pack mansion loomed into view, its towers catching the fading light of dusk, relief should have washed over me. dread curled tighter in my stomach.
Because safety here was a lie.
Safety. Shelter But instead,
Every pair of eyes that had followed me, every whisper cut short as we passed it all told me the same thing. Theke wasn¡¯t a secret. It was a wound. A wound this pack had buried and refused to speak of.
And I had ripped it open.
Francesco didn¡¯t let go of me the entire walk back.
His arm was heavy around my shoulders, pulling me tight against his side, as if even the smallest space between us would invite the world to steal me away.
His shirt was draped over me, the fabric too big, clinging to my damp skin, smelling of cedarwood and smoke¨Chim.
No one spoke.
The silence pressed down like fog, thick and strange, and though I felt the weight of a hundred eyes on me, I didn¡¯t dare lift my head.
Still, I caught the flickers of shock, disbelief, even awe in the faces of the people we passed¨Cwolves who paused mid¨Cstep, who turned to watch as their Beta led me through the streets, wet and disheveled, but walking.
Something had happened back there.
Something bigger than I could yet understand.
But Francesco said nothing or maybe he didn¡¯t aware of what happen there.
Not a single word as we crossed the gates into the mansion, the heavy doors closing behind us with a final thud. The air inside was warmer, quieter, but it didn¡¯t soften the iron grip he had on me. His silence was louder than anger, vibrating with something I couldn¡¯t name.
He didn¡¯t release me even when Marlow and Audrey tried to follow, their steps cautious, their concern written on their faces.
¡°Leave us,¡± Francesco ordered, his voice sharp, brooking no argument.
His gaze never left me, but the weight of his authority rippled out like amand to the marrow, and they obeyed.
The door shut behind us, locking us into the vast stillness of our chamber.
That was when I braced myself.
For his fury.
For his rage at me for throwing myself into danger again, for being reckless, for making him watch me risk my life.
But none of that came.
Instead, the moment thetch clicked, he pulled me into him.
His arms wrapped around me so tightly 1 could barely breathe, crushing me against the steady thunder of his heart.
¡°Francesco-¡±
He silenced me with his mouth.
The kiss wasn¡¯t gentle.
11:14 Thu, 28 Aug A
DAN
It was rough, desperate¨Clike a man starved, like a wolf who had almost lost his mate.
His lips devoured mine, his teeth nipped hard enough to sting, his breath ragged and uneven as though he had been holding it the entire time. ¡°God, Eine,¡± he groaned between kisses, his voice breaking against my mouth. ¡°When I saw you there¨C1 thought I was toote¨CI thought Hot you
He kissed me again, deeper, harder, until my knees gave out and I clutched at his shirt for bnce.
He didn¡¯t give me a chance to speak, to soothe. Instead, he lifted me with a growl and carried me to the bed,ying me down only to follow, his body covering minepletely, pinning me to the mattress with the sheer force of his need.
I gasped, trembling under the intensity in his eyes.
This wasn¡¯t the calcted Alpha the world knew. This was raw, unguarded Francesco¨Cthe man and the wolf both desperate to hold me, to feel me, to remind themselves I was still here.
And when his hands slid down my body, rough and shaking, tearing at the damp fabric clinging to me, I understood-
He wasn¡¯t angry at me.
He was terrified.
18
Still His 155
His breath scorched my throat as his lips dragged lower, desperate, frantic, as though every kiss was a prayer, every bite a vow
His hands slid down, gripping the hem of his own shirt that clung damply to me,
With one harsh pull, he tore it open, the fabric splitting with a sound that jolted something deep inside me.
¡°Francesco-¡°I gasped, half protest, half plea.
¡°Mine,¡± he growled against my skin, the sound vibrating through me, primal, terrifying, intoxicating. ¡°You¡¯re mine, Eine. You don¡¯t get to throw yourself into death and leave me behind. You hear me?¡±
The feral edge of his voice sent shivers racing down my spine.
My wolf stirred restlessly inside me, not in fear, but in recognition. Mika whimpered, pressing against my consciousness, urging me to submit¨Cto let him im, to let him ease the agony that had torn through him when he thought he¡¯d lost us.
I nodded, breathless, unable to find words. And that was enough.
His mouth returned to mine, crushing, devouring. My fingers wed at his shoulders, at his hair, pulling him closer, needing the same desperate reassurance he sought in me. The tension that had been coiling between us for weeks¨Cmonths¨Csnapped.
He ripped thest of the shirt from me, baring my skin to the cool air. A low, guttural sound rumbled from his chest as his gaze swept over me, heated and wild. His hands followed, rough palms tracing every curve, every hollow, as if memorizing me all over again.
I arched beneath him when his mouth found my corbone, then lower, his tongue teasing, his teeth grazing until my breath broke in a sharp cry. H hands pinned my wrists above my head, holding me in ce as his mouth worshipped and punished me in equal measure.
¡°Francesco¨Cplease-¡°I writhed beneath him, my body burning, aching for more.
¡°Tell me what you want,¡± he demanded, his voice hoarse, torn betweenmand and plea. ¡°Say it, Eine. Say you want me.¡±
¡°I want you,¡± I gasped, the words tumbling out without hesitation. ¡°All of you¨Cplease-¡±
His control shattered.
With a guttural growl, he freed my wrists only to tear at his own clothes, stripping them off with reckless urgency. His body pressed against mine, all hard muscle and burning heat, pinning me beneath him. His wolf was so close to the surface I could almost see it in the golden ze of his eyes, in the way his teeth grazed my skin like a predator iming its mate.
Every kiss turned rougher, every touch more desperate. He marked me with his mouth¨Calong my throat, between my breasts, down the curve of my stomach¨Cbranding me as his. My nails raked down his back, leaving red trails, but instead of pulling away, he groaned, the sound thick with need, and pressed harder against me.
When his fingers slipped lower, teasing, demanding, I gasped and arched into him. He didn¡¯t give me time to adjust, didn¡¯t give me space to think. He took, and I gave, again and again, until my body trembled beneath the onught of his touch.
¡°Francesco!¡± I cried out, my voice breaking as heat coiled and snapped inside me, overwhelming and consuming.
My vision blurred, stars bursting behind my eyes as pleasure crashed over me.
But he wasn¡¯t done.
Not nearly.
Before my body could even recover, he positioned himself above me, his chest heaving, his gaze burning straight through me.
His hands framed my face, almost gentle for a fleeting moment, and his lips brushed mins with a tenderness that nearly undid me
Then, with one fierce thrust, he entered me.
¡°AAHHH..!!!¡± I cried out, not in pain, but in shock at the sheer force of him, at howpletely he filled me, how utterly he consumed me.
His growl vibrated against my throat as he buried himself deeper, his body trembling with restraint.
¡°God, Eine¡¡± he rasped, his forehead pressed against mine, his breath hot and ragged, ¡°You¡¯re mine, You¡¯ll always be mine.¡±
And then he moved.
The pace was raw, unrelenting, every thrust a im, every movement a desperate vow that he would never let me go.
His hands tangled in my hair, his mouth devoured mine, his body drove into me with a ferocity that stole my breath and left me wing at him, begging for more.
There was no gentleness, no hesitation.
Only hunger.
Only need.
Only the raw, consuming bond between us.
And I surrendered.
Completely.
He set a rhythm that left me gasping, relentless and consuming.
My body strained against his, every thrust sending shockwaves of pleasure that bordered on pain, but I craved it. I weed it. The raw ferocity in hum
didn¡¯t scare me¨Cit thrilled me.
It was his fear, his love, his wolf pouring out in every hard, punishing movement.
My nails dug into his back, scoring him deeper, but it only made him groan louder, his hips snapping harder against mine. His breath was ragged, broken, his growls vibrating in his chest. He bit at my shoulder, my throat, leaving marks that would linger¨Chis marks, proof to himself and to anyone who dared look that I belonged to him.
¡°Francesco¨CAh¡ please¨Cdon¡¯t stop-¡± My words tumbled out between desperate moans, incoherent, raw.
He snarled, pulling me tighter against him, and flipped us with a speed that stole my breath.
-Suddenly I was astride him, his hands gripping my hips, forcing me to move over him as he thrust upward. The angle drove him deeper, stealing every
ounce of air from my lungs.
Oh, Moon Goddess¡
¡°Ride me, Eine,¡± he demanded, his voice low and guttural. ¡°Show me you¡¯re mine.¡±
I obeyed, my body taking control even as it trembled from the intensity.
I moved against him, wild and unrestrained, chasing that consuming fire building inside me. His hands guided me, punishing and worshipful, his thumbs digging into my skin hard enough to bruise.
My cries filled the room, echoing off the wails, and his eyes never left me, golden and feral, watching as I shattered around him again.
My body convulsed, copsing against his chest, but he didn¡¯t stop.
2/3
Thu, 20 M?
Fuck!
He rolled us again, pinning me beneath him, taking back control. His thrusts grew even rougher, his wolf so close to the surface I swore I could feel the rumble of it through his body.
Hours blurred into one relentless rhythm of need and surrender.
Every time I thought I had no strength left, he dragged me higher again. My body gave, again and again, unraveling under his touch, under his hunger. My voice grew hoarse from crying his name, from begging, from screaming as each climax tore me apart and remade me.
At times he was almost brutal, his pace merciless, his teeth sinking into my skin with desperate need.
At others, he slowed just enough to kiss me deeply, to whisper broken words against my lips-¡°Never again¡ never lose you again¡ mine, always mine.
The shift between rough intensity and fleeting tenderness made me ache in ways I couldn¡¯t describe.
Every time he slowed, his hands trembling as he brushed my hair from my face or kissed my tears away, I thought he might finally calm.
But then his eyes would ze, his wolf would surge, and he¡¯d im me all over again, harder, deeper, hungrier.
The sheets were torn, the bed shifted beneath us with every violent thrust, the air heavy with the scent of our mingled desire and his Lycan dominance.
My body burned, overstimted, trembling and raw, but I never wanted it to end.
By the time dawn threatened the horizon, we had lost count of the hours.
My body ached in every ce he had touched, kissed, bitten¨Cbut the ache was sweet, grounding. I was spent, my skin slick with sweat, my voice brokeng from moaning his name.
And finally, finally, his movements slowed.
He copsed against me, his chest heaving, his lips pressed to my temple.
His hands, once rough and demanding, now traced my skin with reverence, trembling as though he couldn¡¯t believe I was still here, still his.
¡°I almost lost you¡ Again.¡± he whispered, his voice raw, broken, nothing like themanding Alpha everyone feared. ¡°Eine¡ I don¡¯t know what I would¡¯ve be without you.¡±
Tears stung my eyes, my heart swelling painfully at the vulnerability in his tone.
I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him closer. ¡°You¡¯ll never lose me,¡± I whispered back, my voice hoarse but steady. ¡°I¡¯m here, Francesco. And I¡¯m always yours.¡±
His lips imed mine again, but this time the kiss was slow, tender, filled not with desperation but with devotion.
He moved within me once more, softer now, his pace gentle, every thrust a vow, every touch a caress.
And in that final joining, after hours of feral, consuming passion, we found something deeper¨Csomething unshakable.
AD
Comment
Send gift
No Ads
Still His 156
Chapter 156
Ugh¡.
The first thing I became aware of was the ache.
A slow, deep throb in my muscles, a faint sting where his hands and mouth had been relentless, and the soreness between my thighs that made even the stretch of my legs a reminder of him.
I blinked awake to soft light pouring through the balcony curtains, the world outside golden with dawn. The air smelled faintly of cedarwood and smoke -his scent.
Francesco was sitting at the edge of the bed, his bare back to me, shoulders rigid as if he had been awake for hours. His head was bowed, hands pressed over his face.
¡°Francesco?¡± My voice was hoarse, raw.
He turned, and the look in his eyes was something I hadn¡¯t expected. Guilt. Deep, unyielding guilt.
His gaze dropped to the faint marks on my corbone, the bruises blooming along my hips where his fingers had clutched me too tight, and I saw his jaw tighten.
¡°I hurt you,¡± he said quietly, the words rough as gravel.
I sat up slowly, the sheet slipping down my bare body, and reached out to touch his arm. His skin was warm, trembling faintly under my fingers. ¡°You didn¡¯t hurt me,¡± I whispered. ¡°You imed me. There¡¯s a difference.¡±
His breath caught, his chest heaving as if he wanted to believe me but couldn¡¯t. He shook his head, muttering something in Italian under his breath, his voiceced with torment.
I leaned closer, pressing my lips to his shoulder, tasting salt and warmth. ¡°Francesco. I wanted you. All of you. Even this part of you. I enjoyed it.¡±
The words broke something in him. He turned suddenly, pulling me into his arms, kissing the crown of my head with trembling lips. ¡°Dio, Eine¡ I was too rough. I let my wolf-¡±
¡°-be what he is,¡± I cut him off gently, cupping his jaw. ¡°And I loved it,¡±
His eyes searched mine, torn between belief and torment, until finally, something eased in him. His forehead pressed to mine, and he exhaled shakily, his grip on me softer this time, tender.
Not long after, he rose and carried me¡ªstill naked, still sore¨Cto the adjoining chamber where a marble bath waited, already steaming. I blinked in surprise, realizing he must have ordered it before dawn. The scent of roses and herbs rose with the mist.
He lowered me into the water with a reverence that undid me, hisrge hands cradling me as if I were ss. The warmth seeped into my sore muscles, drawing a sigh from my lips.
¡°Better?¡± he asked, kneeling by the bath, his gaze fixed on me with an intensity that was no longer wild, but worshipful.
¡°Yes,¡± I breathed, sinking deeper into the scented water.
And then¨Cluxury. I hadn¡¯t noticed before, but the servants must have entered while I slept, leaving trays of fresh fruit, warm pastries, crystal sses filled with sparkling juice, and delicate flowers scattered along the edges of the bath. Only the Luna. Only the Alpha¡¯s chosen mate could be treated like
this.
For a fleeting moment, it struck me: this was not ordinary. This was not something anyone else would ever have. This was the King of Alphas, the Lycaon himself, and all of this¨Cthe warmth, the devotion, the indulgence¨Cwas for me.
He bathed me himself, his strong hands moving slowly, almost apologetically, washing away the marks of the night before. Each touch was careful,
tender, his guilt still lingering in the gentleness of his fingers.
I caught his wrist, pulling him closer, making him meet my eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t punish yourself for foving me the way you did,¡± I whispered. I want all of your Francesco. The wolf, the man, the king. Only you.¡±
His expression softened, as if the chains around his heart loosened just a little.
He bent to kiss me, this time not hungry or rough, but slow¨Clike a man savoring the one thing he never thought he¡¯d deserve
And as I leaned back into the bath, surrounded by steam, fruit, flowers, and the careful hands of the Lycan King himself, I realized something with a sudden, startling rity.
I was his.
And that meant I would always have the very best he could give.
I tilted my head, letting my wet hair cling to my skin, and crooked a finger at him.
¡°Come here, Alpha,¡± I teased, letting my voice slip low and sultry. ¡°Or do you n to just stand there and suffer?¡±
His growl echoed off the marble, low and dangerous, and in the next moment he stripped out of his clothes with no hesitation.
Oh God, the sight of him¨Cpowerful, scarred, utterly male¨Cmade heat coil inside me all over again.
Damn, he¡¯s mine, right?
He joined me in the bath, the waterpping high on his chest. His hands came to cradle my waist, but there was a restraint in his touch now, as if he feared to grip me too tightly.
I leaned closer, lips brushing his ear. ¡°Francesco¡¡± I let my breath tickle his skin, my hand sliding boldly down his chest. ¡°Do you know what I want?¡±
He groaned, forehead pressing to mine. ¡°You should be resting, p. Afterst night-¡±
I silenced him by straddling hisp, water rippling around us, heat surging through me at the feel of him beneath me.
My nails scraped lightly along his shoulders, coaxing his wolf to the surface.
¡°But, I don¡¯t want rest,¡± I whispered, kissing the line of his throat, tasting the salt of his skin. ¡°I want you¡ Again¡ Always.¡±
His control broke with a shudder.
¡°Damn it!¡± The next instant his mouth was on mine¨Chungry, iming, desperate¨Cand the bathroom filled with the sound of water sshing, of our breaths tangling, of his low growls and my soft gasps.
had meant to seduce him slowly, to take back some of the control, but Francesco was still my Alpha, my king, my Francesco.
Even when softened by guilt, he was a storm, and he swept me into it again.
This time, though, it was different. Still intense, still overwhelming¨Cbut threaded with a tenderness that unraveled me even more than the roughness ofst night.
His hands caressed the bruises with rev¨¦rence, his lips kissed apologies into every mark he had left, until I was trembling not from pain but from the sheer power of being so thoroughly adored.
Once again, I let myself drift from the shadows of the city, knowing I should tell him the truth about theke¡ yet in this moment, all I want¨Call I need-
is him.
1115 1nu, 9 Aug
Still His 157
hapter 157
The warmth of Francesco¡¯s embrace still lingered on my skin, a fragile shield against the memory of theke.
For a while, I let myself drown in him, in the safety of his presence. But day hade, and the muffled sounds of life stirring in the city outside reminded me we could not stay here forever. Morning light stripped me bare of excuses.
I had to tell him.
My fingers tightened on the edge of the nket as I sat up, watching him near the window.
He was fastening thest buttons of his shirt, his body framed in gold and shadow. His profile was sharp, unreadable¨Ccarved as if by gods. The King of Lycans. My mate. My undoing.
¡°Francesco¡¡± My voice trembled more than I wanted it to.
He turned instantly, eyes narrowing, concern shing like a de drawn from its sheath. ¡°What is it, amore? Are you hurting?¡±
¡°No.¡± I shook my head quickly, though my heart hammered so hard it almost hurt. ¡°It¡¯s¡ about theke.¡±
His jaw tightened. In two strides he was at the bed, lowering himself to sit beside me. His hand found mine, firm, grounding ¡°Lknow you,¡± he murmured. his gaze searching mine. ¡°You had a reason for throwing yourself into the water. Tell me.¡±
A weak smile tugged at my lips. I swallowed, the memory crashing back like ice in my veins. ¡°Before I went under¡ I didn¡¯t just feel the cold, Francesco. saw something. Something alive. Vast. Ancient. And¡¡± My throat closed, but I forced the words out. ¡°And there were souls. The missing people¨Cthey¡¯re
there.¡±
His eyes sharpened. ¡°Souls?¡±
I nodded, my pulse skittering. ¡°It was like¡ it knew me. Like it was waiting for me.¡±
Francesco¡¯s brows furrowed, his expression darkening into something I had never seen before¨Cconfusion. Disbelief. The Alpha King, a creature who never doubted his senses, suddenly unsettled.
¡°But I was there.¡± His voice was low, careful. ¡°I saw nothing. I felt nothing. Just dark water and mud.¡±
The chill in my bones deepened. If he¨Cwhose strength and senses surpassed every wolf alive¨Chad seen nothing, then what was it that chose to reveal itself only to me?
Why me?
Francesco¡¯s hand rose, cupping my face as his frown deepened. ¡°Eine¡ don¡¯t go alone anymore. Always take Audrey with you. There¡¯s something suspicious here, and I¡¯ll uncover it. But your safetyes first. Promise me.¡±
My lips parted, but the words stuck in my throat. To say it aloud felt like calling the darkness back.
I lowered my eyes, whispering, ¡°I don¡¯t have Anastasia¡¯s power anymore¡ but still, I know it¡¯s there. So why does no one else feel it? Why does no one. remember?¡±
A sh of memory cut through me¨CAudrey¡¯s face by theke. She had seen it too.
I gasped, realization striking like lightning. The missing people¡ they¡¯re all women. That¡¯s why only Audrey and I can sense it. That¡¯s why it¡¯s tied to us.
¡°What is it?¡± Francesco¡¯s voice sharpened at once, catching the shift in my expression.
I turned back to him, urgency flooding my chest. ¡°Audrey. I need to speak with her, fast.¡±
He nodded, though his body remained still. His gaze flickered over me, unreadable.
1/4
1175 Th?, Z8 Augm
¡°What?¡± I pressed.
He sighed, the sound heavy. ¡°You need to stay in this room for a couple of days, amore mio.¡±
My brow furrowed. ¡°What? Why?¡±
He tilted his head slightly, gesturing with his chin toward me. ¡°Your bruises.¡±
My eyes widened in realization. Heat flushed my cheeks. Of course. Afterst night¡ my body must have been covered in them.
God. Why does something that felt so good have to look like I was in pain?
I swallowed hard, giving a small nod. ¡°Then call Audrey and Marlow here. We can speak inside.¡±
Francesco agreed, already mind¨Clinking his warriors after I dressed andy back on my bed.
A short whileter, the door opened, and Audrey strode in with Marlow close behind her.
The moment Audrey¡¯s eyesnded on me, she froze.
¡°Luna..?¡± Her jaw dropped, horror shing across her features. Marlow blinked once, his expression tightening as his gaze slid to his Alpha.
Audrey turned her re on Francesco, her voice sharp as a whip. ¡°You¡¯re a beast, my king Alpha!¡±
The room went so silent that even the distant noise of the city seemed to fade. Francesco¡¯s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing like a storm about to break.
But I couldn¡¯t help itughter bubbled up in my chest, escaping in a soft chuckle.
¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that,¡± I teased, my lips curving. ¡°I¡¯m not hurt. Not in the way you think.¡±
Audrey¡¯s face flushed red, but her concern didn¡¯t fade. Marlow¡¯s mouth twitched, as though he fought the urge to smirk.
And Francesco¡ oh, he looked like he was one second away from throwing them both out of the room.
Audrey¡¯s eyes still burned with fury when she turned back to me.
But the moment our gazes locked, her expression shifted. The sharpness softened into something unsettled, uncertain. Almost¡ haunted.
I sat up straighter, ignoring the nket slipping from my shoulders. ¡°Audrey,¡± I whispered, urgency tightening my voice. ¡°You remember what you saw in theke, don¡¯t you? You saw it too¨Cright?¡±
Her lips parted, then pressed into a thin line, as though even the memory weighed on her. She flicked a nce toward Francesco, uncertainty clouding her features. She wasn¡¯t sure if she should speak freely.
Francesco caught it instantly, his presence filling the room like a storm on the verge of breaking. ¡°Eine already told me,¡± he said, voice sharp andmanding. ¡°We just need to know if you saw the same thing. Why only you two? Why not me? Why not Marlow?¡±
Marlow shifted ufortably, confusion etched across his face. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked. ¡°Did something happen at theke?¡±
As I expected¨Che hadn¡¯t seen anything either.
Audrey swallowed hard. When she finally spoke, her voice was low, almost disbelieving. ¡°I thought it was my imagination. But¡ there were souls. So many of them.¡±
The words dropped like stones into the room, and my breath caught. Relief and dread tangled in my chest.
Francesco¡¯s brows furrowed, disbelief shing across his face. ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± he muttered. ¡°My senses would have picked up something that strong. I saw nothing. Felt nothing.¡±
11:15 Thu, 28 Aug A
71%0
¡°That¡¯s why I thought I was losing my mind, Alpha,¡± Audrey shot back, her tone sharper than before, but her hands trembled in herp. Her gaze darted back to me. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it.¡±
The air thickened. My pulse hammered. So I wasn¡¯t going mad.
¡°What exactly did you see?¡± Francesco asked, his voice dropping low, dangerous.
Audrey hesitated, herposure faltering. For the first time since I¡¯d known her, she looked young. Fragile. ¡°It was like¡¡± She faltered, pressing a hand against her chest. ¡°Something beneath the surface. Vast. Shifting. Alive. Not wolf. Not spirit. Older. Its presence wrapped around me like chains, it wanted to pull me under.¡±
My throat tightened. That was it. Exactly it. ¡°Yes,¡± I whispered. I leaned forward, unable to stop myself. ¡°And the souls, Audrey. The missing women. I felt them too¨Ctheir cries, their fear. They¡¯re trapped there.¡±
Audrey¡¯s eyes widened, her fear reflecting mine. ¡°I thought I was imagining it. But if you felt it too¡¡±
Francesco surged to his feet, pacing like a caged predator. His jaw was locked so tight I could see the muscle twitch. ¡°This makes no sense. If such an entity exists, I should have sensed it. No power in this world hides from a Lycan King. Unless¡¡± He stopped cold, eyes narrowing,
¡°Unless it chose not to reveal itself to you,¡± I finished softly.
His head snapped up, golden eyes zing. I swallowed but didn¡¯t look away. ¡°It revealed itself to us because we¡¯re women,¡± I continued. ¡°All the missing were women. That cannot be a coincidence.¡±
Audrey nodded grimly. ¡°It¡¯s feeding on them. Or holding them. When I looked into that water, I felt it brush against my mind. Like it wanted me too.
The silence that followed was suffocating. Even Marlow looked pale, his usual calm cracking.
Francesco exhaled, the sound edged with fury. He raked a hand through his hair, the picture of a man who hated the unknown more than anything else. ¡°If this is true, then we are dealing with something not of wolf or Lycan origin. Something that dares prey on women in my territory.¡± His voice dropped into a snarl. ¡°Uneptable.¡±
I reached for him, brushing his hand with my fingers. ¡°Francesco¡ something like this doesn¡¯t just appear. Someone must have summoned it.¡±
He froze. His gaze locked on mine, sharp and burning. ¡°You mean¡ someone in the pack knew?¡±
I didn¡¯t answer. My silence was enough.
Audrey shifted uneasily, her voice low but certain. ¡°It felt familiar, somehow. Like an echo I¡¯d forgotten. And it reached for Eine harder than it reached for me. Maybe because¡¡± She trailed off, but the truth was clear
Becauset wasn¡¯t just any woman.
Because Anastasia¡¯s shadow still clung to me.
Because it needed a strong soul to awaken.
Francesco cursed under his breath, then strode back to me. He gripped my chin, forcing me to meet his fierce, zing eyes. ¡°Listen to me, Eine. Whatever this thing is¨Cyou will not go near thatke, again. Do you understand? I don¡¯t care if it whispers your name, if it promises you answers, if you feelpelled¨C¡± His voice broke, raw with fear. ¡°I will not lose you to the dark.¡±
His intensity seared into me, and I had to look away before it consumed me whole. My chest ached with both fear and defiance. ¡°But Francesco¡ maybe I¡¯m the only one who can face it. If it¡¯s after women¨Cif it¡¯s after me¨Cthen-¡±
¡°Enough, Eine!¡± His roar shook the air, primal and final. ¡°I said no.¡±
The room fell into silence, heavy with fear, duty, and something greater none of us could yet name.
Still His 158
Chapter 158
I could only pout, a small huff escaping me.
Sometimes I wondered if Francesco forgot who I really was¨Cor perhaps, he simply chose to forget.
I wasn¡¯t fragile or I wasn¡¯t some helpless girl to be tucked away.
35%
But even as my irritation simmered, I knew the truth behind his stubbornmand. He wasn¡¯t underestimating me. He
was worried¨Cterrified even.
As always¡
I nodded, though my chest tightened with the weight of unspoken words. ¡°I understand.¡±
The moment the words left my lips, I saw something shift in him.
His expression flickered¨Cnot with relief, not even satisfaction¨Cbut shock.
I frowned, tilting my head. ¡°What?¡±
His lips twitched, and suddenly a quiet, almost disbelieving chuckle slipped past them. ¡°Never thought I¡¯d hear those wordsing from you.¡±
Heat rushed to my cheeks, though not from embarrassment.
Irritation burned instead. Damn it!
I heard muffled coughs behind him, and when I nced toward the corner, I saw both Audrey and Marlow struggling to
stifle their amusement.
Traitors.
Rolling my eyes, I huffed louder. ¡°You¡¯re all impossible.¡±
Francesco¡¯s smirk lingered for only a heartbeat longer before his Alpha mask slid back into ce.
He turned toward Marlow. ¡°Stay close. We need to prepare.¡± Then, looking back at me briefly, his dark eyes softened. ¡°Rest, Eine. That¡¯s an order.¡±
And with that, he strode out, Marlow trailing behind him like a shadow.
The weight of his presence lifted from the room, leaving behind only the faint echo of his intensity.
¡°I¡¯ll tell the Alpha and the others that you need rest after what happened yesterday in theke,¡± Audrey said, her voice carefully neutral.
But I couldn¡¯t resist, My lips curled into a mischievous grin. ¡°Why not tell him your King was the one who tired me more?¡±
Audrey¡¯s eyes went wide before she sputtered, and then augh broke free from her chest¨Csharp and unrestrained.
12:33 Fri, 29 Aug i
She pped a hand over her mouth, but it was toote.
The door mmed.
35%
I couldn¡¯t help it¨CI burst outughing too, the sound bubbling up until my stomach hurt. For a moment, just a brief one, the tension of the past twenty¨Cfour hours cracked enough to let joy slip through.
But when the echoes faded, silence reimed the room.
I turned to her, my expression shifting as quickly as a storm.
I fixed my gaze on her. ¡°Audrey¡ Tell me what you really saw.¡±
The teasing was gone from my tone.
This time, my words rang with seriousness, a faint undercurrent ofmand that even I didn¡¯t intend toce into them.
I didn¡¯t have Francesco¡¯s Alpha authority, but I had something else¨Can instinctive pull.
Audrey blinked, surprised, and I watched the conflict cross her features.
She knew me better than most¨Cknew when I wasn¡¯t going to let something slide. She also knew, better than anyone, that I would dig until I uncovered the truth, even if it cut me in the process.
She exhaled slowly, the sound heavy. ¡°You know what we saw there, Luna.¡±
Her use of that word made me stiffen, even though I¡¯d heard it before. Not mockingly, not casually¨Cbut with weight. With
recognition.
I nodded. The memory was etched into me like fire against skin. The water. The chains. The presence. And the souls¨C those countless, weeping cries tangled in the depths.
Audrey¡¯s gaze grew distant, almost haunted. ¡°And when you jumped¡ It¡¯s like every soul moved.¡±
The hairs on the back of my neck prickled.
My voice shook. ¡°What do you mean?¡±
Her jaw tightened, her throat bobbing as if the words themselves were hard to speak. ¡°When you jumped, every soul¡ followed you¡±
The world seemed to tilt
My stomach dropped, and I gripped the edge of the bed to steady myself
¡°What?¡± The whisper tore out of me, thin and fragile
Audrey nodded grimly ¡± was like they were exaiting for you. They rae from the depths, countless faces twisted with grief, with longing. And the moment you entered the water their attention turned Not to me. Not to theke. To you.¡±
My chest ached ¡°Every soul?¡±
12:33 Fri, 29 Augti.
? ???35%¨C
¡°Yes.¡± She swallowed, her eyes dark with the memory. ¡°It was as if they recognized you. Like moths to me, Eine. They¡ followed you into the water. Not to harm, not at first. But drawn. Hungry. Desperate.¡±
My heart pounded painfully.
They wanted me.
My soul?
The question thundered in my skull. Why me?
Why always me?
I pressed a trembling hand to my chest. Mika stirred faintly within me, silent but restless, as if she too felt the weight of Audrey¡¯s words.
¡°They need my soul,¡± I whispered.
The thought chilled me more than the icy waters of theke ever could.
Audrey didn¡¯t answer at first, her silence confirmation enough.
Finally, she said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t just need, Eine. It was¡ recognition. Like you were already part of them. Or¨Clike you something they¡¯ve been waiting for.¡±
+15
carried
Mika¡¯s voice brushed faintly against my consciousness, almost like an echo, but not yet strong enough to form words. Only
the sensation of unease.
I swallowed hard. ¡°Is it because of Mika?¡±
Audrey tilted her head, considering. ¡°Your wolf is powerful, yes. But I think this is something more. Something deeper than just strength. It felt¡¡± She hesitated, searching for words. ¡°Old. Ancient. Like they saw not just you, but every life tied to you. As if your very essence¡ called them.¡±
I shook my head, denial shing against fear. ¡°That makes no sense. I¡¯m no one. I¡¯m-¡±
¡°Don¡¯t,¡± she cut in sharply, her eyes shing. ¡°Don¡¯t reduce yourself like that. You¡¯re not no one, Eine. You¡¯ve always been different. Stronger. Even before Francesco. Even before Mika. I felt it the day we met, though I didn¡¯t want to admit it then.¡±
Her words wed at me, because they rang too close to the things I feared most¨Cthe things Francesco had implied when he spoke of Anastasia, of destiny, of shadows I didn¡¯t want to inherit.
I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering despite the warmth of the room. ¡°But why me? What do they want from me? My soul? My body? My blood? I didn¡¯t have Anastasia power anymore, so why?¡±
Audrey¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°That¡¯s the part I don¡¯t know. All I know is, when you were in that water, they moved with you. Almost protectively, almost possessively. And then¡¡± Her breath hitched, and her eyes darted away.
¡°Then what?¡± I demanded.
12:33 Fri, 29 Aug
4T
35%
She met my gaze again, and this time, her expression was raw, pained. ¡°Then they reached for you. Every single one. Hands from the deep, chains dragging behind them. If Marlow and the Alpha hadn¡¯t pulled you out¡¡± Her voice cracked. ¡°I don¡¯t think they would¡¯ve let you go.¡±
I froze. The room seemed colder, the air heavier.
So it wasn¡¯t just my imagination.
That pull I felt¨Cthe way the water seemed to close around me like a coffin, the hands brushing against my skin¨Cit had
been real.
They wanted me.
Not Francesco. Not Marlow. Not Audrey. Me.
Why?
My throat tightened, my thoughts spiraling.
Was it Mika? My wolf? Was I some key, some vessel? Or was it worse? Something buried in me that even I didn¡¯t
understand?
Audrey leaned forward, gripping my hand firmly, grounding me. ¡°Luna, listen to me. You are not weak. Whatever this is, it
chose to show itself to us, to you. That means something. But it also means you are in danger greater than you realize.¡±
I stared at her, the weight of her words pressing down on me until it was hard to breathe.
For a long moment, silence stretched between us, broken only by the faint crackle of fire from the hearth.
Finally, I whispered, ¡°What if¡ what if they don¡¯t just want me? What if they need me to awaken?¡±
The thought had been gnawing at me since yesterday, since I felt those chains wrapping around me, cold and suffocating.
Like something waiting to be freed, waiting for the right soul to shatter its prison.
Audrey¡¯s face paled, and for the first time, I saw something I rarely saw in her fear that wasn¡¯t masked, wasn¡¯t hidden.
¡°Looks like they need a strong soul to awaken,¡± she murmured.
The words tasted like poison in the air.
And all at once, I felt it¨Cthat same tug deep inside, faint but undeniable. Theke hadn¡¯t finished with me. The souls hadn¡¯t finished with me,
And no matter what Francescomanded, no matter how much I wanted to believe I could walk away¡ I knew this was only the beginning and I can¡¯t stay and do nothing.
¡°We need to check more than and looks like the pack member also know, so what they¡¯ve been hiding?¡± I told her.
¡°But, the King¡¡± Audrey tried to object, but the words died quickly on her tongue. She knew my stubbornness, knew that once my mind was set, there was no use trying to sway me. Instead, she exhaled and lowered her gaze in reluctant
35
+15
eptance. ¡°Got it.¡±
Knock. Knock.
The sound snapped through the room like a whip.
My heart lurched. Instinctively, I pulled the nket higher, making sure the bruises Francesco had left on my skin were hidden. Audrey chuckled softly at my frantic movements, but didn¡¯tment. She only straightened, waiting for my /signal. I gave a small nod, and she moved to the door.
When it creaked open, both of us froze.
¡°Alpha Henri?¡± Audrey breathed, startled.
The man standing there wasn¡¯t Francesco. It was another Alpha Henri. His presence alone filled the threshold with authority, the kind that weighed heavily on the air. His sharp eyes swept over me once, unreadable, before dipping his head slightly in a gesture of respect.
¡°I am sorry to intrude,¡± he said, voice low, steady. ¡°But I heard your Luna has been hurting. May Ie in?¡±
My pulse quickened.
That was¡ strange.
No Alpha, not even one allied to Francesco, would approach me directly like this without the King¡¯s permission. It was almost unthinkable. I flicked a nce toward Audrey, but she looked as confused as I felt. Still, I gave a short nod.
¡°You may,¡± I said carefully.
Audrey stepped aside to let him in.
He moved with deliberate calm, but something about him unsettled me.
His steps were too silent, his posture too intent. I forced myself not to shrink back under his gaze as he entered fully, his presence filling the room.
Where is Francesco? My thoughts sharpened.
They should have been together.
If not him, then Marlow.
Why was this Alpha here alone?
I swallowed, my smile thin. ¡°This is unexpected. Francesco is not with you?¡±
His expression didn¡¯t falter, though his eyes darkened a shade. ¡°The King is upied at the moment. Matters that could not wait. He asked me to check on you in the meantime.¡±
A lie¡
12:33 Fri, 29 Aug Ri
I felt it in my bones.
Francesco would never send someone else to ¡°check¡± on me, not after what happened at theke.
Especially not another Alpha.
? ??35% ¨C
¡°How considerate,¡± I murmured, keeping my tone polite even as unease coiled in my gut. ¡°But I assure you, I am fine.
Just¡ tired.¡±
His gaze lingered on me too long, as if weighing the truth of my words.
Then, slowly, his eyes drifted toward Audrey. ¡°And you? You saw something too, didn¡¯t you?¡±
The blood in my veins iced.
15
Audrey stiffened, jaw tightening. She didn¡¯t answer, but the subtle shift in her shoulders told me she was ready to move if things turned dangerous.
How did he know?
My heart thudded painfully. The memory of theke surged back¨Cthose souls, the way they followed me, the way only Audrey and I seemed able to feel them. And now, this Alpha, walking into my room, speaking as though he already knew
too much.
What are the pack members hiding?
Still His 159
Chapter 159
My eyes watching Alpha Henri walk closer inside my room.
¡°When the King came, I never thought he would bring you¨Ca very strong woman soul,¡± Alpha Henri continued, his words curling with strange reverence.
What?!
My brows knit,
I nced at Audrey, silently questioning if she understood his strangeness, but her eyes mirrored my confusion.
What is going on?
Is he for real?
¡°And now¡¡± His voice dropped lower, almost satisfied.
The room shifted in an instant.
A sudden rush of footsteps thundered outside before several of Henri¡¯s guards stormed in. My heart leapt as they moved like shadows, fast and merciless, swarming Audrey before she could react. She shed at the first with precise strikes, but there were too many. They pinned her arms, twisting painfully until a sharp grunt left her lips.
¡°AUDREY!¡± I cried, trying to rise, but my body was sluggish from the bruises and the sudden rush of dread.
¡°Stay where you are, Luna,¡± Henri ordered smoothly, striding toward my bed with unnerving calm. His eyes glinted with something unholy, something desperate.
Damn it!
A trap, this is an ambush?!
He stopped just at the edge of where Iy, leaning closer as though to savor the fear rippling through me. ¡°Looks like the Subus needs you,¡± he whispered. ¡°She said only you could make my Luna return. Your soul¡ is what she requires.¡±
The words struck me like ice water.
What?!
The Subus? My soul?
Pieces began snapping together like jagged shards. The disappearances. The women¡¯s bodies drained and discarded. Theke and the souls swirling toward me. And now¨CHenri¡¯s calm revtion.
So¡ everything was his doing?
He¡¯s been lying for this whole time¡. And the packs knows it.
My pulse pounded, fury and disbelief crashing through me. ¡°You¡ You sacrificed your own people for this?¡± My voice
12:34 Fri, 29 Aug
trembled, but it was edged with steel.
35%
Henri¡¯s jaw ticked, but his expression remainedposed, almost fanatical. ¡°I did what I must. She is my mate. My Luna. I will not lose her to death when there is another way.¡±
My breath caught.
Luna?
So his mate¨Chis Luna¨Cwas gone. And he was willing to betray his pack, feed women¡¯s souls to a monster, just to drag her back?
¡°You¡¯re insane,¡± I hissed, rage ring hot despite the fear wing at me. ¡°You¡¯d destroy your pack, innocent lives, for a Luna who¡¯s already gone?¡±
His eyes snapped with a dangerous light. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand until you¡¯ve lost what I¡¯ve lost. If it were your King
lying cold, wouldn¡¯t you do the same?!¡±
I froze, his words cutting deep, unwanted images flickering in my mind¨CFrancesco¡¯s face, lifeless, his warmth gone. My heart clenched painfully.
But no. I shook my head sharply, fighting the seed of doubt he tried to nt. ¡°Love does not justify this. Murder does not justify this.¡± I spat.
Henri¡¯s smile stretched, sharp and humorless. ¡°Then you¡¯ve never truly loved.¡±
His hand reached for me, and every instinct in my body screamed-
I thrashed, kicking and wing, but Henri seemed to anticipate every desperate move. In a blink, three of his men were on me, forcing my arms down against the mattress, pinning my legs until my muscles screamed.
Damn it!
¡°Ugh-¡°My jaw clenched against the sting of pain ripping through me. The bruises Francesco had left on me, tender reminders of our bond and his possessive passion, burned with every violent press of their grip.
Henri¡¯s cruelugh filled the room, echoing like a nightmare.
¡°What¡¯s this?! Well¡¡± he drawled, his voice thick with mockery, ¡°looks like you had your fun with your King, your precious mate. But now? It doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯ll give me what I want. Your soul¨Cfor my Luna. If he can keep you, why shouldn¡¯t I have the same with her?¡±
My chest tightened.
Oh God¡
He was insane. Utterly consumed.
¡°Your mate is gone!¡± I spat, the words ripping out of me despite the iron hold on my body. ¡°She¡¯s dead¨Cno soul can bring her back. You¡¯ve been fooled, Henri!¡± I try to put him back into his sense.
12:34 Fri, 29 Aug Ri
The crack of his hand against my face split the air.
¡°SMACK!!¡±
My head snapped sideways, the sharp sting blossoming into fire across my cheek. Stars danced in my vision.
33%
¡°LUNA!!¡± Audrey¡¯s roar ripped through the room, primal, furious. She strained against her captors, her voice breaking with both rage and fear.
I tasted blood in my mouth.
My heart pounded¨Cnot from the pain, but from the single, unshakable truth: we all knew what Francesco would do if he learned another Alpha hadid hands on me. The thought alone was enough to shake the walls of this ce with blood
and fire.
And maybe Henri knew it too. Because he smirked.
A trap.
Of course.
My stomach dropped as realization mmed into me. Francesco. He wasn¡¯t here. He was being kept away. Redirected. His Beta Luc must have been the one¨Cdrawing him out, buying Henri the time he needed.
Everything from beginning is a lie, a trap.
Panic surged.
I tried to force a thought past the haze, tried to reach across the bond that pulsed faintly like a lifeline in my chest.
¡®Francesco¡ it¡¯s a trap¡ run¡!¡®
The words burned against my skull as I pushed them into the link, desperate, begging, hoping he would hear, hoping he
woulde.
But before I could send more-
WHACK!!!
Henri¡¯s fist crashed into the side of my head. White exploded behind my eyes. The world tilted, spinning into shadow and make my body went limp.
Thest thing I clung to before darkness swallowed me whole was the faint, unyielding tether of my bond¨Cpraying Francesco would feel the jagged edges of my fear and rage.
Praying he was already on his way.
Still His 160
Chapter 160
The first thing I felt was cold.
21%)
+23)
Not the crisp air of dawn or the soothing chill of mountain wind, but a damp, suffocating cold that seeped into my bones and made my skin crawl.
My body was heavy, pinned by something I couldn¡¯t see, and every breath I took tasted of stone, water, and old blood.
I forced my eyes open.
Darkness pressed in on all sides, broken only by faint, sickly white mes dancing atop iron braziers. The light didn¡¯t warm the room; it seemed to swallow it instead, bending shadows into strange shapes along the carved walls.
Symbols¨Ccircles, runes, markings I didn¡¯t recognize¨Ccovered every surface. They pulsed faintly, as though alive, whispering in anguage too ancient and wrong for me toprehend.
The weight across my wrists and ankles made me jolt. Chains. Silver¨Cted, biting into my skin.
I tried to move, tried to summon strength, but every bruise screamed, every muscle trembled, and I realized my body had been stripped down to weakness.
The pain from Henri¡¯s blow still lingered at the side of my skull, leaving the world fuzzy at the edges.
And then I saw her.
A figure stood in the center of the chamber, wrapped in a strange, shifting light.
At first nce, she seemed angelic¨Clong hair like a sheet of silver, a flowing white gown, eyes full of tenderness. Her presence radiated purity, warmth, the kind of image that could deceive even the most cautious heart.
But I knew.
I knew instantly, instinctively.
That wasn¡¯t Cristina.
That wasn¡¯t a Luna.
The glow wasn¡¯t holy. It was hollow, stretched thin like skin over rot. Her smile was too sharp, too patient, too hungry. And when her gaze met mine, a shiver raced through me so violently I nearly gagged.
The devil behind the mask.
The Subus.
Her voice slithered into the air, soft, coaxing, but it scraped against my mind like ws.
¡°So¡ you are the one. The soul bright enough, strong enough. The King¡¯s chosen. Finally, you are here.¡±
My heart pounded. My throat tightened, but before I could force words out-
Images crashed into my head.
Not my memories. Not dreams.
His.
I saw Alpha Henri as a younger man¨Cproud, tall, with eyes filled not with madness but with love.
His arms wrapped around a woman, beautiful and kind¨Ceyed, herugh like the chime of bells. Cristina. His Luna. His fated
mate.
She was radiant, her hand resting protectively over the swell of her stomach. She was carrying his child. Their future. Their
joy.
The vision shifted.
Cristina stood at the edge of theke, smiling stubbornly as pack members warned her not to go.
¡°Just a short swim,¡± she said,ughter bubbling on her lips. Henri, ever indulgent, gave in, though worry lingered in his
eyes.
She slipped into the water. The sunlight sparkled against the surface, her silver hair trailing like a ribbon. She looked ethereal. Untouchable.
Then-
A sudden scream.
Her body jerked, legs thrashing. Her hand reached up, desperate.
Cramp. Her calf had seized, locking her body in agony.
¡°Cristina!¡±
The water swallowed her cry.
Pack members dove in. Henri himself plunged, arms tearing through theke with frantic strength. But when they dragged her up, it was toote. Her body was limp, her skin pale, her lips blue.
And inside her belly-
The unborn child stilled forever.
Henri¡¯s wail shook the forest. A howl that wasn¡¯t just grief, but something that shattered deep within his soul.
The vision changed.
Days blurred into nights. Henri wandered alone, eyes hollow, unshaven, ignoring the pack, ignoring everything but the crushing weight of his loss. Food untouched. Duty abandoned. His Alpha¡¯s pride crumbled into dust.
Then came the books.
16:29 Sat, 30 Aug 6
Forbidden tomes hidden in ruins, stolen from dark libraries, texts no sane Alpha should ever touch. Pages inked with blood and shadow. Spells whispered of bargains, of bending death itself.
He read them all.
Devoured them.
Until one night, unable to endure the silence of the world without her, Henri walked back into theke.
He let himself sink.
The water closed over his head, and as his lungs screamed, he saw her.
Cristina.
Or¡ something wearing her face.
+23)
¡°Henri¡¡± The voice was soft, broken. ¡°Help me¡ I¡¯m trapped. I cane back to you. To us. But I need strength. I need¡
souls.¡±
She touched his cheek, her fingers cold as ice. His heart, shattered and desperate, didn¡¯t care. He clung to the illusion.
¡°Yes,¡± he whispered. ¡°Anything. Whatever it takes.¡±
And so the pact was made.
The Subus drank his grief, fed on it, and in return, she gave him hope. A promise that if he fed her enough power, she
could rebuild what was lost. She could return Cristina to him.
The visions came faster now.
Missing vigers.
Bodies drained, never found.
Ambushes against rogues and outsiders. Every death was fuel for her. Every soul ripped from flesh was another step
toward her full form.
But none were enough.
She grew stronger, yes, but not whole. Never whole.
Until¡ me.
The moment I stepped into Henri¡¯s territory, the Subus stirred. Her whispers wed into his mind.
¡°She. The girl. The King¡¯s chosen. Her soul shines like fire. She is what I need.¡±
And Henri believed,
Because he had to. Because without that hope, all he had left was the abyss.
3/4
16:30 Sat, 30 Aug
The visions ended.
I was back in the chamber, gasping, sweat dripping down my temples. My heart hammered so loud it hurt.
I stared at the glowing figure before me, bile rising in my throat.
She wasn¡¯t Cristina.
She was death, hunger, deception. And Henri¨CHenri had be her puppet.
He stood beside her now, eyes wild, face pale with obsession. His hands trembled as he looked at me, not with hatred, but with something worse¨Cconviction.
¡°Do you see now?¡± he whispered, almost tender. ¡°Do you understand why this must be done? I loved her. I still love her. And if I must tear the soul from your body to bring her back, then so be it.¡±
I shook my head, chains rattling, tears stinging my eyes.
¡°No¡ Alpha Henri, that¡¯s not her. That¡¯s not your mate. She¡¯s gone. And you¡¯re sacrificing your people, your pack, for a lie.¡±
His face twisted, anguish and fury colliding.
¡°Liar!¡± he screamed, and the walls shook with his rage.
The Subus only smiled, her white glow flickering like fire over oil, and in that moment, I knew-
If I didn¡¯t find a way out, if I didn¡¯t hold on long enough-
I would be the final piece she needed.
The soul she had been waiting for..
Ìï
AD
Comment
Send gift
Still His 161
Chapter 161
Damn it!
The chains rattled again as I wrenched against them, useless and stubborn, the metal biting deeper, slick with my own blood.
Each clink sounded like a countdown.
Each breath felt borrowed.
Henri hovered near the corpse he refused to name as such.
The Subus wore Cristina like a silk shroud¨Chair glistening, lips soft, eyes wide with a tenderness crafted to disarm. Even knowing what hid beneath, I had to force myself not to flinch when she tilted Cristina¡¯s face and smiled¨Ctoo perfect, too patient, all appetite.
Audreyy unconscious in the corner, silver chains biting into her limbs.
My chest squeezed.
Her wolf would never forgive me if I let her die here.
I won¡¯t even forgive myself if I let her die here. Not my Audrey¡
¡°He ising,¡± the Subus purred inside my head, the voice like velvet dragged over ss. ¡°Your King. Your Lycan. He will see me, and everything in him will say I am you. He will choose me.¡±
No, I know he¡¯s not!
I trust him!
¡°Francesco will know me,¡± I whispered, tasting copper. ¡°He always knows me.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll see.¡±
The door at the far end of the chamber groaned open.
Cold air breathed in¨Cdank stone, old moss, the faintest trace of smoke. My lungs cinched tight. The bond inside me red like a spark fanned to me.
Francesco¡
He filled the archway, shadow swallowing shadow. Gold caught the torchlight in his eyes; power prowled beneath his skin, barely leashed. The chamber shrank around him, as if stone itself remembered what it meant to face a Lycan King.
¡°What¡¯s wrong? Luc mentioned you found something in the Lake after we got word there are rogues on the far eastern border. What is going on?!¡± His voice cracked like thunder¨Crelief and fury entwined¡ªand he moved.
But not seeing me, the real me.
His eyes didn¡¯tnd where I knelt bleeding, straining against silver. They slid past me, as if I didn¡¯t exist.
He crossed the floor to the Subus, who staggered forward with perfect mimicry, draped in my face, my walk, my trembling breath.
Shit.
¡°No, Francesco, that¡¯s not me!!¡± My scream tore raw, but only the walls seemed to hear.
¡°Eine?¡± He frowned, then rushed to the woman who wasn¡¯t me, gathering her into his arms.
Noo!!!!
¡°We don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with her or theke,¡± Henri lied smoothly. ¡°I found her back in the water, my King.¡±
I thrashed, chains scraping bone. ¡°No! That¡¯s not true! I¡¯m here!¡±
But my mate didn¡¯t hear.
Didn¡¯t see me.
Meanwhile, the silver chain weakened me further, each link bleeding my strength away. I could feel the current, my essence siphoned into the Subus wearing my skin.
Marlow, who followed close behind Francesco, paused. His sharp eyes scanned the chamber, lingering near Audrey¡¯s corner. ¡°Where¡¯s Audrey?¡±
Yes. He knows something isn¡¯t right.
¡°We don¡¯t know where she is,¡± Henri lied again.
Francesco only nodded, too focused on the false me.
He cupped her face, eyes softening with something that wasn¡¯t meant for anyone else. ¡°You okay, Amore mio?¡±
The words gutted me.
My knees nearly gave.
a
No.
She¡¯s not your Amore, Francesco.
I have to do something!
¡°Didn¡¯t you see?¡± I spat at Henri, my voice ragged. ¡°She wants him, not you!¡±
His head whipped toward me, eyes burning with hate.
Myugh was broken but bitter. ¡°The Subus isn¡¯t Cristina. She¡¯s a liar. And now she wants my mate. Not you. Can¡¯t you see it?¡±
12:06 Mon, 1 Sept A
His jaw tightened.
For just a flicker, doubt trembled in his gaze.
Then the bond siphon tugged harder.
A sharp gasp ripped from my throat. My fingers were turning translucent, edges fading into nothing.
¡°What-¡±
Èղ˰ü36%ýX
The Subus turned her head slightly, her smile sweet, almost pitying. ¡°Your soul is mine¡ so is your mate.¡±
Panic seared through me. ¡°Francesco!¡± My voice cracked. ¡°Francesco, please¨Clook at me!¡±
But he only held her closer.
My fake reflection.
His arms were around her, not me.
His warmth, his protection¨Cstolen.
My chest heaved, breath splintering into sobs.
I had never felt pain like this¨Cnot even the day Ruben rejected me.
Because this wasn¡¯t rejection.
This was theft.
I couldn¡¯t stop staring. Couldn¡¯t stop praying. Somewhere inside, the bond must scream. Somewhere deep, he must feel - me.
S
But then-
sh!!!!!
A de cleaved through the air, clean and final.
The Subus¡¯s head snapped sideways, her borrowed face frozen in shock, lips still curved in that delicate smile.
For a heartbeat, silence reigned.
Then her body crumpled, lifeless, the illusion shattering like ss.
No one moved.
Not Francesco.
Not Marlow.
Not me.
12:06 Mon, 1 Sept
The torchlight flickered across the steel still dripping dark blood.
And the silence stretched, heavy as a death knell-
Until Henri¡¯s scream ripped through it.
It wasn¡¯t a battle¨Ccry. It wasn¡¯t fury. It was raw, guttural agony.
ÈÕʱÆø36%Ì–
¡°No! Noooo!¡± His voice cracked, shattering into something feral as he dropped to his knees beside the corpse that was no longer Cristina, no longer beautiful, no longer alive¨Cjust an empty husk. His hands trembled as he clutched the body, rocking forward as though he could shake breath back into it.
¡°Why?!¡± His eyes, wild and gleaming, lifted toward Francesco. Hatred and heartbreak tangled in his face, twisted into something monstrous. ¡°She was mine! You had no right!¡±
But Francesco stood unmoved. Golden light burned in his eyes, cold and merciless, the sword in his grip still dripping with dark ichor.
The chains at my wrists pulsed with heat. The lungs, thick and ragged.
pell¡¯s grip faltered as the Subus¡¯s tether severed. Air rushed into my
I wanted to shout, to scream that it wasn¡¯t Cristina at all, that she had been gone long before tonight. But Henri¡¯s wail drowned everything else.
The chamber shook with his grief, his rage¨Can unholy sound that wed its way into bone and marrow.
And through it all, Francesco¡¯s silence was the most terrifying thing of all.
He knows¡.
Still His 162
Chapter 162
¡°AAAHHH¡!!!! NO.. NO.. CRISTINAAA..! NOOOO!!!¡±
The chamber shook with Henri¡¯s screams, raw and ragged, echoing against stone.
His grief bled like poison, but it no longer touched me.
The Subus was dead.
The chains are broken.
My soul mine again.
And in that moment¨CThe power shifted.
I gasped loudly when I felt it first in the bond: Francesco¡¯s presence swelling, radiating outward like a sun cresting the horizon. It wasn¡¯t just him as my mate. It was him as King. The true Alpha Lycan.
Golden light bled from his eyes, flickering brighter with each breath, until the torches seemed to dim in deference. The weight of his aura pressed outward, rolling through the stone, past the chamber walls, through the ground itself. It surged like a tidal wave.
Henri flinched back, his screams faltering.
His body curled inward as though trying to shield himself from a storm he couldn¡¯t withstand.
And then the cries began to change.
The women¡¯s wails outside softened, then broke into gasps. The children¡¯s keening turned to silence. It was as though a veil lifted from them all at once, as though their lungs dragged in fresh air for the first time in years.
I felt them through the bond¨Cdozens, hundreds of heartbeats, fragile and searching.
Their souls no longer chained.
They were all trapped, their souls held captive by theke by the subus, now since her gone, they¡¯re all free.
Francesco¡¯s power burned brighter, wrapping me in its warmth, wrapping the pack beyond in its reach.
The bond inside me thrummed, resonant with theirs.
One by one, their grief turned to something else.
Awareness.
Recognition.
Hope.
That he, the Lycan king is here.
174
K
36%
flesh, radiatingmand so absolute it stole breath.
¡°You were their jailer,¡± Francesco¡¯s voice thundered, every word rolling with the resonance of his Lycan power. ¡°You let a parasite feed on their souls. You traded their lives for your lust.¡±
Henri shook his head violently, tears streaking his face, desperation turning feral. ¡°No! She was mine! She loved me¨C¡±
¡°She devoured you.¡± Francesco¡¯s eyes burned gold, his fangs shing in the torchlight. ¡°And through you, she devoured. them. That ends tonight.¡°.
The chamber pulsed with silence.
Then a sound rose¨Clow, rumbling.
A growl.
Not Francesco¡¯s. Not mine.
It came from the warriors. From the women. From the pack.
One by one, wolves lowered to their knees, heads bowing, throats exposed. The humans among them mirrored it instinctively, as though their bodies knew what their minds only now understood.
Submission.
Not to Henri.
Never again to Henri.
But to the King Alpha Lycan.
To my Francesco and me.
Tears blurred my vision, not from weakness but from the weight of the moment. My heart swelled, my wolf howled inside, recognizing the truth that had always been there.
Francesco looked at them all¨Cat his people¨Cand his voice dropped, low but resonant enough to carry to every ear.
¡°You are mine now. No one will ever steal from you again. No one will ever silence your cries. You stand with me¡ªor you fall with him.¡±
The answer was instant.
The sound of knees hitting stone, one after another, until the chamber reverberated with it.
Henri¡¯s scream tore through the chorus of loyalty, shrill and broken.
He stumbled backward, face contorted with grief and rage. ¡°Traitors! All of you! You¡¯re mine¨Cyou were always mine!¡±
But his voice no longer held
The choice had been made.
power.
12:07 Mon, 1 Sept A
Francesco¡¯s hand tightened around mine, his golden gaze softening when it turned to me.
For a moment, the fury and the storm quieted.
¡°Eine.. my Eine¡¡±
30%
¡°You brought me back,¡± I whispered, trembling. ¡°When I thought I was gone, when I thought you¡¯d never see me¨Cyou
found me.¡±
His forehead pressed against mine, the barest tremor in his voice. ¡°I would tear every illusion apart, burn every shadow to ash, to find you, Eine. Always.¡±
And though Henri¡¯s screams echoed still, though the chamber smelled of blood and smoke, all I felt in that moment was
truth.
I wasn¡¯t invisible.
I wasn¡¯t stolen.
I was always his.
And behind him, the pack was no longer lost.
They had a King.
Still His 163
+40)
Chapter 163
It took nearly a week before Beta Alfonso arrived.
When he did, he did note alone. Behind him marched over fifty warriors of the Kingdom¨Ceach bearing the silver crest of the Lycan King, each radiating discipline and strength that could be felt even at a distance. Their presence was a storm waiting to be unleashed, and it stirred whispers among the surviving members of the broken French pack.
Word traveled quickly through our world, faster than even human technology could trace.
The moment Alfonso received the news that his King had struck down an Alpha in a neighboring territory, he moved with the precision that only years of loyalty and brotherhood could forge.
He came not as a visitor, not as a negotiator¨Cbut as a shield and a reminder to every eye watching that the King of Lycans did not act without purpose.
But when Alfonso had first received the news that his King and his Luna had traveled to France on what was described as a holiday, this¨Cthis chaos, this broken pack, this seized territory¨Cwas not at all what he had imagined.
Taking down an Alpha and reiming and poisoned by corruption and parasitic magic was far removed from the idea of a restful
retreat.
Marlow and Audrey were the ones waiting at the border to wee them.
Audrey still looked pale from her ordeal in the chamber, but her wolf was strong, and her stubbornness stronger. She had refused to stay behind, insisting she had to see this transition through. Marlow stood beside her, arms crossed, his stance as casual as ever, though his eyes carried the sharpness of someone who trusted nothing and no one until proven otherwise.
When the warriors arrived, their boots pounding against the earth in synchronized rhythm, Marlow stepped forward to greet them.
He exchanged sped forearms with Alfonso, who looked both relieved and exasperated at once.
¡°Beta Alfonso,¡± Marlow said simply, his tone carrying both wee and apology.
¡°Don¡¯t Beta ¡®Alfonso¡® me.¡± The Beta¡¯s sharp eyes scanned thend beyond, his mouth tightening as if the earth itself confirmed the rumors. ¡°When I received the report that my King had taken down an Alpha, I thought it was some exaggerated bard¡¯s tale. Now¡¡± He let out a low whistle. ¡°Now I see it¡¯s worse than even the rumors painted.¡±
Audrey gave him a nod of greeting. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. But the short of it? This pack was drowning, and its Alpha dragged them deeper every day¡±
Marlow¡¯s mouth quirked into the faintest of smirks, though there was no humor in it. ¡°You¡¯ll love the paperwork. I¡¯ve kept notes for you.¡±
Beta Alfonso turned his head sharply, eyes narrowing. ¡°Notes?¡±
Marlowughed, the sound harsh and dry, as though it scraped his throat. ¡°Yes. Notes. Because when you sit down and start writing your endless reports, you¡¯ll need to exin how one Alpha nearly destroyed his people while letting a Subus drain their souls. You¡¯ll need to exin how your King, who came here only to rest, found himself saving and from its own master.¡±
Alfonso blinked, his expression stuck somewhere between disbelief and horror.
He was a man who had seen battle, betrayal, and the ugliest parts of politics, yet this still made his brows twitch in silent protest.
40
Audrey stepped in before he could reply.
Her voice was steady but soft, carrying the weight of what she had seen. ¡°It began with the missing pack members. At first, people thought they¡¯d fled. Then it became clear¨Cthey hadn¡¯t run away. They¡¯d been consumed. Former Alpha, Henri believed he could revive his Luna, that by feeding a parasite with his people¡¯s souls, he could breathe life back into her. The Subus wore his mate, Cristina¡¯s face, but it was a mask, nothing more.¡±
Beta Alfonso stiffened, his jaw tightening.
He nced back at his warriors, and Marlow could see the storm brewing in his mind: the endless documents, the exnations to the Kingdom Council, the negotiations with bordering packs.
This wasn¡¯t simply a battle.
This was politics, and politics could be messier than bloodshed.
Marlow pped him on the shoulder, his grin widening at the Beta¡¯s expression. ¡°You¡¯re already calcting the parchment cost, aren¡¯t you?¡±
Alfonso muttered something under his breath that might have been a curse in the old tongue.
Together, the three of them walked the slow road deeper into the heart of the territory.
As they passed, wolves peered from doorways, cautious, eyes wide with something like hope¨Cand fear. Mothers kept their children close
The young women¡ there were none. The absence was like a wound, raw and bleeding, a truth no one wanted to speak but no one could ignore.
It hit Alfonso hardest.
His steps slowed, his gaze sweeping across empty porches, silent houses, the hollow spaces whereughter should have rung. ¡°Where are the young?¡± he asked, though the question was hardly needed.
¡°They¡¯re gone,¡± Marlow said bluntly, his tone clipped. ¡°The young women, drained by the Subus over years. Henri let her feed, thinking she was his dead mate. Thisnd would have copsedpletely within a generation.¡±
Audrey¡¯s voice was quieter, sorrow cutting through. ¡°That¡¯s why King Alpha Francesco had to act. If he hadn¡¯t¡¡± She shook her head. ¡°There would be nothing left to save.¡±
The truth settled like frost, hard and cold.
Alfonso¡¯s face hardened
He had been furious when he thought his King had acted rashly, but now¨Cnow he understood.
His King hadn¡¯t just acted.
He had intervened
Marlow turned to the warriors marching behind. His voice carried authority, sharp and unyielding. ¡°Secure the borders. Patrol every mile of territory. Speak to no one until I give leave. I want every inch of thisnd ounted for.¡±
The warriors bowed their heads and broke formation, scattering into the shadows with swift obedience.
11:00
Tue, 2 Sept
ÈÕʱ¼Ò71%ÈÕ
+40)
Beta Luc, the second¨Cinmand of this broken pack, appeared at the edge of the field. His steps were hesitant, but his body bowed low as he approached. ¡°We will cooperate,¡± Luc said, his voice hoarse with something that sounded like shame, ¡°Whatever is needed, we will do it. Thisnd belongs to your King now.¡±
Marlow studied him for a long moment, then gave a single nod. ¡°Good. Cooperation will keep your people alive.¡±
With that settled, the three continued their walk, the weight of what they carried pressing on every step.
When they finally reached the Alpha Manor, the air shifted.
The doors stood open, light spilling out into the dim twilight. Inside, Francesco sat with me at his side, our chairs pulled close together as we listened to an elder couple¨CJulius and his mate, Bethany. Their hair was silver, their hands marked with time, but their eyes still sharp. Julius had once been a trusted ally of Henri¡¯s father before the man was killed five years ago in a rogue ambush. Unlike Henri, Julius carried himself with humility and the kind of quiet strength that came only from surviving loss.
Francesco rose the instant he saw his Beta, Alfonso.
The dark light in his eyes softened, though the aura ofmand never left him.
Alfonso bowed deeply, not just to his King but to me as well. ¡°My King. My Luna.¡±
The title still sent a shiver through me. It was strange, hearing it after this time thinking we were free from it, feeling the weight it carried. Not a title given lightly, not something ornamental¨Cit meant responsibility, presence, unity. And though I had not yet fully grown into it, Francesco¡¯s steady hand resting lightly against mine made me believe I could.
¡°Well¡¡± Alfonso¡¯s voice cut through the silence, wry as ever. ¡°This is a funny idea of a holiday.¡±
Augh escaped me before I could stop it, though it was broken with exhaustion. Francesco only rolled his eyes, long¨Csuffering. He had heard that sarcasm a thousand times before.
¡°I love you, Alfonso,¡± Francesco said dryly, his tone deliberately heavy with mock affection. ¡°Which is why I knew you¡¯d want more
work.¡±
Alfonso groaned audibly, his head tilting back as though he might pray to the moon for deliverance. ¡°The gods curse me with loyalty¡±
shook my head in disbelief, unable to stop the smile tugging at my lips.
Their rtionship was unlike anything I had witnessed before¨Cclose, unbreakable, forged not only of respect but of something deeper Not just King and Beta, but brothers.
¡°Come,¡± Francesco said, his hand brushing against mine briefly before gesturing toward the elders, ¡°Meet Julius and Bethany. They will be crucial in stabilizing thisnd?
Alfonso straightened, his expression shifting into professionalism, though his eyes still burned with curiosity.
He sped Julius¡¯s hand firmly, bowed respectfully to Bethany, and then joined us at the table,
Together, we spoke of the future.
This territory was no longer Henn¡¯s
The people had already chosen.
11:01 Tue, 2 Sept
Their allegiancey with Francesco, and by extension, with me.
But a choice in spirit was not enough. Laws needed to be written, borders redrawn, protections established.
We spoke of the missing¨Cthose who would never return.
½ð70%•þ
+40)
We spoke of the hidden young who would have to be nurtured, of women who needed protection, of warriors who required retraining after years under false leadership.
We spoke of rebuilding trust, not just among the pack but between thisnd and its neighbors, who would no doubt circle like vultures once word of Henri¡¯s fall spread.
It was heavy work, the kind of burden most would flee from. But Francesco did not. He carried it with the same weight he carried me, never faltering, never bending.
By the time the meeting ended, the moon had climbed high, casting silver light through the manor windows. The warriors outside stood at ease, their patrols silent but vignt. The pack¡¯s eyes glowed faint in the dark, watching their new King with awe and something that looked like hope.
And though the road ahead would be long and fraught, though Henri¡¯s screams still echoed faint in my memory, I knew one truth with absolute certainty.
We were no longer trapped.
We were building something new.
And together, we would rise.
(
Still His 164
Chapter 164
The manor smelled faintly of herbs when Monica arrived, a sharp, clean tang that followed her like a
banner.
She traveled from the Kingdom the moment she heard what had happened¨Cbarely resting, barely pausing. Her presence filled the hall in a way no warrior could. Not loud, not threatening, but solid, a reminder that some battles are fought with care rather than ws.
The moment she saw me, she didn¡¯t waste time with greetings.
Her bag hit the floor with a thump and she was at my side, hands firm but gentle, tilting my chin, brushing hair away, touching the pulse at my wrist. Her eyes were sharp, dark, and merciless in their
attention.
¡°You look pale,¡± she muttered, already reaching for a vial of tonic.
¡°I am pale,¡± I teased, but she only gave me a look that said humor wasn¡¯t wee yet.
Then, before I could protest, she turned on her heel and stalked toward Audrey.
Audrey, predictably, bristled. ¡°I don¡¯t need a nurse fussing over me. I¡¯ve had worse and stood on my feet the next day.¡±
Monica ignored herpletely, pressing fingers against her temples, checking her breathing, and muttering under her breath.
Audrey swatted half¨Cheartedly, like a cat tolerating unwanted affection.
¡°You¡¯re not healthy enough to even stand for a proper fight,¡± Monica scolded. ¡°You may fool Marlow, but you don¡¯t fool me.¡±
Audrey groaned, muttering something that sounded like traitor, but didn¡¯t fight her off again.
I watched from my chair, relief easing through me. Audrey¡¯s pride was iron, but her body had taken more than she admitted.
Monica¡¯s stubborn care was exactly what she needed¨Ceven if she wouldn¡¯t thank her for it.
After she checked every bruise and pulse, after she had prodded, red, and dered us alive enough to go on, Monica finally snapped.
She turned back to me, hands on her hips, eyes shing. ¡°What in the goddess¡¯s name were you thinking? Running off with the King without telling anyone? Do you think the rest of us don¡¯t care
what happens to you?¡±
Her voice rose, sharp as a whip crack. ¡°Do you think we would sit in the Kingdom and gossip while you bleed? Never. Not one of us. You are our Luna. You are-¡± She stopped, her throat tightening. Then she hissed, ¡°Never make us feel useless again.¡±
I couldn¡¯t help it¨CI chuckled softly, despite the sting in her words. The tension in my chest loosened as I looked at her, fierce and unyielding, loyal down to her bones.
¡°Nforget sometimes,¡± I admitted, smiling faintly, ¡°that I have the most loyal people beside me. Not just subjects. Not just warriors. Friends.¡±
Monica¡¯s eyes softened at that, though her mouth stayed stubbornly tight.
¡°Yes,¡± I thought as I looked at her. ¡°I am not only Francesco¡¯s fated mate. Not only their Luna. In the Kingdom, I found something I had never had before. A true friend.¡±
My mind wandered briefly, remembering the woman who had first helped me when everything had copsed¨Cthe magic healer who saved me when my body and spirit were both breaking.
¡°How¡¯s Lira?¡± asked, my voice quiet.
At that, Monica¡¯s expression softened.
She sighed, the edge leaving her shoulders. ¡°She¡¯s okay. She said to tell you she misses you, that she¡¯s still recovering herself but she thinks of you often.¡±
I smiled, a warmth blooming in my chest. ¡°Tell her I¡¯ll write soon.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll tell her,¡± Monica promised.
Her eyes drifted around the room, taking in the worn walls, the tired faces, the silence that clung too thickly to the air.
When she finally spoke, her voice was softer but heavier.
¡°No more young women left,¡± she said. It wasn¡¯t a question. It was a statement, a wound pressed into
words.
I nodded, the weight of it pressing against me.
Audrey¡¯s voice cut through, her tone sharp with bitterness. ¡°That¡¯s what happens when an Alpha loses his Luna. He loses his mind too. And in his madness, he thinks he can drag her back by any means, no matter the cost.¡± She nced at me then, softer, but still fierce. ¡°This is why King Alpha Francesco
11:31 Wed, 3 SeptA
2 ? 3 38%¨C
never lets you out of his sight. Why even Luca was cast out after he once dared toy a hand against you. He knows¨Closing you would be the end of him.¡±
I swallowed hard.
The truth of her words burned, because I knew it in my bones.
The downfall of any Alpha was not war, not politics, not even death itself.
It was the loss of his Luna.
Francesco had told me once that the bond was not a chain¨Cit was a me. And mes, when snuffed,
left only smoke and ashes.
Monica folded her arms, her healer¡¯s eyes scanning me again as though she could see the flicker of that me deep inside. ¡°So what now?¡± she asked finally. ¡°What¡¯s the King¡¯s n? We can¡¯t leave this
territory like this. There are no warriors left, only elders too old to fight. Children who cannot defend
themselves. Empty homes, broken hearts.¡±
Her voice trembled slightly, not in fear but in fury. ¡°This pack needs more than pity. It needs direction. A King¡¯s decision.¡±
Heaned back, my eyes drifting to the window, where beyond the ss I could see the gray stretch of thend. Broken, hollow, yet waiting.
Francesco¡¯s n.
Yes. That was the question.
What would the King do with and stripped of youth and strength?
Would he fold it into the Kingdom, rebuild it brick by brick?
Would he nt new warriors here, forge something new from what was lost?
I pressed my hand over my chest where my bond to him thrummed steady, and I knew: whatever
choice he made, it would not be for power. It would be for them. For the women whose souls had been stolen, for the children who deserved tough again, for the old who had carried too much on
their shoulders.
I met Monica¡¯s eyes and answered softly, ¡°He¡¯ll do what he always does. He¡¯ll protect them. And together¡ we¡¯ll make this ce live again.¡±
375
11:31 Wed, 3 Sept
The balcony was wide, its stone balustrade cold beneath my hands.
I leaned against it, staring out at the manor grounds as night draped itself over thend.
3
The air was still, carrying no trace ofughter, no squeals of children running too fast on uneven paths, no murmurs of young lovers daring to sneak away beneath the moonlight.
+23
This ce felt like a painting left unfinished¨Cshadows where color should have been, silence where joy once echoed. A pack, yes, but one hollowed out, one that had lost its heart long before we arrived.
I had stood there for hours, perhaps.
Long enough for the torches in the courtyard below to burn low.
Long enough for the weight in my chest to grow heavier with each breath.
Something had to be done.
But what?
The door behind me creaked softly, then closed again.
Warmth enveloped me before I turned.
Francesco¡¯s arms slid around my waist, drawing me back against the solid line of his chest. His lips brushed against the curve of my neck, feather¨Clight but grounding.
¡°What¡¯s inside my Luna¡¯s head that makes her think this hard?¡± he murmured, voice low, almost yful, though the concern beneath it was unmistakable.
His arms stayed firmly around me, anchoring me in his strength.
I sighed, leaning back into him, letting his warmth seep into the cold I hadn¡¯t realized clung to my skin. ¡°That this pack is so silent,¡± I whispered. ¡°Too silent.¡±
He stilled for a heartbeat, then exhaled softly, his breath brushing against my hair. ¡°Yes,¡± he said, his tone edged with sorrow. ¡°Silent, and broken. Lucky we came when we did.¡±
I nodded slowly, eyes fixed on the emptiness beyond. ¡°You know¡. I remember what Anastasia once told me,¡± I said, my voice carrying the memory of the woman whom give my magic power and help me through everything. ¡°She warned me¨Cthat when the dark magic is lifted from the world, hidden
creatures will rise with it. Freed from whatever bound them.¡±
Francesco silence for a moment, like he absorb what I tell him.
11:31 Wed, 3 Sept A
2 ? ?? 38?
¡°The Subus?¡± Francesco said quietly, his arms tightening slightly as though to shield me from even
the thought.
I nodded my head ¡°Yes,¡± I breathed. ¡°I guess¡ She was one of them.¡±
Silence stretched between us, heavy with realization.
¡°Meaning¡¡± His voice dropped, steel beneath the velvet. ¡°There are more out there.¡±
I swallowed, my hands curling against the railing.
The night seemed darker suddenly, the quiet heavier, as if the shadows themselves were listening. ¡°Yes. More creatures, more things that should have stayed buried. If the Subus was here, others
will be too.¡±
His chest rose and fell against my back, the rhythm steady, calm, but I knew him well enough to feel the tension coiling beneath his skin.
Francesco was never one to shy from enemies, but the thought of unseen, unnumbered threats stalking the world¨Cthreats that could steal faces, souls, and futures¨Cwould have unsettled anyone.
¡°Then we prepare,¡± he said simply, as if the answer was as clear as moonlight. ¡°We strengthen this world if we must, we heal what was broken, and we ready ourselves.¡±
His lips brushed my temple this time, softer, reverent.
And for the first time since I stepped onto that balcony, I let myself breathe.
Yes, he was right¡ As long as I have him, I can do everything.
AD
Comment
Send gift
Still His 165
The day the families arrived, the silence broke.
For weeks the manor had been a hollow heart, pulsing faintly with survivors too afraid to raise their voices.
Now the courtyard thrummed with footsteps, wagons creaked under the weight of belongings, and children¡¯sughter rang out, hesitant at first, then louder as their wolves sniffed the air and found safety.
I stood on the steps with Francesco, my hand tucked in his.
Fifty families hade from the Kingdom¨Cwolves who had lost their homes to rogues, to famine, to wars not their own. They looked tired, but their eyes brightened when they saw the banners of the King and the warriors standing guard.
¡°Wee,¡± Francesco¡¯s voice carried strong, firm. ¡°Thisnd is yours now. Here, you will not just survive- you will live.¡±
The words echoed through the stone courtyard. Men bowed their heads. Women sped children tighter. I felt their eyes on me too, not only as their King¡¯s mate but as Luna. A bond hummed beneath the surface, fragile yet growing, waiting for me to reach for it.
So I did.
I stepped down the stairs, away from the safety of the King¡¯s shadow, and moved among them.
I knelt beside a little girl clutching a rag doll and asked her name. I touched the shoulders of mothers with weary eyes and promised that their children would be safe. Iughed softly when a boy clutched my hand as if it were a lifeline and refused to let go until his father coaxed him.
They didn¡¯t need a speech from me. They needed presence. They needed to see that their Luna wasn¡¯t only a
title.
And I gave them that.
Through it all, Audrey and Monica never strayed from me.
Audrey, still recovering but as stubborn as ever, kept a hand close to her de, her sharp eyes sweeping over every neer. ¡°You¡¯re not wandering off again, not without me,¡± she muttered at one point, half threat, half promise.
Monica, her healer¡¯s bag strapped to her side, walked close on my other nk. ¡°And if you fall, I¡¯ll be the one dragging you back to your feet. Don¡¯t argue.¡±
Their loyalty wasn¡¯t subtle. It was a shield I hadn¡¯t realized I had needed until now. Wherever I went, they followed¨Cnot as burdens, but as living reminders that friendship was the truest guard of all.
And the people noticed. They saw that I was never alone, that even in silence I was protected by bonds not forged by duty, but by choice.
It wasn¡¯t enough to fill the courtyard with people.
8:46 Thu, Sep 4
We needed more than walls¨Cwe needed roots.
71
55 vouchers
Luc, the former Beta of this pack, stood tall despite the shame that still clung to him. He had beenplicit, perhaps too silent under Henri, but not blind.
Now, he worked harder than anyone to earn forgiveness.
At the council¡¯s urging, Luc joined Alfonso and Francesco at the head of rebuilding. Together, they nned not just survival but renewal:
Homes for families scattered and ruined.
A schoolhouse, so the children¡¯sughter wouldn¡¯t fade into silence again.
A medical hall, where healers like Monica and Bethany could tend without shame or secrecy.
Training grounds, for warriors who would rise from ashes, strong enough to protect not just thisnd but others.
I watched Luc one afternoon, sleeves rolled up, dirt streaking his skin as he helpedy the foundation stones.
His voice carried rough but steady, calling out orders, guiding younger men who hadn¡¯t known true leadership before.
For the first time, I believed he might find redemption here.
But before we could build anew, the old had to end.
The council manor, where Henri and his allies had sat in poisoned power, still loomed over the pack like a rotten tooth. Its stones reeked of betrayal, its walls stained with the echoes of silenced cries.
So Francesco ordered it burned.
The pack gathered at dusk, survivors and neers alike. Warriors stood in a ring, torches in hand. I stood beside Francesco, our joined hands raised together as the first me was cast against the walls.
The fire caught quickly, climbing with greedy fingers. Smoke curled upward, dark and heavy, carrying with it the stench of corruption. The people didn¡¯t weep. They didn¡¯t look away. They watched, faces lit by firelight, as the council manor crumbled into ash.
And when it finally copsed, when thest stone gave way, a hush fell over the crowd.
It wasn¡¯t grief.
It was release.
The past had beenid to rest.
But while hope grew here, the world beyond whispered darker tales.
News spread quickly¨Ctoo quickly¨Cthat the Italian King had seized territory in France.
8:46 Thu, Sep 4
Rumors twisted into something ugly:
The King wants more.
The King means to conquer all.
First the council, now France¨Csoon the world?
71
55 vouchers
The truth¨Cthat Henri had drowned his pack in madness, that Francesco had saved them from annihtion¡ª was quieter, carried only in the hearts of those who had witnessed it.
And truth rarely traveled as fast as lies.
Letters arrived from neighboring packs, some cautious, some hostile. Couriers spoke of taverns buzzing with fear, of Alphas sharpening their des and whispering of a Lycan King who would not stop until everynd bent to him.
I saw the way Francesco¡¯s jaw tightened as he read those letters, the way his fingers curled against the parchment. But when he looked at me, his eyes softened.
¡°Let them say what they will,¡± he murmured. ¡°We will not rule by rumor. We will rule by truth. And in time, the truth will speak louder than their fear.¡±
I pressed my hand over his, feeling the bond hum steady between us. ¡°And if they don¡¯t listen?¡±
His golden gaze burned. ¡°Then we will show them.¡±
The night after the burning, I stood once more on the balcony.
This time, the silence wasn¡¯t empty. Below, I could hear voices¨Cchildren ying in the courtyard, mothers singing softly to restless babes, warriors sparring in the open yard.
The pack was breathing again.
But beyond these walls, the world was watching. And not all eyes wished us well.
Ìï
AD
Comment
Send gift
No
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Still His 166
News gallops faster than hooves.
A
65 younisert
By the end of the week, the story of an Italian Lycan King ¡°seizing¡± Frenchnd wore a dozen masks and none of them looked like the truth.
So when the summons arrived¨Cneutral ground, called by the neighboring Alphas¨Cwe went. Not to beg.
To be seen.
So, we decided to travel light.
Francesco, Alfonso, Marlow, Luc. Me¨Cwith Audrey and Monica nking so closely they might as well have been stitched to my shadow.
¡°Next time you try to slip out without me,¡± Audrey murmured as our horses crested the ridge, ¡°I¡¯m tying bells to your boots.¡±
Monica didn¡¯t look away from the road. ¡°I¡¯ll sew them on.¡±
I smiled into my scarf and let the wind take it. ¡°Duly noted.¡±
Valmont was all granite and river.
The citadel rose from a gray bluff where three waterways met¨Ca ce old packs chose for hard conversations.
We passed the outer gates under banners that weren¡¯t ours and dismounted in a long courtyard that smelled of wet stone, coal smoke, and the wary sweat of wolves who didn¡¯t yet know what story to believe.
Eyes followed us. Some curious. Some calcting. A few hungry.
Francesco¡¯s presence rolled outward like steady thunder, not loud, not showy. Just true. He took my hand before we crossed the arch into the Hall of ord, and the murmur in the air changed; people straighten when a spine enters a room.
The hall¡¯s high beams were ckened with centuries of smoke.
A ring of iron stood at center¨Cthe Oath Circle¨Cscarred by ws and time.
The gathered Alphas and elders arrayed themselves around it in a rough crescent. I recognized a few by scent from the letters Alfonso had read at our table; the Western Marsh alpha with reeds braided into her hair, the te¨Ceyed
from the rivends who always finished each other¡¯s sentences as if they shared one wolf between them.
A silver¨Chaired woman in a dark cloak raised a staff¨Cthe Conve Keeper. ¡°By the rivers and the moon that looks on all borders,¡± she said, ¡°we sit in neutral im. Speak truth or hold your tongue.¡±
She pointed once at us, once at the circle.
Francesco stepped forward. I moved to his right; Alfonso to his left with a folio tucked against his ribs, the sum of ten weary days¡® documentation. Marlow stood behind like a shadow leaning on its own patience. Audrey and Monica took the nks, their hands never far from steel or salve.
The Keeper¡¯s gaze slid to a man whose crest was a pale heron. He didn¡¯t bother hiding his smirk. ¡°Valois will open,¡± she said.
The te¨Ceyed Alpha Valois¨CDorian, if Alfonso¡¯s notes were right¨Cspread his hands. ¡°We wee the Italian King to French soil,¡± he said, voice silk over wire. ¡°And congratte him on his¡ acquisition.¡±
A ripple ofughter.
Not friendly¡
But, Francesco didn¡¯t blink, neither did I.
¡°Rumor says,¡± Dorian went on, ¡°that a holiday became a harvest. First a council in your country burned to ash, then a territory folded like damp bread. We mourn the former Alpha Henri¨Cmay the river take him¨Cand ask why the King thought to make a lesson of France.¡±
The Keeper¡¯s staff knocked once: mind your teeth. He inclined his head, a parody of chastened.
Alfonso cleared his throat. ¡°We have records-¡±
¡°Records,¡± Dorian purred, ¡°are stories that learned to walk.¡±
¡°Then listen to mine,¡± Bethany¡¯s voice called from behind us.
I turned.
Julius and Bethany hade after all, traveling through the night, the stubborn line of elders on a road they would not let us walk alone. Bethany¡¯s hand shook a little on her cane; her eyes
did not.
The Keeper considered, then nodded permission. ¡°Witnesses stand.¡±
Bethany did not step into the circle. She did not need it.
¡°Former Alpha, Henri, let a demon in our home,¡± she said, calm as a cup on a saucer. ¡°Called it by his dead Luna¡¯s name and fed it our daughters. He would have given us all. The King cut its head and broke its chain. If you want to be angry, be angry that we needed saving.¡±
She sat. Julius¡¯s weathered palm closed over hers.
The room¡¯s murmur shifted, a weight rolling from one side to another.
Dorian¡¯s smile thinned. ¡°Old griefs make fine cloaks. But a king who kills an alpha¡ª¡±
¡°Henri killed himself,¡± Marlow said mildly. ¡°We only pulled the rope down.¡±
The Conve Keeper¡¯s staff tapped again¨Cless warning than acknowledgment.
Eyes slid toward us like the wind had changed.
¡°Forgive me,¡± said the woman with reed¨Cbraids¨Cthe Western Marsh alpha. ¡°I hear rot. I smell smoke. I hear theughter of children that had notughed for years, and I do not think that is conquest.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°But I also hear fear. And fear breeds war. Prove what you say, King.¡±
Francesco stepped into the iron ring.
He didn¡¯t posture.
He didn¡¯t shift.
He did the most dangerous thing a wolf can do in a room full of wolves: he told the truth as if it were obvious.
¡°I came to France because my Luna asked for a holiday, until one of them came to us,¡± he said. ¡°I stayed because your neighbor made himself a mouth for monsters. We burned what needed burning. We buried what needed burying. We are building what should have been built. If you need proof, take your eyes to mynd, your noses to my borders, your elders to my kitchens. I have nothing to hide and no hunger for your banners.¡±
¡°Words,¡± Dorian said softly.
¡°Then take oath,¡± the Keeper said, turning like a weather vane to him. ¡°Truthbinding. If he lies, the river takes his breath for a count of ten. If he tells truth, it will take yours.¡±
Dorian¡¯s mouth twitched a fraction.
He had not expected the Keeper to offer the old test.
Some men are brave when a duel ends in blood on someone else¡¯s shirt; fewer when the price is ten heartbeats of drowning.
¡°I¡¯ll take it,¡± I said.
The room pivoted.
Alfonso looked like he swallowed a thorn. Audrey¡¯s fingers flexed. Monica¡¯s hand found my elbow in a pressure of careful.
Did they think I scared?
Or did they think we lied?
I will show it to them¡
Still His 167
:
I keep my head high as I stepped into the ring beside Francesco.
I will show it to them.
¡°Our lives are braided,¡± I said to the Keeper. ¡°Bind one, bind both.¡±
33
55 vouchers
The Keeper studied my face¨Cthe too¨Cyoung Luna with the too¨Cold eyes.
She lifted her staff. ¡°By river and moon.¡±
A shallow bowl was ced between us, filled from the three converging streams.
Wolfsbane petals floated like dark stars.
The Keeper scored her palm and let three drops fall, one for each river. ¡°Speak.¡±
Francesco¡¯s voice didn¡¯t change. ¡°Henri¡¯s council was corruption. We burned it so no one could sit there again and pretend it was a throne.¡±
No sting.
No choke.
The watery t and simple.
¡°My turn,¡± Dorian said. ¡°Speak this: you will not im a second French territory within a year.¡±
Francesco didn¡¯t look away from me when he answered. ¡°I will not im any territory I do not have to save.¡±
The room went very quiet.
The bowl did not stir.
Somewhere in the back, someone¡¯s chair groaned like ament.
Dorian¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°What of Henri¡¯s people?¡±
I spoke. ¡°They chose. They chose breath over memory, safety over ceremony, the
14:46 Sat, Sep 6
33
55 vouchers
future over a portrait of the past. We will carry them until they can carry themselves. Then we will set them down gently, not drop them when they are useful no more.¡±
The water shivered¨Cnot in warning, but like a cat arching into a good hand.
The Keeper nodded once, satisfied.
She turned to the marsh alpha. ¡°Renaud?¡±
The reed¨Cbraided woman¡¯s mouth crooked. ¡°I want something better than a promise.¡± She tapped a finger against her lips, thinking. ¡°A charter.¡±
Alfonso straightened, instinctively touching the folio. ¡°Drafted,¡± he said. ¡°A Protectorate Charter¨Climited term, shared patrols, transparency of ledgers, external audit by neutral elders, automatic review at three moons and six. Sunset use unless the protected pack petitions to remain.¡±
Dorianughed, but it was too quick. ¡°Paper.¡±
¡°Paper,¡± Alfonso agreed. ¡°And signatures that bind teeth.¡±
Renaud¡¯s eyes glinted. ¡°I¡¯ll sign if the river bears witness.¡±
The Keeper looked pleased in the way only very old arbiters do when children remember their lessons. ¡°So it is.¡±
We broke then¨Cnot to adjourn, but to let the room breathe around the new direction the air had taken.
Audiences of wolves decide with their bodies before they decide with their mouths; I could feel the tension ease across shoulders, the angle of spines soften, the curiosity creep in where suspicion had hoped to set up shop.
Monica slipped a sk into my hand. ¡°Drink.¡±
¡°What is it?¡±
¡°Something you can¡¯t argue with.¡±
It tasted like stubborn herbs and care.
14:46 Sat, Sep 6
:.
33
55 vouchers
I drank it all. Audrey watched the corners of the room with that predator patience she wears like a second skin.
¡°Dorian isn¡¯t done,¡± she murmured.
¡°He shouldn¡¯t be,¡± Marlow said from my other side. ¡°Losing gracefully is a muscle he¡¯s never bothered to learn.¡±
Luc approached then, his shoulders squared, palms empty.
He asked the Keeper¡¯s leave with a nce.
She gave the smallest nod.
¡°I was Alpha Henri¡¯s Beta,¡± Luc said to the room. ¡°I didn¡¯t do enough. I thought I could fix rot from inside the tree. I couldn¡¯t. When the King cut the parasite¡¯s head, it was only because I was toote to do it myself.¡± He lifted a leather ledger. ¡°Names of those lost. ounts of where the food went instead of to our children. Schedules of the women who were taken to theke under pretense of ¡®counsel¡®. I will put this on the table for any elder to read.¡±
He ced it on a low stone b like an offering.
The room edged closer¨Dnot all at once, not eager, but the way wolves approach a new scent they think might be dangerous and necessary at the same time.
Renaud stepped to the b first.
She flipped a page.
Then another.
She did not look up when she spoke. ¡°This will do.¡±
Dorian¡¯s lip curled. ¡°Confessions and cooked books.¡±
¡°Your problem,¡± Marlow said pleasantly from ten feet away, ¡°is that you think everyone¡¯s as bad at lying as you.¡±
Dorian¡¯s head snapped; his wolf red up in his eyes like a match dragged too hard.
14:46 Sat, Sep 6
33
55 vouchers
He stepped toward the circle. ¡°Trial by dominance, then. If your King wants to keep what he stole, let him take it with his ws where everyone can see.¡±
A murmur¨Chungry, eager¨Cskittered over the floorboards.
Wolves love a fight the way thunder loves open sky.
Francesco didn¡¯t move.
His aura rolled¨Ccalm, vast, inexorable. ¡°I don¡¯t make orphans to prove what my word already proves.¡±
¡°You refuse?¡± Dorian crowed.
¡°I choose a different trial.¡± Francesco lifted his chin toward the Keeper. ¡°Trial by keeping.¡±
A hiss ran through the older wolves; the younger ones blinked.
The Trial of Keeping was old¨Colder than Valmont, older than the three rivers, called only when and itself must decide.
It wasn¡¯t a duel.
It was penance.
And work.
The Keeper¡¯s eyes warmed a fraction. ¡°Exin it for those who like their stories
short.¡±
Francesco¡¯s voice was simple. ¡°For three moons, we keep what we did not choose: the widowed, the fatherless, the elders, the fields. We mend what is broken and bury what will not mend. At the end, we open our gates. Those who wish to sign their names to our banner will do so. Those who don¡¯t will go¨Cfed, clothed, escorted, with their names returned to them instead of erased.¡± He tilted his head toward Dorian. ¡°You maye count.¡±
Laughter this time¨Creal, not sharp.
A few elders pped the table with the open¨Cpalmed approval of people who like
a solution that wears boots.
14:46 Sat, Sep 6
:
33
E55 vouchers
Dorian looked as if he¡¯d bitten pith. ¡°And if at the end they stay only because they
fear you?¡±
I stepped forward. ¡°Fear doesn¡¯t build schools,¡± I said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t fill kitchens, or teach names back to children who stopped answering to them because no one spoke them with kindness. Come in three moons and ask the children if they are afraid. If they say yes, I will walk you to the gate myself.¡±
Silence.
Not hostile.
Considering.
Renaud shrugged one shoulder, reeds whispering. ¡°The marsh epts the Charter. For three moons, then six. After that, we let thend speak.¡±
Others nodded¨Cthe river brothers together, an elder from the mountain pass, a woman whose crest was a white hound and whose gaze measured like a tailor¡¯s hands.
Dorian did not.
He looked at me, then at Francesco, then at the Keeper. ¡°The Valois reserve judgment.¡±
¡°The Valois may reserve what they please,¡± the Keeper said, staffing down with satisfaction. ¡°The Charter will be sealed in the river. The Conve stands.¡±
We signed by water.
The Charter parchmenty atop a t te at the bank where the three rivers met.
The Keeper pricked each signatory¡¯s finger; a single drop fell and sizzled faintly as it touched the wet stone.
Names in ink meant something to the young.
Names in blood meant something even to the wind.
the
Francesco signed first, then Alfonso, then Renaud. When it was my turn, Keeper looked at me for a heartbeat as if to ask whether I knew what I was doing.
14:46 Sat, Sep 6
¡°I do,¡± I said.
(33)
55 vouchers
¡°Luna,¡± she said, and the word felt like a mantle and a soft scarf both.
Monica squeezed my hand after and pressed a square of linen to my finger. ¡°Hold,¡± she said. ¡°You always bleed more than you need to.¡±
¡°I have people to tell me that now,¡± I said, and she smiled the way women smile when they pretend they have not been crying on other nights.
Dorian did note to the river. He watched from the shadow of a por, calcting angles as if the tree might tell him a geometry that could undo the arithmetic of what we¡¯d just made.
On the road out of Valmont, the air felt thinner, the light cleaner.
Our horses picked up their pace like they, too, preferred work to the politics that
talk themselves in circles.
¡°Three moons,¡± Alfonso said, already organizing his thoughts into lists. ¡°We¡¯ll need grain, carpenters, midwives. A magistrate from the neutral circuit. Scribes.¡±
¡°And bells,¡± Audrey said.
¡°Bells?¡± he asked.
¡°For Eine¡¯s boots,¡± Monica said, straight¨Cfaced. ¡°In case she gets ideas.¡±
Damn them!
Marlowughed, a short, honest bark. ¡°We¡¯ll put it in the annex. Line item.¡±
Francesco reached across and brushed his gloved fingers over my wrist, a touch so light it might have been only air.
Proud, the bond hummed¨Cno word, just the weight of it.
I let the warmth settle in my ribs.
We camped that night where two hills shouldered each other and looked down on a line of willows threading a stream.
14:46 Sat, Sep 6
33
55 vouchers
The warriors posted sentries out of habit. The rest of us ate bread and cheese like a feast. Stars stitched themselves into cold cloth overhead.
When sleep came, it came fast. I woke once near midnight to the sound of the stream telling the dark the same story it has told since before any wolf had a name. Across the coals, Dorian¡¯s envoy¨Cwho had kept his distance all day¨Crolled over in his nket and drew it higher, as if the night had teeth.
At dawn, a raven settled on Alfonso¡¯s saddle and left a single ck ribbon on the horn¨Ca courtly little bit of theater packs sometimes use to say we are watching. Alfonso tucked it into his ledger with a sigh that said he would prefer ravens to send rice instead.
When we rode through the rebuilt border markers at home, the air tasted different¨Clike smoke that wasn¡¯t a warning, like bread rising, like clean sweat that belongs to work worth doing.
Children chased our horses along the fence line and then peeled away,ughing, because someone had told themughing was allowed again and they were eager to practice.
The first thing we did was take the Charter to the kitchen.
¡°Here?¡± Alfonso asked, baffled. ¡°Not the study?¡±
¡°The kitchen,¡± I said. ¡°Where the truth lives.¡±
Bethany cleared a space on the thick scarred table. Monica set a bowl of rosemary water beside it. Audrey leaned a shoulder against the doorframe, a sentry who could finally set her weight somewhere soft.
Francescoid the parchment t.
We all pressed our palms to it, not in ceremony¨Cnot only¨Cbut because paper behaves better when the warmth of hands teaches it not to curl. The Keeper¡¯s river stamp had dried a deep gray¨Cblue, like a bruise healing.
¡°Three moons,¡± Francesco said.
I looked past him to the courtyard where frames for new houses stood like bones waiting for muscles, where the old council ash had already been forked into the
14:47 Sat, Sep 6
soil for gardens.
33
55 vouchers
Luc was there, sleeves rolled,ughing with a boy who held a hammer in two hands like a treasure. Renaud¡¯s scouts had arrived at dawn; their reed¨Cbraided captain swapped stories with our guards and pretended not to be impressed by Monica¡¯s ability to terrify warriors into hydration.
¡°Three moons,¡± I echoed. ¡°And then we open the gates.¡±
¡°And then?¡± Audrey asked.
¡°Then thend answers,¡± I said. ¡°And the children answer. And if anyone still prefers the story that makes them feel brave in taverns, they can keep it. We will have something that can be touched.¡±
Francesco¡¯s mouth curved, that small, private smile that always undoes me more than crowns or vows. ¡°And if monsterse?¡±
I turned my hand so our fingersced, palm to palm. ¡°Then we keep.¡±
He nodded once, as if we had just settled a matter of inventory: grain, hammers, hope.
The wolves outside shouted something to each other and thenughed. A hammer struck true. A baby wailed and then quieted. Somewhere, the willow by theke shook one green hand as if remembering a dance and deciding to choose a gentler one.
Rumors still ran.
They always would.
But the truth had learned how to stand, and it stood here, in kitchens and courtyards, in ledgers and oaths, in hands that bled a little and kept working
anyway.
Three moons.
Then we would see what stayed.
Then we would see what left.
33
55 vouchers
And in the seeing, the world would learn whether the story of a king hungry fornd could survive the sound of a childughing on a morning that smelled like
bread.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Still His 168
Chapter 168
The manor was finally quiet.
98
55 vouchers
After days of rebuilding, nning, and tending to new arrivals, even the most restless had sumbed to exhaustion.
Fires burned low in the hearths.
The children who had filled the halls withughter were now bundled in beds, dreaming safe dreams for the first time in years. Even the guards on the borders kept their steps soft, as though unwilling to disturb the fragile peace.
But I could not sleep.
Neither, it seemed, could Francesco.
I found him on the balcony, his tall frame outlined by moonlight, shoulders heavy with the weight of a hundred decisions.
His dark eyes reflected the night, fierce even in stillness.
For a moment, I simply watched him, my heart tightening with both awe and love.
He was a King, yes, but more than that¨Che was mine.
He turned as if sensing me, and the faintest smile curved his lips.
His arm opened, wordless invitation.
I crossed the stone floor and stepped into him, into warmth that felt like home no matter how cold the world had grown.
¡°Amore mio, My Luna,¡± he murmured against my hair, pressing a kiss to my temple.
But there was a heaviness in his tone that I couldn¡¯t ignore.
¡°You¡¯re troubled,¡± I whispered, resting my cheek against his chest.
His heartbeat was steady, but slow, like the weight of guilt dragged it down.
He exhaled, rough, weary.
¡°I promised you a holiday,¡± he said finally. ¡°Just you and me. Quiet days. Sunlight. Laughter. A chance to breathe.¡± His arms tightened around me, almost desperate. ¡°And instead¡ I dragged you into this. Into broken walls and whispers of war. Into a territory where even the air remembers screams. And now every eye is on you, judging you as much as me.¡±
I pulled back, just enough to see his face.
7:20 Mon, Sep 8
¡
His jaw was clenched, his gaze turned away, as though ashamed.
My powerful, unshakable King looked almost¡ vulnerable.
¡°Francesco,¡± I whispered, cupping his cheek. His stubble rasped against my palm, grounding me in him. ¡°Do you really think I care about what they whisper?¡±
He didn¡¯t answer.
His silence was answer enough.
¡°Do you
think I ever wanted a holiday to escape you?¡± My lips curved into a small, genuine smile. ¡°The holiday I wanted wasn¡¯t a ce. It was you. Just you. Wherever you are, that¡¯s my peace.¡±
His eyes flicked back to mine then, gold burning raw and unguarded.
¡°Even here? In this broken ce?¡± He sounded disbelieving.
I nodded firmly. ¡°Yes,¡± I breathed. ¡°Especially here. Because it¡¯s with you.¡±
For a heartbeat, he only looked at me, as though memorizing every line of my face, every truth in my eyes.
Then his forehead touched mine, our breaths mingling, the bond humming warm between us.
¡°You deserve more,¡± he said hoarsely. ¡°More than broken halls and rumors. More than nights where I wake ready to fight instead of dream.¡±
I shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t want more. I want us. That¡¯s all I¡¯ll ever need.¡±
The words cracked something in him.
His arms crushed me against him, fierce, desperate, as though afraid I might vanish if he loosened his grip.
His lips found mine in a kiss that was not rushed but aching, pouring every unsaid apology and promise into - me.
I melted into him, my hands fisting in his tunic, my wolf howling with the echo of his.
When he pulled back, his breath was ragged, his eyes molten. ¡°One day,¡± he whispered, ¡°I¡¯ll give you the holiday I promised. No crowns. No wars. No rumors. Just me, just you.¡±
I smiled against his lips. ¡°Then let¡¯s call this the beginning. Our holiday starts now.¡±
Heughed then¨Ca rough, real sound that rumbled through his chest and into me.
His tension eased, shoulders lowering as if my words had lifted a weight he had carried too long.
¡°Only you could call this a holiday,¡± he teased, kissing me again, slower this time, savoring.
¡°Only I could survive you,¡± I whispered back, tracing the line of his jaw.
His hands slid up my back, drawing me closer until I was certain no space existed between us.
Our kisses deepened, turning from soft reassurances to something hungrier, needier.
He kissed me like I was air, like I was the only tether keeping him sane.
And maybe I was.
65 wuther
When atst we parted, lips swollen, breaths tangled, he pressed his forehead to mine again. ¡°Run with me,¡± he whispered.
I blinked. ¡°Now?¡±
¡°Now,¡± he said, golden eyes gleaming. ¡°No crowns. No eyes. Just us.¡±
My heart stuttered, then raced. ¡°Yes.¡±
We left our clothes folded in the chamber, stepping into the night bare as the truth between us.
The moon hung full above, silver pouring across the courtyard, over theke, over the fields still scarred bu waiting to be healed.
Francesco shifted first.
The change rippled through him in a blur of power, bones reshaping, fur bursting forth dark as midnight
storms.
His Lycan form towered, massive, a giant of muscle and shadow¨Cgray fur. ck eyes zed like a ck pearl. and the air itself seemed to bow beneath his presence.
My breath caught, as it always did, at the sight of him.
He is my King. My mate. My wolf.
The bond tugged at me, urging me forward, and I surrendered.
Heat raced through me, my body breaking and remaking in the
span of heartbeats.
When the world steadied again, I was on four paws, my fur glistening like snow beneath moonlight. White as legend. The kind of white that glowed, that belonged not to shadow or ash, but to light.
His Lycan rumbled a low growl of awe, and my wolf¡¯s heart leapt.
We pressed against each other, muzzle to muzzle, breath to breath. He nuzzled my neck, his massive form curling around mine in a protective arc.
I licked his jaw in return, yful, loving.
And then we ran.
Across the courtyard, past the half¨Cbuilt homes, through the fields where new grass already dared to sprout.
1
7:21 Mon, Sep 8
:
Our paws thundered against the earth, beating in rhythm with our bond.
The wind whipped past, cool and sharp, carrying the scent of freedom.
Francesco¡¯s Lycan form surged ahead, a shadow vast and unstoppable.
I chased him,ughing in the way only wolves can, until he slowed and let me catch up. Side by side, we ran beneath the silver moon¨Chis dark storm and my bright light.
Two halves of a whole.
A King and his Luna.
A holiday that belonged to us alone.
And for the first time since stepping foot in this brokennd, I felt not the silence of what was lost¨Cbut the song of what could still be.
Comment
Still His 169
Chapter 169
The night belonged to us.
:
59 your thig
Francesco¡¯s Lycan form thundered through the fields like a storm loosed from its chains, massive paws shaking the earth. I ran beside him, my white wolf smaller but no less swift, each bound a burst of joy. Our fur brushed with every stride, shadows and light moving as one beneath the watchful eye of the moon.
The wind carried our scents through thend, bold and undeniable. Not hidden. Not whispered. Dered.
This was no Alpha Henri, skulking in shadows, hiding his sins with silence and chains. This was the King. Their King. Their Luna. Running free. Running together.
We howled.
His deep, thunderous call rolled like an earthquake across the hills, and mine rose to join it¨Cclear, sharp, bright as moonlight. The sound carried through the night, into every ear, into
every heart.
And one by one, voices answered.
From the courtyard, from the homes, from the hills where guards stood watch¨Cwolves lifted their muzzles and
sang. Some were rough, broken, as though unused for too long. Some trembled with emotion. But they rose, and they rose together.
Children peeked from windows, eyes wide as they watched the massive shadow¨Cgray Lycan race with the white wolf of legend. Mothers clutched their little ones close, but this time not in fear¨Cin awe, in relief.
¡°They are ours,¡± someone whispered, the words drifting up from the courtyard.
¡°They are here,¡± another answered.
Protection. That was what they felt. Not fear, not hunger, not loss. Protection.
Francesco slowed, letting me dart ahead, and then with one massive leap he overtook me again, growling low and yful. I snapped at his ear, my white fur glimmering as I bounded past, my paws scattering dirt like starlight. His rumble wasughter, deep and rich, vibrating through my bones.
We chased each other through the fields, around theke that had once been cursed with silence, until our howls echoed across the water and even the willows seemed to sway with us. For a while, there was nothing but the rhythm of our paws, the pulse of our bond, the joy of being alive together.
This was the holiday he thought he had stolen from me. But here, now, in the freedom of the night, I realized we had found it after all.
When atst we slowed, we circled back toward the manor. Wolves had gathered in the courtyard, their eyes bright with something I hadn¡¯t seen in this ce before¨Cfaith. They bowed as we passed, but not in fear. In
reverence. In trust.
Every wolf here now knew: they were safe. They had full protection of their King Alpha and his Luna. No
more chains. No more lies. No more Henri.
7:21 Mon, Sep 8
:
55 vouchers
We stopped at the edge of the courtyard, pressing against each other, nuzzling, our wolves humming with affection. Francesco¡¯s Lycan lowered his massive head to rest against my neck, his warmth sinking into me. 1 licked his muzzle, a simple gesture that meant everything¨Clove, trust, forever.
Peace settled around us like a nket.
But then-
The wind shifted.
My nose twitched, fur bristling. A strange scent threaded through the night. Unfamiliar. Sharp.
Francesco stilled, his dark eyes narrowing as he lifted his massive head.
I inhaled again, my stomach knotting.
It wasn¡¯t just wolf.
Not just one of ours.
Our wolves froze, hackles raised, as the night grew too quiet.
The peace of moments ago shattered into a breathless silence.
The scent drew us back home fast.
By the time we reached the courtyard, guards were already on alert, their wolves pacing at the edge of the border. Francesco¡¯s growl rumbled low in his chest, vibrating the ground beneath us. His ck eyes burned. and I felt his fury thread through the bond. An intruder had crossed hisnd. Ournd.
And not just one.
We shifted back in the shadows of the manor, clothes hastily thrown over skin still humming from the run. By the time we stepped through the gates, Marlow was already there with three of his best men, their ws drawn, surrounding a figure who stood too still, too cold, too other.
A vampire?
The creature¡¯s eyes glowed faintly red in the torchlight, fangs bared in a defensive snarl. His posture wasn¡¯t one of attack¨Cit was protection. His body was angled not toward the wolves who circled him, but toward the young woman pressed against his back.
A she¨Cwolf.
Her eyes were wide, terrified, but her hands clutched at his arm as though he were her shield instead of her
doom.
¡°On your knees, blood¨Cdrinker,¡± Marlow snapped, his de gleaming as he pressed forward.
The vampire hissed, lowering his stance, ready to fight despite being outnumbered.
7:21 Mon, Sep 8
The air thickened, sharp with tension.
:
Voucher
¡°Wait!¡± the she¨Cwolf cried, her voice breaking. She stumbled forward, falling to her knees before Francesco and me. ¡°Please¨Cdon¡¯t kill him! He¡¯s my mate!¡±
The words hit like a lightning strike.
Gasps rippled through the courtyard. Warriors froze. Even Marlow blinked, his sword faltering for the barest
moment.
I stared, my breath caught in my throat. ¡°Mate?¡±
The girl nodded frantically, tears streaking her face. ¡°Yes¨Che¡¯s mine. I know what he is, I know¨Cbut I can feel it, the bond! Please, you have to believe me!¡±
The vampire¡¯s growl deepened, but it wasn¡¯t directed at us¨Cit was desperate, warning, protective. His crimson eyes locked on her, not letting her out of his sight for even a second.
Francesco¡¯s expression hardened, his power ring around us like a storm. ¡°A vampire.¡± His voice was a growl, low and dangerous. ¡°On mynd.¡±
The vampire bared his fangs, his voice sharp as steel. ¡°She is mine. I will not leave her.¡±
Marlow surged forward, his warriors moving in tandem. They struck fast, precise, seizing the vampire¡¯s arms and pinning him to the dirt. He fought with a strength that startled even me, but three wolves against one vampire was too much. Chains clinked as they bound him, forcing him to his knees.
The she¨Cwolf sobbed, throwing herself at Francesco¡¯s feet. ¡°Please! Don¡¯t kill him! I¡¯ll do anything¨Cjust don¡¯t take him from me!¡±
Her words echoed painfully in my chest.
I felt Francesco still beside me, the bond pulling tight.
He remembered.
So did I.
We had been on the edge of this once¨Cfate nearly torn from us, lives almost broken by others¡® choices.
Iid a hand on his arm, my voice steady despite the storm around us. ¡°She speaks truth. Look at her. Look at them.¡±
Francesco¡¯s ck eyes flicked from the trembling girl to the vampire straining against chains, his gaze sharp as a de. For a long, heavy moment, silence ruled the courtyard.
Finally, his voice broke it. ¡°Do not kill them.¡±
Gasps rippled again, this time in disbelief.
The vampire¡¯s head snapped up, crimson eyes burning in shock.
7:21 Mon, Sep 8
The she¨Cwolf let out a broken sob of relief, bowing so low her forehead touched the ground..
Francesco¡¯s gaze never left them as he growled, ¡°Take them to the manor. They will exin themselves¨Cor they will not leave alive.¡±
The warriors hesitated, then obeyed. The vampire was dragged to his feet, still hissing, but no longer fighting. The she¨Cwolf followed, clutching his arm as though the chains around him hurt her as much as him.
As they passed, whispers stirred among
the pack.
¡°A vampire?¡±
¡°Impossible¡¡±
¡°Fated mates?¡±
¡°What does this mean?¡±
Even Monica, usually steady, pressed close to me, her face pale. ¡°Eine,¡± she whispered, ¡°vampires don¡¯t¡ they don¡¯t show themselves anymore. Not for decades. For one to appear here¨Clike this-¡±
¡°¡ªis either fate,¡± Audrey cut in grimly, her hand resting on her de, ¡°or disaster.¡±
I looked at Francesco, his jaw set, his power thrumming around him like thunder. Our eyes met, and I knew- we were both thinking the same thing.
This wasn¡¯t just coincidence.
And as the manor doors closed behind us, sealing the vampire and his wolf mate inside, the air outside still carried their scent.
Wolf¡. And vampire.
A bond unheard of.
A danger unseen.
And a truth that would change everything.
Still His 170
Chapter 170
The air in the Alpha Manor was heavy with suspicion.
The great hall had been cleared.
10 vouchers
Torches burned along the stone walls, their smoke curling upward like uneasy spirits.
Warriors ringed the room, their growls low and constant, eyes locked on the vampire restrained in chains at the center.
His crimson gaze glowed with fury, but his body remained taut, protective. He leaned toward the young she¨Cwolf at his side, shielding her with every movement despite his shackles.
The girl¡¯s face was pale but determined. She clutched his arm as though she would rather be bound beside him than stand free. Her voice had already cracked once begging us not to kill him, but now it held a quiet, desperate strength.
Francesco¡¯s presence dominated the room. He stood before them, dark eyes burning, his aura pressing down so heavy the torches themselves seemed to flicker with unease.
I stood at his side, my hand brushing his wrist, a silent tether keeping his fury anchored.
¡°Speak,¡± Francesco growled, his voice echoing against stone. ¡°You cross my border, you trespass on mynd, you dare bring a vampire into my territory¨Cand you think you can kneel at my feet and ask for mercy without exining yourselves?¡±
The vampire¡¯s lips peeled back in a snarl, fangs gleaming. ¡°I owe no wolf my words.¡±
Before Francesco could strike, the she¨Cwolf cried out, ¡°Wait!¡± She turned to us, tears shining in her eyes but her jaw set firm. ¡°He is my mate. I will speak. I will exin everything.¡±
Francesco¡¯s gaze narrowed. ¡°Your name.¡±
Her chin lifted. ¡°Sofia.¡±
The name froze me in ce. I felt the bond between Francesco and me go taut with sudden recognition.
Francesco¡¯s eyes widened, then burned brighter, molten gold.
His hand clenched into a fist at his side. ¡°Sofia?¡± he hissed, voiceced with disbelief and fury. ¡°Alpha Dorian¡¯s daughter?¡±
Gasps rippled through the gathered wolves.
**** 10 vouchers
Marlow swore under his breath. Audrey¡¯s eyes narrowed, hand tightening on her de. Monica muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a prayer.
Sofia flinched but stood her ground. ¡°Yes. My father is Alpha Dorian.¡±
Francesco¡¯s aura exploded outward, a growl shaking the very stones beneath our feet. ¡°Damn it!¡± he roared, the word cracking like thunder.
The vampire lunged against his chains at the sound, snarling, only to be forced back down by Marlow¡¯s men. His voice was sharp with menace. ¡°Touch her and I¡¯ll tear this hall apart!¡±
Francesco whirled on him, fangs shing as his wolf surged dangerously close to the surface. ¡°You dare threaten me, blood¨Cdrinker? In my own hall?!¡±
The vampire¡¯s crimson eyes glowed, but he didn¡¯t cower. He leaned forward, muscles trembling against the iron, and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. She is mine.¡±
The room erupted in noise¨Cwarriors snarling, elders gasping, the sh of tradition and disbelief thundering through every voice.
I stepped forward, raising my hand. ¡°Enough!¡±
The room stilled, but the tension didn¡¯t ease.
Francesco¡¯s gaze darted to me, wild with fury, but I held it steadily. ¡°Let them speak,¡± I said softly. ¡°We need the truth before we choose blood.¡±
He breathed hard, nostrils ring, but finally gave the smallest nod.
Sofia looked at me then, her eyes wide, filled with both gratitude and fear.
¡°It¡¯s true,¡± she said quickly. ¡°I felt it the moment I saw him. The bond. The pull. The threads of fate¨Cthey tied me to him. I didn¡¯t choose it. But I cannot deny it. He is mine.¡±
Her voice broke, and she reached for the vampire¡¯s hand, gripping his fingers despite the
chains.
He stilled under her touch, his snarl softening into something protective, almost tender.
The sight shook me.
It was a mirror of what I had once feared losing.
Marlow cursed again under his breath. ¡°This is madness,¡± he muttered, but even his sharp eyes lingered on the bond between them.
¡°Aloha Dorian¡¯s daughter.¡± Audrey said coldly, ring at Sofia. ¡°Do you
realize what this
12:51 Wed, Sep 10
19 vouchers 2
means? Your father stood against us at Valmont. He called our King Francesco a conqueror. He mocked our words. And now his daughteres crawling here¨Cbonded to a vampire?¡±
Sofia¡¯s lips trembled, but she lifted her chin. ¡°I didn¡¯t choose this. But I won¡¯t deny it. If you kill him, you¡¯ll have to kill me too.¡±
Her words hung in the hall like a de.
I felt Francesco¡¯s fury vibrate through the bond, but beneath it was something else¨Cconflict.
Shock,
He had faced Alphas, rogues, even demons, but this?
A vampire tied by fate to the daughter of his political enemy?
This was a wound and a weapon both.
He took a slow step forward, towering over them, his voice low and deadly. ¡°Then you will speak. Both of you. You will tell me where you came from, why you are here, and why fate itself dares to mock us with this bond.¡±
Sofia knelt beside the vampire, her hands still gripping his as if her touch alone anchored him to this world. His crimson eyes flickered between her and Francesco, but the tension in his body eased¨Cjust slightly¨Cunder her hold.
Francesco¡¯s voice cut through the air like a de. ¡°Three chances. Speak truth, or your life ends tonight.¡±
The vampire¡¯s lips curled, but before he could answer, Sofia surged forward. ¡°Wait. Please. I¡¯ll tell you.¡±
She turned to me, desperation shining in her wide eyes. ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time we¡¯ve met. We¡¯ve been together for months¡ Three months.¡±
Gasps rippled through the gathered wolves.
Francesco¡¯s gaze narrowed, fury vibrating from him in waves. ¡°Three months?¡± he growled. ¡°In this territory?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Sofia whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks. ¡°We thought no one would know. This ce was abandoned. Empty. The previous Alpha, he never cared. No patrols. We never dreamed the Italian King woulde here, would im it.¡±
Francesco¡¯s hand mmed against the armrest of his chair, stone cracking under the force. ¡°You¡¯ve been hiding a vampire under my nose, in mynd?¡±
12:51 Wed, Sep 10
65
10 vouchers
The vampire hissed, straining against his chains. ¡°Not hiding from you. Hiding from her father.¡±
The hall went silent.
Oh God¡ Alpha Dorian¡¯s daughter?!
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Still His 171
Chapter 171
¡
Francesco stilled, ck eyes sharp.
¡°How about your father?¡±
:
55
55 vouchers
Sofia swallowed hard, her voice breaking. ¡°Alpha Dorian knows. My father knew the moment I told him. The bond pulled at me, and I couldn¡¯t keep it secret. I thought he would understand. But¡¡± She shook her head, trembling. ¡°He denied it. He called it filth. Said I was cursed. He tried to force me away from Lucien¨Cto mate me with a warrior from across the mountains. A man I didn¡¯t love. A man I didn¡¯t choose.¡±
The vampire, Lucien¡¯s crimson eyes burned, his voice low but fierce. ¡°He would have ripped her from me. Broken her. I couldn¡¯t allow it. So we ran. Here. To this forsaken ce where no Alpha ruled, or so I thought¡¡±
Whispers rose among the wolves, sharp and horrified.
¡°A vampire mate¡¡±
¡°Alpha Dorian knew?¡±
¡°He tried to force her away from him?¡±
Francesco¡¯s growl silenced them all.
He rose to his feet, his aura crashing over the hall like a storm. ¡°Dorian dares deny the Moon Goddess¡® will? Dares to call her mate cursed and force her into another bond?¡± His voice thundered. ¡°Does he mock fate
itself?¡±
Sofia flinched but lifted her chin, pride shing through her tears. ¡°He would rather see me broken than ept the truth. That¡¯s why we¡¯re here. Not because we wanted to defy you, but because we had nowhere else to go thinking this is the safest ce¡¡±
My heart twisted at her words.
I remembered what it felt like¨Cthe fear of being rejected, the agony of almost losing Francesco to choices not our own. I was rejected once. So, I stepped forward, my hand brushing his arm. ¡°They¡¯re not lying,¡± I said softly. ¡°Look at them.¡±
Francesco¡¯s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing on the pair before him. Sofia¡¯s trembling defiance, Lucien¡¯s unwavering protectiveness¨Cit was too familiar. Too close to what we had been.
Marlow crossed his arms, his sharp eyes assessing. ¡°Three months. That¡¯s no passing fling. If Alpha Dorian denied her bond, this isn¡¯t just love¡ªit¡¯s survival.¡±
Audrey¡¯s lip curled, but there was no heat in her words. ¡°And if we kill them, we¡¯re no better than Alpha Dorian.¡±
The room stilled at that.
Francesco¡¯s aura burned hotter, but this time it wasn¡¯t only fury¨Cit was conflict.
14:06 Thu, Sep 11 B¡
55
E55 vouchers
I could feel it through the bond, the weight of a King trying to bnce justice with mercy, politics with truth.
Finally, his voice broke the silence. ¡°Lucien.¡±
The vampire¡¯s crimson eyes snapped to him.
¡°Tell me everything,¡± Francescomanded. ¡°How you found her. Why the bond pulled you. What Alpha Dorian knows. If you lie, I¡¯ll know¨Cand you¡¯ll burn for it.¡±
Lucien straightened against his chains, his voice sharp as flint. ¡°If you want my truth, I will not give it bound like an animal.¡±
Gasps rippled again. Warriors shifted, growls rumbling low.
¡°Unchain a vampire?¡± one whispered.
¡°He¡¯ll ughter us all,¡± another muttered.
But Sofia¡¯s voice rose above them, strong despite her tears. ¡°Please. He won¡¯t harm you. I swear it. He¡¯s my mate.¡±
All eyes turned to Francesco.
Dark eyes burned in his gaze, fury and curiosity colliding like storms.
He looked at me, and through the bond I felt his unspoken question.
Do we risk it?
I held his gaze, my voice quiet but certain. ¡°If fate tied them, we can¡¯t deny it. Let him speak.¡±
Francesco growled low, the sound vibrating through the hall.
Then, finally, he gave a sharp nod.
¡°Marlow,¡± hemanded, ¡°remove the chains.¡±
The hall erupted in chaos¨Cgasps, protests, growls.
But Marlow obeyed, stepping forward with two warriors at his side, Iron locks clicked, chains fell, and Lucien rose slowly to his full height.
He didn¡¯t attack. He didn¡¯t run.
Instead, he reached for Sofia¡¯s hand. Their fingers entwined, their bond humming with a raw, undeniable truth that silenced even the loudest protest.
¡°Now,¡± Francesco growled, his ck eyes narrowing like fire through the dark. ¡°Tell us everything.¡±
Lucien stood free of his chains, though a dozen warriors still surrounded him, their des thirsty for the smallest excuse.
¡
14:06 Thu, Sep 11 B ..
55
55 vouchers
His crimson gaze flickered across the room before settling on Francesco, then on me.
Sofia squeezed his hand, urging him to speak.
His voice, when it came, was low but steady. ¡°My name is Lucien Vale. I am older than you think¨Cbut not as old as the legends say. My kind are nearly gone, almost like the Lycan. We don¡¯t rule castles in shadows anymore. We hide. We wander. We survive.¡±
He paused, his jaw tightening. ¡°Most vampires keep to ruins, old forests, or beneath the cities of men. We rarely surface. Those who do¡ don¡¯t survive long. Wolves, witches, even human¨Cthey all hunt us. Your people think we are extinct. Perhaps that is easier than admitting you killed us into silence.¡±
Whispers rippled through the wolves gathered in the hall.
Francesco¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°And yet here you are. On mynd. With my enemy¡¯s daughter.¡±
Lucien¡¯s lips curved bitterly. ¡°I didn¡¯t seek her. Fate brought her to me.¡±
He looked at Sofia then, his crimson eyes softening in a way that startled me. ¡°Three months ago, in the woods beyond Valmont, I was hunting deer. Not blood of humans¨Cnot blood of wolves. I don¡¯t feed that way anymore. And then¡ I scented her. I thought she was prey.¡± His mouth twisted with irony. ¡°She was not.¡±
Sofia smiled faintly, despite the tension.
¡°I felt it instantly,¡± Lucien continued. ¡°The bond. It mmed into me like fire in my veins. She saw me¡ªand instead of running, she froze. We both knew. We couldn¡¯t deny it.¡±
Audrey muttered under her breath, ¡°Moon Goddess has a strange sense of humor.¡±
Lucien ignored her. ¡°We met in secret. At first, just to speak. To try to understand why. But the bond grew stronger. I couldn¡¯t stay away. Neither could she. It was¡ peace. After centuries of silence, she gave me peace.¡±
Sofia squeezed his hand tighter, her voice trembling. ¡°I told my father. I thought he¡¯d ept it, even if it was hard. But he-¡± She broke off, tears spilling. ¡°He called it an abomination. He said no daughter of Valois would be mated to a monster. He locked me in my chambers for weeks. When he finally let me out, it was only to tell me he¡¯d found me a mate¨Ca warrior from the northern ranges. A man I¡¯d never met. He wanted the ceremony within the month.¡±
Lucien¡¯s growl rumbled low in his chest. ¡°She begged him. I begged him. He didn¡¯t listen.¡±
Sofia¡¯s eyes burned with defiance through her tears. ¡°So we ran. Better to be hunted together than broken apart.¡±
Silence stretched, heavy and sharp.
Francesco¡¯s fists clenched at his sides. ¡°Dorian knew,¡± he hissed, fury darkening his face. ¡°He knew, and he
denied it.¡±
Marlow shook his head slowly, a grim smile twisting his lips. ¡°The hypocrite. He stood at Valmont, mocking you, calling you a thief of fates¨Cwhen all the while he was spitting on the Goddess¡® choice for his own daughter.¡±
14:06 Thu, Sep 11 B
¡
55
55 vouchers
Monica¡¯s voice was low, thoughtful. ¡°It exins why Alpha Dorian was so sharp about conquest. He feared you¡¯d expose him. That the truth would reach ears outside hisnd.¡±
Audrey crossed her arms. ¡°And now it has.¡±
Francesco paced forward, ck eyes locked on Lucien and Sofia. ¡°You understand the danger you¡¯ve brought here. Alpha Dorian will not let this stand. He¡¯ll paint me as the viin again¨Cim I stole his daughter, corrupted her with a vampire, used this union as an excuse to expand my reach.¡± His growl shook the hall. ¡°Damn him. He¡¯s already sharpened his lies, and now fate gives him the de.¡±
Sofia bowed her head, voice breaking. ¡°I know. And I¡¯m sorry. But I couldn¡¯t-¡±
¡°You don¡¯t apologize,¡± I interrupted gently, stepping forward. All eyes turned to me, but I kept my gaze on Sofia. ¡°Fate is cruel sometimes, but it is not wrong. If Lucien is your mate, then no force¨CAlpha or King¨Chas the right to sever that bond. Not even your father.¡±
Her eyes widened, glistening with gratitude.
I turned then to Francesco, cing a hand on his arm.
Through the bond, I felt the storm raging in him¡ªanger at Dorian, fear for what this meant, the weight of another war pressing down on his shoulders.
But I also felt his heart, steady beneath it all.
¡°They came here because they had nowhere else to go,¡± I whispered. ¡°We were once almost broken too. Don¡¯t let Alpha Dorian¡¯s cruelty decide their fate.¡±
Francesco¡¯s jaw worked, his golden gaze locked on mine.
Then slowly, he exhaled, his power settling like a storm pulling back from the shore.
He turned to the hall, his voice strong and sharp. ¡°They will stay. Under my watch. In mynd. Protected.¡±
Gasps rippled through the wolves.
Francesco¡¯s gaze hardened, his voice a vow. ¡°If Dorian wants them, he¡¯ll have to go through me.¡±
AD
Comment
Still His 172
Chapter 172
The lie spread faster than fire in dry grass.
55
55 vouchers
By dawn, the couriers were already carrying Alpha Dorian¡¯s story across France. At every tavern hearth, in every elder¡¯s hall, the same tale was told: Sofia of Valois has been kidnapped.
I heard the whispers long before the parchment reached our hands. Wolves spoke in half¨Ctruths and gasps: rogues had taken her, witches had cursed her, Lycans had stolen her in the night.
Each voice carried fear, and beneath it, suspicion¨Calways suspicion pointing toward Italy, toward Francesco.
When the courier finally staggered into our hall, pale and breathless, I already knew. But knowing didn¡¯t soften the sting when Alfonso broke the wax and read the words aloud.
¡°My daughter, Sofia of Valois, has been stolen from me. Kidnapped by shadows and lies. I beg my neighbors for aid to return her honor, for her honor is my people¡¯s honor. Whoever rescues her will find Valois loyalty and gold waiting.¡±
The words dripped like venom from Alfonso¡¯s tongue.
The hall erupted in outrage.
¡°Kidnapped?¡± Audrey mmed her fist against the table so hard the wood cracked. ¡°That lying bastard dares twist the truth, after trying to chain his own daughter to a stranger?¡±
Marlow swore, pacing like a wolf restless for blood. ¡°He¡¯s clever. He knows no one can disprove him¨Cnot unless they stand here and see her with their own eyes. And by then, he¡¯ll have every Alpha in France frothing
for war.¡±
I turned to Sofia and Lucien.
Sofia¡¯s face was pale as moonlight, her hands shaking, but her voice was sharp, bright with fury. ¡°He¡¯s making me look weak. Like I was dragged away! When I chose him¨CI chose Lucien!¡±
Her mate¡¯s crimson eyes glowed, his fangs shing in the torchlight,
Even bound in tension, Lucien radiated something I could not deny; protectiveness, unwavering as stone. ¡°He hides behind honor,¡± he growled, ¡°while spitting in the face of the Goddess.¡±
Around us, wolves muttered, some with doubt, some with sympathy.
The vampire¡¯s presence still made them uneasy. But when Sofia¡¯s hand clutched his, when their bond shimmered so clear it hummed through the air, I knew the Goddess had spoken.
And no Alpha, no father, had the right to undo it.
Beside me, Francesco stood silent. Too silent.
Through our bond, I felt the storm building¨Ctight, sharp, dangerous. His power pressed against my skin like
14:06 Thu, Sep 11 B
:
a storm before lightning, and the golden fire in his eyes burned hotter with every heartbeat.
When he finally moved, the entire hall froze.
55
55 vouchers
He strode to the writing desk, each step heavy with fury held on a leash. His hand closed around the quill like a de, and words carved themselves into parchment with quick, hard strokes. I could see the muscle ticking in his jaw, the rigid line of his shoulders, and I knew every word was a battle between his rage and his restraint.
When he finished, he sealed the letter with his crest and turned to face us. His voice rang like a war¨Cdrum as he read:
¡°Your daughter has not been kidnapped. She stands in my hall, under my roof, protected by me as her King. She is with her fated mate, Lucien¨Cvampire though he is. Fate has bound them, and no Alpha nor father has the right to break what the Moon Goddess decreed. Call it theft if you wish, but it is the Moon Goddess herself who wrote their bond. Come to Valmont and see her with your own eyes. Then dare to call her stolen.¡±
The words hit the hall like a hammer.
Gasps, curses, disbelief.
Alfonso muttered, ¡°Blunt as always.¡±
Audrey smirked despite herself.
And me? I could only breathe, because I felt the truth of him thrumming through our bond.
He would defend her as he defended me.
Because to deny one fated bond was to deny them all.
¡°Marlow,¡± Francescomanded, his dark gaze fixed.
Mymander stepped forward. ¡°Yes, my King.¡±
¡°You¡¯ll deliver it. Take two of your best men. Ride hard. Don¡¯t stop until it¡¯s in his hands.¡±
Marlow bowed low. ¡°dly.¡±
Momentster, he was gone, his wolf form tearing across the bordends with two warriors at his side.
The hall was restless after his departure.
Wolves whispered in corners, elders muttered darkly, and some nced uneasily at Lucien.
But my eyes stayed on Sofia.
She sat rigid, trembling but defiant, her fingers tangled with Lucien¡¯s. I recognized that look¨Cthe same defiance I¡¯d once felt when the world threatened to rip Francesco from me. Her fear was real, but her bond
was stronger.
14:06 Thu, Sep 11 B
Hours stretched.
55
R55 vouchers
The weight of waiting pressed heavy. Francesco paced the hall like a caged storm, his aura keeping even the boldest wolves silent.
When atst the doors burst open, Marlow staggered in, dirt streaked on his skin, his chest still heaving from the run.
He dropped to one knee before us.
¡°He read your words,¡± Marlow said, breathless. ¡°And he wille. Himself. To speak with you directly.¡±
The hall rippled with unease.
Wolves muttered sharp whispers.
¡°He¡¯sing here?¡± one elder gasped.
¡°With warriors, surely,¡± another muttered.
¡°It¡¯s a trap,¡± someone hissed.
Sofia¡¯s lips parted, her eyes wide with both shock and terror. ¡°He¡¯sing?¡±
Lucien pulled her against his side, his voice low, fierce. ¡°Let hime. He¡¯ll see you stand with me. He¡¯ll know you¡¯re not his tomand.¡±
Her hand shook, but she squeezed his tighter, her voice trembling but strong. ¡°Then we¡¯ll face him. Together.¡±
I watched them¨Ctwo young souls clinging to each other against the storm of a father¡¯s wrath and a kingdom¡¯s
lies.
And I saw myself reflected in them, remembered the pain of almost losing Francesco,
I turned my gaze to my mate.
His ck eyes burned like fire, his aura fierce, but through our bond I felt the core of him¨Csteady, certain, unbreakable.
¡°Let Doriane,¡± Francesco growled, his voice ringing through the hall. ¡°He¡¯ll find his daughter standing free. And he¡¯ll learn the cost of lying to the world.¡±
Still His 173
Chapter 173
The night was calm.
For once, the manor was quiet¨Cno messengers running through the halls, no warriors calling for strategy, no anxious whispers rising from the courtyards below.
Only the soft crackle of firewood in the hearth filled the living room where Francesco and I sat together.
I curled into the couch, my legs tucked beneath me, a book lying forgotten on myp.
Francesco sat across from me, lounging in his chair with a ss of wine, the faintest smile tugging at his lips as he watched me pretend to read. His dark eyes, softened by the firelight, lingered on me in a way that still made my chest ache with warmth.
It had been days of storms¨Clies from Dorian, whispers from neighboring packs, the looming promise of confrontation.
But here, in this room, with him, the world felt still.
¡°Your eyes haven¡¯t moved from the same page for ten minutes,¡± he teased, his voice low, rich.
I huffed augh, closing the book with mock indignation. ¡°Maybe I was savoring the sentence.¡±
He arched a brow. ¡°Or maybe you were savoring the fire.¡± His gaze deepened, ck and warm. ¡°Or me¡?¡±
Heat crept to my cheeks, and I tossed a cushion at him.
He caught it easily, hisughter rumbling through the room like music.
The bond between us hummed contentment, steady and strong. For the first time all week, I let myself rx.
Then a knock broke the stillness.
Francesco¡¯s head snapped toward the door, his brows furrowing. I felt his quick scan through the bond- searching, assessing. No threat. No rms at the border. So why-
¡°Enter,¡± he called.
The door opened to reveal Beta Alfonso, his faceposed but faintly troubled.
¡°Alfonso?¡± Francesco¡¯s tone held curiosity more than irritation. ¡°There¡¯s no threat. Why are you here at this hour?¡±
Alfonso stepped inside, bowing his head. ¡°Forgive the intrusion, my King. My Luna.¡± He nced over his shoulder, and when he stepped aside, I saw the reason for his visit,
Sofia and Lucien stood in the hallway, their hands linked tightly, their faces pale with nerves.
¡°They need to speak with you,¡± Alfonso said softly.
14:33 Fri, Sep 12 B¡
I rose from the couch, my book forgotten.
O
56 vouchers
The bond hummed between Francesco and me, a wordless exchange of surprise and curiosity. When I nodded, he gave the faintest tilt of his head.
¡°Let theme,¡± he said.
Alfonso gestured them inside, his voice calm and guiding, like he knew the weight of what they carried.
The young couple moved hesitantly into the room. Sofia¡¯s eyes darted between us, her grip on Lucien¡¯s hand. white¨Cknuckled. Lucien stood tall beside her, crimson eyes sharp, but even his shoulders carried tension. They looked like two people about to leap from a cliff, praying wings would catch them.
I folded my hands in front of me, my heart already softening. ¡°What is it?¡± I asked gently.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
I saw them nce at one another, silentmunication flickering in their eyes. Then Sofia drew in a breath, steadying herself.
¡°We¡¯ve made a decision,¡± she said, her voice small but resolute. ¡°That¡ We¡¯re going to leave.¡±
The words hit me like a p.
¡°Leave?¡± Francesco¡¯s voice was sharper, surprised.
Sofia nodded, her throat bobbing. ¡°My father ising. We know what that means. We don¡¯t want to put you in danger¨Cor your Luna, or your pack. Alpha Dorian will do whatever it takes to paint you as the viin. We can¡¯t let that happen. Not because of us.¡±
Lucien stepped forward, his voice firmer. ¡°We¡¯ll go to Romania. My family is there. They¡¯ll ept her. We¡¯ll be safe. But if we stay here¡ we¡¯ll only bring war to your doorstep.¡±
I stared at them, shock flooding me.
They were so young, barely at the beginning of their bond¨Cand yet they spoke with the weight of seasoned warriors. Choosing exile. Choosing hardship. Choosing to protect us at their own expense.
Through the bond, I felt Francesco¡¯s surprise mirror mine. But beneath it, I sensed something else¨Crespect, Pride. He looked at them not as children making foolish choices, but as a couple shouldering responsibility with courage.
Even Alfonso blinked, taken aback.
For once, the everposed Beta seemed almost speechless.
His eyes softened with quiet pride as he looked between them.
¡°You understand,¡± Francesco said slowly, ¡°what it means to leave. To sever ties with thisnd. To walk away knowing your father will brand you traitors.¡±
14:33 Fri, Sep 12
61
65 yourfers
¡°Yes,¡± Lucien said firmly. His arm tightened around Sofia. ¡°But better that than to let him use us as a de against you.¡±
Sofia¡¯s eyes glistened, but her jaw was steady. ¡°We¡¯d rather carry the weight ourselves than see more blood spilled because of us.¡±
My chest ached at her words.
I saw in her the girl I once was¨Cyoung, afraid, yet unwilling to bow to fate twisted by others.
I stepped closer, my voice soft. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have to carry this alone.¡±
Her eyes met mine, wide and shimmering. ¡°It¡¯s not fair,¡± she whispered. ¡°But it¡¯s ours.¡±
Francesco exhaled, a long sound, his aura shifting. ¡°Then it will be respected,¡± he said. ¡°It is not our ce tomand your path. But if this is your choice, then you will not walk it without aid.¡±
He turned to Alfonso. ¡°Prepare what they need. Money. Provisions. Horses. Whatever will help them reach Romania safely.¡±
Alfonso bowed deeply. ¡°At once, my King.¡±
Sofia hesitated, her lip trembling. ¡°What if my fatheres here and finds we¡¯re gone?¡± Her voice cracked, tears spilling over. ¡°He¡¯ll me you. He¡¯ll say you hid me, or¡ª¡±
I crossed the room and drew her into my arms before she could finish.
She stiffened for a heartbeat, then copsed against me, trembling.
¡°Let my mate handle that,¡± I whispered, stroking her hair. ¡°You don¡¯t need to fear what he will say. He¡¯s already lost the truth, but he can¡¯t take yours. Go, if this is what you need. We¡¯ll stand for you when hees.¡±
She clung to me, her tears wetting my shoulder.
Lucien¡¯s crimson eyes softened, a rare crack of gratitude showing through the sharp edges of his face.
When atst Sofia pulled back, her eyes red but her spirit unbroken, Francesco spoke again, his voice steady and strong.
with
¡°You go his heels.¡±
my respect. And my protection. If Dorian dares chase you into Romania, he¡¯ll find my shadow at
Lucien bowed his head. ¡°Thank you, my King.¡±
But I saw more in his eyes than gratitude. I saw determination. The kind of devotion only a mate could bring. He would shield her with his life. He would carry her to safety even through fire.
And in that, Francesco saw himself.
Through the bond, I felt his pride sharpen¨Cyes, for Lucien, but more for the Goddess, who had tied two hearts strong enough to choose sacrifice.
14:33 Fri, Sep 12 B.
¡
That night, choices were made. Choices born of pain, but also of love.
And as I watched them hold hands, trembling yet resolute, I thought: ¡°This is what fate asks of us sometimes -notfort, not peace. But courage.¡®
And the young ones had found it.
#
Still His 174
Chapter 174
40
55 vouchers
The night after their decision stretched long and thin, a thread pulled tight between hope and fear.
Sleep came in tatters. I drifted and rose, drifted and rose again, catching the flicker of torchlight under the door and the steady cadence of boots as our sentries changed posts.
Somewhere down the hall a child cried out from a dream and was soothed; somewhere in the courtyard a hammer rang once, twice¨Csomeone securing atch that never quite fit. The manor breathed around us, the way a body breathes when it knows it must be strong by morning.
By the time I gave up on sleep entirely, the window was no longer ck but gray¨Cthe antechamber of dawn. Francesco was already awake, sitting at the foot of the bed, elbows braced on his knees, hands steepled. The ck in his eyes was banked heat, quiet but unignorable. Our bond moved between us like a river under ice.
¡°You felt it too,¡± I murmured, drawing the shawl around my shoulders.
He nodded once. ¡°Choices travel the halls. They keep their own hours.¡±
I crossed to him and folded myself into hisp, a habit old as our first winter together.
His arms came around me automatically, breath loosening. For a minute we said nothing, letting stillness do its work.
Then, because dawn is impatient, a knock came¨Csoft, respectful, decisive.
¡°Enter,¡± Francesco called.
Alfonso slipped in, already dressed for travel though he wasn¡¯t leaving with them. He carried the practical scent of ink and leather and the faint bitter ghost of coffee. Behind him, in the corridor, the manor¡¯s quiet bustle had gathered itself: the scrape of a trunk, the whisper of oiled hinges, the metallic peal of a curb chain tested for weakness.
¡°It¡¯s time,¡± Alfonso said.
We dressed in silence that wasn¡¯t empty.
I braided my hair back; Francesco fastened the leather guards that he never went without now, not even for short walks through our own yard.
In the corridor, Monica waited with a wicker case that clinked softly, and Audrey with a bundle strapped tight in oilcloth.
¡°Don¡¯t argue,¡± Monica said as a greeting, pressing the case into my hands for a moment so she could straighten the strap. ¡°I know what you¡¯re about to say and the answer is that they¡¯re taking everything I give them.¡±
¡°Everything?¡± I echoed.
¡°Salves. Dried meat. Tinctures. Charms.¡± Monica¡¯s eyes flicked to me and the iron softened beneath their brown. ¡°A little luck, bottled where it can find them when they forget they have it.¡±
12:44 Mon, Sep 15
$40
65 vouchere
Audrey¡¯s grin was all tooth. ¡°And this,¡± she said, pping the oilcloth. ¡°Maps, two spare des, flint, and a coil of line that won¡¯t betray them in the rain. And bells for your boots.¡±
I blinked.
¡°Kidding,¡± she added, deadpan. ¡°Mostly.¡±
Sofia and Lucien stood at the end of the hall by the great stair, hands twined so tightly their knuckles ached white.
She wore a dark traveling cloak one of the women had altered through the night; he wore a coat that once belonged to an officer in a human army¨Canonymous, well¨Ccut, forgettable. He had tucked his hair back. He had tucked everything sharp back except his eyes.
Sofia¡¯s gaze found me and flinched with memory and relief all at once. I crossed the space between us and took her free hand in both of mine.
¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything,¡± I told her.
She said it anyway. ¡°Thank you.¡±
Lucien dipped his head toward Francesco. Not quite a bow; something more honest. ¡°I won¡¯t forget who did what my own would not, King Francesco.¡±
Francesco¡¯s mouth crooked at the corner. ¡°Keep her safe,¡± he said, and the word her carried the bone¨Cdeep, vow¨Ccold weight only a mated wolf can recognize. ¡°Or Ie to Romania and ruin someone¡¯s day.¡±
¡°Several someones,¡± Audrey supplied helpfully.
Monica elbowed her in the ribs, discreet in the way a thunderp is discreet.
We moved as a small procession through the waking manor. In the kitchen Maria stood with steam rising around her like prayer,dling soup into crockery that would be eaten by men who hadn¡¯t expected to be hungry at this hour. She stopped us with a hand on Sofia¡¯s sleeve and kissed the girl¡¯s forehead the way grandmothers are allowed to kiss even queens. ¡°Youe home to us if you want,¡± she said. ¡°Or send word that your home found you elsewhere. Both are allowed.¡±
Lucio pressed a leather pouch into Lucien¡¯s palm. ¡°Coins,¡± he said. ¡°And a wedding ring I wore once when the world was lessplicated. It buys better treatment in human inns than a crest ever will.¡±
Outside, the sky had diluted from te to pearl.
The horses were ready¨Ctwo steady bays for the road, chosen for sense over speed; two remounts tethered behind.
Beta Alfonso hadid the gear as if he¡¯d been born with a list in his hand.
On the mounting block, he unfurled a map already creased where fingers had thought too much in the night.
¡°Here,¡± he said, tapping. ¡°Avoid the old smugglers¡® path. Alpha Dorian¡¯s men know it. Take the salt road to the mill and then cut north by the willow stand¨Cthere¡¯s a ford there that doesn¡¯t look like a ford, which is the best
12:44 Mon, Sep 15
55 vouches
kind. In two days you¡¯ll hit the border market; keep to the fishmongers¡® side and no one will sniff you. Another two, and you¡¯ll see the first Romanian waystones. Vaughan¡¯s pass is watched; take the shepherds¡® track just below it. If anyone stops you before then, you trade names for names¨Cnot truths.¡± He looked up, expression going from clerk to brother. ¡°I¡¯ve sent ahead. There will be a woman with a red scarf at the border inn. Tell her you¡¯re buying winter apples.¡±
Sofia said the word very softly. ¡°Winter.¡±
Lucien slid his hand over hers, thumb drawing one, slow circle. ¡°We¡¯ll have one,¡± he said. ¡°Many.¡±
Monica opened her case on the mounting block.
No potions winked inside, no theatrical smoke¨Cjust the lives that carry you through the valley between intention and fact.
Row on row of little bottles and wrapped leaves. She touched each one as she named it: ¡°Comfrey for wounds. Willow for fever. Witchhazel when you can¡¯t get a bruise to mind its manners. Rosemary and ash¨Crub it in your hair and clothes when you need to smell like nothing in particr. Lavender for sleep when the road gives you stones for pillows. Wolfsbane¨Cno, don¡¯t touch it¨Ccarried only, never used, and only if something older than you decides you look delicious.¡± She closed the lid and set the case in Sofia¡¯s hand. ¡°I know each leaf. I will know when you use them, and I will talk unkindly to the ones that misbehave.¡±
Audrey unsheathed one of the des and turned it so the morning made a clean line along the edge. ¡°This stays hidden in your boot,¡± she said, looking at Sofia because she knew Lucien would think his own body enough. ¡°If you don¡¯t need it, it¡¯s a friend. If you do, it will already know you.¡± To Lucien she added, ¡°And there¡¯s a second in the saddle roll. You¡¯re fast, but fast bleeds if it thinks it¡¯s immortal.¡±
He epted the admonition without pride. ¡°I¡¯ve bled enough to know it¡¯s messy,¡± he said.
Sofia hugged Audrey with a fierceness that startled them both. ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered into armor that smelled of oil and rain.
Audrey¡¯s hand hovered awkwardly and thennded on the girl¡¯s back, uncertain as a woman teaching herself softness again.
¡°Keep your head down,¡± Audrey muttered. ¡°And your spine up.¡±
They mounted. The horses shifted, snorted, settled under hands that tried to be steady. Monica stepped back, then forward again, impulsive, and tucked a scrap of blue ribbon into Sofia¡¯s palm. ¡°For your hair,¡± she said. ¡°Or your wrist. Or the door of your first house.¡±
For a breath we hovered on the cusp of everything.
Farewells are cliffs; they make liars of lungs.
I reached up and touched Sofia¡¯s knee. ¡°If you change your mind,¡± I said, ¡°we make space. Always.¡±
She lifted her chin, tears glossing her eyes without spilling. ¡°If we change our minds, we bring you bread from the border market and tell you every ridiculous thing that happened on the way back.¡±
¡°That¡¯s allowed too,¡± I said, and smiled because she needed me to.
12:44 Mon, Sep 15
399
55 vouchers
Francesco moved to Lucien¡¯s stirrup. The vampire looked down, inecting ck with red, unflinching. ¡°You carry a history that makes wolves¡® backs rise,¡± Francesco said. ¡°And you came anyway. Hold her as if the world deserves to keep her because you two decided it does.¡±
¡°I do,¡± Lucien said simply.
Fate has a thousand speeches; sometimes it learns economy.
Francesco stepped away. ¡°Gate,¡± he called, and the east arch yawned open to the hill road.
We went with them as far as the willow stand.
It felt right.
Wolves rose from ditches and brush as we passed, falling into a loose escort¨Cnot as jailers, not as witnesses- just the family you gather when a leaving needs blessing.
At the stand, where the road breaks left into scrub and a small, stubborn stream argues with the ditch, we halted. This was the ce that looks like nothing, which is exactly where magic likes to linger.
I dismounted and took Sofia¡¯s hands while she was still in the saddle. Her fingers were cold; mine were not much better. ¡°Breathe,¡± I told us both.
She did. The breath shivered, steadied. ¡°I thought I¡¯d be more afraid,¡± she said, almost bemused. ¡°But right now all I can think is¨Cdid we pack enough socks? Are there apples this time of year? Will Lucien¡¯s family hate me? Will they think I ruined him? Will they-¡±
¡°Love you for loving their own,¡± I said. ¡°And if they falter, you set the kettle and use your eyebrows until they see sense.¡± I squeezed her hands, then tightened: the old human way of making emphasis when words are apprentices to bigger truths. ¡°He is not ruined. He is found.¡±
She swallowed. Nodded, twice. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said, and then, quieter, the admission that costs, because it gives you back to yourself, ¡°I¡¯m afraid anyway.¡±
¡°Good,¡± I said. ¡°Fear means you¡¯re carrying something worth protecting.¡±
Francesco and Lucien touched forearms¨Cno rank in it, just agreement.
I feel like this is how we, as a parents let our kids went with their mate.
Still His 175
Chapter 175
:¨C
56 vouchers.
Beta Alfonso quikly checked the girth at thest moment the way men who have learned to mistrust straps - do.
Monica rose on her toes and pressed a kiss to Sofia¡¯s knee the way Bethany had pressed one to her brow: small, domestic sacrament.
Then they were off.
Not galloping¨Cthe road here bites horses that try to look brave¨Cbut at a steady, ground¨Ceating pace, the sort a day can forgive.
We watched until the willow broke them into banded shadow, until the shadows closed behind them and made a morning with two fewer hearts in it.
No one spoke, because sometimes silence is the only grammar a leaving will ept.
Back at the manor, the day did what days do. It waited for no one. The courtyard epted the absence and filled itself with other work.
I went to the balcony for a minute because I am not made of stone, and some pieces of grief are private, not secret. Francesco found me there without trying. The bond tugged him the way the tide asks a shore to remember it. He slid an arm around my waist and let his forehead rest against my temple.
¡°We did right,¡± he said. It was not a question.
¡°Yes,¡± I answered. ¡°And I hate how right feels like losing.¡±
He exhaled augh that didn¡¯t want to be one. ¡°You¡¯re honest when I want to pretend I¡¯m made of steel.¡±
¡°You¡¯re steel that decided to feel anyway,¡± I said, which is better.
We stood long enough for thest of dawn to fully decide itself into day, then turned toward the necessary.
We convened in the hall where decisions have learned to find their legs.
Julius and Bethany came; Alfonso, of course as the Beta; Marlow, vibrating at a frequency that says tell me whose throat needs guarding; Monica with her ledger of bodies and their inconveniences; Audrey with her bad leg propped and her good eye on everyone.
¡°The Valois wille fast,¡± Marlow began, hands t on the table. ¡°If Alpha Dorian rides light, he can reach the ridge above the east fields by dusk tomorrow. If he rides heavy, he¡¯ll camp at the ash grove and make a morning of it to appear deliberate.¡±
¡°Which would you choose?¡± Alfonso asked.
Marlow¡¯s mouth tipped. ¡°If pride is the horse, it will choose the ridge.¡±
¡°Then we set our stage for both,¡± I said. ¡°We show him we expect politeness and prepare for the opposite.¡±
12:44 Mon, Sep 15
55 vouchers
Francesco rolled the Charter out across the scarred wood¨Criver stamp blue as a bruise, signatures like a choir of various hands. ¡°We hold the hall for parley with the Keeper¡¯s words ready on our tongues,¡± he said. ¡°Neutral phrases. True ones. We don¡¯t let rumor drag us toward an arena that isn¡¯t ours.¡±
¡°And outside?¡± Audrey asked.
She always asks about the outside; it¡¯s saved us more than once.
¡°First ring at the lower yard,¡± Marlow said promptly. ¡°Shields, not des. The second ring just inside the gate, phnx if they try to break line. Third ring¡°¡ªhe grinned at Audrey¡ª¡°is you pretending you¡¯re not itching to make a point.¡±
¡°Who said about pretending?¡± she said sweetly.
¡°Quartermasters?¡± I asked.
Alfonso ticked items off on his fingers: ¡°Tents in reserve if we need to stage a camp for optics. Bread, water, broth¨Cwe will not feed him banquets, but we will not look like we¡¯re starving our own. A stool for every elder who¡¯ll im age as a right to speak. Two scribes. And¡ª¡± he nced at me-¡°a ce in the kitchen toy the Charter after we read it, because paper behaves better when heat teaches it to trust.¡±
Bethany¡¯s eyes shone. ¡°You remember.¡±
I did.
Kitchens remember best.
¡°Messengers?¡± Francesco asked, gaze sliding to me because he knows when I want to be the one to say it.
¡°Renaud needs a line,¡± I said. ¡°She stood for the Charter. If Alpha Dorian tries to call the vote on our keeping,
I want her reeds swaying our way.¡± I looked at Alfonso. ¡°Send to the Conve Keeper. Not to demand attendance¨Cshe won¡¯t- but to remind her that the river hears more when it is invited.¡±
Alfonso scribbled. ¡°And Luc?¡± he asked.
The name slid through the room like a thought everyone had been holding.
Former Beta Luc¨Cnow foreman of foundations,ugh louder than his shame. He¡¯de to the hall¡¯s edge already, as if his name being spoken had woken the floor under his feet.
¡°I¡¯ll take the north wall,¡± Luc said before we could assign it. ¡°My men know the weak stones and the hands that need watching. And-¡± he cleared his throat and looked at Francesco-¡°if Alpha Dorian tries to bait us about what I failed to do under old Alpha Henri, let him. I have ledger and memory both.¡±
Francesco nodded, a gesture that carried forgiveness without making a ceremony of it.
Those are the best kinds.
¡°And the people,¡± I said. ¡°We tell the truth, not the teeth. We gather them at noon and speak inly. Not about fangs or secrets. About rights. The right to choose a mate. The right to safety. The right to leave without being chased by the life that hurt you.¡±
12:44 Mon, Sep 15
55 voucherS
Bethany¡¯s chin lifted. ¡°I¡¯ll stand at your side,¡± she said. ¡°The old like to hear the old say the new is still allowed¡±
Monica added, ¡°I¡¯ll set a table in the square with rosemary water and bread. Fear metabolizes better when it¡¯s been fed.¡±
¡°They will gossip anyway,¡± Audrey muttered.
¡°Then we give them better gossip,¡± I said. ¡°Like how the King puts down his crown to carry a beam when the frame won¡¯t lift itself. Or how the Luna gets dirt under her nails and no one dies of it.¡±
¡°sphemy,¡± Marlow said, deadpan. ¡°What next? The Beta carries his own ledger?¡±
Alfonso held it aloft with dignity. ¡°I am acquainted with paper.¡±
We worked until the candles sighed.
ns are nothing; nning is everything, Francesco likes to say when he¡¯s trying to make me roll my eyes.
Today the saying earned only a grim smile.
When we broke, the air in the hall tasted different: less like waiting, more like readiness.
Still His 176
Chapter 176
39
55 Vouchers
At noon the square filled because it wanted to and because messengers know how to pitch their voices so you think you meant toe anyway.
We climbed the low stone step that once carried edicts and now held bread baskets and small boys who insisted on standing exactly where they were told not to.
Francesco didn¡¯t mount anything taller; he never does when the truth will be heavy enough.
¡°We have sent two we love toward a life they chose,¡± I said, and the murmur that rolled back at me was the sound you hear when a flock shifts, not in fear, but to adjust to weather they recognize. ¡°Sofia and Lucien will be safe, because they will make each other so. If you are asked, you tell this: that the Moon Goddess writes in ink that doesn¡¯t care who reads it. That we don¡¯t sharpen knives on her words.¡±
Francesco spoke then, voice lower, carrying because it refused to strain. ¡°Alpha Dorian spreads a story that makes a father look like a victim and a daughter look like a door he owns. We do not open doors that way here.¡± His gaze went from face to face, not skipping the ones that had learned to look down under Henri. ¡°If hees¨Cand he will¨Cwe meet him with our backs straight and our work still in our hands. I will not ask you to shout for me. I will ask you to stand for yourselves.¡±
Bethany squeezed my arm until the bones protested and then spoke her small piece¨Cclear, practical, disruptive in the way truth always is when it turns the obvious inside out.
Children tugged on sleeves and asked too¨Cloud questions at bad times and were shushed and then not shushed because it is good for leaders to remember how life insists on itself.
After, Monica and the women fed everyone who came and three who swore they hadn¡¯t intended to. The gossip restarted, because gossip is just themunity checking itself for holes. But it changed the key, and that matters: fewer ¡°did you hear¡± and more ¡°did you see.¡± Things seen stand longer than things said.
In the afternoon I took a letter to the messenger roost myself because sometimes a Luna needs to put her hands on the string that ties her words to other people¡¯s doors.
The letter to Renaud was short and careful, reeds sketched in the margin where only she would know to look:
We honor the Charter. The Keeper has been told. Alpha Dorian wille sooner than he is wise enough to dy. If your scouts wish to verify that our kitchens still have soup and our walls still stand, they will be greeted, not glorified. Come if you choose. We will not make a spectacle of our truth; we will let it be seen.
I sealed it with wax and rosemary oil and watched the raven hop from glove to air.
On my way back I found Luc (our Luc) at the north wall with a line of men and two women who swung hammers like they were born knowing sound was something you could make behave.
He lifted a hand and the whole line paused, adjusted, resumed. The rhythm tightened. I let my mouth be proud for a second and then put the expression away;pliments can knock concentration off a scaffold.
In the training yard, Marlow had the first ring in motion. Shields rose, shields fell, a ripple when he called left, a ripple when he called right, until the ripples began to look like a nk that had decided water was a trick it could do as well as rivers. Audrey prowled the second ring with a cane she swore she would return
12:44 Mon, Sep 15
¡°tomorrow,¡± which is a date she has learned to keep at arm¡¯s length.
39
355 voucherse
In the infirmary, Monica scolded a boy into drinking something that could clean rust. ¡°If you don¡¯t like the taste, tell the taste to like you,¡± she said, and the boy believed her because Monica says nouns as if they owe
her rent.
Byte afternoon, the ns had edges, not just outlines.
That¡¯s when the fear slips in¨Cnot the wild kind, but the ounting kind. I took it to the only ce that softens edges without dulling them: our room.
Francesco came a minuteter because the bond is a door we don¡¯t know how to close and don¡¯t want to.
He sat on the foot of the bed the same way he had before dawn, but now the line of his mouth had resolved itself into something that could cut or cradle depending on what touched it.
¡°If hees with twenty,¡± I said, ¡°you will want to shame him by sending ten to meet him.¡±
¡°I will want to,¡± he agreed, ¡°and I will send twelve with instructions to look like ten and act like thirty.¡±
¡°If hees with four,¡± I said, ¡°he will expect you to think him honorable.¡±
¡°I will set him a chair and take the one without armrests,¡± he said, ¡°and I will not drink anything he pours.¡±
¡°If he calls me by a name that isn¡¯t mine,¡± I said, ¡°I will decide whether to teach him or let him show himself a student.¡±
His eyes softened then, the dark going to warmth. ¡°You teach by breathing,¡± he said. ¡°It is irritating and very effective.¡±
¡°And you guard byughing at the wrong moment,¡± I said. ¡°It is terrifying and also effective.¡±
He caught my hand and pressed his mouth to the pulse.
The small intimacy unwound a knot I hadn¡¯t named yet. ¡°We are very good at this,¡± he whispered.
¡°At what?¡± I asked.
¡°Being two people who insist on being one strategy,¡± he said, a smile made of tired and true.
We did not kiss because sometimes tenderness is quieter.
We sat until the light turned the room into a painting that thinks it might like to be a window and then the world knocked again.
This time it wasn¡¯t a hand on wood.
It was a horn.
Not the rm¨Cno one ran. The horn that means eyes to the east. Conversation in the courtyard fled to its corners and then peered out again.
12:45 Mon, Sep 15
393
55 Vouchers
Marlow¡¯s voice rose below our window, carrying as if the air were volunteer enough to help: ¡°Scouts back!¡±
We moved without deciding to.
Down the hall, the stairs, into the square that had already learned where to stand when news needs room.
Two riders came hard and clean, horses blowing, sweat dark in the ces that tell you the distance more than the speed. They swung down before their hooves had quite made up their minds to stop and saluted in one motion because training likes to show off when it¡¯s been given a chance.
¡°Report,¡± Marlow said, and it wasn¡¯t a bark because he doesn¡¯t bark at our own anymore.
¡°Valois banner,¡± the first said between breaths. ¡°Thirty riders. Two wagons. Crest visible a mile out¨Che wants to be seen.¡±
¡°Distance?¡± Alfonso asked, already pulling a te from his pocket.
¡°From the east ridge to the ash grove now,¡± the second answered. ¡°Camp by dusk if he wants his entrance with sun. If he press, he hits the lower field at moonrise.¡±
¡°If he presses,¡± Audrey said quietly, ¡°he wants a show, not a talk.¡±
Francesco¡¯s gaze tracked east, as if he could see over hill and river and the polite lies men tell their own fear.
The bond between us went very still¨Cnot empty, not cold¨Cstill the way a drawn bow is still.
¡°Then we give him both,¡± he said. ¡°A show he can¡¯t twist. And a talk he can¡¯t win.¡±
I felt thend lean in, just a fraction.
The way fields do before weather.
The way wolves do before truth.
We had said our goodbyes at dawn. We would stage our wee by dusk. In between, the world held its breath and counted our ns like prayer beads.
At the edge of the square, a boy tugged his mother¡¯s sleeve and asked, too loud, ¡°Is the bad Alpha going to take our Luna?¡± His mother shushed him, mortified, but the question had already sprouted.
Forty pairs of eyes swiveled to me and then away, as if politeness could un¨Cask a child¡¯s courage.
I went to the boy because fear is an animal that shrinks when you look it in the face. I crouched so we were eye to eye. ¡°No,¡± I said simply. ¡°No one takes what we stand for.¡±
He considered, then nodded, satisfied with a logic adults find too blunt to adopt.
He ran off to tell five other children something they¡¯d repeat wrong and remember right.
Francesco¡¯s hand found mine again. ¡°We hold the line,¡± he said.
12:45 Mon, Sep 15
¡°tomorrow,¡± which is a date she has learned to keep at arm¡¯s length.
239
55 vouchers
In the infirmary, Monica scolded a boy into drinking something that could clean rust. ¡°If you don¡¯t like the taste, tell the taste to like you,¡± she said, and the boy believed her because Monica says nouns as if they owe
her rent.
Byte afternoon, the ns had edges, not just outlines.
That¡¯s when the fear slips in¨Cnot the wild kind, but the ounting kind. I took it to the only ce that softens edges without dulling them: our room.
Francesco came a minuteter because the bond is a door we don¡¯t know how to close and don¡¯t want to.
He sat on the foot of the bed the same way he had before dawn, but now the line of his mouth had resolved itself into something that could cut or cradle depending on what touched it.
¡°If hees with twenty,¡± I said, ¡°you will want to shame him by sending ten to meet him.¡±
¡°I will want to,¡± he agreed, ¡°and I will send twelve with instructions to look like ten and act like thirty.¡±
¡°If hees with four,¡± I said, ¡°he will expect you to think him honorable.¡±
¡°I will set him a chair and take the one without armrests,¡± he said, ¡°and I will not drink anything he pours.¡±
¡°If he calls me by a name that isn¡¯t mine,¡± I said, ¡°I will decide whether to teach him or let him show himself a
student.¡±
His eyes softened then, the dark going to warmth. ¡°You teach by breathing,¡± he said. ¡°It is irritating and very effective.¡±
¡°And you guard byughing at the wrong moment,¡± I said. ¡°It is terrifying and also effective.¡±
He caught my hand and pressed his mouth to the pulse.
The small intimacy unwound a knot I hadn¡¯t named yet. ¡°We are very good at this,¡± he whispered.
¡°At what?¡± I asked.
¡°Being two people who insist on being one strategy,¡± he said, a smile made of tired and true.
We did not kiss because sometimes tenderness is quieter.
We sat until the light turned the room into a painting that thinks it might like to be a window and then the world knocked again.
This time it wasn¡¯t a hand on wood.
It was a horn.
Not the rm¨Cno one ran. The horn that means eyes to the east. Conversation in the courtyard fled to its corners and then peered out again.
12:45 Mon, Sep 15
1399
55 voucher
Marlow¡¯s voice rose below our window, carrying as if the air were volunteer enough to help: ¡°Scouts back!¡±
We moved without deciding to.
Down the hall, the stairs, into the square that had already learned where to stand when news needs room.
Two riders came hard and clean, horses blowing, sweat dark in the ces that tell you the distance more than the speed. They swung down before their hooves had quite made up their minds to stop and saluted in one motion because training likes to show off when it¡¯s been given a chance.
¡°Report,¡± Marlow said, and it wasn¡¯t a bark because he doesn¡¯t bark at our own anymore.
¡°Valois banner,¡± the first said between breaths. ¡°Thirty riders. Two wagons. Crest visible a mile out¨Che wants to be seen.¡±
¡°Distance?¡± Alfonso asked, already pulling a te from his pocket.
¡°From the east ridge to the ash grove now,¡± the second answered. ¡°Camp by dusk if he wants his entrance with sun. If he press, he hits the lower field at moonrise.¡±
¡°If he presses,¡± Audrey said quietly, ¡°he wants a show, not a talk.¡±
Francesco¡¯s gaze tracked east, as if he could see over hill and river and the polite lies men tell their own fear.
The bond between us went very still¨Cnot empty, not cold¨Cstill the way a drawn bow is still.
¡°Then we give him both,¡± he said. ¡°A show he can¡¯t twist. And a talk he can¡¯t win.¡±
I felt thend lean in, just a fraction.
The way fields do before weather.
The way wolves do before truth.
We had said our goodbyes at dawn. We would stage our wee by dusk. In between, the world held its breath and counted our ns like prayer beads.
At the edge of the square, a boy tugged his mother¡¯s sleeve and asked, too loud, ¡°Is the bad Alpha going to take our Luna?¡± His mother shushed him, mortified, but the question had already sprouted.
Forty pairs of eyes swiveled to me and then away, as if politeness could un¨Cask a child¡¯s courage.
I went to the boy because fear is an animal that shrinks when you look it in the face. I crouched so we were eye to eye. ¡°No,¡± I said simply. ¡°No one takes what we stand for.¡±
He considered, then nodded, satisfied with a logic adults find too blunt to adopt.
He ran off to tell five other children something they¡¯d repeat wrong and remember right.
Francesco¡¯s hand found mine again. ¡°We hold the line,¡± he said.
12:45 Mon, Sep 15
¡°We keep,¡± I answered.
65 voucherh
The horn sounded once more, this time from the cast watchtower¨Cthe long, low note that says movement on the ridge. Men and women flowed to their ces, not in panic; like water remembering a bedrock path.
I looked toward the horizon, where the sky had put on its theater colors¨Crose, silver, that thin dangerous gold that makes truth look like a de.
¡°Let hime,¡± I whispered to the wind and the walls and the Goddess who lets us walk into our own stories even when they scare her. ¡°We are ready.¡±
And far away, beyond the ash grove, a line of riders lifted dust that would reach us with the dark.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Still His 177
The dust reached us before the riders did.
I stood at the balcony of the manor¡¯s upper hall, Francesco beside me, the air taut with waiting.
55 vouchers
My heart beating fast for what wasing, hoping that nothing could harm our people, that Alpha Doriane to his sense that he can¡¯t do stupid against my mate, the King Alpha without knowing the consequences.
¡ª
From the east ridge, a cloud rose thick, deliberate, carrying with it the metallic scent of horses ridden hard and armor polished to impress.
Looks like Alpha Dorian wanted us to see him long before he arrived.
¡°Thirty riders,¡± Marlow reported, standing at the edge of the courtyard, eyes like a hawk¡¯s. ¡°Two wagons. Banners high.¡±
Francesco¡¯s jaw tightened, the ck eyes darkened with burn in his eyes steady. ¡°He parades grief like a crown.¡± He grit in anger
Through our bond, I felt the coil of his anger, controlled, deliberate. Not the wild heat of battle but the cold fire of strategy. He would not let Alpha Dorian¡¯s theater dictate the script.
By the time the riders entered the lower field, every soul in Valmont had gathered in the square or watched from the windows. Old ones with folded hands, children whispering questions they didn¡¯t dare ask too loudly, warriors at the ready. The air was full of heartbeats.
The Valois crest ¨C a silver wolf¡¯s head snarling on a ck field ¨C cut the horizon, carried by two mounted guards. Behind them, Dorian himself rode tall, his armor dark steel chased with red. His face was carved stone, but his eyes burned with a fury that spoke of nights without sleep.
He dismounted in one smooth motion, boots striking the ground like a challenge.
His men spread behind him, a wall of steel and leather.
Like it could scare my mate away¡
¡°King Francesco,¡± he said, voice carrying, sharp as a de across stone.
¡°Alpha Dorian Francesco¡¯s reply was calm, deep, unbent.
He stood at the top of the steps, no armor, no sword steel.
He was the steel.
¨C
only himself, his presence, his power. He didn¡¯t need
Power radiating in his body without knowing who he is, people will notice that he is different, powerful, with Lycan power.
I moved to his side, and a murmur rippled through the watching wolves after I do that.
I felt their eyes on me, their Luna, standing with their King Lycan against the storm.
51
55 vouchers
I also notice Alpha Dorian¡¯s gaze flicked to me for half a heartbeat, hard, calcting, then snapped back to my mate, Francesco. ¡°Where is she?¡± He didn¡¯t beat the bush.
Silence dropped like a stone.
Francesco tilted his head slightly. ¡°Your daughter?¡±
Dorian¡¯s teeth bared, the veneer of civility cracking. ¡°Do not y games with me. Yes, Sofia¡ Where is my daughter?¡±
¡°She is not here,¡± Francesco said simply.
The words struck like lightning.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Alpha Dorian froze, his fury sharpening into disbelief.
¡°What?¡± His voice trembled with a rawness I hadn¡¯t expected. ¡°You-¡± His hands curled into fists. ¡°You dare tell me she is gone? After your letter? After you unted her bond with that creature as if it were the Goddess¡® own decree?¡±
He dare raise his voice?!
Francesco¡¯s power rose then, subtle but undeniable, a tide pressing down on the square until even the bravest wolves straightened their spines. ¡°I told you the truth, Dorian. She stood here under my roof, free. She chose her mate. And she chose her path. That path no longer lies in Valmont.¡±
¡°You lie!!¡± The usation came like venom. ¡°You¡¯ve hidden her. You¡¯ve tucked her away like some prize-¡±
¡°No.¡± Francesco¡¯s voice cracked like thunder when he interjected. ¡°I do not hide women in cages and call it love. That was your mistake, not mine.¡±
Alpha Dorian flinched, just barely, but I saw it. The crowd saw it. The truth in Francesco¡¯s wordsnded, heavy, undeniable.
¡°So, she left?¡± Alpga Dorian demanded, his voice rising. ¡°She left me? She chose exile with that leech over her family, her pack, her blood?!!!¡±
What does he say?! I can¡¯t believe with what I hearding from his mouth.
¡°She chose freedom,¡± I said, my voice carrying before I thought about it. His head snapped toward me, eyes shing with raw fury, but I did not flinch. ¡°She chose love. Something you denied her.¡±
The crowd stirred.
Mothers drew their daughters closer.
Young wolves exchanged looks, wide¨Ceyed, whispering.
13:02 Tue, Sep 16
:
Even the warriors in Dorian¡¯s ranks shifted uneasily.
They had daughters.
They had sisters.
They had mates.
:
51
55 vouchers
Alpha Dorian¡¯s face twisted, grief and rage warring in every line. ¡°She was mine to guide. Mine to protect!¡±
I quickly shook my head in disagreement.
¡°She was never yours to own,¡± Francesco growled before I could say anything. His power surged, shadows curling at his feet. ¡°The Moon Goddess gives us mates, Alpha Dorian, not possessions. You lost her the moment you denied her bond.¡±
The square thrummed with silence so deep it hurt.
Dorian¡¯s breath came hard, ragged.
His eyes darted, searching, almost frantic, as if Sofia might still appear from the crowd, running to him, proving him right.
But she didn¡¯t.
And she wouldn¡¯t.
Finally, his gaze locked back on Francesco, burning with hatred. ¡°You will regret this. All of you.¡±
¡°Perhaps,¡± Francesco said, calm, unyielding. ¡°But not as much as you will regret pushing your daughter away with your own hands.¡±
The words cut deeper than any de.
Alpha Dorian recoiled as though struck.
His men shifted, waiting formand, but none came. Not yet.
The square held its breath, waiting to see if grief would make him break
I just hope for his sake, he won¡¯t do stupid thing.
or if rage would.
Because I know how powerful my mate and Alpha Dorian along with his man isn¡¯t near him, even if he erase them himself without the help of my pack.
Still His 178
The square had never been so quiet.
:
38
55 vouchers
After Francesco¡¯s words, after the truth struck like thunder through the crowd, all of Valmont seemed to hold its breath.
Alpha Dorian stood in the center of it, armor catching the fading light, his chest rising and falling with sharp, uneven breaths. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides.
His eyes, burning, still searched the crowd as if by sheer will he might drag his daughter from thin air.
But she was not there. And she would never be again.
Through the bond, I felt the edges of Francesco¡¯s power humming ¨C steady, controlled, unshakable. Alpha Dorian knew it too. He hade with thirty men, wagons, banners, and arrogance. But he had note to die, and he had note to lose half his warriors in a bloody disy. He knew better than to test a Lycan King head¨Con.
No, Dorian had always chosen subtler weapons. Whispers. usations. Rumors that wormed into the bones of packs faster than any spear.
And I could see it in his eyes
¡ª
the realization that though he could not win here, in this square, with swords and teeth, he could still wound us elsewhere.
He straightened slowly, the storm behind his face shuttered behind a mask of icy calm. His mouth curved, not in a smile, but in a thin, practiced line that promised poison.
¡°I see,¡± he said at . ¡°Spread your
17:29 Wed, Sep 17 N
:
38
55 vouchers
poison, Dorian. Let it carry on the wind. But remember this: truth is heavier than rumor. And when the Goddess herself weighs your soul, it is not whispers she will hear it is your daughter¡¯s silence.¡±
¡ª
¨C
The square trembled. Wolves shifted, eyes darting between them between the King whose power filled the air like thunderclouds, and the Alpha who stood armored in lies.
¨C
For a moment, I thought Dorian might break that he might snarl, or strike, or unleash the fury barely contained in his veins. But instead, he smiled. Slow. Thin. Empty.
¡°Then I will take my leave,¡± he said, his tone polished to perfection. He turned to his men, gesturing sharply. ¡°Mount.¡±
The Valois warriors obeyed, though unease flickered in their movements. They had seen too much, heard too much. Dorian¡¯s lies might sway some, but the truth had already lodged itself in their bones.
¡ª
Before he mounted, Dorian turned back onest time, his eyes locking on Francesco then on me. Cold. Calcting. ¡°May the Goddess watch you, King. You¡¯ll need her.¡±
I felt Francesco¡¯s power surge at my side, a growl curling in his chest, but he did not answer. He didn¡¯t need to. Sometimes silence was sharper than any de.
Dorian swung into his saddle, and with a snap of his reins, the Valois party wheeled and began their retreat, dust rising once again in their wake.
The square remained frozen, every soul watching until the riders vanished beyond the ridge. Only then did the air release, the tension shattering into murmurs, questions, doubts.
¡°Convenient,¡± someone whispered, repeating Dorian¡¯s poison.
¡°Gone? Truly gone?¡±
¡°Why would she leave? Why not stay under the King¡¯s protection?¡±
Francesco¡¯s aura red, silencing the crowd before rumors could root deeper. His voice boomed,manding, unyielding.
¡°You heard him,¡± he said, his golden gaze sweeping the square. ¡°He calls his daughter a possession. He calls her love a theft. But you know what truth lives here. You saw her stand free. You saw her choose. Do not let one Alpha¡¯s lies drown what your own eyes have witnessed.¡±
I stepped forward, lifting my voice so it carried through the gathered wolves. ¡°Sofia was not stolen. She was not hidden. She was not caged. She left because she chose freedom, and she will not be shamed for it. We will not be shamed for it. No rumor, no whisper, can change what the Goddess has written.¡±
Mothers held their daughters tighter. Warriors lowered their heads in respect. And slowly, the murmur shifted from doubt to resolve, from uncertainty to strength.
¡ª
The people had seen.
And seeing is a truth even rumors cannot erase.
:
Francesco¡¯s hand brushed mine, a quiet anchor in the storm.
Through the bond, I felt his pride in me, in us, in all we had built.
¨D ¨C
38
55 vouchers
But beneath it, I also felt the shadow of what wasing. Dorian would not rest. His de was rumor, and rumor travels faster than armies.
As the crowd dispersed, I caught thest glimpse of dust on the horizon where Dorian had vanished. My heart tightened, not with fear, but with certainty.
The war ahead would not be fought with teeth or ws. It would be fought with stories, with whispers, with the fragile hearts of those too easily swayed.
And we would need to be stronger still.
Still His 179
Chapter 179
65 vatichers
It had been one month since dust and lies carried Alpha Dorian away from our gates.
One month since the square trembled with his poison.
One month since Sofia and Lucien chose their own road.
And in that month, Valmont had begun to breathe again.
I thought often of that first night ¨C ¨C the silence so thick it felt like cloth stuffed into the throat of the territory.
No childrenughing.
No women trading gossip across fences.
No music or wolf¨Csong.
Only silence, heavy and unnatural.
Now, when I stood on the balcony of the manor, the air was different. Life had seeped back into the cracks Henri had left behind.
Children shrieked as they chased each other with sticks turned to swords. Women stirred great pots of stew, herbs and broth perfuming the square until even warriors slowed to breathe it in. Men carried beams across fields where new homes rose from the soil like promises. And for the first time since I had arrived, I heard singing.
Soft at first, from one woman foldingundry.
Then another joined.
Then another.
Until voices braided together, threading life into stone.
I pressed my hand to my chest and whispered to myself, ¡°Alive.¡±
Arms came around my waist from behind, warm and sure. Francesco¡¯s chin rested on my shoulder, his scent surrounding me, steadying me.
¡°What is it, my Luna?¡± he murmured, his voice vibrating against my skin.
¡°Do you hear them?¡± My throat tightened. ¡°Voices. Laughter. This ce breathes again.¡±
Through the bond, I felt his pride unfurl, golden fire wrapping us both.
He pressed a slow kiss to the side of my neck, reverent, like he was thanking the Goddess herself.
¡°Because of you,¡± he whispered.
19:02 Thu, Sep 18
55 vouchers
I turned my head, meeting his eyes, it was dark but softened by firelight. ¡°Because of us,¡± I corrected.
He smiled then, small and rare, the kind that made my heart ache because it was not the King¡¯s smile but Francesco¡¯s my mate¡¯s.
¨C
¨C
That evening, we sat with Beta Alfonso, Monica, Marlow, and Audrey around a long oak table, parchment scattered with ideas.
¡°They need joy,¡± I said, smoothing the parchment with my hands. ¡°They need to remember the moon is not only for mourning. Let¡¯s give them a celebration. Music. Food. A run together under the full moon.¡±
Monica¡¯s eyes shone, her lips trembling with memory. ¡°I used to braid flowers into my mothers¡® hair during the moon¨Cdance,¡± she murmured. ¡°I thought I¡¯d never see that again.¡±
¡°You will,¡± Francesco said, his voice certain.
Alfonso¡¯s quill scratched across parchment. ¡°Food. Drink. A bonfire. Musicians. It doesn¡¯t need to be grand, but it must be abundant.¡±
¡°And the run,¡± Marlow said with a wolfish grin. ¡°They¡¯ve been caged so long, they¡¯ve forgotten their lungs. Time to remind them.¡±
Audrey snorted, her voice sharp. ¡°Half of them will copse before the ridge. But better they copse from joy than rot in silence.¡±
Francesco leaned forward, his gaze sweeping us all. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided. We give them back what was stolen. Not with swords, but with song.¡±
My chest warmed.
Not just because of the n, but because of how his eyes lingered on me as he said it as though this gift was not just for them, but for me too.
The week passed in a blur of preparation.
Gands of greenery and pale flowers hung from beams and across the square.
Bakers sweated in front of ovens, pulling loaves fragrant enough to make even the sternest warriors linger.
Children practiced dances, tripping over their own feet and giggling.
Monica brewed herbal wines, muttering that half the pack would end up foolish, but her secret smile betrayed her anticipation.
I found Francesco in the field one afternoon, stripped to his shirt, sleeves rolled high.
He lifted beams that bent the backs of two men, muscles rippling with every movement. Sweat clung to his skin, glinting in the sunlight.
Wolves watched him with awe, whispers spreading ¨C their King, their Alpha, not above them, but with them.
¡°You¡¯ll ruin your regal image,¡± I teased as I approached.
? ????<
He nced at me, smirking. ¡°Better they remember me with dirt under my nails than only blood on my
hands.¡±
I reached up, brushing dust from his jaw, my fingers lingering longer than necessary.
My warmth, Lycan.
¡°They¡¯ll remember both,¡± I whispered, ¡°and love you all the more for it.¡±
The bond pulsed warm and steady.
His hand found my hip, grounding me, and for a moment the world fell away, just the two of us standing in a field, surrounded by the sound of life being built anew.
When the night of the full moon arrived, the square glowed withnterns.
At its center roared a great bonfire, mes leaping like dancers.
Wolves filled the space, dressed in their best clothes, faces alive with anticipation.
Music began, hesitant at first, then bolder. Drums thudded, fiddles sang, pipes carried notes into the night.
Francesco and I entered hand in hand.
For a heartbeat, silence fell.
Then cheers rose, fierce and loud.
¡°My King! My Luna!¡±
I swallowed the lump in my throat. They weren¡¯t just calling us leaders. They were calling us theirs.
The music swept us into movement. Wolves danced,ughter echoing. Children darted through legs, elders pped, and for the first time, Valmont felt alive.
Francesco caught me in his arms and spun me into the circle.
His hand pressed to the small of my back, guiding me with confidence. Iughed, breathless, as he led me through steps I half¨Cremembered from childhood.
¡°You dance well for a King,¡± I teased.
His ck eyes gleamed, his lips brushing my ear. ¡°I only dance well with you.¡±
Heat flushed my cheeks.
The bond pulsed, wrapping us in warmth.
His thumb traced my spine, sending shivers down to my toes.
F 55 youchers
When he spun me back into his arms, the world narrowed to the space between us ¨C his breath against my cheek, his gaze holding mine, the strength of his body moving with mine like we had always belonged in this rhythm.
Around us, the packughed and danced, but for me, there was only Francesco.
¡°You wanted joy,¡± he murmured, lips brushing the shell of my ear. ¡°You gave it back to them. And to me.¡±
I leaned into him, my hand curling against his chest. ¡°We gave it back. Together.¡±
He kissed me then, right there in the square, in front of everyone ¨C not as King and Luna, but as mates.
The cheer that rose was deafening, a tide of eptance and joy.
When the moon reached its peak, silver and full, the music fell quiet.
Francesco stepped forward, his voice carrying deep and strong.
¡°Tonight we remember what it is to be free. Tough. To run beneath the Goddess¡® light. No Alpha will cage you again. No rumor will chain you. You are mine, and I am yours. Tonight, we run.¡±
A roar of howls answered, filling the night.
Clothes fell away.
Bones shifted.
Fur rippled.
Wolves surged forward, a river of freedom pouring into the fields.
Beside me, Francesco shifted, his form exploding into the towering dark gray Lycan, massive and beautiful.
Power radiated from him, golden eyes glowing like fire.
I let go.
Bones broke, reformed.
Fur spilled white as snow across my skin.
My paws struck the earth, and the world sharpened ¨C scents and sounds alive all around me.
Francesco¡¯s golden eyes met mine.
The bond pulsed, stronger than ever, and I felt it ¨C the certainty that we were not just King and Luna, not just Alpha and mate, but one.
I pressed my muzzle to his, a gesture of devotion, and he lowered his great head, rumbling deep in his chest.
Then we howled.
Together¡
4:
49
55 vouchers
The sound split the sky, answered by every wolf in Valmont. A chorus of freedom, of joy, of rebirth.
We ran, side by side.
Through fields reborn withughter. Over hills that once mourned but now sang with life. The King¡¯s shadow and the Luna¡¯s light, together leading their people beneath the Goddess¡® silver eye.
And as the night stretched before us, wild and endless, I knew this truth: storms woulde, whispers would spread, enemies would rise.
But as long as Francesco and I ran together-
¨C
as long as our bond burned bright ¡ª nothing could break us.
¨C
Not Dorian. Not rumor. Not even fate.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Still His 180
Chapter 180
Peace is a fragile thing.
It takes months to build, but only a breath to shatter.
For weeks after the full moon run, Valmont thrived in a way I had only dreamed it could.
Laughter returned to the streets.
Wolves trained together, not out of fear, but strength.
Children yed in fields that once whispered with sorrow. Even the air felt different ¨C no longer stagnant, but alive, humming with hope.
I believed we had turned a page.
That the shadows Henri left had finally been burned
away.
But shadows have long memories.
It began quietly, as most storms do. A messenger arrived at the gates one gray morning, weary and mud¨Cstained. He carried no crest, no banner. Only a single name on his lips, spoken with the urgency of someone who had run too far without rest.
¡°Isolde,¡± he said.
The name struck Francesco like a blow.
I felt it through our bond ¨C the sharp intake of his breath, the tightening of his chest. His expression, always so carefully controlled, faltered for a fraction of a second.
Who?
I had never heard that name before.
But the way his jaw clenched, the way his golden eyes darkened, told me enough.
Whoever she was, she was no stranger to him.
F
¡°She seeks audience,¡± the messenger added. ¡°She says she has nowhere else to go.¡±
Francesco dismissed the man with a nod, but when he turned to me, I saw the weight in his
gaze.
¡°Eine,¡± he said slowly, ¡°there is something you should know.¡±
The tone of his voice made my heart skip.
I knew from his expression this woman was more than a story from his past.
15:28 Fri, 19 Sept
We met her in the great hall.
The moment she stepped inside, the air shifted.
Isolde was striking- tall, with dark hair braided down her back and eyes like storm clouds.
Time and hardship had carved lines into her face, but they only sharpened her beauty, gave it an edge. She carried herself with grace, but beneath it, I caught the trembling of a woman on the brink.
When her eyesnded on Francesco, she froze.
For a moment, the mask slipped, and raw emotion flickered across her features¨Clonging, regret, and something deeper.
¡°Francesco¡.¡± she breathed.
I had never hated the sound of my mate¡¯s name until that moment.
He didn¡¯t answer her at once.
His body was taut, every muscle wound tight, but his voice was steady when he finally spoke. ¡°Call me Alpha. Or King.
Isolde.¡±
Just that. His tone t, distant.
I saw her flinch, though she tried to hide it.
And pride bloomed in me at his response
his side now.
¨C
a reminder that no matter who she had once been, I was the one standing at
Through the bond, I felt his turmoil. Pain. Anger. And buried deep, so deep I might have missed it if not for our link
shard of old hurt.
¨C
a
Isolde¡¯s gaze shifted to me then, and for a heartbeat, something flickered in her eyes. Surprise. Calction. ¡°This must be her,¡± she said softly. ¡°The one fate gave you? I thought you would end with Luna Anastasia. But I suppose I was wrong.
After all, Lycans can choose their mates, unlike usmon wolves.¡±
Her words were edged, meant to cut.
¡°Yes,¡± Francesco said firmly, ignoring the sting of herment. He moved closer to me, his arm brushing mine ¨C a subtle im, but also a shield. ¡°My Luna. Eine Lycaon.¡±
Jinclined my head, polite but cool. ¡°You¡¯vee a long way. Why?¡±
She drew a shaky breath, as if preparing for battle. ¡°Because I have nothing left. My mate-¡± Her voice cracked. ¡°He found his true bond. I was¡ cast aside.¡±
A ripple of murmurs swept the hall.
Wolves shifted, exchanging nces.
Rejection was a wound few survived unscarred.
215
15:28 Fri, 19 Sept
ÈÕ30%
¡°I have nowhere to turn,¡± Isolde continued, her eyes glistening. ¡°No pack, no family. I thought-¡± She hesitated, her gaze darting to Francesco. ¡°When I heard about this ce, under the rule of the Italian Lycan King. I thought perhaps¡ here, I could find shelter. At least until I can stand on my own.¡±
The hall fell silent.
Francesco¡¯s face was carved from stone, unreadable.
But through the bond, I felt his storm ¨C memories crashing against the present.
¡°She lies,¡± Marlow muttered under his breath, his hand already at his de. Audrey elbowed him sharply, but her eyes
never left Isolde.
Alfonso scribbled in his ledger, eyes flicking between us all, already calcting consequences.
And me? My heart pounded, torn between jealousy andpassion.
She was broken ¨C that much was clear.
But she was also the woman who had once held my mate¡¯s heart.
25
I knew Francesco had stories before me, before Anastasia. But meeting one of those women in flesh and blood, here in our
hall, was a test I never thought I¡¯d face.
I forced my voice steady. ¡°We will consider your request. But understand this ¨C you are under our roof now, not his alone. If you stay, you stay as one of our people. Not the King¡¯s past.¡±
Isolde¡¯s lips parted, as if argue, but Francesco¡¯s voice cut through the tension.
¡°Luna Eine speaks true,¡± he said. ¡°If you remain, it will be as a guest of this pack. Nothing more.¡±
My chest swelled with relief at his words.
For a heartbeat, something flickered across her face disappointment? Bitterness? But it was gone too quickly to name.
She bowed her head. ¡°I understand.¡±
That night, Francesco was restless.
We sat in our chamber, the fire low, shadows dancing across the walls.
He paced before the hearth, his movements sharp, his silence heavy.
¡°Talk to me,¡± I urged, watching him.
He stopped, his hands flexing at his sides. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see her again.¡±
I waited, patient, giving him space.
¡°She was¡¡± He exhaled harshly, dragging a hand through his hair. ¡°Before I was King. Before Anastasia. I thought she was
3/5
15:28 FMI, 19 Sept
my
+20
future. You know how Lycans can choose, if fate hasn¡¯t yet revealed the true bond. I nearly made that choice. I nearly
made her mine.¡±
Painnced through me, sharp and unexpected.
He felt it through the bond and winced. ¡°Eine-¡±
¡°Go on,¡± I whispered, giving him a small smile to sho
I was steady.
Everyone has a story.
Better to hear his truth than let shadows fester.
¡°She betrayed me,¡± he said tly. ¡°With another. I gave her everything, and she cast it aside like it meant nothing. She told me he was her fated mate; and that I was nothingpared to him. I swore then that love was weakness. That I would never give anyone the power to wound me again. Until Anastasia. And we both know how that ended.¡±
His eyes lifted to mine, dark and fierce. ¡°Until you.¡±
I rose and crossed to him,ying my hand on his chest.
His heart thundered beneath my palm. ¡°You don¡¯t owe me apologies for your past,¡± I said softly. ¡°But don¡¯t hide it from me either. Not when it still hurts you.¡±
His hand covered mine, holding it tight. ¡°I feel guilty. Having her here, speaking her name in front of you¡ it feels like betrayal, even though it isn¡¯t.¡±
¡°It isn¡¯t,¡± I said firmly. ¡°She may have been your past, Francesco. But I am your present. Your future. Remember that.¡±
Emotion surged through the bond ¨C raw, unguarded.
He pulled me into his arms, holding me as if I were the only thing anchoring him.
His lips found mine, desperate, tender, iming.
¡°You are everything,¡± he whispered against my mouth. ¡°Everything I never thought I¡¯d have.¡±
The kiss deepened, fire and need igniting between us.
His hands framed my face, mine clutched at his shirt.
For a moment, there was no past, no shadow, only us ¨C burning, unbreakable.
When we finally pulled apart, breathless, I rested my forehead against his. ¡°Whatever she seeks, we face it together. She cannot undo what the Goddess has written.¡±
His eyes shone, fierce and soft all at once. ¡°Never.¡±
He showed me with his kisses, his touch, the depth of his devotion¨Creminding me with every breath that I was not simply his Luna, but his mate, his choice, his everything.
15.28 FII,|| ¦Ð¦Å¦Ñ¦É
His hands were reverent, his whispers worshipful, and the night became a tapestry of firelight and love.
Days passed, and Isolde settled uneasily among us.
She kept to herself, polite, grateful on the surface.
But I watched her closely. Too closely.
Her words were always sweet, her gratitude perfectly timed.
But sometimes, I caught her gaze lingering on Francesco too long. hmm¡.
Sometimes, I caught the bitterness hiding in her smile when she thought no one was looking.
One evening, as I walked past the training yard, I heard her voice carried on the wind.
¡°¡he could have been mine, if fate had not been cruel.¡±
My blood ran cold.
So, she was not here only for shelter.
She was here for him.
And perhaps¡ for something darker?
AD
Comment
Send gift
Still His 181
Chapter 181
Rumors are like smoke.
They curl into every corner, cling to every surface, even when the fire is long gone.
Alpha Henri had once used them as chains, binding his people with lies.
Alpha Dorian wove them likes, catching wolves too weary to fight.
And now, looks like Isolde tried the same game.
ÐÄ¡Ý30%
It began with murmurs, soft as moth wings. A carelessment in the kitchens. A muttered phrase in the training yard. A
hushed conversation that ended the moment I stepped into the hall.
¡°She was his first choice.¡±
¡°He would have chosen her, if fate hadn¡¯t intervened.¡±
¡°Perhaps the Goddess made a mistake.¡±
Once, such whispers might have stung. I might havein awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering if I was enough ¨C if! truly belonged at Francesco¡¯s side.
But not now.
Because I had lived through rejection, survived betrayal, and risen stronger. I had heard Francesco¡¯s truths in the quiet of our chamber, felt his devotion in every touch, every kiss, every nce that burned as if I were his only world.
So when I heard the whispers, I cant help but only smiled. Calm. Unbroken.
And that calm was its own weapon.
At first, I thought perhaps no one else noticed.
But I was wrong.
Audrey mmed a training sword onto the ground one afternoon, her voice carrying across the yard. ¡°If I hear one more pup mutter about that woman being Luna material, I¡¯ll personally make them runps until their tongues fall out.¡±
The young wolves scattered, wide¨Ceyed, while Marlow leaned against the fence, smirking. ¡°I was about to say the same thing, but less¡ loudly.¡±
I chuckled, stepping into the yard. ¡°Leave them. Let the rumors run their course. They¡¯re only words.¡±
Audrey scowled. ¡°But words can kill faster than des, Luna.¡±
¡°Only if we give them power,¡± I said gently. ¡°Do you believe them?¡±
Her eyes softened. ¡°Of course not!!¡±
1/4
15:28 Fri, 19 Sept
¡°Then neither will anyone else,¡± I replied. ¡°Not for long.¡±
3.29%0
She muttered something about fools and traitors, but I saw the way her shoulders eased. I know she care for me so much.
Marlow gave me a long, appraising look. ¡°You¡¯re calmer than I expected, Luna.¡±
I turn my gaze at him ¡°Because I know the truth,¡± I said simply with a smile on my
And that truth was unshakable.
Isolde, however, grew restless.
face.
I saw it in the way her smile faltered when she passed me in the corridor, expecting me to re or snap, only to find me offering a nod and nothing more.
I saw it in the way her eyes narrowed when she caught Francesco¡¯s hand brushing mine or kissing me in public, as natural as breathing.
Well.. Duh.. He¡¯s mine! My mate, my love, my everything.
Then one evening, I found her in the library, standing by the window with her arms crossed.
The moonlight cast her face in silver, highlighting the bitterness etched into every line.
¡°You¡¯re strong,¡± she said suddenly, without looking at me.
Traised a brow, is she talking to me? ¡°Me?.. Why, thank you?¡±
Her gaze flicked to mine, sharp. ¡°Stronger than I thought. Stronger than most would be, hearing what¡¯s said.¡±
Ah¡ I know where she¡¯s heading.
¡°I don¡¯t measure myself by whispers,¡± I said calmly. ¡°Only by truth.¡±
Sheughed, low and humorless. ¡°Truth is slippery, Luna. Today it¡¯s yours, tomorrow it might not be.¡±
I stepped closer, my voice steady. ¡°Truth is only slippery to those who live in lies.¡±
Her smile tightened.
For a heartbeat, herposure cracked, and I glimpsed the frustration simmering beneath.
She wanted me angry, insecure, off¨Cbnce.
But instead, I gave her serenity.
And serenity was harder to fight than rage.
That night, Francesco noticed my quiet smile as we prepared for bed.
1
29%
+28)
¡°What is it, amore?¡± he asked, brushing his thumb over my cheek.
¡°Your old lover doesn¡¯t like me calm,¡± I teased. His jaw tensed, but I shook my head before he could respond. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She tries. But she doesn¡¯t understand she can¡¯t touch what we have. No rumor can.¡±
His eyes softened, molten gold shimmering with pride. He pulled me close, his forehead resting against mine. ¡°Every day, you teach me what strength truly looks like. Not in battles or blood. In this. In you.¡±
The bond thrummed, steady as a heartbeat.
I kissed him softly, savoring the warmth of his lips, the certainty in his touch.
¡°She can¡¯t undo us, Francesco,¡± I whispered.
¡°No one can,¡± he vowed.
Lunchtime had be one of my favorite parts of the day.
Not because of the food itself ¨C though the stews simmering in great pots, the freshly baked loaves, and the scent of roasted herbs made my mouth water ¨C but because of the women.
The kitchen was where theirughter returned first, where gossip thrived again without fear, where hands worked together in the rhythm of family.
I always joined them when I could. Rolling dough. Stirring pots. Listening,ughing, learning names and stories. It grounded me, reminded me that I was not just Luna in title but in truth ¨C one of them.
That day began like any other.
The women were busy, their chatter light.
Children darted in and out, stealing bits of bread when they thought we weren¡¯t looking.
I was kneading dough when the door mmed open.
Gasps followed,
Isolde staggered inside, her face pale, sweat beading at her temples. Her hands clutched at her throat, her eyes wild.
¡°She¡¯s trying to kill me!¡± she shrieked, her voice raw. ¡°The Luna¨Cshe poisoned me!¡±
The kitchen froze.
I straightened slowly, my hands still white with flour. ¡°What?¡±
¡°She gave me the cup,¡± Isolde gasped, pointing a trembling finger at me. ¡°She put something in it¨Cshe wants me gone!¡±
A ripple of fear and outrage swept the room.
The women looked from her to me, whispers rising like waves,
15:29 Fri, 19 Septe
Oh dear¡ What is it now?
ÈÕÆø:29%º¬
+28
É«
AD
Send gift
No Ads
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Still His 182
Chapter 182
I sighed while watching her.
ET
55 vouchards
Is this how she want to do? By framing me? Okay then¡
I held my ground, calm though my pulse thundered, unscare with whatever she¡¯s going to say. ¡°That¡¯s a lie.¡±
¡°She lies to save herself!¡± Isolde cried, sinking to her knees with a dramatic groan. ¡°She wants me dead because she knows the truth¨Cthat Francesco was mine first!¡±
The room erupted.
Oh God, is she serious with this? I try to not roll my eyes in annoyance.
Within moments, the guards had carried her to the healer¡¯s chamber.
Francesco stormed in, Marlow at his side, his golden eyes zing with fury.
¡°What is this nonsense?¡± he demanded, his voice echoing off the stone.
Isoldey on the cot, pale and trembling, clutching her stomach as if the world itself had betrayed her.
¡°You must see it, Francesco,¡± she whispered. ¡°She hates me. She wants me gone. She slipped it into my drink.¡±
Every eye turned to me.
I stepped forward, steady as stone. ¡°King Francesco¡± I corrected her and added ¡°And I did no such thing.¡±
¡ª
¨D
The healer an older woman with steady hands and sharper eyes ¡ª bent over Isolde, examining her. After a moment, she sniffed the rim of the cup brought in by one of the guards. Her brows furrowed.
¡°There is something here,¡± she said slowly. ¡°But not poison. A herb. Bitterroot.¡±
Gasps rippled.
Bitterroot caused stomach cramps, nausea ¨C misery, but rarely death.
The healer straightened, her gaze flicking to me. ¡°Did you prepare this
cup, Luna?¡±
¡°I prepare many cups,¡± I said evenly. ¡°As do half the women in the kitchen. But I did not give this one to her. Why do I do stupid stuff like that?¡±
¡°She did!¡± Isolde cried. ¡°I saw her hand it to me!¡±
I met her eyes, unflinching. ¡°Lies are heavy, Isolde. They weigh down the one who carries them.¡±
Her face twisted, but she forced out another groan, clutching her stomach for effect.
Francesco¡¯s power surged then, filling the chamber like a storm breaking.
His voice was thundering when he spoke. ¡°Enough.¡±
The room fell silent.
He stepped to my side, his presence wrapping around me like a shield.
55 vouchers
you
think me blind?¡± he growled, his gaze locked on Isolde. ¡°Do you think I do not know the hands of my Luna? She does not deal in poison. She deals in truth.¡±
Isolde¡¯s lip trembled. ¡°But-¡±
¡°But nothing,¡± Francesco cut her off. ¡°You im to seek shelter, yet every word from your mouth is venom. You twist whispers, now you twist food. Do not mistake my patience for blindness.¡±
¨C
The healer cleared her throat gently. ¡°My King, if I may ¡ª Bitterroot grows near the storehouse. It is possible someone mixed it by mistake.¡±
¡°Or nted it,¡± Marlow muttered, his eyes fixed on Isolde.
The tension in the room was a de¡¯s edge.
¡°I will take this matter and find the truth¡± he said firmly ¡°Marlow, make sure everyone on their position, I need our trusted member protect and do the investigation¡±
Malrow nodded in fast and I just calmly walk out with my mate from the room.
*****
Later, in our chamber, Francesco¡¯s fury simmered like fire beneath his skin.
He paced before the hearth, his jaw clenched.
¡°She dares use you of such filth, in front of them all,¡± he snarled. ¡°I should cast her out tonight.¡±
I sat calmly on the edge of our bed, folding my hands in myp. ¡°That is what she wants.¡±
He stopped, frowning. ¡°What?¡±
I rose, crossing to him, cupping his face with flour¨Cdusted hands. ¡°She wants us unbnced. She wants me angry, or you rash. If you banish her now, she leaves as a victim. If I rage, she ims truth. But if we remain calm¡¡± I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. ¡°She grows frustrated.¡±
He studied me, his fury softening into something else. Pride.
¡°You see clearer than I do, sometimes,¡± he murmured.
¡°Because I know she cannot win,¡± I said simply. ¡°Not against what we are.¡±
His forehead dropped to mine, his hands warm against my cheeks. ¡°I will not let her poison touch you. Not in words. Not in lies. Not in anything.¡±
18:10 Sat, Sep 20 T
65 vouchers
¡°And she will not see me break,¡± I whispered. My eyes searched his. ¡°But tell me¡ why now? Why suddenly? How did she know toe here, of all ces?¡±
Francesco stilled, his frown deepening.
¡°You mean-¡±
¡°I think someone told her,¡± I said softly. ¡°Someone who knew about your past with her.¡±
¡°Who?¡± His voice was rough, dangerous.
I shrugged gently. ¡°Let her y her game. In the end, truth always shows itself.¡±
He pulled me into a fierce embrace, his lips finding mine in a kiss that tasted of vow and promise.
*****
The next day, whispers ran wild through the pack ¨C but not the way Isolde hoped.
Yes, some muttered about the poisoning.
But more shook their heads,ughing.
They had seen me in the kitchens for weeks,ughing, serving, living as one of them. They had seen Francesco¡¯s fury, his unwavering defense.
¡°She lies,¡± one elder said loudly in the square. ¡°The Luna has no need of poison. She has already won his heart.¡±
Laughter followed, lightening the air.
I walked calmly through the square, smiling. People bowed their heads, their eyes warm with trust.
From a distance, I caught Isolde watching. Her face was pale, her jaw tight, herposure cracking.
My calm was her greatest defeat.
But calm does not end storms.
It only redirects them.
That night, as I passed the training yard, I heard her voice again, sharp and bitter.
¡°¡.if she will not fall to poison, then perhaps to something sharper.¡±
My blood ran cold.
I spun just as she lunged from the shadows, a de glinting in her hand. The metallic tang stung my senses even before Mika¡¯s voice growled in my mind.
Wolfsbane.
18:10 Sat, Sep 20 T
¡
She was nning to kill me.
18:10 Sat, Sep 20 T
Still His 183
Chapter 183
:
CID
65 vouchers:
The air was cool that night, carrying the faint perfume of wet grass and distant pine.
Lanterns along the courtyard guttered, their mes dim against the pull of the moon above. I had walked this path a hundred times ¨C from the kitchens to the training yard, across the stones worn smooth by centuries of wolves drilling their bodies into weapons. Tonight it felt different. Too quiet.
I should have trusted Mika¡¯s unease sooner.
My wolf had stirred the moment I stepped onto the yard¡¯s edge, restless, pacing just beneath my skin.
And then I heard it.
¡°¡if she will not fall to poison, then perhaps to something sharper.¡±
The words hissed through the night, sharp enough to cut.
My heart mmed into my
ribs.
I spun, my pulse crashing, and out of the shadows she came ¡ª Isolde.
Her hair was unbound, her eyes wild, her beauty twisted into something feral.
And in her hand, gleaming beneath thentern light, was a de.
The scent hit me before her arm swung. Metallic. Bitter. Wrong.
Wolfsbane.
¡®Move!¡® Mika roared inside me. ¡°That de means death!¡®
My body jerked back, instincts screaming, but I wasn¡¯t fast enough. The silver gleam streaked toward me-
Steel met steel. Sparks flew.
Audrey.
She had been only steps away, as she always was, my shadow in the dark. She mmed into the path of the strike, her sword raised, her eyes zing.
ng!
The sh rang across the yard, a scream of metal that echoed in my bones.
¡°Traitor,¡± Audrey spat, forcing Isolde back with a surge of strength.
Isolde shrieked, twisting her de, trying to break free, trying to get to me. Her face was twisted with
¡°She doesn¡¯t deserve him!¡± she screamed, spittle flying. ¡°He was mine! Mine! Before she ever-¡±
55 vouchers
The words broke into a guttural cry as Audrey shoved harder, sparks bursting where their des locked.
¡°You dare raise a weapon against the Luna?¡± Audrey¡¯s voice was low and lethal. ¡°I¡¯ll cut your tongue out before you finish the sentence.¡±
But then she does something unthinkable, she stabs the de to herself, much to make me and Audrey frown
in shock.
What?
What is she doing?!
Then she screamed so loud, asking for help.
The scream split the night like a struck bell.
For a heartbeat the yard stopped being a ce of stone and night air and became nothing but sound jagged, and all aimed at me.
¡ª
raw,
Isolde¡¯s cry climbed and climbed until lungs that had known only the quiet of a life in which she¡¯d been tolerated now bared themselves to the moon: ¡°HELP! HELP! NO, PLEASE LUNA, DON¡¯T KILL ME, PLEASE!¡±
Time bent.
The sharp sh of steel and the scent of wolfsbane were there, but behind everything else I felt the infinitesimal shift: the moment she stabbed herself was not sloppy. It was practiced into a wound.
Audrey¡¯s sword rang on the cobblestones.
¨C an usation made
She staggered back a hair, eyes wide with abination of shock and fury. For a breath I saw the impossible
¨C
¨C the woman who had been between my ribs and the world, my defender, looking suddenly like an
aplice in a story written by someone else.
Faces appeared in the doorway as if called by the very pitch of Isolde¡¯s cry: sentries, servants, two soldiers, Marlow racing down the steps and then spurred into motion with an unstoppable chemistry.
A dozen pairs of eyes fixed on us all, ears straining for the story they wanted to believe.
In their faces I read the same immediate, stupid human question everyone asks when they see a woman scream and a weapon: Who is the viin here?
Isolde copsed in a heap, clutching at her chest where a red bloom spread between her fingers. Her hair clung wet to her forehead.
She made a spectacle of pain with a devotion so theatrical it might have been training had it not been heartbreaking to watch. She looked up at the first faces that leaned close the ones whose children she might have once soothed, the men who had watched her in the square ¨C and she painted them the picture
¨C
they¡¯d been primed to see.
55 vouchers
¡°She stabbed me!¡± she sobbed, eyes wide and wet, guilt drained from her face and reced with cunning sorrow. ¡°The Luna¨Cshe tried to kill me! She and her guard¨Clook how she held the de¨Cshe used her guard to pin me-¡± Her voice became a high keening. ¡°She tried to kill me!¡±
The first cries I heard were not of horror but of outrage.
Someone shouted that Luna should be brought to answer. Heads twisted toward me. The air around my shoulders thickened with a dangerous heat. I had a moment ¨C a narrow, thin, impossible moment to step back, to show the world who I really was.
¨C
I knew what she wanted: an image people could carry to their hearths and cluck their tongues at: the Luna who harmed a woman in his name.
That image would be carried like a torch and fed gossip until it was a bonfire.
¡ª
That was the point: to make me the used and to send people away from asking the right questions- where did the dee from? Who had given Isolde the powder? Who had fed her the words that made her believe she was a victim and not the maker of her own misfortune?
I saw it all in a sh between the cements of sentences and the pattern of Isolde¡¯s sobs. She was acting to ¨C but because people trap me. Not because I was fragile ¨C though fear had a way of seeding itself in bones prefer the story that is simple. People would rather take a picture than hold a mirror.
¡°Get her away from him!¡± someone cried.
A dozen voices answered with the single¨Cmindedness of a mob. usation gives people a purpose. Purpose is intoxicating.
Francesco moved then, but not like a man who needs to cross a yard to be present.
He moved like a tide that knows how to fold itself around a stone.
His arrival was soundless at first; then his boot touched the stone and the yard remembered what it meant to be under a king¡¯s watch. The same ck eyes that could hush a hundred men went straight to me, and the surge of relief that followed was so hot it hurt. He was the ce I went to be stitched.
He did not move to me first the way some men do. He came to me and then past me like apass finding true north. He took one look at Isolde¡¯s hands, at the cloth already reddening, and the way her eyes rolled for effect, and his jaw tightened as if he had been given a de and chosen not to swing it.
¡°Hold,¡± he said, and the single short word was aw.
Marlow had already hurtled forward,
He was two steps from Isolde when the soldiers reached the woman half copsed on the stones.
They moved with trained care; two of them folded their cloaks under her head, one kept a hand at the back of her neck as if it were a pulse they intended to steady. The scene looked like charity. That was Isolde¡¯s entire design: to make the act of sheltering her look like confession against me.
18:
Sat, Se
E55 vouchers
¡°Isolde-¡± Marlow¡¯s voice was neither kind nor cruel. It was the voice of a man whose life is habitually devoted to finding the truth of a fight. ¡°What did you do?¡±
She wailed harder. ¡°She did this! She stabbed me! Don¡¯t let her-¡± Her voice copsed into a keening that was tuned perfectly to the human ear. ¡°Please, someone¨Ctell him¨Ctell the King!¡±
Thatst sentence was the nail.
So, this is what she aims for.
She wanted the king, my Francesco and his courtiers present to see her fall and the Luna standing over her with a weapon in hand. The theater of betrayal is always best staged with royalty in attendance.
Francesco returned to my side fast but controlled, taking my face in his hands the way a man steadies a map.
The bone in his palm brushed my cheek, and I felt the tremble of him beneath the skin.
His eyes found mine and said, You are not alone.
I answered with a breath that said, I am here.
¡°Isolde,¡± he said, his voice a furnace that refused to re into me. He was careful with his words the way a surgeon is careful with a scalpel. ¡°You will be moved to the infirmary. Monica. Now.¡± He looked to Marlow. ¡°Secure her. Do not let her words break the night into mobw.¡±
Marlow barked orders like a man breaking a stubborn horse.
Two soldiers bent and lifted Isolde with clumsy reverence. She screamed all the way, as if the howl could weld trust to her side.
But doubt had entered the yard, and doubt is a contagious thing.
I heard the whisper before I saw its beginning. ¡°The Luna!¡± someone hissed, then a ripple: ¡°Why would she-¡± ¡°Did you see-¡± ¡°She had a moment with the de-¡± Small tongues made quick work. A woman shoved through the crowd, her face twisted in a mixture of panic and belief, and she said, half to herself, half to others, ¡°she was near the knife, I saw her in the shadows bent-¡±
The way lines form at tide, now people formed around us, some with eyes like bottles that have been kicked.
I felt the heat of usation graze my shoulder like a de,
It is a violent thing, being watched as a criminal by those you feed and soothe and try to protect. The world
tilts.
¡°Everyone, hear me,¡± Francesco said, voice carrying the force of the valley itself. He ced a hand over mine, like a dam pressing back a river, and he extended the other toward the soldiers with the authority of a man who will not let his borders be dragged into shame. ¡°Bring her to Monica now. Thene back here and listen. The Luna is not the perpetrator. Our duty is to the truth.¡±
Hismand was enough for many, but not for the few who wanted their story better than the facts.
18:11 Sat, Sep 20 T
55 vouchers
I saw the hard little cluster of faces that fall on gossip like moths onmp smoke, and for a split second, the old fatal empty feeling of being alone when the world decided you were fiction rose.
Audrey moved in front of me then she had been my shadow, my sword, my relentless protector since the first fire of our pairing had passed between us. Now she squared her shoulders and spoke to the crowd in thenguage of people who had seen battle in fields and seen women climb from under rubble.
¡°You saw the de,¡± she said tly. ¡°You saw who moved. You saw Isolde raise it herself. No one stabs themselves identally. If you want answers, you will wait until Isolde can speak in a ce where speech is not a weapon.¡± Her voice turned to Marlow: ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone near her who came with a tale.¡±
Thatst was both order and prayer.
People backed up as if pushed by some invisible hand.
The yard retracting into noise again was a mercy, a small one.
Monica¡¯s satchel arrived in a flurry; she had the needles and salves and the impatient look of a woman who had been told of blood and knew better than to let it be drama.
She knelt, fingers working quick and sure.
Her fingers were clean; her face, grim. ¡°No wolfsbane scent in immediate proximity,¡± she reported, which meant only that either the de had been washed at some point in the moment between stab and mor, or the scent had been absorbed by her clothing and was not exposed at the wound. Monica did not look like a woman who guessed. ¡°But she used the de¨Cthere is a cut, shallow. We will know more when I clean it.¡±
A soldier who¡¯d stayed silent stepped up, eyes like flint. ¡°We saw her hold the de,¡± he said. ¡°She was in the shadows. She fell to the stones. She cried out for help.¡±
¡°For help,¡± a woman repeated, not unkindly, and the crowd hummed with the appetite for certainty.
I could feel the room tilting again ¨C some people rebought their belief in the brand¨Cnew story that was being
embroidered.
Rumor is a needle.
¨C
At the head of the room, Francesco¡¯s presence became a line of iron. He held me with one hand, and with the other heid out orders: ¡°No¨Cone leaves the square until I say it. Bring everyone who saw the moment ¡ª all of you. And bring me anyone who gave Isolde ore or coin in thest week.¡± He looked to Marlow. ¡°Lock the gatehouse; no one in or out.¡±
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Still His 184
Chapter 184
:
¡°You heard the king, MOVE!!¡± Marlow¡¯s bark was a bell.
Soldiers snapped into ce, moving like practiced shadows into corners.
64
464
55 vouchers
The crowd¡¯s murmur became a buzz the size of a hive. People leaned in to hear. Children pressed their faces to the railing and watched as if the night were a y made for them.
It was then that the first of the consequencesnded, soft and heavy: faces I had known for years began to look at me as if I might be a story they had misread. A baker¡¯s wife, the woman who had once shared her bench with me in the market, stepped back as if the space beside me was suddenly too hot.
It hurts in a particr way to see trust take a step back.
I would not pretend the coldness did not cut; it did.
But I had a King, my mate with his hand on my back and a guard at my side who would not let a whisper grow teeth without proof. I breathed.
Monica finished binding and stooping to clean Isolde¡¯s wound. Her hands were careful but swift. The first thing she did was an undoing of the theater. She wiped at the blood with cool cloth and the wound rose like a red moon in the fabric. She then dipped a bit of linen into a clear solution, smelled it and frowned.
¡°You have traces of something herbal mixed with iron,¡± she said. ¡°Not wolfsbane in its crude form. A binder. Someone meant the scent at the wrong time. But there¡¯s-¡± She held her breath like she¡¯d found a note on a page. ¡°Small residue of apound that looks like it was used to¡draw attention. It darkens the blood when exposed and makes a wound glisten more. A show wound.¡±
The yard turned.
Not everyone understood the words, but those who had been wound up with theater recognized the pattern.
Isolde¡¯s scream had been a prop, and the wound had been shaped to deliver a spectacle.
Isolde clutched at Monica¡¯s hands as if the healer might usher something like mercy near. ¡°They tried to hurt me,¡± she cried. ¡°She tried to-¡±
Monica kept working. ¡°You stabbed yourself on purpose?¡± she asked quietly, not using, only collecting facts like a basket. ¡°Or was someone helping you?¡±
Isolde¡¯s eyes were a web of panic. ¡°I didn¡¯t-¡± she started. ¡°They¡ They made me-¡± Her voice faltered, then began again in a frantic whisper: ¡°They said he didn¡¯t love her. They said she bewitched him. They said- they told me I was worthless if I let him leave with a stranger-¡±
The story was fitful.
It had the texture of a person who had been fed snippets of venom until the venom became their voice. Monica listened, pressed the clean cloth against the cut, and then looked up, slow and steady, like a woman who does not let pity make decisions.
64
55 vouchers
¡°We will put you under guard,¡± she said. ¡°You will speak once you are conscious and sober. The soldiers will record what they saw. We will have witnesses. If you were coerced, tell them. If you conspired-¡± The threat in her tone might as well have been a knife turned the other way.
Marlow stepped forward and fixed Isolde¡¯s wrists more firmly, not cruelly but with the unambiguous weight ofw. ¡°You will answer,¡± he said. ¡°The King will hear. But not tonight. Tonight we secure the truth.¡±
Francesco¡¯s voice was quieter when he finally spoke.
He threaded his fingers through mine and squeezed like a promise. ¡°Eine. I need you to stay with Monica while we take statements. Will you, amore mio?¡±
Tears that had been high and hot behind my eyes slid back, cooling like rain.
I give him a small smile before nodded. ¡°Of course.¡±
We moved to the infirmary together.
The corridor smelled of herbs and the faint guilt of men who¡¯d once trusted whispers too easily.
Audrey did not let go of me until Monica led me to a pallet and told me to rest. She stayed, de leaning close like a shadow unwilling to leave its post.
They made everyone give statements. It was a slow, clinical unpeeling. Faces were recorded: who had stood where, who had said what, which direction people saw me move. Hands that had been clutching at thece of a gossip altered under the weight of the soldier¡¯s pen. People who had raced to be first with knowledge now had to be precise with memory.
The thing that struck me as we went on was something I¡¯de to expect but still did not relish: how quickly loyalty had to be asked for. The people I¡¯d fed bread to, the ones who had watched me in the kitchens andughed with me, gave their ounts with a hesitancy I had not known before. It was not malice; it was fear ¡ª fear of being wrong, and those who love a clear story over aplicated one will choosefort.
At one point a child brought me a small ribbon she had found in the yard. ¡°For luck,¡± she said solemnly.
I tied it to my wrist like an anchor, the way sailors knot their thoughts and expect seas to behave.
When thest witness left, Francesco was tired in a way that made him hard to read. He had the look of a man who had run and not found his breath. He sat at the end of the infirmary pallet and took my hand between both of his. ¡°They will bring Isolde to talk in daylight,¡± he said. ¡°They¡¯ll have to tell the truth. We will set watchers. We will unpick the weave of this story until we find the first loose thread.¡±
I leaned into him, fingers pressing into the meat of his palm. ¡°Who told her those words?¡± I asked.
He didn¡¯t answer immediately. That was the silence of thinking through a horizon.
¡°Someone who wants to sow division,¡± he said atst. ¡°Either from across the border or someone with a hunger for a position inside. We will pull both threads. I¡¯m just d you¡¯re okay, my Luna¡±
I give him a small smile, he cares, my priority and safety is always his number 1.
??
64
55 vouchers
Beyond the infirmary door the yard held its breath and then moved. Soldiers went to the gate to tighten the ring; a messenger was sent to the outer posts. Alfonso wrote, and his pen scratched like a man delivering an indictment.
Monica lifted her hands and dered she would not be part of a witch hunt; she would be part of a careful truth¨Cextraction.
The entire night, Iy awake against Francesco¡¯s chest.
The world outside our room hummed with a worry that did not fit in the smallness of the mattress and
nkets.
Looks like it was the beginning of something unknown.
Still His 185
The first time I heard it, I thought it was the wind.
:
64
55 vouchers
It came as a soft, traveling thing¨Chalf¨Csybles and doubt¨Cedging through the square and changing the faces of people I had greeted with bread only days before.
I was returning from the infirmary, a small bundle of folded linens in my hands, Monica¡¯s herbal satchel bumping at my hip, and the market had the usual small chaos of bartering and gossip.
Yet under the tter there was a new undertone, thin and eager.
¡°¡because the King chose a mate before he chose justice¡¡±
¡°¡ the Luna walks free while the wounded are tied and questioned¨Cwhere is the justice?¡±
¡°They say she was protected by the King. How can Luna bew when she is safe and they are not?¡±
The sentences were like tinder thrown onto the slow¨Cburning embers of the Isolde incident. They took it quickly.
At first I tried to keep my face calm. I smiled at pottery sellers, nodded to children with sticky hands, took a loaf from a baker who grinned when he saw me because bread and Luna make a good morning. But every smile found an echo of suspicion. A woman I¡¯d hugged three mornings ago crossed the square to drop a curt bow and then leaned to tell her neighbor in a voice pitched so others could hear: ¡°They say the King¡¯s mate escapes me.¡± The neighbor gave a little nod that was all eyes.
I felt the barbs through the bond almost as quickly as I felt the prick of the words.
Francesco¡¯s hand tightened on my elbow where it rested, measuring the space we took. He could sense the tide the pack¡¯s temperature ¨C as precisely as he could sense the weather.
¨C
He lowered his voice to the thought¨Clevel hush we use in private. They will believe what is easiest to swallow. They will choose the story that makes their small lives make sense.
¡°They don¡¯t know us,¡± I whispered. ¡°Many of these people are not our people. Not all of them are from Florence, theye from other ces so they don¡¯t know us well. They just see titles and they pick at them like a scab.¡±
Francesco¡¯s jaw softened, the ck in his eyes melting to a color like warm metal. ¡°Then we will teach them.¡± He didn¡¯t say how. He never said how offhand. The how was the work that sat heavy in his hands.
The thing about rumor is that it always finds the poorest, the proudest, and the most frightened first.
It asks them to take a side and promises that the choice will make them right.
Tonight it began at the wells. A woman whose child we had treated for feverst month spat at my back as I passed. ¡°Where is justice?¡± she demanded. ¡°My boy was questioned for stealing grain for medicine. He spent two nights with the soldiers in the stocks while your guard took Isolde in, and you let Luna walk free. How is that just?¡±
:
A64
64
55 vouchers
Her eyes weren¡¯t cruel. They were raw. Hunger and fear make sharp things of people. I knelt in the dust and lifted her chin with the gentleness I reserve for infants and broken animals.
¡°We answered the call,¡± I said. ¡°Your boy was moved because he stole at night. That is not what we do in Valmont unless we have no other way. We asked him why. We listened. He will not be punished if he cannot feed his family; he will be given work. We do not bind hunger when other options remain.¡±
She didn¡¯t rx. ¡°Words,¡± she said, and the word was a stone thrown into water. ¡°Words are cheap.¡±
Mothers will test the weight of your words as soon as they hear them. If you can¡¯t prove you will keep their children from starvation, you have nothing.
It was not only the poor. Men who¡¯d been brought into the territory under promises of work muttered in thenes about fairness, their mouths full of old resentments. Many of them carried the bitter memory of their old pack¨Ca city of deals where people who knew how to shout loudest took everything. They did not yet trust a Lycan king who built schools, though their children were the first to sit at our desks.
Isolde¡¯s theater had done more than threaten me with a de. It had worked like a wedge. It showed how easy it is to turn people toward outrage when they have not had reason to know mercy is possible.
¡°Let us call hearing in the square,¡± Francesco said after I returned from the woman at the well. His voice had the gravity of someone pulling on his boots to wade into cold water. ¡°We will answer them in daylight with our faces and our words. We will be seen to act. We will not be corralled into making a spectacle, but we will make the ce where facts can breathe.¡±
Alfonso¡¯s ledger crackled as he nodded. ¡°A public hearing. We will call witnesses. We will let people speak. Justice is what men can see happen; they need to see it.¡±
It is one thing to proim justice in a hall with curtains and loyal faces.
It is another toy that justice out in the square and let the market hawkers hear you so inly their ears have no choice but to receive it.
There is a good terror in that kind of exposure. It¡¯s the kind that cleans; it¡¯s also the kind that can bleed.
We set the time for the afternoon.
Word ran like a thread through the markets and stalls: Come and see. The King will speak. The Luna will be
seen.
People came with the kind of curiosity that first brings children to a fair¨Cthey wanted to be part of something public and true. They brought questions on their tongues. They brought insults wrapped in umbres and grief in their pockets. They brought the restless energy of those who have been promised things and not given them.
The square filled. I stood beside Francesco on the low step that once had been used for promations and weddings and edicts. We did not stand on better ground; we stood alongside them, because justice from a step makes it a thing to be looked at rather than a thing to live.
Francesco spoke first.
He has a way of cing his voice into the air and letting it find ears without pleading for them. ¡°Valmont,¡± he
15:29 Wed, Sep 24
said, ¡°hear us.¡±
And they heard.
64
55 vouchers
¡°We are a small ce,¡± he continued, ¡°and not without wounds. Last night, in this yard, a woman was injured. We are treating the wound. We will let thew speak.¡± He paused, scanning faces¨Chard mother eyes, men squinting with suspicion, boys who knew enough to find this interesting. ¡°But justice is not revenge. It is the truth ced where it can be found. If anyone believes Luna¡¯s safety should be traded for the pain of another, then tell me now your name and your reason so we can answer it.¡±
Someone shouted that justice was for the wronged.
A voice rose to say the Luna should be punished as a spectacle so the pain of the poor would look satisfied.
Another small woman who knits for extra money said simply, ¡°My work is steady because you came. That steadiness is justice to me.¡±
Francesco let them speak.
He let them tug at the thought that justice looks like revenge to those who have been wronged for a long time.
When he took the floor again, his voice had the patience of a bell. ¡°We will call witnesses,¡± he said. ¡°We will look at what happened. We will not let one incident eat the whole of ourw. But I will also say this: our Luna did not need to be hidden. If you think she is walked free because of love, then ask yourselves if love is a crime, or if fear is.¡±
I felt the tension shift.
That rhetorical question is sharp; it forced the crowd to decide whether their rage was at the King¡¯s generosity or at the fact they¡¯d been used by someone else.
Some staggered, their anger losing purchase.
Some dug their feet in because the question asked of them more than they had.
We called witnesses. Bakers and the children who yed near the yard gave the facts that matter most¨Cwho saw what, which direction people moved, what was said. Isolde¡¯s wound was examined by Monica in in sight. Her voice was steady but measured; she told people what she had found without usation, simply the truth of the cut and the dressing.
Then we let Isolde speak.
You would expect a woman who had screamed for a king to sway the crowd. Instead, she stood small and would not meet the faces of those she had once shared bread with. When she began, her voice shook, but then steadied like a bow finding its string.
¡°He told me the King never loved her, the.. the Luna¡± she said, words a thin paper in the wind. ¡°He said that if I made a scene¡ they would-¡± Her voice broke. ¡°He said¡ I would be rewarded.¡±
A man near the back started a rough indictment: Dorian¡¯s men- and before the thought was formed, a younger trader shouted back: How do we know? Who says men from the south want us each to be their
15:29 Wed, Sep 24
pawns?
There was a fear in their question that cut at the heart.
64
E55 vouchers
We had lived under a man¨CHenri¨Cwhose reach had been as small¨Cminded as a cage. These neers carried that memory. When you live by a stranger¡¯s promise, you grow suspicious of kindness; you learn to sniff a rope for knots. They had reason to hold their breath.
Alfonso as the Beta presented his lists. Marlow presented the report of the night patrols. Monitors gave testimony about the person in the shadows and how quickly they had escaped.
The evidence was messy, like evidence tends to be when humans are involved¨Csmudges of scent, a torn sleeve, a coin with a scratch¨Cnot the tidy clean line of a perfect story. And rumors do not care for mess. They prefer neatness. Neatness nkets cruelty.
One man, a weaver new to our fields, stood and asked a question that was the knife at the center of the whole thing. ¡°Why is she not in a sling?¡± he said. ¡°Why is the Luna up and selling bread in the morning and my cousin is in the stocks and bleeding for stealing to feed his children?¡±
It was a fair question because fairness does not bow to status.
I wanted to answer with all the things we¡¯d done¨Chow we had offered work, how we had fed families, how we had tried to find the ces where hunger sits like an unwanted guest.
But more than that, I wanted the man to feel seen for the grievance he carried that was easily made true. You cannot wave away pain with words.
So I stepped down from the step.
I walked into the press of people, not as a Luna wearing the King¡¯s shadow, but as a woman who kneaded bread in the morning and had once carried packages to a neighbor in need.
I took the weaver¡¯s hand in mine the way I would hold a young sapling. He flinched at first as if he expected the touch to be hot. ¡°Show me your cousin,¡± I said simply.
He named a poor row further from the square. I went with him.
We walked, and as people saw me go¨Cknees bent, shawl gathered¨Csomething odd happened: the rumor¡¯s fuel sputtered.
Someone muttered that a Luna who would meet a weaver in hisne could not be as cruel as the story said.
Another, quieter woman decided she had a kettle to heat and spent the time to send word to her sister.
The rumor was hungry but not unstoppable; it needed a conduit, and sight is the strangest of disinfectants.
I found the cousin slumped on a pallet, sweat and blood sticky on his wrist where he had been bound. He was not dying. Neither was he a martyr. He was scared, raw, and embarrassed.
I unbound him while someone fetched clean water. I asked what had happened, listened while he told me about stealing a sack of grain to feed a fever, and then I took the only tool that matters in such moments-
15:29 Wed, Sep 24
practicality.
:
64
ET 55 vouchers
¡°We will have you work the new hall,¡± I told him. ¡°There is hammering to do. You will repay what you can by work. Your family will not go hungry while we put a roof up.¡± He spat some grief into the dirt¨Cat the humiliation, at the embarrassment of being the sort singled out¨Cthen his shoulders eased when I barked instructions to someone near that part of town: Take a bowl to his wife. Start her with soup. The simple action could not erase the narrative Isolde had started, but it tore a thread out of it.
When I returned, folks were watching us.
Many had followed or hade to see what would be done.
The weaver looked at me and then at the crowd. Some of the faces had softened. It is small to be unstarched, to have an authority kneel in yourne, but it changes the way people measure you.
It buys something: credibility. It is not everything. It is a start.
Francesco stood waiting, arms folded with the look of a man relieved by a small but real thing.
He reached for my hand as I returned to him, thumb finding the small scar that was our private map.
¡°You did well,¡± he said. He did not say it loud. He never needed to. The crowd heard it anyway, the way affection echoes.
But the work was not finished.
The rumour had teeth, and teeth like that find new prey fast.
The next morning someone had painted a crude sign on the fence: Justice for us. By evening there were two more, then three. They were not violent. They wanted to be seen. They wanted to be counted. Pain finds itself a shape and keeps that shape until someone holds it differently.
That night, we called a smaller council.
We decided on formal steps that would not look like the King apologizing nor like an empty parade of justice, but like the method of a people who mean to be fair: Isolde to be given a formal trial where her own words and the witnesses would be heard, but also a fast¨Ctrack review of all cases of hardship where punishment had been used in thest month, to offer reparations or work when punishment had been a poor choice.
We opened applications for food relief with clear bookkeeping. Alphonso drew the lines that would be reported to the square in innguage, because truth needs to be simple to be trusted.
Before we ended, Francesco and I walked the walls. He took my hand, warm and sure.
We looked out over the hamlet¨Cstalls, smoke, the little patches turned by hands now willing to lift.
Heid his head against my shoulder.
¡°We will be measured,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Not by what we say, but by what we do.¡±
¡°And we will do,¡± I answered. ¡°Because justice is not a word we can wear like a ring. It is the day we choose to
feed our neighbours before ourselves.¡±
He tightened his fingers. ¡°You did well today.¡±
464
55 vouchers
I rested my temple on his shoulder. ¡°It felt like stepping into a crowd that was trying to decide if I was a hero or a lie.¡±
¡°And what did you learn?¡±
¡°That we have to show our faces for them to trust us. That shelter is not enough. That people need to be seen. and fed and given a path to return what they cannot repay. That reputation is won by doing the tedious work.¡±
He kissed the top of my head. ¡°Then we will get tedious.¡±
15:29 Wed, Sep 24
Still His 186
Chapter 186
Morning tasted of cinnamon and warm bread.
464
55 vouchers
The kitchens had been kinder than sleep, and Monica had bullied me into one more spoon of honeyed oats ¡°for the nerves,¡± which I ate obediently while Francesco, Alfonso and Marlow went over lists that looked likes: names, hours, corners where rumor liked to coil.
Francesco¡¯s thumb traced small, absent circles over my wrist as he read.
Every few breaths his gaze flicked to my face, as if to confirm the bond hadn¡¯t lied and I was, in fact, still here. When he rose, he kissed my brow with a gentleness that always undoes me, then turned hard again to business with Marlow¨Csteel sheathing silk.
¡°I¡¯ll be in the manor grounds,¡± I told him, light as I could make it. ¡°Fresh air. Mika¡¯s getting restless.¡±
¡°Take Audrey,¡± he said, themand softened by love.
¡°Always,¡± Audrey answered before I could, already two steps behind me with that look that says don¡¯t argue; I bite.
We left the tter of tes and the murmured war¨Croom voices, and the manor gave us its quieter bones¡ª hallway, stair, a half¨Cclosed door where Julius and Bethany debated seedlings as if nts could be convinced by logic.
Outside, the air was cool and clear, carrying damp from the night and a faint drift of pine from the ridge. Lanterns along the path guttered in the lingering breeze, the mes thin and stubborn.
I didn¡¯t aim for any particr destination. My feet found one.
Past the oldundry arch and the broken sundial thest Alpha never fixed, a narrow gate sulked under a curtain of ivy.
When I pulled, the hingesined, and the scent of loam andtle shouldered out to meet us.
I stepped through¨Cand stopped.
¡°An old garden,¡± I whispered in shock.
It had once been square and orderly; I could see the bones of it even beneath the tangle. Low stone borders shouldered aside byvender gone feral. Box hedges drunk on neglect. A fountain crouched in the center, dry now, its basin cuppingst week¡¯s leaves like a forgotten bowl. A fig had muscled itself through a seam in the gstones, its trunk leaning, stubborn and elegant. Sun caught on spider silk strung between two broken trellises and turned neglect toce.
Florence shed through me¨Canother garden, better kept, the night I first saw Francesco in a shirt he had rolled to his elbows, coaxing a blue rose off a wall like it was a secret only he could hear. I felt then what I felt now: the sudden rightness of a ce, a person, a future you hadn¡¯t dared sketch.
¡®We remember this,¡® Mika breathed, her fur rising warm under my skin. ¡®Stones that keep stories. Green things that forgive neglect.
15:30 Wed, Sep 24
64
55 vouchers
¡°That look,¡± Audrey said,ing to lean beside me on the cracked fountain rim. ¡°The one where your eyes go somece your feet can¡¯t yet. That¡¯s your painting face.¡±
Iughed, surprised at how easy it came. She knows me well.
¡°It used to be.¡± The truth slid across my tongue like something I¡¯d missed. ¡°I haven¡¯t drawn in¡ ¡± My eyes widened when I gasped ¡°Goddess, too long.¡±
¡°Then draw,¡± Audrey said simply, as if she were telling me to breathe or eat. She eyed the wild hedges. ¡°I¡¯ll hack the ivy if it tries to be interesting.¡±
¡°Could you fetch my sketch roll from the wardrobe?¡± I asked, suddenly shy, as if I were admitting something indulgent. ¡°The old leather one. And charcoal¨Cthere¡¯s a tin.¡±
She gave me a look she saves for when I say please for things I don¡¯t need permission to want. ¡°On it,¡± she said, and vanished with the quiet speed of a de pulled from a sheath.
I picked a low stone bench half¨Cswallowed by thyme and brushed leaf¨Cdust away, then sat and let the garden settle around me.
A bee,te to its own work, blundered through a foxglove like a small drunk. A robin announced himself to the universe and then forgot what he¡¯d meant to say. Somewhere a shutter cked, then stilled.
I folded my hands and simply looked.
It¡¯s the first rule Lira drilled into me when she snatched a too¨Cquick brush from my fingers months ago: Look until you think you can¡¯t look anymore. Then look again. What you thought was shadow is actually violet. What you called gray is three kinds of green trying very hard to pretend to be dignified.
I looked. The fountain lip wasn¡¯t just stone; it was stone with a fleck of mica that caught sun like a promise. The fig¡¯s leaves held their own constetion, a greener dark toward the veins, a bruised gold where the light slid thin. The hedges had forgotten to be squares and were happier for the sin.
¡°Here,¡± Audrey said, soft as a gift, dropping my old leather roll beside me and a tin that rattled when itnded. ¡°And a nket,¡± she added, because she thinks of the muscles in my back when I forget I have a body.
¡°Thank you,¡± I said, and meant therger thing.
She pretended not to hear the size of it, studied the far wall with interest, and began a slow prowl of the perimeter that would have made any intruder rethink their life choices.
I unrolled the leather.
The smell rose up¨Cgraphite and paper and the ghost of almond oil from a brush I¡¯d forgotten I owned.
My fingers trembled, then remembered. The first charcoal stick felt too ck, too blunt. I broke its tip, made it imperfect, made it mine.
The page took the first line like it had been waiting. My hand found the old angles¨Cwrist loose, shoulder doing the work, not the fingers. I blocked the fountain with quick geometry, then gentled a curve where neglect had softened what men had made straight. The fig came next¨Cnegative space first, light carved out of
15:30 Wed, Sep 24
:
the dark¨Cand then the trellis where ivy had written its own alphabet over the winter.
Charcoal dust smudged my knuckles.
64
EZ 55 vouchers
I re¨Clearned the pressure that makes stone look like it holds its breath and leaves look like they¡¯ve been exhaling for a century. When a gust came, the page lifted at the corner¨Ca small, eager wing¨Cand I smiled at the child¨Cjoy of pinning it with a smooth pebble, of making the world and the paper agree.
My breath evened. The ache behind my heart¨Cthe echo ofst night¡¯s de, the whisper under the window -eased without asking permission.
Drawing is a kind of prayer when you stop asking for anything and start admitting what is.
¡°This is good,¡® Mika murmured, drowsy and pleased. ¡®You are more wolf when you make instead of only mending.¡¯
¡°Agreed,¡± I whispered, and shaded the ce the fountain shadow fell like cool water.
Time, which had been loud and bossy, quieted.
I don¡¯t know how long I worked.
I know that when I sat back to shake my hand out, the page had be a version of the garden that the garden could recognize. The fountain leaned, but nobly. The hedges misbehaved, but with ir. A small scribble of robin lived in the top corner because life insists.
¡°Show me,¡± Audrey called from the far gate, and I held the pad up. She didn¡¯t move closer. She squinted, then grinned. ¡°If you ask me whether it looks like a hedge, I¡¯m going to say yes. But it also looks like¡ us, somehow.¡± She shrugged, a rare flush on her cheeks. Compliments make her itchy. ¡°It breathes.¡±
I gave her a wide smile ¡°Then I did my job,¡± I said, pleased enough tough at myself.
We fell into apanionable quiet.
She settled on the fountain rim, stretching the knee that aches when rain looms, and pretended not to watch. me too closely. I sketched again¨Cthis time the broken sundial through the gate, the way light made a liar of time.
¡°Can I say something you won¡¯t like?¡± Audrey asked, eyes still on the periphery.
¡°Always¡±
¡°Um¡ When she lungedst night, something in me¡ broke,¡± she said bluntly. ¡°Not a bone. A rule. I¡¯ve always known where to put myself between danger and you. And then there was poison and a scream and hands that wanted to believe the wrong thing. I wanted to¡ I wanted to stop being disciplined.¡± She flexed her hand on the fountain lip until the knuckles went white. ¡°I wanted to take her by the throat and make the world choose you with blood.¡±
I put the charcoal down, turned to her.
The garden held the moment like a cupped palm.
¡°You didn¡¯t,¡± I said.
:
464
64
55 vouchers
¡°Barely,¡± she admitted, a sh of teeth. ¡°And because I know what you¡¯d think if I did. What you are makes me better than my worst day.¡±
I leaned across the space and bumped her shoulder with mine. ¡°What you are makes me safe on my worst day.¡± We sat with that. Two women, both sharp in their own directions, letting gentleness not feel like surrender.
She is more like a best friend or sister that I never had instead of a guardian.
¡°Keep drawing,¡± she said after a while, voice rough because feelings make her throat rebellious. ¡°You look like you belong to yourself when
you do.¡±
And so I did.
15:30
ved, Sep
Still His 187
Francesco found meter¨Cnot by scent (though I knew he easily could), not by sound (though Francesco always hears me before anyone else)-but because the bond tugged him away from whatever web of strategy Alfonso andMarlow had wrapped him in, and drew him here. To me. To the old garden with the stubborn ivy, where I had set myself down with my charcoal and let memory guide my hands.
He stood just inside the shadow of the arch, saying nothing, watching.
I didn¡¯t hear him at first.
I felt him.
That ripple across my skin, the shiver that runs down a lover¡¯s spine when the one person who knows your every breath arrives and chooses silence instead of announcement. Mika stirred inside me, lifting her head, tail thumping once in firm approval.
I didn¡¯t turn. I let him look.
The page was alive beneath my hand. Charcoal smudges made the fountain deepen, shadows sliding into the stone basin. The fig tree leaned closer, its crooked branches whispering into the white space. In the corner, almost as an afterthought, my hand began sketching the ghost of a man¡¯s outline¨Ctall at the arch, smile folded soft, eyes bright. But before I gave him form, I smudged the lines into dust. A small magic. He would hate to be the subject when the garden wanted to be itself.
His whisper reached me then, part sigh, partugh, and wholly him.
¡°My Luna returns to the first magic I met.¡±
My heart ached and softened all at once.
I looked over my
shoulder.
There was no crown on him now. Just a long coat shrugged over a shirt he¡¯d forgotten to button at the throat, and an honest, unhidden tiredness on his face. The golden me in his eyes melted the instant he saw me- my fingers ckened with charcoal, my cheek smudged with gray, my knees pressed into thyme. His mouth curved into that rare smile he saved only for me. The kind of smile that carved creases at the corners of his eyes, the ones he pretended he didn¡¯t have.
¡°I was going to his mouth.
¡°You put breath back into things,¡± he said atst. ¡°That¡¯s the thing you do that makes me worship.¡±
A small gasp of scandal escaped me, and he smiled wider, entirely unrepentant. He reached for my hand,
15:30 Wed, Sep 24
64
55 vouchers
turning it palm¨Cup. His thumb traced over the stains of ink and charcoal as if they were gemstones set into my skin. Then, solemn as though it were a vow, he lifted my knuckles and pressed a kiss to each one.
Heat leapt in my throat and sank deeper, spreading like fire beneath my ribs.
¡°Careful,¡± I whispered, my voice trembling. ¡°You¡¯ll get gray on your lips.¡±
¡°Then I¡¯ll wear you to council,¡± he said, perfectly straight¨Cfaced.
I burst intoughter, the sound spilling between us. The tightness in his shoulders eased, and his mouth. softened again. He slid onto the bench beside me, thigh pressed to mine. That lean of his body against mine was effortless possession¨Cmine without taking anything away.
We didn¡¯t speak for a while. We didn¡¯t need to. The bond did the talking. His pride flowed warm into me, sunlight in my chest. My calm returned to him in slow, steady waves, soothing whatever jaggedness lived under his skin.
Finally, his voice brushed against me like velvet.
¡°I remember the garden in Florence,¡± he said, and I could hear the color of memory in his tone. ¡°Our first conversation was there. In front of Anastasia¡¯s blue rose.¡±
The breath caught in my throat. I smiled, a little shyly. ¡°You were still mourning her that day. I never thought I¡¯d end up here¨Cwith the silent, frightening Lycan Alpha who had lost his mate.¡±
The teasing tone in my voice made himugh. A low, rumbling sound that vibrated in my chest where we leaned together. He gave a yful groan and suddenly tugged me up, pulling me against him. Then his mouth found mine, fierce but reverent, tasting of relief, love, and possession.
Somewhere beyond us, I heard Audrey¡¯s footsteps retreat. She had left us in peace, her presence sliding away like a shadow. I silently blessed her loyalty.
In Francesco¡¯s arms, the world quieted. The doubts, the rumors, the whispers of those who questioned me- they didn¡¯t matter in this moment. His kiss told me everything I needed to remember. That I was his Luna. His equal. His fate.
I pressed my forehead to his, my voice quiet, but full of the truth I carried. ¡°If I look back on it all¡ I was a nobody then. Just a rejected mate, abandoned and humiliated, who ran to Florence, Italy because my mate had imed another woman. That wound¡ it has been more than six years.¡±
His arms tightened around me, as if the thought of me being that broken girl still pained him.
¡°And yet,¡± I continued, swallowing the lump in my throat, ¡°look where we are now. Our bond survived. It deepened. It grew stronger. We uncovered truths I never expected¨Cabout Anastasia, about magic, about ourselves. And now¡ this challenge, too. I believe we can survive this. We can survive anything, Francesco.¡±
His hand cupped my jaw, tilting my face until I drowned in the molten gold of his gaze. ¡°We don¡¯t just survive, Eine. We conquer. Because I have you. And you-¡± his lips brushed mine again, softer this time, reverent, ¡°-you are everything. My Luna. My salvation. My future.¡±
And at that moment, I believed him.
With my whole heart.
Always¡.
Still His 188
Chapter 188
:
$4 a 64
55 vouchers
Francesco¡¯s arms were still warm around me when I leaned back, tracing the line of his jaw with my fingertips.
His eyes softened under my touch, but the weight of duty was never far behind them. I knew the look well- the way responsibility lived in his bones, the way the King in him tried to cage the man.
¡°I need something from you,¡± I whispered, letting my lips brush the edge of his ear.
He stilled, instantly wary. ¡°Eine¡¡± His voice was warning, low and rough. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡±
He knows what I am going to ask.
I smiled faintly, pressing closer, my body molding to his until I felt his restraint tighten like a bowstring. ¡°I want to meet her¡ Alone.¡±
His arms closed around me, unyielding. ¡°No.¡±
I tilted my head up, letting my breath skim across his throat. ¡°Francesco¡¡±
¡°Eine.¡± His voice was firmer, but I heard the edge beneath it¨Cthe fear that lived beneath his fury. ¡°You don¡¯t know the danger. She¡¯s tried to kill you once. She¡¯ll try again. My Luna, I cannot¡ª¡±
I pressed my mouth to his, slow, coaxing.
Not demanding.
Not fighting.
Just giving him the taste of the bond, the reminder that I was not porcin to be locked away, but his equal.
I am his partner. His chosen. His fate.
When I drew back, my voice was soft but steady. ¡°If I don¡¯t ask her, Francesco, I¡¯ll never know why. Not truly. The whispers are spreading, and I cannot let lies fill the silence where the truth should be. Let me face her. With Audrey, with Monica, with your guards. I¡¯ll be safe. You have my word.¡±
His eyes red gold, the beast inside him wrestling with the man.
My heart clenched¨Che would cage the whole world to keep me safe if he could.
But, he had to see I wasn¡¯t asking to be reckless.
I was asking to be Luna.
¡°You¡¯re seducing me into agreeing,¡± he muttered, a groan caught between his teeth as his hand gripped the back of my neck.
¡°Yes,¡± I whispered, smiling against his lips. ¡°And it¡¯s working.¡±
15:31 Wed, Sep 24
¡
:
A curse rumbled in his chest, but when he pulled back, his shoulders dropped in defeat.
I try to hide my smile and keep a neutral face.
BA
64
55 vouchers
He heave a heavy sighed ¡°You will have guards. Not a single step without them. And if she so much as breathes wrong, Audrey has my leave to cut her down.¡±
¡°Agreed,¡± I said quickly, kissing him again before he could change his mind.
The ward was colder than I expected.
Not damp and foul like the prisons of human kings, but clean, carved of stone and lined with herbs and tonics that whispered of healing.
It was a ce meant to strip away pretense, to leave only truth and shadow.
Chains bound Isolde¡¯s wrists, silver biting into her pale skin.
She sat propped on a narrow cot, back straight, chin lifted, as though the shackles were ornaments instead of bonds. Her beauty remained intact¨Csharp as a de honed too fine¨Cbut madness flickered in her eyes, and bitterness dripped from every breath she exhaled.
Audrey was at my right, her hand never straying far from the hilt of her de.
Monica lingered at my left, eyes sharp and assessing, her healer¡¯s hands ready for damage if it came. Marlow stood further back with three of his best knights, their very presence heavy with Francesco¡¯smand: No
harm will touch the Luna.
I stepped forward, the echo of my boots soft against the stone floor.
The ward was quiet, save for the faint drip of water in some far¨Coff pipe and the restless rattle of Isolde¡¯s chains when she shifted her arms.
Her lips curved into a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes.
¡°The Luna herself,¡± she purred, though her voice carried a brittle edge. ¡°Come to gloat? Or to watch me
break?¡±
¡°I came to hear you,¡± I said simply, my tone calm, steady. ¡°I want the truth. Your truth.¡±
Herughter cracked the silence¨Cbrittle, sharp, like ss breaking in my ears. ¡°Truth? Do you even know the truth about the man you cling to? About the family you married into?¡±
My chest tightened, but I kept my gaze fixed on her. ¡°Tell me.¡±
Her smile sharpened. ¡°You never knew, did you? You think he loves you because you¡¯re special? No. You¡¯re convenient. Receable.¡± She leaned forward, eyes gleaming with a cruel light. ¡°You never knew about the Lycaon family, did you?¡±
15:31 Wed, Sep 24
I froze. ¡°Francesco¡¯s family?¡±
$64.
55 vouchers
She nodded slowly, savoring my reaction. ¡°Thest Lycan family. Lycaon¡ªthe most powerful, most ruthless. They looked down on us, themon wolves, as if we were dirt beneath their boots. Pawns for their games. That blood runs in your mate¡¯s veins, and you think he¡¯s different? You think you¡¯re not just another piece to be moved on the board?¡±
My heartbeat stumbled, but I forced myself to hold her gaze. ¡°Why him? Why Francesco?¡±
Her smile turned venomous. ¡°Do you know why I chose him? Why I epted the challenge of seducing one of the brothers? Because I wanted power. Not love. Power. And he was foolish enough to believe me.¡±
Her words cut through me, sharp and unrelenting. For the briefest moment, sorrow pierced my chest¨Cnot for myself, but for Francesco. For the man who had once opened his heart to this woman, only to be used, discarded, treated as nothing but adder toward ambition.
¡°You never loved him,¡± I whispered, realization striking like lightning.
Her smile widened into something feral. ¡°Love is for children and fools. I wanted the power of the Lycaon name. And I almost had it.¡±
My fists clenched at my sides, fury trembling through me¨Cnot for her venom against me, not even for her lies. But for the cruel truth buried inside them: that Francesco had once given his heart to a woman who never wanted it. She wanted only his crown.
I drew in a slow, steady breath, lifting my chin. ¡°You¡¯ve shown me enough, Isolde. Enough to know that you were never truly a threat. Not to me. Not to him. Because love is the one thing you never understood. And that is why you lost.¡±
For the first time, her smile faltered.
And in that small crack, I saw the truth of her defeat,
Still His 189
:
Her smile faltered. And I didn¡¯t rush into the silence that followed.
I stood there, breathing evenly, letting her own words curl back around her like smoke.
44
E55 vouchers
When I finally spoke, my voice was quiet, but it carried weight. ¡°You speak of power as if it is the only thing a heart can desire. But I did not fall in love with Francesco because of his name. Not because of Lycaon blood, not because of his crown. I loved him because he is him.¡±
Her eyes narrowed, but I pressed on, my words steady, my heart certain.
¡°I saw him when he thought no one did¨Cwhen he carried burdens too heavy for one man. I saw his rage, yes, but I also saw his restraint. His strength, but also his quiet tenderness. The man who could snap a neck in one heartbeat is the same man who kissed the dirt from my hands when I came in from the garden. Do you understand that, Isolde? I do not love the Lycaon name. I love Francesco. My mate.¡±
The chains rattled as she shifted, herposure cracking.
Her lips trembled before she bit them to stillness, but not before I saw the sheen in her eyes.
And then, slowly, impossibly, she broke.
Tears slid down her cheeks.
She turned her face away as if ashamed to let me see her weakness, but her voice¨Craw and shaking¨Cbetrayed her. ¡°You don¡¯t know what it was like. I thought¡ I thought I had found love once.¡±
I held still, listening.
Her shoulders trembled, the silver clinking as her hands flexed against the chains. ¡°There was a man,¡± she whispered. ¡°A warrior from a neighboring pack. He swore to me there was no mate for him¨Cthat I was his choice, his heart, his future. And I believed him. Goddess help me, I believed him. For years, I gave him everything. And then¡¡± Her voice cracked. ¡°Then his mate appeared. His real mate. And he left me. Just like that. Left me with nothing but a broken promise.¡±
The bitterness I had always seen in her eyes now had roots. Deep, festering roots.
¡°I swore never again,¡± she continued, her tears falling freely now. ¡°Never again would I be the weak one. Never again would I be the woman abandoned because fate gave someone else more im than me. And then¡¡± She looked up at me, eyes burning. ¡°Then someone told me about Francesco. About the Lycaon prince turned king. A man so ruthless the world feared him. A man whose first mate was dead. I thought¡ I thought his Luna would be like me. Pretending. Surviving. Using him. Because how could anyone love a man like that?¡±
Her chest rose and fell with a sob, chains rattling with the force of it. ¡°So I came. I told myself if I could not be loved, then I would have power. That would be enough. But it wasn¡¯t. It was never enough.¡±
I stepped closer, my heart both aching and resolute. ¡°You were wrong,¡± I said softly. ¡°You looked at Francesco and saw only the Lycaon name, the crown, the terror of a ruthless Alpha. But I saw him. The man beneath it all. And I love him¨Cnot despite who he is, but because of everything he is. His darkness. His light. His scars. His strength. All of it.¡±
19:38 Wed, Sep 24
:
Isolde lifted her tear¨Cstreaked face to me, eyes wide, almost disbelieving. ¡°You¡ truly love him?¡±
44
55 vouchers
I nodded, no hesitation in my chest. ¡°With everything in me. With everything I am. He is not my throne. He is not my crown. He is my heart.¡±
Her lips trembled again, and for the first time since I had known her, she looked small. Fragile. Not the seductive threat she had once been, but simply a woman who had been broken and had built her armor from cruelty because it was all she had left.
Her head bowed, and the tears kepting.
And in that moment, though I still despised the pain she had tried to bring me, I understood her. Not her choices, not her cruelty, but the wound beneath it.
And for the first time, Isolde had no venom left to throw.
Her head remained bowed, tears dripping onto her bound hands.
The sharp, bitter woman who once lunged at me with wolfsbane looked nothing like the one before me now. She was cracked open, her crueltyid bare for what it truly was¨Cpain wearing a mask.
I stood there for a long moment, watching her shoulders tremble.
For a fleeting heartbeat, I wanted to reach out, to tell her she didn¡¯t need to choose venom. But then Mika stirred within me, reminding me of the truth:passion does not mean forgetting the harm she tried to bring.
So I let silence be my answer.
I turned and walked toward the door.
Each step felt heavy, as though chains were bound to my own ankles. Not because of fear, not even because of anger. But because of the truth that lodged itself in my chest.
Francesco¡
His love¡ always turned into mockery.
Isolde, who never wanted him, only his crown.
Anastasia, who bound him with magic, twisting what should have been bond into prison.
Each time he gave his heart, it was treated like a weapon, like a tool: Not something precious. Not something cherished.
Like a Lycan didn¡¯t deserve to feel love at all.
My throat tightened, my vision stinging. The ward door creaked open as Marlow moved aside to let me pass, his eyes flicking over my face with quick, silent concern. Audrey and Monica nked me immediately, protective shadows as always, but their presence did nothing to ease the ache that gripped my chest.
Because this wasn¡¯t about me. It was about him.
My Francesco.
D??
44
55 vouchers
The man the world called ruthless. The king the packs whispered about in fear. The Lycan who had been made to believe¨Ctime and again¨Cthat his love was nothing more than a w to be exploited.
My heart shattered for him in that moment, splintering into pieces I wanted to gather and press back together with my bare hands.
As I walked away from Isolde¡¯s tears, one thought rang louder than all the rest.
I will show him. I will prove it, again and again, until the day the moon takes us both. His love is not a curse. It is not a weakness. It is a gift. And I am the one who will cherish it.
Still His 190
hapter 190
Chapter 190
The garden had a way of asking for small things.
A 56 vouchers
It never demanded grand gestures¨Cjust dirt under fingernails, a patient hand, a little water poured at the base of a hopeful shoot.
Today it asked for exactly that: patience.
I had told myself I came back for drawing. But charcoal stilly rolled and untouched in my satchel. The that had been so honest with me that morning now felt like a mirror I didn¡¯t want to stare into.
So, instead, I found my knees in the soil, the cold grain of it between my fingers, and I nted.
Maybe it was childish.
Maybe it was foolish.
But there is a kind of prayer in nting: an argument with time that says, I believe in tomorrow.
page
So I dug small holes and pressed tiny roots into the earth like promises. Lavender, for scent on heavy days. Rosemary, because Monica swore it steadied the heart. A small espaliered rose, tentative and stubborn, for the blue rose in Florence that had once smelled of a beginning.
Each seed, each sprig, felt like a stitch in the side of the wound that had opened in the ward.
Audrey hovered nearby as she always did¨Ca patient de in boots, her presence steady as the edge of steel. Monica supplied an absurd number of tiny gardening tools and a lecture about drainage that I pretended to understand but absolutely did not. Maria¨Cgentle, practical Maria of the kitchen, who knew the pain of me being rejected¨Cbrought me a small watering can and stayed with the quiet knowledge of someone who had walked a road like mine.
They moved around me like the orbit of quiet moons, respectful of the small liturgy I was performing.
They tried to coax me into eating, but I refused.
So they stayed instead, kneeling in the dirt, helping me, letting silence do the work. Their loyalty was a balm, even when words felt useless.
So I keep nting.
With each movement, I told myself a litany.
When I came to Florence, my heart was shattered. I knew about Francesco losing Anastasia, about his mourning, only to find out she had used him. Now I see another woman doing the same,
I thought being rejected was the worst pain¨Cthat it would end me. But knowing his story makes my pain feel
small.
I am not the girl who ran. I am the woman who was left because my mate chose another. Now, I am the Luna
10:39 Fri, Sep 26
he chose.
The words were small and soft and only mattered because I spoke them. The earth listened. The rosemary rooted itself as if it had been waiting for me. Even the stubborn fig, with its leaning trunk, seemed to incline a little, like approval.
Sometimes, when hands are busy, the heart can do its work without the tongue. I rubbed dirt into the lines of my palms until the soil felt like ink¨Clike work I could show himter, proof that I fought back with growth, not bitterness. He would see the garden and know I had used pain to build something that could keep us both
Hours passed.
The sun tilted west.
Shadows sharpened and softened.
I hadn¡¯t noticed the time until a voice¨Cnot loud, not dramatic, only a soft footfall and the weight of my name -lifted the back of my skin.
¡°Eine.¡±
The name warmed the air as it always did.
He was there before I turned¨Cthe world narrowing to the slope of his shoulders, the dark re of his eyes. He carried the tiredness of the day across him like a cloak, but when his gaze found me, the wear folded away. Audrey, Monica, and Maria had followed at a respectful distance; they had read the signs of a woman who needed space¨Cand of the man who would always give her shelter.
¡°I was told you¡¯re still here,¡± he said, and the way his voice held the words felt like confession and promise at
once.
Audrey stepped forward then, practical as ever. ¡°She¡¯s been here all afternoon. We tried to tempt her with food. She refused.¡±
Damn Audrey.
Francesco¡¯s mouth tightened in a way I recognized¨Cthe loop of worry that always closed on him when he saw me slip behind myself.
He crossed to me without hurry, his hand brushing over the mound of soil as if he touched something alive that mattered to both of us. Then he crouched, the way a man lowers himself to a child, with a gentleness that made my heart ache.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you eat?¡± he asked.
There was no rebuke in it. Only the raw need of someone who could not abide the thought of losing the one thing he could never rece.
I wanted to answer with tidy words¨CI nted. But words were not enough.
Instead, I let my hands fold into his, soil smearing between our fingers, warmth sinking into warmth. The
10:39 Fri, Sep 26
:
bond hummed, taut and sure, like a string plucked between us.
A
EX 55 vouchets
¡°I have no appetite,¡± I whispered, my voice giving on thest syble. I swallowed, tasting iron and rosemary. ¡°I know you must have heard¡ about our conversation.¡±
Francesco¡¯s fingers tightened once around my wrist.
His face didn¡¯t harden into rage; it softened into sorrow. ¡°I heard everything, amore mio. And you heard the truth that matters most.¡± He pressed his forehead to mine, the world narrowing to the small, steady beat of him. ¡°Not my family name. Not the stories in men¡¯s mouths. But, it¡¯s me. You. Here. Now.¡±
The tears came then¨Cquiet at first, then falling like small rain.
They burned hot into the soil and I didn¡¯t wipe them away. They felt like part of the season. Audrey¡¯s hand drifted to my shoulder; Monica bent with a cloth. But it was Francesco who gathered me without question, lifting me into his arms as though I were something fragile and necessary.
¡°You should not have to hold that alone. I am okay¨CI have you now.¡± His voice shook, not with anger but with the ache he had carried from years of being mistaken, misunderstood. ¡°I hate that they turned my love into a story meant to make me small.¡± His arms were strong around me, steadying. ¡°You were never meant to know that pain.¡±
But I did know. And that was why I wept¨Cfor him.
For the most amazing man, who deserved better.
My tears slowed only when his ribs moved steady under my cheek. He carried me toward the manor like a man carrying home. The garden watched us go, the little nts tilting like faces toward a blessing.
He set me gently on our bed, his hands tender as prayer. He didn¡¯t let me move until my breath had steadied.
¡°You nted hope,¡± he said softly. ¡°You did well. Don¡¯t think about the past¨Cmy past. I am okay now. I have you.¡± He brushed a smear of dirt from my cheek with his thumb, and I leaned into the touch like shelter.
I rested my head against his chest, listening to the slow, sure beat there.
He patted my back like a mother soothes a child, and whispered: ¡°Whatever they whisper about me, we will answer with dirt under our nails and food in people¡¯s bowls. We will not meet venom with venom, but with the stubbornness of growth.¡±
I nodded against him, a truth taking root in me.
Love was not a trophy or a weapon. It was soil and sun and the daily act of tending. If anyone thought it was a weakness, we would show them how strong it could make us both.
He tightened his arms around me, firm and possessive, worshipful.
Outside, the manor hummed with life¨Csoldiers on patrol, servantsying coals, the steady scrape of a quill.
Inside, my cheeks were wet, my hands carried the faint scent of rosemary, and the small shoots in the garden waited for morning.
10.39 Fri, Sep 26
¡°It¡¯s sad that you¡¯re sad because of me,¡± he murmured, naming the shadow I hadn¡¯t spoken. ¡°I am sorry. They will will answer¨Ctogether.¡±
1 lifted my face to him, and for a brief, luminous second the ache thinned into resolve. ¡°Together, I echoed.
He kissed my brow, then my lips, then every dirt¨Cstained knuckle.
And I let him¨Cbecause that is where love gets rebuilt: in tiny mercies, in soil under fingernails, in the way two people choose to hold one another through rumor and rain.
The night folded its cloak over the manor.
And together, we nned with quiet ferocity to meet the dawn.
AD
Still His 191
:..
Chapter 191
It began with footsteps.
:
Heavy, measured, far too many for the ordinary patrol.
Audrey was the first to notice.
AED
She straightened, her hand resting on the hilt of her de as the air shifted. Marlow came from the west corridor with three of his men, their movements sharp, predatory. Even before a guard rushed into the manor to announce it, I knew: strangers had crossed our borders.
Not rogues. Not merchants. Not peasants seeking sanctuary.
Alphas.
Francesco was already waiting in the hall, his presence coiled and ready, ck eyes lit faintly in the torchlight. When the messenger stammered that it was not one Alpha but several, my heart gave a single startled beat. And when the names followed, my lips parted in shock.
They hade from several areas in France.
And among them¨CDorian.
Alpha Dorian.
The name lodged in me like a stone.
The timing was no coincidence. They hade after whispers of Isolde. But what chilled me most was the speed. News traveled fast, yes¨Cbut not that fast. Not unless someone wanted it to.
Not unless someone carried it.
Francesco¡¯s gaze met mine, and in it I read the same thought: Dorian.
His hand flexed, ws threatening to push through the skin, but he stilled them. There was no proof. Not yet. And my mate was not a man to move without it.
¡°Prepare the great hall,¡± he ordered, his voice a whip through the air. ¡°If France wants an audience, we will give them one. And they will see how the Italian King greets his guests.¡±
I lifted my chin. ¡°And his Luna will stand beside him.¡±
His eyes softened for a fraction of a breath¨Cenough for me to feel the bond hum, the quiet always that he
gave me.
Then it was gone, hidden under the steel mask of the King.
*****
10:40 Fri, Sep 26
The great hall filled with the sound of boots against stone.
??
65 vouchet
Torches red against the tapestries of wolves and stars. The long table had been cleared, reced with two high¨Cbacked chairs at its head¨Cthrones of sorts, though Francesco never liked the word.
I sat at his right hand, my dress simple but regal enough to mark me as his Luna, my hair bound back with a braid Monica had insisted on weaving through with sprigs of rosemary.
A reminder, she¡¯d whispered, that roots matter more than crowns.
The doors groaned open, and the French Alphas entered.
Six of them, all broad¨Cshouldered, all carrying the arrogance of men too long obeyed with their trusted members behind them. Their scents filled the air¨Cpine, cedar, musk, a faint tang of iron. My wolf bristled. They came not as allies but as predators circling another¡¯s den.
And there he was, among them.
Alpha Dorian.
He looked much as he had thest time I saw him¨Cdark hair streaked with gray, eyes like chips of flint, his frame leaner than some of the others but no less dangerous for it. His presence carried weight, not because of kindness or honor, but because of calction.
He bowed, just enough to be proper, though his eyes never dipped fully from Francesco¡¯s. ¡°King Francesco. Luna Eine. We thank you for receiving us on such short notice.¡±
Francesco inclined his head, his voice calm, smooth, utterly controlled. ¡°My door is open to those whoe with respect. You bring many feet across my border¨Cmay I ask what matter weighs so heavily that six Alphas. must carry it?¡±
The words were polite, but the steel beneath them was unmistakable. Why are you here?
One of the others spoke first¨Ca tall man with scar across his brow. ¡°We heard troubling whispers, my King. Of a woman. A former lover of yours, Isolde. That she is here. That she was harmed.¡±
My pulse stuttered.
So, it¡¯s true that they had heard.
But, already?
Francesco did not so much as flinch.
His voice remained even. ¡°You heard whispers. And instead of sending word, you arrive at my gates with half
your council.¡±
Dorian¡¯s lips curved, not quite a smile. ¡°Surely you can understand, King Francesco. Rumors spread like fire. Best to quench them at the source.¡± His eyes flicked briefly toward me, sharp as knives. ¡°We would not want injustice to taint your reign.¡±
I held his gaze, unflinching, though my wolf snarled inside me.
His words were meant as poison, sweetened with courtesy.
He wanted those around him to think he was here for truth¨Cbut I knew.
This was a theater.
And I was the stage.
Francesco leaned back in his chair, the image of ease.
50 you from
Only I felt the bond¡¯s undercurrent: the way his power coiled, ready to strike. ¡°Then let us speak truth,¡± he said. ¡°Isolde is indeed here. Not in chains. Not in some dungeon. But in our ward, treated by my healers, guarded by my warriors. For her safety¨Cand ours.¡±
A ripple moved through the Alphas.
Surprise.
Doubt.
Even faint admiration.
I folded my hands in myp and spoke for the first time, my voice steady. ¡°She was not struck down. She was not silenced. She is alive, and she is cared for. That is the justice of this house.¡±
Their eyes turned toward me, weighing, measuring.
Some softened, though not all.
Dorian¡¯s gaze narrowed, as though he sought cracks in my voice.
I gave him none.
Francesco rose, his presence filling the hall like stormlight. ¡°If you came for proof, you will have it. Come. See for yourselves.¡±
*****
The ward smelled of herbs and clean linen.
Lamps glowed softly along the walls, throwing golden light across the rows of beds.
Healers moved quietly, their hands busy, their voices hushed. At the far endy Isolde.
Her wrists were unchained now, bandaged from where silver had bitten. Her hair, once her pride, spilled in a tangled sheet across the pillow. She looked smaller than I remembered. Less like a threat, more like a woman undone by her own choices.
The French Alphas stepped forward, their boots loud against the quiet.
10:40 Fri, Sep 26
??
IX 15 youchard
Their eyes darted¨Ctaking in the space, the care, the proof that she was indeed no prisoner of cruelty.
Dorian¡¯s gaze lingered longest. His jaw worked, but no words came.
Isolde stirred, hershes fluttering open.
When her eyes focused and found the men before her, she gasped softly.
For a heartbeat, fear flickered.
Then calction.
¡°Alphas,¡± she breathed, her voice weak but carrying. ¡°You see¡ I live. The King did not harm me. The Luna did not harm me.¡± Her gaze slid toward me, something unreadable in it. ¡°I was¡ mistaken.¡±
My shoulders loosened a fraction.
For once, she did not twist the truth into venom.
Francesco stood tall at the foot of her bed, his voice quiet but unyielding. ¡°You have seen with your own eyes. This is the justice of the Lycan King. You may carry it back with you.¡±
The French Alphas exchanged looks, their expressions shifting.
Doubt still lingered, but the seed of proof had been nted. They could not so easily spread rumors of cruelty now¨Cnot when they had seen otherwise.
But Dorian.
Dorian¡¯s eyes never left me. And in them I saw something colder than doubt. Something that promised this was not the end.
*****
That night, as the Alphas were given rooms and the hall fell into uneasy quiet, I stood at the balcony of our chamber with Francesco¡¯s arm around my waist.
The moon hung low, silvering the gardens below.
My nts whispered in the wind like small, stubborn soldiers.
¡°They came for blood,¡± I murmured. ¡°And left with questions instead.¡±
Francesco kissed the crown of my head, his jaw tight against my hair. ¡°Questions can be survived. Proof can be shown. But whispers¡¡± His voice dropped, fierce and low. ¡°Whispers must be hunted.¡±
I thought of Dorian¡¯s eyes, sharp as flint, and shivered.
Tomorrow would bring another battle¨Cnot of ws, but of words. And I would have to stand at his side again, Luna to Lycan King, ready to meet whatever storm Dorian thought to summon.
15.49 FM Sep 25
§£§Ñ§â§Ú§ä 191
But somugheorghe Ibeywell
my cheek ground to his chest, listening to the beat of a
hear that bad weathered were aur and wille
AD
Still His 192
The hall had been transformed.
55 vouchers
Long tables were set beneath the banners of our house, the torches burning brighter, spilling golden light across polished stone.
Servants carried tters of roasted meats, bowls of bread, wheels of cheese, and dark wine poured into silver goblets. Laughter was absent. Even the tter of dishes seemed subdued, as though the walls themselves knew this was no celebration.
It was
test.
Francesco sat at the head, his posture effortless but his presence unmistakable.
Power radiated from him like a quiet storm, enough that even the French Alphas, arrogant and sure, chose their seats with careful measure. I sat at his right, my gown simple but deliberate, silver¨Cthreaded to catch the torchlight. The mark of Luna on my neck shimmered faintly, a reminder to all that I was his chosen mate¡ª not through arrangement, not through coercion, but bond.
Audrey and Marlow nked the room like twin pirs of steel, their hands never far from their weapons. Monica, at my silent request, stayed within reach, her calm gaze as steady as any warrior¡¯s. Our people filled the side tables, pack members who had survived Henri¡¯s ruin and begun to trust Francesco¡¯s reign. Their eyes flickered between the strangers and us, their loyalty quiet but present.
The French Alphas ate sparingly at first, exchanging nces, speaking in low voices. Dorian sat across from me, his gaze fixed not on Francesco, but on me. I met it, refusing to look away.
It was one of the others who finally broke the silence. A broad man with a scar carved down his cheek leaned forward, his goblet heavy in his hand.
¡°They say the Lycaon line was cursed,¡± he said, his voice casual, though his eyes glittered with malice. ¡°Too ruthless for their own survival. Even their own kin turned on them.¡±
The words dropped like stones into still water.
The hall went utterly quiet.
My fingers tightened on my goblet. Francesco¡¯s jaw flexed once, but he did not speak. He sat in silence, golden eyes fixed on the man, the weight of centuries coiled inside him.
Another Alpha chuckled, emboldened. ¡°Not surprising, is it? They lorded themselves above the rest of us. Sawmon wolves as pawns, less than dust. Why mourn them when their own blood slit their throats?¡± He raised his goblet as if to toast. ¡°Perhaps power was never meant to stay in one family for so long.
The words stung, not for me but for him. My Francesco. My mate.
Thest of that name, carrying not only its legacy but its scars.
My chest ached with the urge to shield him¨Cnot from danger, but from the cruelty of words sharpened by
envy.
85
$5 vouchers
I knew what they wanted. An outburst. A sh of the ruthless Lycan King they could whisper aboutter.
¡®See? He proves the rumors true.¡®
But I would not let them have it.
Before Francesco could speak, I leaned forward, my voice calm, almost gentle, yet carrying through the hall with the weight ofmand.
¡°Strange,¡± I said, tilting my head, ¡°that men who boast of strength still cling to the ghosts of others. If the Lycaon family was so cursed, why do you tremble at the sight of the one who remains?¡±
The Alpha with the scar stiffened, his goblet halfway to his lips.
I smiled faintly, though my eyes were steel. ¡°You speak of ruthlessness as though it is shame. But is it not ruthlessness that kept your borders intact when rogues swarmed? Was it not ruthlessness that held France when weaker packs would have burned? You call it a curse. I call it survival.¡±
Murmurs rippled along the table.
The scarred Alpha lowered his cup, his face flushing.
¡°And as for betrayal,¡± I continued, my tone still soft but unyielding, ¡°it is not the Lycaon family¡¯s sin alone. History is littered with brothers killing brothers, Alphas usurping fathers, mates betraying bonds. To use that to mock thest man standing is not wisdom. It is cowardice.¡±
My words cut sharper than ws.
The hall hung silent for a breath too long.
Then someone shifted, clearing his throat. Another Alpha muttered into his wine. The scarred man looked away, shame flickering in his eyes.
I felt Francesco¡¯s bond pulse through me¨Cpride, fierce and molten. He had not needed to raise his voice. His Luna had spoken for him.
Dorian¡¯s gaze lingered on me the longest.
There was no shame in his eyes, only calction, cold and sharp. He sipped his wine with deliberate calm, as though testing me, weighing me.
But he said nothing. Not yet.
The feast continued, though the air remained taut.
I lifted food to my lips out of courtesy, but the taste barely registered. Every word spoken felt like the edge of a de. Every nce toward us was weighed and measured.
When the talk turned back to Isolde, my heart gave a hard beat.
One of the younger Alphas leaned forward, his tone almost mocking. ¡°You showed her mercy, King
9:52 Sat, Sep 27
85
55 voucher
Francesco. Some would have chosen differently. Mercy is a dangerous game when whispers run faster than wolves.¡±
Francesco finally spoke then, his voice calm, but carrying the rumble of storm beneath it. ¡°Mercy is not weakness. Mercy is a choice of kings. I do not fear whispers. I fear injustice.¡±
The younger Alpha flushed, retreating back into his seat.
I ced my hand lightly on Francesco¡¯s arm, not to restrain him but to anchor him, to let him feel through the bond that he was not alone in this.
His fingers brushed mine under the table, a silent thanks.
By the time the feast ended, the French Alphas had eaten their fill but none left satisfied.
They had not broken Francesco¡¯s temper.
They had not shamed me into silence.
They had not found the scandal they craved.
As they stood to depart, Dorian lingered. His eyes met mine once more. There was no warmth there¨Conly promise.
¡°This was¡ enlightening,¡± he said softly, just for me. His lips curved in a smile that wasn¡¯t a smile. ¡°But whispers have long legs, Luna. Be certain you can outrun them.¡±
I met his gaze, my chin high, my voice steady. ¡°I do not run from whispers. I bury them with truth.¡±
For the first time, hisposure cracked¨Cjust a flicker, a tightening at the corner of his mouth.
And then he was gone, his cloak sweeping behind him, leaving the hall colder in his absence.
*****
Later, when the torches burned low and the tables were cleared, I stood with Francesco on the balcony outside our chamber.
The air was sharp, the moonlight silvering the courtyard.
Below, the garden whispered with the nts I had nted, small promises in the earth.
Francesco¡¯s arms slid around me, pulling me close. His voice was low, rough at the edges. ¡°You disarmed them without a de.¡±
I leaned into him, my cheek against his chest. ¡°They wanted you angry. They wanted you to prove them right. But you are not their story. You are mine.¡±
The bond hummed, warm and fierce, and I felt the weight in his chest ease just a fraction.
For now, that was enough.
9:52 Sat, Sep 27
85
55 vouchers
But I knew this was not the end. Dorian¡¯s words clung like smoke. The whispers would spread. And when they did, we would be ready.
Still His 193
The night after the feast carried a stillness that felt fragile, like ss bnced on the edge of a table.
One wrong touch and everything would shatter.
The French Alphas had left at dawn, their banners disappearing into the mist like carrion birds reluctant to leave the scent of blood. Yet their presence lingered, heavier than smoke. The servants whispered in corridors. The guards walked their rounds sharper, des polished twice. Even the air in the manor seemed to hum with unease. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel
But here, on the balcony of our chambers, Francesco¡¯s arms wrapped around me, grounding me in a world that was trying to tilt.
His warmth pressed into my back, his chin resting lightly on my hair, his breath deep and steady despite the storm he had weathered at that table.
I closed my eyes, letting myself rest in the bond.
For a moment, there were no whispers, no rumors, no sharp smiles from Dorian. There was only us¨Chis heart beating beneath my cheek, my hand covering his where it rested over my stomach.
¡°You carried usst night,¡± Francesco said finally, his voice low and rough. ¡°With a few words, you silenced wolves who¡¯ve been baying for my blood for years.¡±
I smiled faintly, tilting my head to look up at him. ¡°Not silenced. Only reminded.¡±
¡°Reminded of what?¡±
¡°That you are not your family. And that I am not afraid.¡±
His gaze softened, dark eyes catching the moonlight. ¡°Sometimes I think you forget you are the bravest creature I¡¯ve ever known.¡±
¡°Not brave,¡± I corrected gently. ¡°Only stubborn.¡±
Heughed, low and warm, and bent to press his lips against my temple.
The sound vibrated through me like a prayer.
*****
Later, inside, we sat together with no Alphas, no guards, no advisors. Just wine and firelight.
Francesco leaned back in his chair, his coat undone, the stern Alpha¡¯s mask set aside.
His eyes followed me as I sat cross¨Clegged on the rug, rearranging the little sketches I had made in the garden. I had tried to capture the rosemary sprig before it bent toward the light, thevender¡¯s reaching stalks. The sketches were smudged with soil, imperfect, but when Iid them out in order, they felt like a story.
8:57 Mon, Sep 29 d
¡°You make things live even on paper,¡± he murmured.
0:0
I tilted my head, smiling. ¡°You fight with teeth and steel. I fight with charcoal.¡±
773
55 vouchers
¡°And yet,¡± he said, leaning forward, his hand brushing my cheek, ¡°it is your fight that keeps me from turning into the monster they whisper about.¡±
I caught his hand, pressing it to my lips. ¡°You were never the monster. They only fear what they cannot control.¡±
His eyes burned as he pulled me up into hisp, the bond singing between us, sharp with longing and soft with love.
Our lips met, hungry and tender at once, a promise and a plea. He kissed like a man who had almost lost everything once and refused to let it slip again. I kissed back with the fury of someone who knew pain and chose joy anyway.
When we finally pulled apart, breathless, he rested his forehead against mine. ¡°One day,¡± he whispered, ¡°when these wars end, I will take you away. Just you and me. No crowns. No packs. No whispers.¡±
¡°Promise?¡± I asked, though I already felt the truth of it in his bond.
¡°Promise,¡± he said.
The next days moved quickly.
Reports trickled in from border patrols: rumors spreading in neighboring packs.
Some said the Luna had nearly killed Isolde and been covered by her King¡¯s power. Some said Francesco had silenced the French Alphas with threats, not reason. Others whispered darker things¨Cthat thest Lycaon was gatheringnd the way his ancestors had gathered blood.
It was poison, dripped in carefully. And though no one named the source, I felt Dorian¡¯s shadow on every word. He was too clever to strike openly. He preferred rot over fire, rumor over de.
But rumor does not always stay in whispers. Sometimes it grows teeth.
It was near twilight when Marlow came to us, his face grim.
¡°Rogue movements on the southern border,¡± he reported. ¡°Scattered. Uncoordinated, it seems. But¡ there are too many for chance.¡±
Francesco rose instantly, Alpha authority crackling around him. ¡°Prepare a strike team. I¡¯ll ride with them.¡±
I stood as well. ¡°Then I¡¯ll-¡±
¡°No.¡± His gaze snapped to me, fierce. ¡°You stay here. With Audrey. With the guard. I won¡¯t risk¡ª¡±
Iid a hand on his chest, feeling the thunder of his heart. ¡°You think I¡¯m safer here? Rumors have long legs, remember? Dorian¡¯s words aren¡¯t meant to stay in France. He¡¯s already here.¡±
8:57 Mon, Sep 29 J
6778
55 vouchers
His jaw clenched, but before he could argue, Audrey entered, de at her hip. ¡°The Luna stays with me,¡± she said tly, as though daring anyone to contradict her.
Francesco¡¯s bond surged with reluctance, but he nodded finally.
He kissed me once, hard and fast, a brand more than a kiss. ¡°Stay alive. That¡¯s all I ask.¡±
¡°Always,¡± I whispered.
And then he was gone, a storm given legs, Marlow and his knights thundering after him into the night.
For a while, I stayed in the manor.
Audrey paced the halls like a real wolf on a short chain, Monica close behind with sharp eyes. But the silence pressed too close, and so I walked the garden paths,ntern in hand, breathing in the night air. The nts I had sown whispered in the dark, small but defiant.
It was then the wind shifted.
The scent hit me first: wrong, sharp, feral.
Rogues¡?
Too close¡
¡°Luna,¡± Audrey hissed, de half¨Cdrawn.
Figures emerged from the treeline, shadows with eyes gleaming red, teeth bared in silent grins.
My heart pounded¨Cnot in fear for myself, but in the knowledge of what this meant.
¡°A diversion,¡± Audrey spat. ¡°They pulled King Francesco away.¡±
The rogues lunged. Steel shed. Audrey met them with fury, her ws carving arcs of light. Monica grabbed my arm, dragging me toward the manor steps. But more shapes cut us off, herding us away from safety.
And then¨Csilence.
Too sudden. Too deliberate.
A single figure stepped forward from the dark, his cloak brushing the earth, his eyes catching the torchlight with madness barely veiled.
I gasped, I should have know.
Dorian¡
Audrey froze, ws ready, body taut with rage.
But his gaze wasn¡¯t on her. It wasn¡¯t on the rogues snarling behind him.
8:57 Mon, Sep 29 d
It was on me.
¡°Hello, Luna,¡± he said, his voice a hiss of triumph, his eyes wild and glinting like broken ss. ¡°Finally¡ you¡¯re alone.¡±
The world narrowed.
My breath stilled.
Damn it!!
The trap had sprung.
AD
Comment
Send gift
Still His 194
¡°Hello, Luna,¡± he purred. His gaze slid over me, dismissing Audrey as if she were nothing more than an inconvenient wall of steel. ¡°Finally¡ you¡¯re alone.¡±
My pulse hammered, but Mika growled inside me, steady and sharp. ¡®You are not prey. Not to him. Never to him. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n FindN()vel
I lifted my chin. ¡°I¡¯m not alone.¡±
His gaze flicked briefly to Audrey, then Monica, then the circle of rogues behind him.
His smile widened. ¡°No, I suppose not. But we both know they can¡¯t save you from what I¡¯vee to say.¡±
Audrey shifted, stepping half a pace forward, her sword gleaming. ¡°One word, Luna, and I¡¯ll cut his throat.¡±
¡°Wait,¡± I murmured, raising a hand. My eyes stayed on Dorian. ¡°He came to talk. Let him talk. Words reveal more than des.¡±
Dorian¡¯s chuckle slithered through the night. ¡°Clever Luna. But cleverness won¡¯t save you from truths you don¡¯t want to hear.¡±
He paced slowly, his boots crunching against gravel, his hands sped behind his back like a man strolling a garden rather thanmanding an ambush.
His voice lowered, rich with venom.
¡°Do you know why I hate him?¡± His eyes locked on mine, gold flecked with madness. ¡°Do you know why the very sound of the name Lycaon makes my blood burn?¡±
I held his stare. ¡°Tell me.¡±
¡°My mother,¡± he said, and for a moment his face twisted, not in rage but in something rawer. ¡°My mother adored his father. Admired him. Worshipped him, even. She looked at that man as though he hung the moon in the sky, as though he were the true Alpha and my father¨Cher mate¨Cwas nothing.¡±
The words dripped bitterness.
His voice was jagged, like ss ground underfoot.
¡°My father grew hollow with it. Every time she whispered the Lycaon name, every time she praised their power, their grace, he became less. And I¡ I watched.¡± His hand curled into a fist, knuckles white. ¡°I watched the woman who bore me destroy the man who raised me, piece by piece, because she couldn¡¯t keep her eyes from a Lycaon.¡±
He turned his face toward the mes, shadows sharpening the hollows of his cheeks. ¡°Do you know what it¡¯s like to watch your parents unravel? To watch your home rot because of admiration that turned to obsession? I swore then I would never bow to that family. That I would see them broken.¡±
My stomach twisted, but I kept my voice calm. ¡°So you decided to hate Francesco for the sins of his father?¡±
0.37 101, Sep 29
€773
55 vouchers
Hisugh was short, sharp. ¡°Not just his father. All of them. Ruthless. Arrogant. Believing themselves above us -above every werewolf who wasn¡¯t born under their cursed line. Do you think it¡¯s a coincidence that they are nearly gone? No. It is justice. Even his brother turned on him. Even his own blood could not stand the weight of their pride.¡±
He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. ¡°And what are you, Luna? Do you even know what you¡¯ve tied yourself to? Thest Lycaon. Thest relic of a family that believed they could take whatever they pleased. Did you think it a fairy tale that Lycans can im a mate already bound? That they can rip bonds apart just because they choose?¡±
A chill coursed through me.
I had heard whispers of it¨Cold tales, half¨Cburied in archives.
Lycans who imed mates not their own, leaving wreckage behind. But Francesco had never done such a thing. He had never forced me, never stolen me.
Still, Dorian¡¯s words pressed like poison into old wounds.
¡°You think he loves you,¡± Dorian sneered, circling me now, predator smooth. ¡°But love? For them? It¡¯s a choice. Convenience. Power. My mother thought the same¨Cthat if she could catch the Lycaon¡¯s gaze, she would be chosen. Do you know what it¡¯s like to be the child of a woman who prayed for another man while lying in your father¡¯s bed? I learned young what it means to be discarded.¡±
His face hardened, eyes burning into me. ¡°So tell me, Luna¨Cwhat makes you think you are different? What makes you think you are anything more than another temporary amusement to a name that devours everything it touches?¡±
My heart hammered, but not in doubt.
Not anymore.
Because beneath his venom, beneath his bitterness, I saw the truth: a boy who had grown into a man fueled by envy, by pain he had never healed, by the rot of watching love twisted into worship.
He wasn¡¯t speaking about Francesco. Not really. He was speaking about his mother. About himself.
I drew a steady breath. ¡°Because I know him.¡±
Dorian stopped, his eyes narrowing dangerously. ¡°You think you do.¡±
¡°No,¡± I said, my voice firm. ¡°I know him. I¡¯ve seen him stripped of crown and fury, sitting in gardens with dirt under his nails. I¡¯ve seen him bleed for others, not because of power, but because he cannot stand to see those under his care suffer. He is not his father. He is not his brother. He is not the Lycaon name you spit with such venom.¡±
I stepped closer, and Audrey tensed beside me, but I did not stop. ¡°And unlike your mother, I don¡¯t worship him. I love him. Not the crown. Not the name. Him. The man who holds me when I break, who listens when I doubt, who would burn the world only if it meant saving one child crying in the dark.¡±
For a moment, silence stretched.
8:57 Mon, Sep 29 d
The rogues shifted, uneasy, as though even they felt the bond humming through my words.
Dorian¡¯s jaw clenched.
177
255 vouchers
His eyes shed, not with triumph but with something closer to rage¨Cbecause he could not crack me.
He could not seed his poison in soil that had already rooted too deep.
¡°You¡¯ll regret it,¡± he spat. ¡°When he shows you what he truly is. When thest Lycaon cannot help but devour
what he ims.
I lifted my chin, the steady hum of the bond with Francesco thrumming in my chest like a drumbeat.
And then, slowly, deliberately, I let the shifte.
Not fully¨Cnot ws and fangs tearing skin.
But enough¡..
My eyes bled from hazel to silver¨Cwhite, radiant in the torchlight. My skin shimmered faintly with the glow that came only when Mika rose to the surface. And when I spoke, my voice carried hers,yered and resonant, wolf and woman as one:
¡°You speak of devouring, Dorian. But you forget¨Cyou are not the only one who knows old bloodlines. I am no weak Luna waiting to be swallowed. I am the White Wolf. I do not bend. I do not break. And if you every hand or rumor against me or mine again¡ª¡± My teeth shed, sharp in the half¨Cshift. ¡°¡ªit will not be Francesco who ends you. It will be me.¡±
The air shifted.
The rogues, who moments before had stood grinning like shadows, recoiled, whimpering low in their throats.
Even Audrey drew in a sharp breath, though her ws never wavered. Monica¡¯s grip tightened on my arm- not in fear, but in awe.
Dorian¡¯s smile faltered. Just for a moment. His eyes widened, caught between disbelief and something darker -fear.
¡°You¡¡± His voice cracked, then hardened again. ¡°A hidden wolf. No wonder he clings to you. But even white can stain red, Luna. Remember that.¡±
He tried to smirk, but it no longer cut.
It trembled at the edges, a mask threatening to break.
I stepped forward once, silver light burning in my gaze, Mika¡¯s power curling around me like a halo of frost and me.
The rogues shrank back further, the scent of their fear sweet and sharp.
¡°You wanted me alone,¡± I said softly. ¡°Now you see me. And you will remember this: I am not prey. Not yours.
8:57 Mon, Sep 29
Not anyone¡¯s.¡±
Dorian¡¯s cloak snapped as he turned sharply.
55 vouchers
With a growl of frustration, he signaled to his rogues, and they melted into the trees, tails low, snarls swallowed.
When silence returned, the glow in my skin dimmed, my eyes fading back to hazel.
I sagged against Audrey¡¯s shoulder for just a moment, the weight of what I¡¯d shown settling over me like an unexpected storm.
But Mika purred inside, fierce and proud. ¡®He will not forget. Neither will they. Tonight, the White Wolf stood unafraid.¡¯
And as I lifted my face to the moon, I swore the truth to myself: Francesco may be thest Lycaon. But I was the White Wolf, his equal, his bnce. Together, no hatred could unmake us.
AB
Still His 195
77
youchers
The torches along the courtyard still guttered as if they, too, had been shaken by what had passed.
My pulse was only just steadying when the air shifted again¡ªthis time familiar, beloved.
Francesco.
This is his scent¡ My Francesco¡
He came from the treeline like a storm unchained, fur melting into skin, the great dark Lycan folding into the man I knew.
He must heard about what happen here, maybe Audrey or Monica has mindlink him, that¡¯s why he¡¯s here.
His chest was bare, streaked with gore, the metallic tang of blood still clinging to him like a second skin showing how hee in hurry without thinking about his appearance.
His eyes burned golden in the torchlight, fury and fear woven together in a way that made my breath catch.
Behind him, Hi beta, Alfonso and leader warrior Marlow thundered in, two best trusted warrior of us still in their wolves shifting back into men as they took in the scene: rogues¡® blood on the stones, Monica¡¯s pale face, Audrey¡¯s de still gleaming with readiness, and me¨Cstanding very still in the aftermath of Dorian¡¯s venom.
¡°You okay?¡± Francesco¡¯s voice was rough, urgent.
He crossed to me in three strides, hands hovering as though afraid to touch until I gave permission.
I forced my lips into a smile, nodding once. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±
But his nostrils red. He didn¡¯t believe me. Not fully.
His gaze darted to Audrey, themand sharp in his tone. ¡°What happened?¡±
Audrey hesitated¨Cjust long enough to nce at me for permission¨Cthen she spoke.
Her voice was steady, but each word was a de driven into Francesco¡¯s chest.
¡°He came with rogues¡ Alpha Dorian.¡± She started, much to shocked everyone, but they didn¡¯t say anything and let her continue. ¡°He wanted the Luna cornered, but he spoke more than he struck. His¡ hatred runs deep. He told her of his mother. Of how she worshipped your father, how his jealousy rotted their home. He mes the Lycaon name for every crack in his childhood.¡±
The silence that followed was heavier than any chain.
I watched Francesco¡¯s face change¡ªanger softening into something worse. Not fear, not even sorrow, but that particr stillness he carried when old wounds were prodded open.
His jaw clenched, his gaze flickered, and for the briefest moment he looked not like a King, not like my Alpha, but like a boy who had carried too much too young.
8:57 Mon, Sep 29 d.
My chest ached.
:
420
155 your
Because I know it hurts him that people still judge him becaue of his family sin, it isn¡¯t fair, I trust him, I know he¡¯s not like that, he¡¯s not his father, just because he has the Lycaon name doesn¡¯t mean he is like them.
Looks like I need to know about his family after all, I thought, watching the shadows gather in his eyes.
¡°Where is he?¡± Alfonso¡¯s voice broke the stillness, sharp as a de drawn. His Beta instincts were raw, ready. ¡°Alpha Dorian. Where did he go?¡±
¡°Gone,¡± Audrey answered, her sword lowering atst. ¡°He melted into the woods with his rogues. But he left words behind sharper than any de.¡±
Marlow¡¯s lip curled. ¡°Damn coward. Strikes with whispers and shadows, then flees¡±
But Francesco wasn¡¯t listening.
His gaze was still on me, searching, cataloguing every breath, every tremor of my hand, as though needing proof I hadn¡¯t been harmed.
He lifted a hand, cupping my cheek with blood¨Cstained fingers, his voice low and raw. ¡°Tell me, Luna. Tell me what he said to you.¡± The source of th?s content is F¦Énd£Îovel
I swallowed, the memory of Dorian¡¯s sneer still burning. ¡°He spoke of hatred. Of the Lycaons¡. He tried to poison me with his story¨Chow your family saw others as beneath them, how his mother adored your father and broke her own mate with that worship. He wanted me to believe you would break me too. That your love was no different¨Cconvenience, power, not truth.¡±
Francesco¡¯s hand stilled on my skin.
For a heartbeat, his eyes closed.
And in the bond, I felt it: the sting of recognition.
Dorian¡¯s words were lies sharpened with shards of truth, and those shards had found their mark.
¡°Francesco,¡± I whispered, pressing my hand over his. ¡°Look at me.¡±
His eyes opened, burning brighter, but there was no fury in them now¨Conly the weight of something older.
Something he had carried long before me.
¡°You didn¡¯t believe him, did you?¡± His voice was quiet, almost boyish, as though the question itself cost him more than a battle.
My throat tightened.
Gods, he thought I might?!
¡°No!¡± I said firmly. ¡°I know you. Not the Lycaon name. Not the shadows of your family. You!!¡±
8:57 Mon, Sep 29 d
Something broke in him then, subtle but clear.
His shoulders sagged, his hand trembling against mine, as though my words had loosed a knot tied deep in
his chest.
Behind us, Alfonso cleared his throat, his voice brisk, almost harsh to cut through the intimacy. ¡°We should move. This ground reeks of blood. And I¡¯ll not have the Luna exposed another heartbeat longer than necessary.¡±
Marlow barked orders to the guards, his voice low and sharp, while Audrey and Monica nked me again, their presence as steady as pirs.
But Francesco lingered, his thumb brushing my check once more before he dropped his hand and turned to
his Beta.
His voice was iron again, his Alpha mantle settling back over him. ¡°Find Dorian¡¯s trail. Hunt it. But do not engage¨Cnot yet. I want to know every step he takes, every ally he whispers to. I will not let his poison spread unchecked.¡±
Alfonso bowed, already signaling his men.
Francesco turned back to me, his eyes softer, though the fury still burned beneath. ¡°And you, my Luna¨CI will tell you everything. Tonight. No more shadows between us.¡±
I nodded with assuring smile. ¡°Tonight.¡±
Because I knew then¨Cwhatever pain his past held, whatever truth the Lycaon name carried¨CI would walk into it with him.
I would not let him bear it alone.
Ìï
Still His 196
:
B
€77
255 vouchers
The night had settled deep over the manor when Francesco finally relented to my gentle insistence.
¡°You can¡¯t keep carrying this silence as if it will protect me,¡± I told him earlier, when we stood together in the garden. ¡°If the world whispers about your family, then let me hear the truth from you. From your lips. Not theirs.¡±
He had gone still, his dark eyes shadowed, before he answered with a sigh that felt pulled from centuries, not merely years. ¡°It is not a story for softness, amore mio. It is a story of blood.¡±
And yet, hourster, I found myself sitting cross¨Clegged with him before the fire in our chamber, a nket tangled over both of us, the world shrunk to the glow of me and the steady weight of his presence. Official source is F¦Énd£Îovel
His hand was warm on mine, grounding me, as he finally began to speak of the name everyone feared but never exined: Lycaon.
More than a hundred years ago, long before I was even a thought, the westernnds of Europe were a battlefield.
Not for human kings¨Cthey squabbled in their castles and thought themselves masters¨Cbut for the creatures who ruled the night.
The Lycans.
They were not like the scattered werewolf packs of now. They were empires unto themselves, bloodlines traced back to the First Wolf. Power older than kingdoms, older than cities, ran in their veins. And of all those dynasties, none was feared more than the Lycaons.
Their seat of power was a fortress carved into the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, where the sea beat itself bloody against the rocks but never won. That was where King Totti Lycaon ruled, Francesco¡¯s father.
I had to stop him there. The name¨CTotti, like his middle name. It was almost disarming, too ordinary for the shadowed weight with which he spoke it. Francesco¡¯s mouth softened as he exined.
¡°He was not gentle, my father. But he was¡ fair. To our people, he was a pir. To our enemies, he was a storm they could not predict. He believed in strength, but he also believed in loyalty. He taught me that.¡±
My chest warmed at the faint reverence in his tone.
For all the pain that story would bring, I knew he still carried pride for his father.
And then he told me about the twins. About himself, and his brother.
I never thought he had twins, that there¡¯s two of him.
Francesco and Franco.
8:58 Mon, Sep 29 ¡
877
55 vouchers
Two boys who looked so alike even their mother sometimes mixed them up when they were infants. But simrity ended with the face.
Franco, the elder by minutes, wasughter and arrogance and fire. He basked in the adoration of courtiers, the whispers of servants, the eyes of women who wanted to be chosen by a prince of the Lycaon line. He knew how to charm, how to twist a word, how to make himself seemrger than life.
Francesco, the younger, was silence. Not shy silence¨Cdeliberate, weighty silence. He watched where Franco spoke. He studied while Franco danced. He trained with weapons until sweat blinded him, then trained more. And when the manor library fell quiet, he was there in the corner with a book, teaching himself histories no tutor ever assigned.
¡°The people feared me even then,¡± he said, a rueful tilt at his mouth. ¡°Because I did not smile as my brother did. Because I did not seek their praise. They thought I was cold. Perhaps I was.¡±
I leaned closer, pressing my forehead against his temple. ¡°Not cold. Just deep.¡±
He did not answer, but his thumb traced slow circles over my palm as he went on.
It was Franco who thrived at court, but it was Francesco whom their father trusted. King Totti was not blind- he saw through Franco¡¯s performance. Charm wins a room, but discipline wins wars. When Totti took counsel, he brought Francesco. When an enemy needed to be made example of, it was Francesco who carried the de.
¡°They called me the Executioner even then,¡± he said softly.
I flinched. That title, whispered even now in fear, belonged to the man I loved?
But then I understood: he had never been Executioner because of cruelty. He was Executioner because he obeyed, because he bore what others could not stomach. Because silence, in a world that worshipped noise, became terrifying.
And in the shadows of that, Franco¡¯s envy grew like rot.
The turning point came the day Franco overheard a conversation not meant for him.
Totti had spoken with his Beta,te at night, in the strategy hall. The war against the Eastern packs was heating, and session was on his mind. Franco, arrogant and impatient, had lingered outside.
And he heard it:
¡°Francesco will inherit. He is steady. He will not falter.¡±
Not Franco, not the elder.
But Francesco.
And from that night, Franco¡¯sughter grew sharper. His arrogance deepened into cruelty. Where once he basked in attention, now he demanded it. Where once he teased his brother, now he mocked him with
venom.
8:58 Mon, Sep 29
And worse¨Che began to plot.
6778
55 vouchers
I could almost see it as Francesco described it: the way Franco started using their resemnce like a weapon.
He impersonated Francesco, whispered poisonous words to courtiers, left trails of mistrust that always pointed back to the silent twin. If a servantined of being threatened, it was Francesco¡¯s face they swore to. If an Alpha ally spoke of insult, it was Francesco¡¯s voice they imed to hear.
Francesco, too disciplined to defend himself with excuses, simply bore the weight. His silence was read as guilt. His efficiency as ruthlessness. Franco¡¯s lies wove the myth of Francesco the cold¨Chearted butcher long before he earned the title in truth.
¡°My father knew,¡± Francesco said, his jaw tightening. ¡°He knew Franco yed games. But he thought blood was thicker than envy. He thought a twin would never strike a twin.¡±
His voice went quiet then, and I knew the rest of the story would not end in trust.
By now, the werewolf packs of Europe were restless.
They had lived in fear of Lycan dominance for centuries.
Franco, clever and ambitious, whispered to them: Why follow a family that sees you as lesser? Why not rise, and put a wolf where a Lycan sits?
He courted witches, too, dabbling in power Totti had forbidden. Forbidden because it never came without a price.
Francesco trained, fought, obeyed, while Franco conspired.
The fracture widened.
And in the middle of it all, Francesco grew into the man before me: feared for his silence, mistrusted for his brother¡¯s sins, yet carrying himself with the unbending discipline of his father¡¯s son.
I looked at him across the firelight and saw the shadow of that boy¨Cthe one who had been given the sword instead of the smile, the one who had carried loyalty like a burden.
¡°My love,¡± I whispered, pressing my lips to his hand. ¡°I see you. Not the whispers. Not the mask Franco painted. You.¡±
His shoulders eased, a fraction. The faintest flicker of relief moved through the bond.
And still, I knew this was only the beginning.
Because Franco¡¯s envy was not done.
Because this was only the first chapter of how a family that ruled the night began to tear itself apart.
8:58 Mon, Sep 29 d
Still His 197
Chapter 197
The fire had burned low, the logs copsing into a bed of glowing embers.
65 vouchers
Francesco hadn¡¯t moved in what felt like hours. His hand was still around mine, warm, steady, yet his eyes were turned not to me but inward, to a time that lived in him like an old scar¨Cnever fully healed, only quiet until touched.
I didn¡¯t rush him. The silence between us was not heavy; it was waiting.
And when he finally spoke again, it came like the slow crack of ice splitting a river.
¡°Franco was cleverer than any of us gave him credit for,¡± he said.
His voice was low, but there was no mistaking the bitterness in it.
¡°And crueller, though we did not see it at first. My father believed blood would temper envy. I believed brotherhood would outweigh ambition. We were both wrong.¡±
Franco began with shadows. Discover more novels at fin?novel
He wore Francesco¡¯s face like a mask, testing the edges of deception. At first it was small things: a careless insult tossed at a servant, a broken promise whispered to an ally, a cruel remark at court.
All of it pinned to the silent twin, who never defended himself.
¡°He knew I wouldn¡¯t argue,¡± Francesco admitted, his eyes catching the faint firelight. ¡°I had always been¡ different. Words did note as quickly to me as to him. I relied on silence, on action. He used that silence against me. Every usation I answered with quiet, and the quiet made me guilty in their eyes.¡±
I felt my chest tighten. I wanted to reach across the years and shake that boy, that young man who carried me like a cloak.
¡®You weren¡¯t guilty. You were just steady. They couldn¡¯t see the difference.¡¯
But Francesco¡¯s voice carried me onward before I could speak.
Franco escted.
He began slipping away at night, not to taverns or beds¨Cthough he had his share of both¨Cbut to meetings with witches. They were dangerous then, as they are now, wielders of magic that gnawed at the soul.
They promised Franco what he craved most: power without patience.
¡°He brought their trinkets into the manor,¡± Francesco said, his jaw clenching. ¡°Amulets of bone, oils that smelled of rot. My father forbade it, of course. He destroyed them when he found them. But Franco¡. he only smiled and brought more.¡±
And with that magic, Franco whispered louder to the wolves of Europe.
8:58 Mon, Sep 29
65 vouchers
For centuries, werewolves had lived under Lycan rule. They fought in Lycan wars, bled for Lycan causes, bowed to Lycan crowns. Resentment simmered, waiting for a spark. Franco gave it one.
¡°He told them lies wrapped in truths,¡± Francesco said. ¡°That we saw them as lesser. That our father meant to chain them forever. That the Lycaons believed themselves gods while wolves were tools.¡± He shook his head slowly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t wholly false. Our family¡ we were proud. But my father never treated the wolves as beneath him. He knew their value. He trusted them. He bled with them. Franco twisted that into poison.¡±
One by one, Alphas bent their cars. Packs who had once sworn fealty to King Totti began to waver. Whispers spread. Suspicion turned toward Francesco, too¨Cthe silent executioner who did not smile, the cold twin with the golden eyes.
¡°My father still trusted me,¡± he said, softer now. ¡°But trust is not armor. Rumors move faster than loyalty.¡±
I could see it in my mind: a young Francesco, shoulders already bearing the weight of reputation, moving like a shadow at his father¡¯s side while whispers grew in the halls. Francoughing in corners, gathering wolves with honeyed words, letting suspicion fester like rot.
¡°Did your father ever confront him?¡± I asked quietly.
Francesco nodded once. ¡°He did. I was there. He demanded Franco end it. Stop the lies, stop the games. Franco only smiled. He said he loved me, that he only wanted to test how strong I was. He lied to his own father¡¯s face.¡± His voice roughened. ¡°And my father wanted to believe him.¡±
Because what father wants to see one son destroy another?
But Franco wanted more than lies. He wanted blood.
The first time Francesco realized the depth of his brother¡¯s treachery was not in whispers or magic, but on the battlefield.
There had been a raid on their borders, led by a coalition of wolves who had once been allies.
Francesco was sent with apany of warriors to put it down. He fought, as he always did, with ruthless precision¨Csword in hand, ws when needed, silence even in the ughter.
But when the dust cleared, he learned why those wolves had risen.
¡°They told me,¡± Francesco said, his voice tight, ¡°that Franco had promised them my father¡¯s death. That he had told them the Lycaon heir was cruel, and only by killing me would they be free of his rule.¡±
I drew in a sharp breath. ¡°He¨Che sent them after you?¡±
Francesco¡¯s lips curved into something that wasn¡¯t quite a smile. ¡°Not directly. He was too clever for that. But he whispered enough that they believed they acted on his will. He wanted me dead without blood on his hands.¡±
My stomach turned.
The cruelty of it, the calction.
8:58 Mon, Sep 29 d
Brother setting brother¡¯s death in motion and calling it freedom.
¡°And yet you survived,¡± I whispered.
$772
His eyes flicked to me then, a faint glint of something fierce. ¡°I survived. And the wolves who attacked me¡ they carried the story home. That I was dead in silence. That I was unstoppable. They meant it as a warning. Franco used it as proof. Proof of the monster he painted me to be.¡±
The executioner. The butcher. The shadow.
The titles that would follow Francesco for decades had begun there, in Franco¡¯s lies and Francesco¡¯s survival.
By the time they returned to the manor, the fracture was no longer a crack. It was a canyon.
The court was divided.
Some are still loyal to Totti and the silent son who carried his will.
Others charmed by Franco¡¯s smile, his promises of a gentler rule, his whispered venom.
¡°My father tried to hold us together,¡± Francesco said. ¡°He gathered the council. He begged Franco to stand with me, with him. To show unity.¡± His voice dropped lower. ¡°And Franco agreed. He looked my father in the eye, took his hand, and swore loyalty.¡±
I felt the hair on my arms rise. ¡°But he lied.¡±
Francesco nodded once. ¡°That very night, he slipped away to meet the witches again. To gather Alphas to his cause. To n the fall of his own family.¡±
Oh God¡
I couldn¡¯t breathe for a moment.
The fire cracked, filling the silence.
Franco hadn¡¯t just envied.
He hadn¡¯t just lied.
But, he had betrayed blood.
And I could see it in Francesco¡¯s face even now, the shadow of that betrayal carved into him like stone.
I reached up, cupping his jaw, forcing his eyes to meet mine. ¡°You carried their fear, their hatred, their lies¡ª and still you stood. Still you fought. You did not break.¡±
His throat worked, but no words came.
Instead, he leaned into my hand like a man who had carried weight too long and was startled to find someone willing to share it.
8:58 Mon, Sep 29
But I knew this wasn¡¯t the end.
The fracture would be a break.
And Franco would not stop until he tore the Lycaons apart.
Ìï
Still His 198
Chapter 198
A
67778
55 Vouchers.
The embers had sunk low, a delicate, breathing red.
Francesco didn¡¯t seem to notice the chill that crept across the floor; the past had its own weather, and it had closed around him like winter.
I pulled the nket higher over our knees and threaded my fingers through his. His hand tightened, grateful and grave, and he stared into a ce that wasn¡¯t this room.
¡°War didn¡¯t arrive with trumpets,¡± he said atst. ¡°It arrived with a smile.¡±
He meant Franco¡¯s smile.
The one the courts adored, the one that bent Alphas into believing they were choosing liberty while they were led by the throat.
By then, Franco had learned that des frighten, but masks convince; he wore mine often enough that even loyal men began to doubt the face they served.
¡°And then,¡± Francesco said, voice roughening, ¡°he found the one thread that could unravel me.¡±
¡°Isolde,¡± I whispered.
He inclined his head, jaw locking once.
The name rang in the room like a bell struck with ice.
¡°She didn¡¯te as an assassin,¡± he went on. ¡°Not as a messenger, or a spy. She came as a girl who had learned to make hunger look like innocence.¡±
He told me how she¡¯d been brought to court as the niece of a southern ally, with a letter of introduction inked by a hand the scribes would swear was genuine.
She had been careful in those first days¨Cquiet, clever, devastating when sheughed. The servants adored her. The old men on the council melted like wax around a me.
She did not chase; she let herself be chased, the surest way to tempt the most guarded heart.
¡°And you?¡± I asked, keeping my voice steady, not to wound him with the memory.
¡°She didn¡¯t chase me either,¡± he said simply. ¡°She didn¡¯t have to. I was¡ tired.¡± His gaze flicked to me, then away, as if embarrassed on behalf of the man he had been.
He had been the Executioner too long, the silent de that never slept.
The court had given him their fear and their obedience; no one had offered him tenderness without a ledger. Isolde served it without an invoice. Or so he believed.
¡°She watched me train,¡± he said. ¡°Not the way courtiers did, like a spectacle, but the way a thirsty man watches
8:58 Mon, Sep 29 d..
65 vouchers
a well. She brought water. She asked where the bruises lived after a battle and didn¡¯t flinch at the answer.¡±
He paused, and I felt the ache that followed the admission.
I pressed my knuckles to his mouth; he kissed them without thought and kept going.
¡°She listened when I spoke about maps. I never spoke about maps.¡± The barest curve touched his mouth. ¡°And one night, when my father had sent me to end a rebellion and I came home wearing more blood than pride, she sat on the library floor and read aloud to me. A book of myths. The first story was about a king who disguised himself as a farmer to learn what hisnd truly needed.¡±
¡°Did he learn?¡± I asked.
¡°He learned humility,¡± Francesco said. ¡°He learned that the ground feeds those who bow to it. Isolde said it was romantic.¡±
And in that tender frame¨Cher voice over old words, his exhaustion turned soft¨CFranco slipped the knife. Not a de. A n.
¡°He fed her the details,¡± Francesco murmured. ¡°My days. The councils. What made me soften and what made me iron. He knew the sound of the key to my doors because he¡¯d spent his life rattling them from the other side. He dressed her in virtue and sent her into my keeping.¡±
I breathed once, sharply, at the cruelty of it¨Cof using love as a weapon, of suiting betrayal in kindness and calling it destiny.
¡°She never loved you¡± I said.
He took the words and looked into it as if it were a de he might pick up. ¡°She loved something,¡± he said atst. ¡°Maybe not me. Maybe not power. Maybe the way my name unlocked doors she was too hungry to open alone. She loved being seen by the man everyone feared. She mistook that for meaning.¡±
¡°Franco¡¯s handwriting,¡± I said, bitterness rising. ¡°He writes in other people¡¯s hands.¡±
Francesco nodded. ¡°He wrote in hers.¡±
The court began to soften to the Executioner because Isolde softened to him¨Cor seemed to.
She thanked the cooks for extra bread when Francesco returned from patrol, knowing he would pretend to be full and then steal crusts like a boy when no one watched. She slipped gloves into his pocket when winter made the de bite. She made herself useful to the healers and kind to the stableboys.
¡°If you were writing a siege,¡± I said quietly, ¡°you would write that.¡±
¡°It was a siege,¡± he agreed. ¡°But even sieges sometimes find the gate unbarred from within.¡±
He had not been loved before in a way that asked for nothing. He had not been offered ap and a story and a night without armor. The fault was not that he epted; it was that he lived in a world where men with crowns are taught to fear every gift. Franco had counted on it. He¡¯d built the trap to spring exactly when tenderness made vignce into a sin.
8:58 Mon, Sep 29 d
se youcher
The fracture widened into chasms. Oath¨Cswearing Alphas began to waver in the same breath they praised Isolde¡¯s grace. Witches were seen at the edges of the forests, their smoke thin and secret as the lines that tether a puppet. And still Francesco did the work of his father¡¯s hand: he brought sentence to those who broke their word and mercy to those who stumbled toward repair. But each judgment he passed arrived in the court as Franco¡¯s rumor first: ¡°The Executioner delights in the axe. See how he¡¯s quick to the de.¡± No one noticed the days he argued men out of death; Franco did not write those lines.
¡°Did your father-¡±
¡°See?¡± Francesco finished for me. ¡°He saw enough to try. He called Franco into the hall and demanded he stop. Franco wept.¡± Francesco¡¯s voice did not bend on the word; it was iron hammered t. ¡°He told my father he was jealous but loyal. He kissed his hand. He called me brother. And then that night he sent couriers into the mountains with promises written in my name.¡±
My eyes widened in shock ¡°What promises?¡±
¡°That the Lycaon heir would stand down. That he would cede the eastern border. That we would make werewolf packs sovereign under a treaty signed in blood. He used my seal. He sent them into ambush. He wanted my father to call me a traitor or a fool.¡±
But, Totti did neither.
He summoned Francesco and sent him to that border with fifty men. And when the Lycaon banner rose over the pass at dawn, Franco¡¯s allies found not a weak heir with an open hand, but the silent one with a de.
¡°You won,¡± I said, because he was here.
¡°We lost,¡± he said. ¡°Not the fight. The story. They returned to their dens with tales of the butcher who smiled while he cleaved. I never smiled. But the smile was useful to them.¡±
I swallowed.
The fire sighed.
The shadows moved, as if the past was changing chairs.
¡°And then,¡± he said, and I felt the hinge of his life creak, ¡°my father died.¡±
The world stilled around that sentence, as if the room had curtsied. Newest update provided by find(?)ovel
¡°How?¡± I asked, though I already knew it would not be time or winter.
¡°A de,¡± he answered, ¡°and a mouth.¡±
Oh God¡ Franco¡¯s mouth.
A witch¡¯s de.
8:58 Mon, Sep 29 d
Still His 199
55 youchers.
It was the winter council, a night of snow like torn silk at the windows and heat like breath over a cup of wine in the hall.
The council tables were set with maps.
Totti had sent scouts east; they returned with word of Franco¡¯s men gathering in a ravine where stags wintered.
The king turned to his sons.
¡°Franco looked at me,¡± Francesco said. ¡°He said: ¡®We can still end this with words. My father told him no more words. He sent me to the ravine to break the assembly. He kept Franco close.¡±
I could hear the next beat before he spoke it¨Cthe way Franco would never let himself be kept where eyes could weigh him.
¡°He came to my father¡¯s chamber after council,¡± Francesco said. ¡°He carried wine and an apology and a story about boys who shared a cradle. My father let him in. He did what fathers do¨Che chose love over suspicion one more time. The witch¡¯s oil was in the cup. The poison was shaped like patience; it needed a cut to wake it.¡±
Francesco¡¯s throat worked; the bond shivered hot and cold.
I slipped closer, pressed my forehead to his temple.
He breathed once toward me, gathered, and went on.
¡°My father¡¯s Beta found him on the floor at dawn,¡± he said. ¡°Still breathing. Barely. He had crawled from the desk where the wine waited to the window where the sky might be kind. The guards had not heard; the oil was quiet. I arrived before the healer.¡±
He closed his eyes.
He was not the King now, not the Executioner¨Cjust a son kneeling in a room that would never smell of cedar again.
¡°He looked at me,¡± Francesco whispered, ¡°and put his hand on my face like I had fallen as a boy and scraped my knee. He said my name the way only my mother had. And then he said: ¡®I was wrong about envy. I was wrong about blood. Listen to me now. You must end him.¡°¡±
He would never call it an order, but I heard the weight of ast will in those words.
The king had not asked his son to be merciful.
He had asked him to finish what he had not wanted to see begin.
¡°He died as the sun cut the snow to diamonds,¡± Francesco said. ¡°His blood was not a flood. It was a line. It led to the window where there were footprints in the snow beneath. Franco¡¯s.¡±
8:58 Mon, Sep 29 d
I pressed my fingers to my mouth.
The fury was a clean thing; it tasted like iron.
But it was a poor cousin of the grief in his voice.
¡°And¡ What did you do?¡± I asked, though I knew.
77
55 vouchers.
¡°I did what I had been trained to do,¡± he said. ¡°What I had been named to do. What he asked me to do.¡±
So, he went to war.
*****
The story of that war is written in the roots of trees from Italy to the Iron Mountains.
Witches told it bitterly to their daughters.
Wolves told it in howls that broke flocks and kept men from sleep.
It is not a story of clean lines and honor.
It is a story of brothers who shared a face and a mother and a season ofughter and then became weather aimed at breaking each other.
Franco moved like smoke through the packs that had bent to his promise.
He called himself a liberator.
He stood on stones in courtyards and spoke about the right of wolves to name their own kings.
He sent witches to curse river crossings and salt seeds in fields that fed Lycaon men. He burned the markers that set borders between wintering grounds.
Francesco moved like a river, quiet until it was a flood.
He did not speak in courts.
He went where Franco had promised freedom and found the knives those promises had ced in boys¡® hands. He disarmed them. Sometimes he killed them. He made a map of grief and duty and moved through it until other men¡¯s pride had no more days to stand on.
¡°They say you took heads,¡± some Alpha would snarl yearster in a tavern, arrogant with beer.
They would mean to curse him with the word.
They would not understand the mercy in the swiftness of it, the way he did not let men bleed for hours to make a point. He had been the Executioner. He had learned not to y with death. If a man must die, he must die once.
Towns fell.
Alliances shifted like flocks when a hawk casts a shadow.
55 vouchers
Men who had cheered for Franco began to murmur about famine; men who had held to Totti remembered winters with grain.
Witches grew fewer at Franco¡¯s side; the price of their magic came due in their bones.
The war grew tired of itself.
¡°And Isolde?¡± I asked quietly, because love is always the battlefield with the best strategy.
¡°She stayed,¡± Francesco said. ¡°That¡¯s part of how I know she wasn¡¯t only a de Franco held. Or perhaps she was faithful to her role. She saw what I returned as. I wanted to hide that from her; she would not permit it. She washed my hair when I could not lift my arms. She took a basin from a healer and made herself a wall between me and the eyes that would name me monster. She loved some story about me. Maybe the man. Maybe the idea that she could redeem a name.¡± Find the newest release on find?novel
¡°Franco used it,¡± I said.
¡°He did,¡± Francesco answered. ¡°He sent letters with her seal. He wrote words to me in a hand that pretended to be hers. He signed my name to promises I had not made. He made both of us a script.¡±
There was a battle the bardster called the Blue Field because the cornflowers hade early and were smashed under the feet of men and horses until the field looked like a saint¡¯s broken window. Franco was there. Francesco was there. Totti was in the ground, and the monarch of a house of wolves had be two sons bleeding their father¡¯s prayers into dirt.
¡°Did you meet him then?¡± I asked, breath thin.
¡°No,¡± Francesco said. ¡°He let his generals stand and made himself smoke again. He wanted me angry enough to pursue without looking down. He wanted me to fall into a hole he¡¯d cut in the ground and call it fate.¡±
He did not.
He had learned patience at a different library than Franco had chosen.
He let Franco¡¯s army run its course until its ankles swelled and its lungs burned and then he chased.
He chased for months.
The war moved north, then west, then south again. Men who had never seen a Lycan learned why their fathers had taught them to fear.
Men who had never seen Franco realized a liberator who eats is just another king.
And then, finally, Franco grew tired of running¨Cor grew certain he could end what he had started.
He chose ground and wrote to Francesco in his own hand for the first time.
¡°Brother,¡± Francesco said, reciting from memory. ¡°Come and belong to the history you think you protect. I will stand on the red hill. You will know me by the sword, since you never knew me by the heart.¡±
0.30 Mon, Sep 29
¡°The red hill,¡± I whispered. ¡°Where is that?¡±
55 vouchers
¡°South of Lyon,¡± he said. ¡°It was spring. The poppies hade. I remember thinking it was obscene to bleed where things hade to flower. But it was right for us.¡±
He did not bring an army.
Neither did Franco.
They brought witnesses. Betas. Priests. A few witches, thin and bright as needles.
No one would be able to lie about itter.
The brothers would write their end where the world could hold it with both hands and call it true.
¡°What did he look like?¡± I asked, though he had told me before¨Cmirror.
¡°Like me,¡± he said. ¡°But thinner. Hungrier. The smile was wrong at the edges. He had sharpened it too often.¡±
¡°Did he speak?¡±
¡°He did not stop speaking.¡± Francesco¡¯s mouth tugged¨Chalf¨Cgrimace, half¨Cpity. ¡°He told me I had stolen his fate in the cradle. He told the priests that the gods had mistaken our names and I had traded bracelets with him and pretended to be the elder. He told the Betas that our father had loved him more and had given me the de to save his favorite from dirty hands.¡±
¡°And you?¡± I asked softly.
¡°I told him nothing,¡± he said. ¡°I did what I had always done. I listened. And then, when he raised his sword, I raised mine.¡±
He did not dress it in poetry.
He did not give me the fancy footwork of heroes.
He told me the truth as if it were a bowl he had learned to carry without spilling: Franco was fast. Francesco was steady. Franco burned hot. Francesco waited. Franco always believed the first blow is the story; Francesco had learned thest is.
¡°He cut my face,¡± Francesco said, touching the faint scar near his jaw that most people mistake for a line the sun left. ¡°Heughed.¡± He looked at me. ¡°He had the sameugh as a boy when we stole pears. It made me sick.¡±
¡°How did it end?¡± I whispered, though my heart had begun to run ahead of me and knew.
¡°He made the same mistake he had made all his life,¡± he said. ¡°He believed I wanted the crowd to see me win. He circled to ce the sun at my eyes so I would turn and give him my throat for the apuse. I stepped into the light instead. I took the sun in my eyes and the shadow in my hands and I put my de where his pride lives.¡± He swallowed. ¡°He fell.¡±
I kept my breath in my chest so it would not betray him by shaking.
EBB Voucher
¡°He said my name,¡± Francesco whispered. ¡°Not the one the court used. The one my mother used when we were mud and knees. He said it like a question. And I-¡± His voice broke.
He bent his head, and I pressed my mouth to his temple and closed my eyes against the sting in mine.
¡°I answered the only way I could. I ended him.¡±
He did not say I killed my brother.
He said I ended him, because this was not a hunter boasting of his quarry.
It was a son of a house extinguishing his own mirror because a man dying in a room of winter had asked him to keep honor from rotting.
¡°The priests wrote it as justice,¡± he said after a long time, voice hoarse. ¡°The witches wrote it as curse. The wolves wrote it as proof that Lycaons eat their own. I wrote it as obedience.¡± He opened his hand, palm up, and stared at the lines there as if they might take the weight from him. ¡°And then I went home alone.¡±
I slid my hand into his, inteced our fingers, and pressed them against his heart.
¡°You did not go home alone,¡± I said. ¡°You carried an entire house home with you, and that is loneliness disguised as duty. But it¡¯s not the same as being alone.¡±
He turned his face then, and what looked back at me was the boy the world had made executioner too early.
Gold filled with wet light.
I kissed the corner of his eye and tasted salt.
¡°And Isolde?¡± I asked softly, because stories choose their own timing and sometimes healing needs the whole of it..
¡°She stayed long enough to make the court believe love had survived the winter,¡± he said, and there was no spite in him, only a brittle mercy. ¡°Then the wolves who had pledged to Franco began to slither into negotiations with me and her interest thinned. She said the history in my house was too heavy for a girl who wanted to be light.¡± His mouth made an old, tired shape. ¡°She said she deserved a life that wasn¡¯t written in my father¡¯s blood and that she found her fated mate. Then, she left.¡±
¡°Franco sent her?¡± I asked.
¡°Franco was gone,¡± he said. ¡°But he had taught her to look at me like a door. Once she realized it opened to more graves than gardens, she sought a different house.¡±
I lowered my forehead to his.
Mika breathed warm in my bones, sorrow and pride twined.
We stayed like that for a long time.
The fire slept, the room listened, the night outsidey like a calm dog at the threshold.
8:59 Mon, Sep 29
I pressed my fingers to my mouth.
The fury was a clean thing; it tasted like iron.
But it was a poor cousin of the grief in his voice.
¡°And¡ What did you do?¡± I asked, though I knew.
1450 Vouchere
¡°I did what I had been trained to do,¡± he said. ¡°What I had been named to do. What he asked me to do.¡±
So, he went to war.
The story of that war is written in the roots of trees from Italy to the Iron Mountains.
Witches told it bitterly to their daughters.
Wolves told it in howls that broke flocks and kept men from sleep.
It is not a story of clean lines and honor.
It is a story of brothers who shared a face and a mother and a season ofughter and then became weather aimed at breaking each other.
Franco moved like smoke through the packs that had bent to his promise.
He called himself a liberator.
He stood on stones in courtyards and spoke about the right of wolves to name their own kings.
He sent witches to curse river crossings and salt seeds in fields that fed Lycaon men. He burned the markers that set borders between wintering grounds.
Francesco moved like a river, quiet until it was a flood.
He did not speak in courts.
He went where Franco had promised freedom and found the knives those promises had ced in boys¡® hands. He disarmed them. Sometimes he killed them. He made a map of grief and duty and moved through it until other men¡¯s pride had no more days to stand on.
¡°They say you took heads,¡± some Alpha would snarl yearster in a tavern, arrogant with beer.
They would mean to curse him with the word.
They would not understand the mercy in the swiftness of it, the way he did not let men bleed for hours to make a point. He had been the Executioner. He had learned not to y with death. If a man must die, he must die once.
Towns fell.
8:59 Mon, Sep 29 d
:
Alliances shifted like flocks when a hawk casts a shadow,
vouchers
Men who had cheered for Franco began to murmur about famine; men who had held to Totti remembered winters with grain.
Witches grew fewer at Franco¡¯s side; the price of their magic came due in their bones.
The war grew tired of itself.
¡°And Isolde?¡± I asked quietly, because love is always the battlefield with the best strategy.
¡°She stayed,¡± Francesco said. ¡°That¡¯s part of how I know she wasn¡¯t only a de Franco held. Or perhaps she was faithful to her role. She saw what I returned as. I wanted to hide that from her; she would not permit it. She washed my hair when I could not lift my arms. She took a basin from a healer and made herself a wall between me and the eyes that would name me monster. She loved some story about me. Maybe the man. Maybe the idea that she could redeem a name.¡±
¡°Franco used it.¡± I said.
¡°He did,¡± Francesco answered. ¡°He sent letters with her seal. He wrote words to me in a hand that pretended to be hers. He signed my name to promises I had not made. He made both of us a script.¡±
There was a battle the bardster called the Blue Field because the cornflowers hade early and were smashed under the feet of men and horses until the field looked like a saint¡¯s broken window. Franco was there. Francesco was there. Totti was in the ground, and the monarch of a house of wolves had be two sons bleeding their father¡¯s prayers into dirt.
¡°Did you meet him then?¡± I asked, breath thin.
¡°No,¡± Francesco said. ¡°He let his generals stand and made himself smoke again. He wanted me angry enough to pursue without looking down. He wanted me to fall into a hole he¡¯d cut in the ground and call it fate.¡±
He did not.
He had learned patience at a different library than Franco had chosen.
He let Franco¡¯s army run its course until its ankles swelled and its lungs burned and then he chased.
He chased for months.
The war moved north, then west, then south again. Men who had never seen a Lycan learned why their fathers had taught them to fear.
Men who had never seen Franco realized a liberator who eats is just another king.
And then, finally, Franco grew tired of running¨Cor grew certain he could end what he had started.
He chose ground and wrote to Francesco in his own hand for the first time.
¡°Brother,¡± Francesco said, reciting from memory. ¡°Come and belong to the history you think you protect. I will stand on the red hill. You will know me by the sword, since you never knew me by the heart.¡±
8:59 Mon, Sep 29
77
55 vouchers
¡°The red hill,¡± I whispered. ¡°Where is that?¡±
¡°South of Lyon,¡± he said. ¡°It was spring. The poppies hade. I remember thinking it was obscene to bleed where things hade to flower. But it was right for us.¡±
He did not bring an army.
Neither did Franco.
They brought witnesses. Betas. Priests. A few witches, thin and bright as needles.
No one would be able to lie about itter.
The brothers would write their end where the world could hold it with both hands and call it true.
¡°What did he look like?¡± I asked, though he had told me before¨Cmirror.
¡°Like me,¡± he said. ¡°But thinner. Hungrier. The smile was wrong at the edges. He had sharpened it too often.¡±
¡°Did he speak?¡±
¡°He did not stop speaking.¡± Francesco¡¯s mouth tugged¨Chalf¨Cgrimace, half¨Cpity. ¡°He told me I had stolen his fate in the cradle. He told the priests that the gods had mistaken our names and I had traded bracelets with him and pretended to be the elder. He told the Betas that our father had loved him more and had given me the de to save his favorite from dirty hands.¡±
¡°And you?¡± I asked softly.
¡°I told him nothing,¡± he said. ¡°I did what I had always done. I listened. And then, when he raised his sword, I raised mine.¡±
He did not dress it in poetry.
He did not give me the fancy footwork of heroes.
He told me the truth as if it were a bowl he had learned to carry without spilling: Franco was fast. Francesco was steady. Franco burned hot. Francesco waited. Franco always believed the first blow is the story; Francesco had learned thest is.
¡°He cut my face,¡± Francesco said, touching the faint scar near his jaw that most people mistake for a line the sun left. ¡°Heughed.¡± He looked at me. ¡°He had the sameugh as a boy when we stole pears. It made me sick.¡±
¡°How did it end?¡± I whispered, though my heart had begun to run ahead of me and knew.
¡°He made the same mistake he had made all his life,¡± he said. ¡°He believed I wanted the crowd to see me win. He circled to ce the sun at my eyes so I would turn and give him my throat for the apuse. I stepped into the light instead. I took the sun in my eyes and the shadow in my hands and I put my de where his pride lives.¡± He swallowed. ¡°He fell.¡±
1 kept my breath in my chest so it would not betray him by shaking.
8:59 Mon, Sep 29 d..
€77
55 vouchers
¡°He said my name.¡± Francesco whispered. ¡°Not the one the court used. The one my mother used when we were mud and knees. He said it like a question. And I-¡°His voice broke.
He bent his head, and I pressed my mouth to his temple and closed my eyes against the sting in mine.
¡°I answered the only way I could. I ended him.¡±
He did not say I killed my brother.
He said I ended him, because this was not a hunter boasting of his quarry.
It was a son of a house extinguishing his own mirror because a man dying in a room of winter had asked him to keep honor from rotting.
¡°The priests wrote it as justice,¡± he said after a long time, voice hoarse. ¡°The witches wrote it as curse. The wolves wrote it as proof that Lycaons eat their own. I wrote it as obedience.¡± He opened his hand, palm up, and stared at the lines there as if they might take the weight from him. ¡°And then I went home alone.¡±
I slid my hand into his, inteced our fingers, and pressed them against his heart.
¡°You did not go home alone,¡± I said. ¡°You carried an entire house home with you, and that is loneliness disguised as duty. But it¡¯s not the same as being alone.¡±
He turned his face then, and what looked back at me was the boy the world had made executioner too early.
Gold filled with wet light.
I kissed the corner of his eye and tasted salt.
¡°And Isolde?¡± I asked softly, because stories choose their own timing and sometimes healing needs the whole of it..
¡°She stayed long enough to make the court believe love had survived the winter,¡± he said, and there was no spite in him, only a brittle mercy. ¡°Then the wolves who had pledged to Franco began to slither into negotiations with me and her interest thinned. She said the history in my house was too heavy for a girl who wanted to be light.¡± His mouth made an old, tired shape. ¡°She said she deserved a life that wasn¡¯t written in my father¡¯s blood and that she found her fated mate. Then, she left.¡±
¡°Franco sent her?¡± I asked.
¡°Franco was gone,¡± he said. ¡°But he had taught her to look at me like a door. Once she realized it opened to more graves than gardens, she sought a different house.¡±
I lowered my forehead to his.
Mika breathed warm in my bones, sorrow and pride twined.
We stayed like that for a long time.
The fire slept, the room listened, the night outsidey like a calm dog at the threshold.
$770
55 vouchers
When he finally moved, it was to pull me into hisp and hold me as if the only oath that mattered anymore was the one our bodies made when they remembered how to fit.
¡°You asked for truth,¡± he murmured into my hair. ¡°That¡¯s the shape of it. A house that made itself strong enough to break. A father who learned toote that love is not a leash. A brother who mistook hunger for destiny. A son who obeyed.¡±
¡°And a man,¡± I said, cupping his face, ¡°who survives. Who chooses mercy over theater. Who will never, ever be just a name to me.¡±
He exhaled, and the breath shook, and then settled.
Somewhere in the hall outside, a patrol changed shift.
Boots whispered.
The manor breathed its nighttime prayers.
I thought of Dorian and his hatred like an heirloom.
I thought of the men at the feast and the way their mouths loved old stories because new ones require work.
I thought of the garden below, the rosemary, how roots spend their whole lives holding ground with no apuse.
¡°Tomorrow,¡± I said, ¡°we¡¯ll nt more.¡±
He huffed augh¨Cone of the rare, warm ones that lift like a bird. ¡°Tomorrow we¡¯ll be used of pacifism.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll be used of everything,¡± I said, smiling. ¡°We¡¯ll answer with bread.¡±
¡°Andw,¡± he added, some of the king returning to his posture.
¡°Andw,¡± I agreed. ¡°But today¨Ctoday I know your history. And I know why you carry what you carry you do.¡±
the
way
He studied me as if memorizing the way my eyes reflect firelight. ¡°Do you?¡±
¡°I do,¡± I said gently. ¡°And I know this too: thest thing your father taught you wasn¡¯t the de. It was to end what envy begins. We¡¯ll end Dorian¡¯s envy together. Not with poison. Not with corridors. With daylight.¡±
He kissed me, slow and certain, and it tasted like a vow given back to the person who deserves it.
When he slept, atst, Iy awake and watched the warm curve of his mouth soften from a king¡¯s line to a boy¡¯s.
The room was quiet, but the world outside wasn¡¯t done with us. I knew that. I also knew that history, no matter how deeply carved, can be rewritten by the hands that tend the living.
At dawn I would go to the garden.
8:59 Mon, Sep 29
I would water the rosemary.
:
55 vouchers
I would write letters to Alphas who had learned their hatred by rote and invite them to see the ward where we kept a woman safe who had tried to break us.
I would ask Julius to gather the elders and tell the truth of the Lycaons to the children so that when men like Dorian came with smoke they would have eyes full of me.
Before I slept, I pressed my mouth to the ce over Francesco¡¯s heart where his father¡¯sstmand had nested and I gave it a new home.
¡°End him,¡± the old voice had said.
¡°Live,¡± mine answered. ¡°And let me stand with you while you do.¡±
Still His 200
Chapter 200
The morning began with warmth and work.
By the time the first gold reached the lintels, the dining hall had already shed its old skin.
Windows thrown wide; shutters utched that hadn¡¯t moved in years; dust coaxed out of beams with brooms andughter.
Maria moved through it all like a captain on a ship she had secretly loved for years¨Cbarking gentle orders, tying aprons, tasting sauces, tapping a spoon on a copper pot to call for more salt, more heat, more heart.
Maria¡. The woman who had helped me go to Florence when I was no one¨Ceyes empty, pockets emptier- and pressed a warm roll into my hand with a look that said eat first, cryter. The woman who quietly asked no questions and then quietly sent me to another country to find my future because she knows about my talents.
Now she was here, sleeves rolled, hair pinned, ruling a French kitchen in Italian.
She caught my eye as I came in from the garden and, just for a heartbeat, her sternness cracked into a grin wide enough to be a hug.
¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, bambina,¡± she called, shooing a boy away from a tray of figs. ¡°If Luna wants flowers on a breakfast table, Luna had better pick them.¡±
¡°I did,¡± I said, holding up a basket ofvender and rosemary. ¡°And if youin about the rosemary, I will tell everyone how you used to scold your previous Alpha for stealing the leaves off your roasts.¡±
She sniffed, unashamed. ¡°God bless him. And I dare p his hand.¡±
I give her a small smile since we all know what happened with her old territory, the ce where my rejected mate became her Alpha. And now they¡¯re gone.
We worked until the hall breathed.
It mattered that breakfast was more than food.
The previous Alpha¨CHenri¨Chad hoarded rooms like coins, locked doors like secrets, turned hallways into silences. No more. If we were to mend this ce, we would do it where packs learn each other¡¯s faces: at a table.
When the tters finally went out, the smell made even the guards swallow hard: roasted game and eggs with herbs, bread still steaming, cheeses dusted with rosemary, bowls of figs and apples, honey set in shallow dishes like little suns.
Silver tes lined the center, polished until they caught the light and gave it back twice.
The flowers I¡¯d brought from the garden were tucked into small y jars¨Chumble, fragrant, honest.
People drifted in.
12:00
Tue, Sep 30
Warriors first, shy as wolves in a new clearing. Then elders, carrying their dignity and their suspicion in equal measure. Children peeked around skirts and were promptly caught by Maria and handed pieces of pear with fierce mercy.
A few dignitaries from neighboring packs, and a handful of French Alphas¡® lieutenants who had not yet ridden home with their masters¨Cmen who measured the room in angles and leverage. All of them slowed when they saw the table. All of them breathed different when they saw the windows open.
And then Francesco.
He entered like he always did¨Cquietly, and yet the air seemed to stand to attention. Alfonso at his shoulder, Marlow somewhere to the side with a mouth already set for work, a pair of high warriors posting themselves like bookends by the far doors.
¡°Good morning,¡± he said, and smiled.
The room startled.
There¡¯s a sound a hall makes when it realizes the wolf at the head of the table has teeth and tenderness both.
It¡¯s small¨Clike a held breath that escapes by ident.
That sound went around the room, and my heart softened at it.
¡°This is different,¡± he murmured to me, and when he brushed a kiss against my mouth there were audible gasps from a few of the French men clustered near the arch.
I felt his smile widen against my lips at the collective shock. He knew exactly what I was doing.
He set his palm over mine in full view and did not move it.
¡°There are more peopleing into our territory,¡± I said, my voice carrying just enough, ¡°so we should know them. And they should know us.¡±
He looked at me as if I had nted the sun.
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he said, turning to the room. ¡°I should have weed you properly. I left too much to Alfonso.¡±
Alfonso bowed his head, unoffended and a little awed.
Several warriors who had never seen the King apologize for anything blinked as if they¡¯d seen him change shape. Perhaps they had. A king who could hold a sword and a te at the same time was a different kind of
power.
¡°Eat,¡± I called, lifting a carafe of wine. ¡°Break bread with us.¡± I looked at the elders, at the young warriors with hollow cheeks, at the lieutenants whose eyes were sharp enough to shave wood. ¡°We start as we mean to go on -in the open, with the windows utched.¡±
Chairs scraped. tters moved. A hum rose that did not have to ask permission to be happiness.
12:00 Tue, Sep 30
ÖÝÔ°
Maria swept by with a basket, thumped it down in front of a boy with a half¨Cstarved look, and then rapped the knuckles of a lieutenant who tried to serve himself before an elder. ¡°We seat by age she informed him inca tone that could have curdled milk. ¡°Not arrogance.¡±
The lieutenant, unused to being scolded by anyone, looked ready to bristle¨Cuntil Francesco¡¯s eyes slid Laxity in his direction and then away again.
The man sat down very quickly and reached for bread with humility he hadn¡¯t known he possessed.
As tes filled, conversations unspooled.
An elder from thekeside pack¨Cone of Henri¡¯s old allies who had stayed out of fear more than love¨C cleared his throat near me. ¡°Luna,¡± he said, hesitating. ¡°In our customs we¡ we do not sit with Alphas this informally.¡±
¡°In Florence,¡± I said gently, ¡°we sit with those who are hungry.¡± I nodded toward the end of the table, where a fistful of boys were devouring eggs as if they were currency. ¡°Our rank remains. Our manners remain. But so does our appetite for each other¡¯spany.¡±
He studied me, the lines around his mouth softening. ¡°It is¡ warm.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± I said with a small smile stered on me. ¡°It is.¡±
At the far side, a pair of French lieutenants¨Cboth of them quick¨Ceyed men who¡¯d clearly made careers reading the expressions of kings¨Cwatched Francesco with the fascination of hunters who¡¯d discovered their prey sings. One of them leaned to the other. I heard the mutter, meant to be private: ¡°They say thest Lycaon never smiles.¡±
¡°He does,¡± the second answered, almost grudging. ¡°For her.¡±
I poured wine into both their goblets without breaking eye contact. ¡°He smiles for those who intend to stay,¡± I said lightly. ¡°Wine?¡±
They flushed.
Took the wine.
Near the middle of the table, Monica sat wedged between two elderly women, refilling their cups as she quietly lectured a broad¨Cshouldered warrior about letting the elders reach the tter first.
Audrey stood behind my chair, not eating, eyes doing her constant circuit of doors, faces, hands.
When she found mine, I tipped my chin toward a gap two chairs down.
¡°Sit,¡± I mouthed.
She shook her head.
Then Maria swept behind her, pressed a heel of bread into her palm, and pushed her bodily into the empty chair with a look that brooked no argument.
12:00 Tue, Sep 30
6:
Audrey¨CAudrey!¡ªsat. I could have kissed Maria¡¯s feet.
879
A vouchers
It was going well. It was going human. That was precisely what I wanted¨Cwolves who had learned to brace themselves in dining rooms learning to unclench their jaws.
Naturally, someone decided to test it.
He was tall, handsomely unpleasant, one of the French contingent who hadn¡¯t left with Dorian¨Ctoo curious, or too ambitious, to ride before the dust had settled. He¡¯d watched the morning like a man counting coins, and when he finally chose his moment he stood with a goblet and a look that asked the room to notice him.
¡°To new customs,¡± he said. The room fell quiet by habit, not respect. ¡°To windows open and tables wide. To a King who smiles.¡±
There was nothing wrong with the words.
It was the angle of his mouth that sharpened them.
Francesco lifted his goblet with serene politeness. ¡°To full tes,¡± he agreed. ¡°And to hands that do the work to fill them.¡±
The lieutenant¡¯s eyes flicked. He hadn¡¯t drawn blood. He sharpened the point. ¡°And to history,¡± he added, louder now. ¡°May it not repeat itself. We all know breakfast is pleasant. But Europe remembers the name Lycaon for other reasons.¡±
Damn it!
Conversations stilled; forks hovered.
I felt the room search Francesco¡¯s face, hungry for the moment the wolf would stop smiling.
I set my goblet down and stood¡ªnot with a ng, but with a sound like a page turning.
¡°History does remember,¡± I said easily. ¡°I remember it too. I remember thest time French Alphas decided rumor was easier than reading what was in front of them.¡±
A ripple. His eyes cooled.
¡°I¡¯m sure I don¡¯t know what you mean,¡± he said, silk over stone.
¡°Of course you do,¡± I returned, sweet as honey left in the sun. ¡°You came to our ward, saw a woman who raised a de against her Luna being tended by our healers, and still you rode back to your masters with your pockets full of whispers. It¡¯s heavy to carry a story that isn¡¯t true. Come¨Cset it down. Take bread instead.¡±
A quiet chuckle rolled along the table; Maria smothered a smile in a napkin.
The lieutenant¡¯s mouth tightened.
He pushed again. ¡°And what of the other stories? Of the Lycaon who ended his own brother? Of the father who ruled like a god? A kitchen does not erase a century of fear.¡±
12:00 Tue, Sep 30
¡°No.¡± I agreed gently. ¡°A kitchen feeds the mouths that pass those stories along so they have the strength to learn new ones.¡±
Something like surprise shed in his eyes.
He had expected a snarl.
He¡¯d received adle.
He was not good withdles.
He tried one more angle. ¡°There is a saying in the north,¡± he said, ncing around for allies who were not there. ¡°That a Lycaon¡¯s mercy is a knife with a smile.¡±
79
¡°Then it is a better knife than the one between your people¡¯s shoulder des,¡± I returned, my smile sharp enough to catch light. ¡°We do not promise freedom and deliver famine. We do not call treachery a treaty. We do not im to love our packs and then starve their tables to embarrass a king¡±
The linended.
The men who had ridden with Dorian shifted in their seats.
The room turned, just slightly, in my
direction.
I tilted my head. ¡°Eat. It¡¯s harder to talk nonsense with your mouth full.¡±
Francesco¡¯s hand slid to the small of my back, warm as a whole summer there.
Through the bond, a re of pride, then amusement. ¡®My Luna ys with knives and napkins both,¡® it said.
I did not look down, but I was suddenly, deeply aware of how his fingers had curved.
The lieutenant sat, flustered into silence by cutlery andmon sense. The hum rose again, steadier now. We¡¯d taken the table back from spectacle. It belonged to the pack again.
Alfonso cleared his throat and stood.
He is not a man for speeches, but he knew a moment when it needed sealing.
¡°Wee,¡± he said simply, voice carrying. ¡°Eat. When the sun sits high, the King will hear petitions in the courtyard. If you have questions,¡± he looked directly at the French men, ¡°bring more than rumor. Bring names. Bring dates. Bring the courage to be wrong.¡±
Marlow added, dry as good wine, ¡°And if you want to tell a story about our King, try a new one. The old ones have holes.¡±
Laughter scattered like birds startled and then settling again.
Tension dissolved into the clink and scrape of a room bing a room instead of a battleground.
I breathed.
12:00 Tue, Sep 30
Across from me, an elder tapped my wrist with her spoon. ¡°The flowers,¡± she said, chin up, eyes bright with the kind of mischief that keeps people alive to ny. ¡°That¡¯s Italian.¡±
¡°It is,¡± I said. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±
She sniffed. ¡°I mind that we went so long without it.¡± She pointed at the open windows. ¡°Keep those. The old Alpha closed everything. Air should move in a house.¡±
My smile gets wider when I hear it. ¡°It will,¡± I promised. ¡°He is gone. We are not him.¡±
¡°He is gone,¡± she echoed, looking toward the end of the table where a ck ribbon had been tied to a chair for the dead. Henri had ruled by clutching; it had choked him in the end. ¡°You are not him.¡±
She squeezed my hand. I squeezed back.
A smallmotion at the door made half the room look up. A cluster of newly arrived families lingered in the threshold, eyes devouring and then fleeing the sight of so much food. They were too used to being chased away by guards. Audrey was already moving¨Cwithout fanfare, without de¨Cguiding them in with a nod that somehow read wee more than any speech.
Maria barreled toward them with a basket and an authority that could rearrange weather. ¡°Shoes off at the mat, you, yes you, wipe those hands, you¡¯re not touching my olives with that, sit here, elders here, babies here ¡ªLuna, yourvender is crooked, fix it, grazie.¡±
I fixed thevender. I stood back. I let the sight sink into the bones of the room: elders eating first, children fed twice, warriors refilling pitchers, lieutenants correcting their posture under the weight of the King¡¯s casual eyes. Windows open. Air moving. A kitchen speaking anguage both Florence and France could understand: You belong.
Francesco leaned toward me. ¡°You¡¯ve made me dangerous in a new way,¡± he murmured, mouth near my ear, voice for me alone in all that noise. ¡°They¡¯ve always feared my anger. Now they¡¯ll fear my kindness.¡±
¡°Good,¡± I whispered back. ¡°Anger burns fields. Kindness nts them. Both change the map.¡± Readplete version only at
His thumb curved once, secret, against my spine. The bond hummed like a struck string.
The lieutenant who had tried to turn breakfast into a trial made onest, smaller attempt to salvage grace. He stood, raised his goblet, and this time kept his words simple. ¡°To the Luna,¡± he said. ¡°Who reminds us that power can be¡ pleasant.¡±
¡°To the Luna,¡± the room answered, stronger than he deserved. I epted for the sake of the ones who meant it.
Maria rolled her eyes in a way that said ¡®men¡® and shoved a tter of pears into his chest until he sat down.
Still His 201
By the end, the table looked like victory¨Cnot the kind that demands banners, but the kind that makes children sticky and elders drowsy and warriors a little less likely to break their teeth on their own pride.
I can¡¯t help but feel happy that this works, my n has sesful. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel
As people drifted out, carrying scraps and smiles, I turned to the work after the work.
¡°Keep the windows open,¡± I told the servants. ¡°Air the cast corridor¨Cthose doors have slept too long. Take linens to the rooms Henri locked and strip the beds. We need space for families who arrive without warning.¡±
¡°To the cers,¡± Maria said, tapping her spoon against her palm like a baton. ¡°Inventory. We stretch what we have, buy what we must. Luna, I will need a list for the market and men with backs like oxen.¡±
I nodded my head in agreement ¡°You¡¯ll have both,¡± I said. ¡°Alfonso?¡±
He was already there, quill and ledger appearing as if by magic. ¡°Maria is head of supplies,¡± he announced, which delighted her into swatting him with a towel. ¡°Marlow, order your man to rotate patrols along the southern orchards. If Dorian thinks to use empty stomachs to inme old loyalties, I want those orchards. guarded like a treasury.¡±
¡°Done,¡± Marlow said. ¡°And the rumor mill?¡±
I smiled without sweetness. ¡°We feed it answers, not outrage. This afternoon, we post notices in the square: open forum at sunset. I will speak. The King will hear petitions. We will answer questions about Isolde, about the ward, about ourws. In daylight. In the open.¡±
Francesco¡¯s hand found mine again¨Cnot to guide, not to im, but to agree. ¡°Together,¡± he said. I nodded.
¡°Also,¡± I added, catching his eye and then the elder¡¯s, ¡°we will start sses in the afternoons for the children- letters and numbers, history that isn¡¯t written by whoever shouts loudest. Julius can teach. Bethany will help. If we want to end Dorian¡¯s whispers, we teach a generation to recognize the sound of a lie.¡±
Alfonso¡¯s quill scratched. Marlow grunted something that sounded like approval. Audrey¨Cstill chewing a piece of bread Maria had snuck into her hand¨Cactually smiled.
The lieutenant from before lingered near the arch, clearly deciding whether to leave with dignity or risk one
morement.
He chose prudence and bowed to me with something like real respect.
¡°Lady Luna,¡± he said quietly. ¡°If this is how the Lycaon rules, perhaps France will have to learn a few Italian habits.¡±
I turned my head to him and nodded my head. ¡°Only the best ones,¡± I answered, and let him go.
As the hall emptied, I exhaled. ¡®Finally¡® I thought in tiredness.
The scent of rosemary clung to the air.
12:00 Tue, Sep 30
The flowers were listing slightly, tired from their duty. I straightened them. It mattered.
Francesco watched me as if the act itself¨Ccorrecting a jar of sprigs¨Cwere the line between a kingdom and a
ruin.
¡°You are doing something I could not,¡± he said softly.
¡°You could,¡± I said. ¡°You simply had to kill your brother instead.¡± I give him a warm and understanding smile.
He went very still, then nodded once, the motion as humble as it was terrible. ¡°And you,¡± he murmured, ¡°are killing the story he left behind.¡±
I pressed my brow to his. ¡°Not killing¡. Um,posting. Let it rot into something that feeds us.¡±
He huffed augh, then sobered. ¡°The Alpha is gone,¡± he said, meaning Henri, meaning the sour breath that had soured these walls. ¡°But Dorian is not. He¡¯ll try again.¡±
¡°I know,¡± I said. ¡°He came with roguesst night and left with a new story to fear.¡± My eyes held his. ¡°He saw the White Wolf.¡±
The bond sparked¨Cpride, worry, want, all braided. ¡°Next time,¡± he murmured, thumb sweeping my knuckles, ¡°I stand at your side when you show him.¡±
¡°Next time,¡± I promised. ¡°For now¨Cgo wash the flour off your kingly hands. Maria will tell everyone I made you knead bread.¡±
¡°She already has,¡± he said dryly, ncing toward the kitchen where Maria was absolutely telling everyone I had made him knead bread. ¡°And they look¡ delighted.¡±
¡°Good,¡± I said. ¡°Let them keep that story. It¡¯s true.¡±
He kissed me, low and sure, and the hall took that story, too.
Outside, the courtyard filled again¡ªthe sound of work and children, the thud of practice swords, the small opera of a ce remembering how to live.
Inside, the long table gleamed a little duller now, as all good tables should after doing their job. I ran my finger along the grain, thinking of tonight¡¯s forum, of notices on boards, of Julius¡¯s patient voice teaching a child to shape her first letter.
We would not win by teeth alone. We would not win by kindness alone. We would win by repetition¡ªby the daily, stubborn act of living well in the open. By feeding mouths. By airing rooms. By telling the truth at a long table with the windows utched.
Let them bring their old legends of Lycaon ruthlessness.
We would answer with rosemary andw.
¡®And if they pushed?¡®
Then they would see that the man who could smile in a dining hall still carried the de that ended wars.
12:00 Tue, Sep 30
And that the woman who ced flowers in a jar had a wolf in her bones bright enough to turn rogues to trembling.
Until then¡ªbread. Air. A table for all.
But now, I need to speak again with Isolde and check her condition.
AD
Comment
Send gift
No Ads
Still His 202
The ng of steel still echoed faintly across the courtyard when I left the garden.
(72)
#youchate
Francesco and his knights had gone to the training field, their voices low, clipped, the cadence of warriors sharpening one another into readiness.
I had watched him go¨Chis shoulders squared, his stride that mixture of lethal grace andmand that always pulled eyes whether he wanted them or not.
I should have gone with him.
I should have sat at the edge of the field and watched, as I sometimes did, to reassure myself he was flesh and blood and not a weapon forged too sharp for the world.
But something restless twisted in my chest, pulling me in the opposite direction.
When I turned, my gaze found Audrey first.
She lingered a step behind me as always, one hand brushing the hilt of her sword the way most people fidget with beads or rings. She didn¡¯t need words to know my intent. Her dark brows drew down, a warning written across her face.
¡°I need to meet with Isolde,¡± I said.
The words were quiet, but theynded like a stone thrown into still water.
Audrey froze, her entire body tensing.
Alfonso, standing on my other side, shifted his weight and gave me a long, steady look. He had the expression of a man already picturing Francesco¡¯s fury when he found out.
Audrey recovered first. ¡°The King¡ª¡±
¡°He doesn¡¯t need to know,¡± I interrupted, sharper than I intended. My voice echoed off the stone, startling even myself. I drew a breath, softer this time. ¡°He already has the burden of the border. I will not weigh him with this. Not yet.¡±
Alfonso¡¯s eyes narrowed.
He could be as unreadable as Francesco when he wanted, but I¡¯d learned to see through the small tells: the tight line at the corner of his mouth, the way his thumb tapped against his thigh when his mind wrestled itself into submission.
Finally, he exhaled, long and weary.
¡°I know he¡¯ll be furious,¡± he muttered. ¡°But I also know you¡¯ll protect me from him. Right?¡±
I let a teasing smile curve my lips, even though my heart was pounding. ¡°Should I?¡± Read full story at FindN0vel
12:00 Tue, Sep 30
He groaned, dragging a hand over his face. ¡°Saints save me from stubborn Lunas,¡±
A 3
(79)
Sveuchw
Audrey made a sound¨Chalf snort, half growl¡ªbut she didn¡¯t press further. She only fell into step behind me. her silence sharper than any de.
The walk to the ward was quiet but heavy.
Servants passing us bowed low, eyes darting curiously.
They didn¡¯t need to ask where we were going. The scent of herbs and iron grew thicker the closer we came, the bitter tang of medicine clinging to the air.
Monica was there when we entered, sleeves rolled, her hands stained faintly with salve. She looked her work with a start, nearly dropping a bundle of sage.
up from
¡°Luna?¡± Her voice cracked on my title, surprise ringing clear.
I nodded once. ¡°Open the door. I want to speak with Isolde.¡±
Her mouth parted in protest. ¡°But-¡± Her eyes darted desperately to Alfonso, searching for reprieve.
Alfonso gave the smallest nod. Duty, not approval.
Monica¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line.
After a long moment, she turned, utched the ward door, and let it creak open.
The room beyond was colder.
Not dungeon¨Ccold, not stone dripping with rot and mold, but the kind of cold thates from sterility, from a ce meant for recovery but filled instead with silence and secrets.
Isolde sat on the narrow bed, her wrists still marked faintly where chains had bound them days before. She had been given a clean shift, her hair brushed and braided, but none of that could soften the sharpness of her beauty.
She looked at me, her lips curling into a bitter smile.
¡°What is this great honor?¡± she asked, her voice honeyed with venom. ¡°The Luna herself,e to grace me again? I thought our conversation was finished.¡±
I ignored her barb.
I pulled a chair from the corner and dragged it forward until its legs scraped against the stone.
I set it squarely in front of her bed and sat, folding my hands neatly in myp.
¡°Did Franco order you?¡± I asked to the point without any greeting needed.
No soft prelude. No polite words. Just the question.
12:00 Tue, Sep 30
Herposure faltered.
For the briefest moment her brows flickered, surprise breaking through the mask.
Then she tilted her chin, regaining control.
¡°It seems,¡± she said atst, voice cool, ¡°he has told you.¡±
I let a faint smile answer her.
Neither a confirmation nor denial.
Isolde turned her gaze toward the window.
Outside, pale light slid across the sill, weak as watered milk.
She stared at it as though it held secrets worth more than me.
¡°You¡¯re different,¡± she said suddenly.
The words caught me off guard. ¡°What?¡±
1 Vouchers
¡°You,¡± she rified, her tone low but steady. ¡°You¡¯re not like the others. Franco was a fool, but he was useful. A stepping stone.¡±
What did she say?!
Cold prickled my skin. ¡°So he wasn¡¯t the one who ordered you?¡±
Her lips curved, brittle and bitter. ¡°No. He was just another tool. A pawn.¡±
My heart stumbled.
If not Franco¡ then who?
I leaned forward, lowering my voice to a whisper. ¡°Who, then? Who used you?¡±
She turned her head back to me.
For once, the cruelty in her gaze dimmed.
What reced it was worse: a hollow, ancient weariness.
¡°You think this is about Lycaon?¡± she asked, almost amused. ¡°Franco was nothing. He thought himself cunning, but he was only a shadow cast by brighter mes.¡±
Her eyes searched mine, and something flickered there¨Cmadness, yes, but also truth. Her lips curled into a smile that wasn¡¯t victory, wasn¡¯t mockery, but something stranger.
¡°Don¡¯t you want to know,¡± she whispered, ¡°who gave me the gift of youth? Who made me younger, longer?¡±
12:00 Tue, Sep 30
The breath caught in my chest.
he har
Audrey¡¯s hand flew to her sword hilt. Alfonso swore under his breath, low and vicious, Monica gasper, the sound almost a prayer.
But I¨C I could only stare at Isolde, my heart pounding against my ribs as if it wanted out.
¡°What did you say?¡± I whispered, though I wasn¡¯t sure I wanted the answer.
Her smile widened, gleaming with madness and something far too alive.
And the world hung in silence, waiting for her to speak.
Still His 203
Chapter 203
For a heartbeat, no one breathed.
25 vouchars
Isolde¡¯s words hung in the ward like frost¨Cthe kind that forms in strangece, beautiful until it bites your fingers. Audrey¡¯s grip whitened on her sword hilt. Alfonso shifted closer, quiet as a shadow, his body angled to put himself between me and whatever this revtion might awaken. Monica hovered at my shoulder, healer¡¯s calm fraying at the edges.
¡°Say it again,¡± I managed, because my voice needed to hear the shape of it out loud to believe it. ¡°Who made you¡ younger?¡±
Isolde¡¯s mouth curved, not quite a smile. ¡°You heard me the first time.¡± Her gaze slid to the window again, as if the poor anemic sunlight could make her softer. It didn¡¯t. She looked back and lifted her chin. ¡°Youth is a trick, Luna. Skin can be taught to lie.¡±
¡°Magic,¡± Audrey said, t and disgusted, as if spitting a bad taste.
Isolde¡¯sshes lowered. ¡°What other kind is there left to anyone who wants a thing long enough?¡±
¡°Names,¡± Alfonso said, all Beta authority now, voice like a deid across a table. ¡°Give us one.¡±
She considered, as if tasting which version of the truth would hurt most. The air thinned. Something old stirred along the back of my neck¨CMika lifting her head, nostrils ring, not in fear but in recognition.
Isolde smiled, slow and cruel and tired. ¡°Mother S¨¦verine.¡±
The name fell as if it had weight.
Monica stiffened. Audrey swore softly in her ownnguage. Alfonso¡¯s eyes narrowed the way they do when he adds one more piece to a map he¡¯s been building in his head for a year.
I had never heard it¨Cat least not where my ears could tell my mind. But my bones recognized it, the way old houses recognize storms.
¡°Who is she?¡± I asked, and my voice sounded steadier than I felt.
Isolde let out a small hum, like a woman remembering a song she learned as a child. ¡°There are covens that sell love potions to girls who believe boys are kingdoms,¡± she said, almost idly. ¡°There are hedge witches who trade blessings for eggs. And then there is S¨¦verine.¡± Her smile sharpened. ¡°She does not trade. She takes. She has no cottage. She has a fen.¡± Isolde¡¯s eyes glittered. ¡°Have you been to the Camargue, Luna? Salt and reed and endless, hungry water? That is her body. She is old enough to remember when men were still ashamed to call themselves kings.¡± ?????? ???? find{n}ovel
¡°Witch¨Cqueen,¡± Monica murmured, something like dread in her voice. ¡°We thought she was a tale to keep girls from wandering.¡±
¡°She is,¡± Isolde said. ¡°And she isn¡¯t.¡±
Alfonso folded his arms. ¡°And what did you give her for your¡ youth?¡±
79
7135 VOULIers
Isolde¡¯s smile faltered then, just a fraction. ¡°What everyone gives when they go to an altar with empty hands.¡± she said quietly, ¡°Oaths. And blood that wasn¡¯t always mine.¡±
Audrey took a half step forward, voice low and lethal. ¡°Whose blood?¡±
Isolde¡¯s gaze slid to me. ¡°Whose do you think?¡±
My stomach turned. ¡°Lycaon,¡± I said. The word felt like iron. ¡°She wanted Lycaon blood.¡±
¡°Wants,¡± Isolde corrected softly. ¡°Still wants.¡± Her eyes shone with a dark amusement. ¡°Franco was a trick. Your King has always been the prize.¡±
¡°You said Franco didn¡¯t order you,¡± I said, hearing the hard edge in my voice. ¡°But he used you. You used him. And above you both, this Mother S¨¦verine used you all.¡±
Isolde lifted one shoulder. ¡°Tools within tools.¡±
¡°Tell us how it began,¡± I said.
She stared at me for a long moment, as if she might refuse and send me scrambling to find truth in shadows. Then something in her shoulders loosened¨Cthe smallest surrender, or perhaps only the joy of being the one to cut the veil.
¡°Franco came to me first,¡± she said. ¡°I was not nobody, even then. Pretty girls aremodities; I learned how to price myself before I learned how to read.¡± She did not flinch as she said it, and I made myself not look away. ¡°He told me I was meant for more than bright rooms and dim beds. He said I could be the woman at a King¡¯s right hand if I helped him to remove the King he did not prefer.¡±
¡°The twin,¡± Alfonso said, voice dry.
¡°The mirror,¡± Isolde corrected, almost wistful. ¡°He said Francesco was a de without a sheath, that the world feared him and the world was right. He said if I could make the Executioner human, the court would see him differently. While they were busy being warmed by that sight, Franco would step where he wanted to step.¡±
¡°And did Mother S¨¦verine step in then?¡± I asked.
Isolde¡¯s smile returned. ¡°No. I went to her. I was not a fool enough to think I could step into the orbit of a Lycaon without more than my face.¡± She turned her wrist and traced the pale blue veins there with her fingertip. ¡°I had wanted¡ time. That¡¯s all I¡¯d ever wanted since I was fourteen and a man old enough to be my grandfather told me I had six summers left before the bloom would fade. If I had time, I could choose how to spend it. If I had time, I could make men believe I was a season that never passed.¡±
She lifted her gaze and met mine head¨Con. ¡°So I went to the fen. I crossed three nights of reed and mud and songs that are not sung by throats. I bled into the water and the water smiled. And when I found S¨¦verine, I asked her for youth.¡±
¡°And she¡ gave?¡± Monica asked carefully, as if expecting the tale to bite.
¡°She lent,¡± Isolde said. ¡°Youth is a dress. You can borrow it. It looks like yours in a mirror until it doesn¡¯t fit anymore.¡± Her mouth twisted. ¡°And she named a price.¡±
¡°What price,¡± Audrey pressed.
¡°Not death,¡± Isolde said, turning her head as if to listen to the past and trante. ¡°Not mine. Not yet. She wanted what witches always want when the world looks away¨Cblood that sings. She wanted a Lycan¡¯s blood to break a very old lock.¡±
¡°Lock?¡± Alfonso repeated.
Isolde¡¯s smile went knife¨Cthin. ¡°Not a door. A promise. Witches love to bind things that cannot be bound. Long ago, your line¡¯s ancestors asked for a favor and forgot to pay. They thought they could ignore the bill forever because they learned how to sharpen swords faster than they learned how to apologize.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°Mother S¨¦verine does not forget. She wanted repayment, with interest¡±
My mouth went dry. I heard, distantly, the training field¨Ca barked order, steel striking wood. I wanted Francesco beside me for this, and yet I was grateful he was not hearing his family¡¯s debts from the mouth of a woman who had tried to undo him.
¡°What was the favor?¡± I asked. ¡°What did our line ask?¡±
Oh God, this is more dangerous than I thought¡
Still His 204
Isokle¡¯s eyes glittered, she get what she wants.
Our attention¡
¡°Do you think she told me that?¡± Sheughed, a low, cracked sound. ¡°I don¡¯t need the story, Luna I only need the instructions.¡±
¡°Which were?¡± Alfonso again, relentless.
¡°Touch the Lycaon¡¯s blood to the fen,¡± she said, calm as a prayer. ¡°Bring me a drop, a handful, a summer¡¯s river if you can. The more you bring, the more beautiful you will be. The longer you will wear your borrowed skin.¡±
¡°Did you- Monica began, then stopped, breath catching.
Isolde looked almost bored. ¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°Not then. Not at first. I did not need to bring her blood to pay the first bill. I paid with errands. I paid with lies. I paid by standing in a library with the Executioner and making him believe a story about himself that he wanted to believe.¡±
I felt the blownd where it always did in me¨Con the tender ce that still grieved for the man he had been, the boy who had knelt on winter stone. ¡°Franco knew,¡± I whispered.
¡°Franco did not know how deep the fen is,¡± Isolde said. ¡°He thought he had hired a pretty knife. He did not realize he had hummed a witch¡¯s name to the air and the air had a good memory.¡± She looked past me, as if seeing around me the shape of the man we both knew. ¡°I did not, either. Not at first.¡±
Audrey exhaled, a hiss of air. ¡°So you seduced a king to pay a witch.¡±
Isolde¡¯s lip curled. ¡°Don¡¯t tter me or him. I seduced a man who hadn¡¯t been looked at without fear in ten years. I warmed myself at his fire and told myself I was the one feeding it.¡± She shrugged, and for the first time I believed she truly did feel a small, sour pity¡ªfor herself, perhaps, for the girl she had been. ¡°And then the war came. And then Totti died. And then the boy with the gold eyes cut the mirror¡¯s throat and went home alone.¡± She lifted her chin. ¡°S¨¦verine did not ask for blood then. She is not impatient. She said a feast tastes better the second day.¡±
Alfonso¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°So when did she ask? Because she did ask, or you wouldn¡¯t be here. You don¡¯t still look twenty, and you don¡¯t smell like spring.¡±
That almost made meugh, the ugly humor of truth. Isolde took it without a flinch.
¡°After,¡± she said. ¡°Years after. The Lycan had be a king and a ghost. The wolves had learned to tell their children two kinds of bedtime stories¨Cone where he saved them, one where he came to eat them when they lied. I left. I chased other rooms. I learned that nothing tastes like the table you left behind. The dress began to pinch.¡± Her mouth went hard. ¡°I went back to the fen.¡±
¡°And she sent you again,¡± I said softly.
¡°She sent for me,¡± Isolde corrected. ¡°That is different. The water peeled back like lips and the reeds whispered my name. S¨¦verine smiled. She said: Now. She said she would make the youth fit again if I brought her my
12:01 Tue, Sep 30
4..
original price. A drop. A mouthful. A cup. A bowl.¡± Isolde¡¯s gaze burned. ¡°I told her I would bring her a river¡±
¡°Francesco,¡± I said, and the sybles were ash and vow and love.
Isolde¡¯s face did not soften. ¡°Lycaon,¡± she said. ¡°Names change, blood does not.¡±
¡°So you came back,¡± Audrey said. ¡°You came back to finish the debt.¡±
Isolde turned her head and looked at Audrey the way a cat looks at a sword. ¡°I came back because I wanted the dress to fit again.¡± She paused, and something flickered across her mouth¨Cfaint as gnats, gone before I could swat it. ¡°And because¡¡± She stopped herself, shook her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Want is a hallway with too many doors.¡± This content belongs to find?novel
¡°Because what?¡± I pressed.
For once, the mask slipped without calction. She looked at me, woman to woman, cruelty subsiding into something like truth. ¡°Because it is hard to leave a ce where you were almost loved,¡± she said, very quietly. ¡°Even if the person was a fiction you built.¡±
Silence. Even Audrey did not breathe.
Isolde blinked hard, annoyance at her own softness snapping the mask back into ce. ¡°In any case,¡± she said briskly, ¡°I came. I made a mess. I paid part of what I owed. Not with blood¨Cthat trick with the wolvesbane was mine, not hers. Mother S¨¦verine prefers cleaner lines.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°But she is impatient now. She can smell his blood even when he is not in the room. Your King has made himself conspicuous again.¡±
¡°How?¡± Alfonso asked.
¡°By being seen,¡± Isolde said. ¡°By eating with his wolves. By opening windows.¡± Her mouth twisted. ¡°By letting his Luna put flowers on a table in a house that was cold for so long it forgot how to breathe.¡±
Monica looked at me then, eyes wide, as if to say your rosemary woke the old things. I shook my head. ¡°No,¡± I said aloud. ¡°My rosemary told the living toe back. The dead are angry because they have to make room.¡±
Isolde shrugged. ¡°Dead, not dead¨Cwords. S¨¦verine is neither.¡± She leaned forward slightly, expression sharpening. ¡°Do you want to know the worst of it?¡±
Audrey¡¯s de whispered a warning against its scabbard. ¡°You¡¯re still here to gloat. That is the worst of it.¡°¡±
Isolde ignored her. She spoke only to me. ¡°The price for youth was not just Lycan blood,¡± she said. ¡°That was the crown jewel. The rest¡¡± She smiled, terribly calm. ¡°The rest was feeding S¨¦verine the girls who wanted to be me.¡±
¡°Gods,¡± Monica breathed, hand to her mouth.
I felt the cold all the way to my teeth. ¡°The missing girls,¡± I said. ¡°The ones Henri¡¯s pack whispered away and called runaways.¡±
Isolde looked bored again, as if the conversation had run out of toys. ¡°Some ran. Some were taken by rogues. Some were swallowed by fen. It¡¯s all the same from where you sit, isn¡¯t it? They¡¯re gone.¡±
12:01 Tue, Sep 30
79
12vouchers
¡°No,¡± I said, and my voice was so steady it scared me. ¡°It is not all the same from where I sit. It never will be¡± I leaned forward, every word a beadid on a string, ¡°What does she want now, Isolde? A drop? A river? A sea?¡±
Isolde watched me for a long time, the me of something like respect guttering and ring and guttering again. Atst, she smiled like a woman watching a wave she knows will break.
¡°She wants a name,¡± she said. ¡°True and old. The one that unlocks the promise your ancestors wrote and then hid.¡±
¡°What name?¡± Alfonso demanded.
Isolde shook her head once. ¡°If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t be in your pretty ward, Luna. I¡¯d be at the fen wearing a younger face.¡±
¡°Then what do you know?¡± Audrey snapped, patience gone.
Isolde¡¯s eyes slid to mine again, and the chill there was a hand around a throat. ¡°I know she sent others when I failed,¡± she said softly. ¡°Men with knives that don¡¯t shine. Women who look like widows. Birds that are not birds. I know she will keep sending them until the window stands open and the blood spills like wine into her water. I know she hates your King because he reminds her of the first one who refused to kneel.¡±
¡°And me?¡± I asked, before I could stop myself.
Isolde¡¯s smile sharpened. ¡°She does not hate you. Not yet.¡± She cocked her head. ¡°She is interested. She does not like new pieces on old boards.¡± Her gaze skimmed me like a hand finds a hidden de beneath fabric. ¡°White Wolf.¡±
The room seemed to constrict around those two sybles. Audrey went as still as a statue. Monica¡¯s fingers tightened on my sleeve. Alfonso¡¯s gaze flicked to the door, calcting how sound travelled in this corridor, how fast a rumor could run.
I did not flinch. ¡°Go on,¡± I said.
¡°S¨¦verine thought Lycan was enough,¡± Isolde said. ¡°She did not ount for a wolf like you. Old and bright. Youplicate the recipe.¡± A glint of malice lit her eyes. ¡°She likesplications. They make better stories. They taste better when she eats them.¡±
I let the insult slide by; truth mattered more than her need to stick hooks in my skin. ¡°What else?¡±
Isolde leaned back against her pillows, suddenly very tired. ¡°That¡¯s all,¡± she said. ¡°For now. If I think of more, I¡¯ll tell you. I like hurting kings.¡±
Alfonso¡¯s mouth curled. ¡°You like thinking you still matter.¡±
Sheughed, and it was an ugly, honest sound. ¡°That too, Beta.¡±
I stood. The chair scraped stone, loud and human in a room that had held too much inhuman.
¡°Monica,¡± I said, never taking my eyes from Isolde. ¡°Double the ward guards. Move two of Marlow¡¯s men to the south corridor. No one enters without my voice or the King¡¯s. No one.¡±
¡°Done.¡± Monica said, healer¡¯s calm restored by orders she could fold into her hands.
¡°Audrey,¡± I said. She was already beside me. ¡°We tell Francesco. Now,
Alfonso winced, a little theatrical. ¡°You promised to protect me.¡±
¡°From his temper,¡± I said, and I couldn¡¯t help the sideways smile that tugged my mouth. ¡°Not from the truth¡±
We turned for the door.
¡°Luna,¡± Isolde called, sweeter now, the voice she¡¯d used in a thousand rooms to make men look back.
I did not turn, but I let my head tilt enough that she knew I was listening.
¡°Ask your King,¡± she purred, ¡°what name his father whispered when he died. Not his son¡¯s¡. The other one. The one that tasted like old storms. If he tells you, you¡¯ll know where to find the fen.¡±
My heart tripped.
Damn it!
I walked out without answering¨Cpast Monica¡¯s fierce set face, past Alfonso¡¯s coiled readiness, past Audrey¡¯s quiet boiling anger¨Cand into the corridor, where the air at least had the decency to be ordinary.
We didn¡¯t speak until the door was closed and thetch set.
Alfonso exhaled, long and low. ¡°Mother S¨¦verine,¡± he said, as if spitting out a thorn. ¡°I had hoped that was a story.¡±
¡°Most of the dangerous things are,¡± Audrey said.
I pressed the heel of my hand to my brow for a moment, steadying the churn inside. Mika paced, not with fear, but with the restless need to move toward a threat you can smell but not yet see.
¡°Find Marlow,¡± I said to Alfonso. ¡°Tell him everything you can without saying my name with Isolde¡¯s in the same sentence. He¡¯ll want to fold this into the border watch.¡±
¡°And you?¡± he asked.
¡°I find Francesco,¡± I said, already turning toward the training field, heart pounding not with dread but with a fierce, bright certainty. ¡°He needs to hear this from me.¡±
¡°And the name?¡± Audrey asked quietly at my side as we walked. ¡°What she said at the end?¡±
¡°The other name,¡± I said. The words tasted like iron and sea on my tongue. ¡°We¡¯ll ask him together.¡±
We stepped out into sunlight. The ng of steel rose to meet us, clean and honest. Across the packed earth, Francesco turned at the change in the air¨Che always felt meing¨Cand the pride I saw in his eyes was a thing that steadied the world.
We will not be prey, I told the part of me that still remembered coldkes and rooms that locked. Not to
12:01 Tue, Sep 30
A
679
22 10 vouchers
witches. Not to rumors. Not to the past.
Behind me, in a ward that smelled of rosemary and iron, a woman who had made herself a lurey back and closed her eyes. Somewhere far south, water shifted beneath reeds, listening for a name.
And through it all, the old stories stretched, woke, and turned their faces toward us.
The dress of youth does not fit forever.
But truth¨Cif you keep pulling its thread¨Calways leads you to the hand that sewed it.
I took a breath, squared my shoulders, and went to my King.
Why was everything always involving magic?
I thought when Anastasia gone with Luca dark magic, there is no more magic, but now¡. Seems like I am
wrong.
Still His 205
Isolde¡¯s scream still rang inside my head long after the door shut.
10 vouchers
¡°HEY, AT LEAST LET ME GO NOW! SHE WILL KILL ME BECAUSE I TELL YOU ALL. DAMN TE!!¡±
Her voice had cracked on thest word, sharp and ragged, echoing down the corridor until it was little more than a tremor in the stone walls.
But the sound clung to me, worming into the quiet corners of my thoughts where reason usually held sway.
I had seen fear before¨Creal fear, not the kind staged to manipte or soften judgment.
This had been different.
There had been no calction in the widening of her eyes, no elegance in the way her mouth had twisted.
She had looked like prey.
And if Isolde, with all her venom and self¨Cserving cunning, looked like prey, then I had to wonder:
who was the hunter she feared?
I sighed and turned back once, letting my gaze rest on the heavy ward door.
It looked no different from the other reinforced doors in the manor¨Coak bound with iron, meant to contain both sickness and danger.
Yet it seemed heavier now, as though secrets had weight, and that weight pressed against the wood from the inside.
Then I turned away.
Step after step, I forced myself forward, Audrey¡¯s boots clicking softly behind me, Alfonso¡¯s heavier tread steady at my side.
This was not what I had thought I would hear.
I had expected more venom, more petty spite from Isolde.
Another attempt to twist a knife into Francesco¡¯s heart through me.
Instead, she had given me something I wasn¡¯t ready for: a glimpse of a truth older than the betrayal everyone thought they understood.
Mika stirred beneath my skin, restless. ¡®She is afraid,¡¯ my wolf whispered. ¡®Not of you. Not of chains. Of something else. Something greater.
¡°Yes,¡± I thought back. ¡°But fear does not always mean innocence.¡±
12:01 Tue, Sep 30
Still, I couldn¡¯t ignore the coil of unease shaking through me.
Francesco had told me the story once.
His father, Totti Lycaon, was powerful and feared,
The civil war that tore theirnds apart.
Franco¡¯s treachery, his father¡¯s death, the bloody duel between brothers that ended with Francesco standing
alone.
It was a tragedy enough to break any man¨Cand yet he had survived it.
He carried it like armor, like bone¨Cdeep shadow.
But what if that wasn¡¯t the whole story?
I remembered the way Isolde had spat Franco¡¯s name¨Cdismissive, almost bored. A stepping stone, she¡¯d said. ¡®A tool.
If she spoke truth¨Cif Franco had not been the true author of the Lycaon family¡¯s downfall¨Cthen who had moved the pieces?
Who had seen the Lycaons not as kings but as prey, too dangerous to live?
The thought struck me cold.
Everyone had hated the Lycaons. Their power. Their difference. Their bloodline that stood above wolves like a mountain above fields. It had been easy for councils and Alphas to call them ruthless.
Easy to look at their strength and whisper: they will fall, they must fall.
Had Franco simply been convenient?
The fire everyone could point to, while the real storm brewed behind him?
I clenched my fists. ¡®Damn it.¡¯
The corridor opened into one of the wide galleries of the manor, its high windows letting in pale winter light.
Servants bustled at the far end, carrying linens and trays, their chatter quieting the moment they saw us.
Their gazes dipped, respectful, but I caught the flicker of curiosity.
They had heard Isolde¡¯s scream.
Of course they had.
The rumor would spread before the hour ended. Whispers always traveled faster than truth.
Alfonso nced at me, his sharp eyes assessing. ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much,¡± he said quietly.
12:01 Tue, Sep 30
???
I to youcherd
I gave him a look that might have been amusing if not for the heaviness pressing down on me. ¡°And you aren¡¯t thinking enough.¡±
He grunted, a sound halfway between agreement and irritation. ¡°I think exactly as much as I need to
Audrey snorted softly behind me. ¡°Which isn¡¯t much, most days¡±
Alfonso shot her a re, but I caught the corner of his mouth twitching.
Even in moments like this, they were themselves. Loyal, unshakable, bound by Francesco¡¯s trust¨Cand, by extension, mine.
But loyalty didn¡¯t soothe the knot in my chest.
We moved toward the main hall, where warmth gathered from the great fire.
Francesco wasn¡¯t there yet; I could feel it through the bond, the faint tug of his presence still distant, still at the training yard. For that I was grateful. I needed time to shape my face into something steadier, something that wouldn¡¯t betray the storm roiling inside me.
Because how could I tell him?
How could I look into his eyes¨Cthose ck eyes that had seen too much already¨Cand say, ¡°It wasn¡¯t only Franco. It might have been something bigger. Something older. Something meant to erase you, not just wound you.¡±
He believed the story was finished.
He had lived with the weight of killing his brother, believing that was the price of survival, the curse of being thest Lycaon.
What would it do to him to learn the truth might be different?
That his brother¡¯s betrayal had been part of somethingrger?
My heart twisted. I had been rejected once. My pain had nearly ended me.
But Francesco¡..
He had been lied to, used, betrayed twice over by love, and burdened with his family¡¯s blood. And still he carried himself like a king. Still he smiled at me in quiet moments as though I was the only thing anchoring him.
How did he do it?
How did he survive when everything had been torn from him?
I swallowed hard and pressed my hands together to still their trembling.
The servants cleared the hall quickly, their heads bowed. Maria lingered near the hearth, her eyes narrowing as she studied me. She had known me since Florence, since before Francesco and I had ever spoken of fate.
She knew my tells. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find?novel
¡°You¡¯ve heard something,¡± she said quietly once the others were gone.
I didn¡¯t answer.
No, I couldn¡¯t.
10 vouchers
Her gaze softened, and she touched my arm briefly, the way a mother might steady a child. ¡°Do not let whispers rot your heart before you share them. Secrets grow teeth when they¡¯re left alone.¡±
And her words struck deeper than I wanted..
¡°Luna?¡± Audrey¡¯s voice brought me back.
She was watching me closely, suspicion clear in her eyes. She had heard Isolde¡¯s scream as well. She had seen my reaction.
But I wasn¡¯t ready. Not yet. Not until I had more than scraps.
¡°Nothing,¡± I said. ¡°Not yet.¡±
The rest of the day blurred, filled with small duties that required my presence but not my heart.
Meetings with the cooks about stores for the winter. Conversations with elders about repairing the manor¡¯s west wing. A walk through the gardens where the first green shoots pushed stubbornly against the frost. I smiled when I needed to, offeredfort when asked, but my mind spun like a wheel caught in mud.
By the time dusk fell, I was exhausted¨Cnot frombor, but from holding the weight of silence inside me.
That night, Francesco found me in the garden.
He always did.
I had been sitting on the low stone wall, soil still beneath my nails from tending the rosemary I¡¯d nted days before. The cold air bit at my cheeks, but I didn¡¯t care.
I felt him before I heard him.
The bond tugged at me, warm and insistent, and then his scent¨Csmoke and pine and something older- wrapped around me like a cloak.
¡°Eine,¡± he said softly.
I looked up.
He stood at the archway, shadows clinging to his shoulders.
He had washed, but I could still smell the tang of steel and sweat on him, the remnants of battle drills.
His eyes searched mine, and I knew he saw too much.
12:01 Tue, Sep 30
He always did.
¡°You¡¯re troubled,¡± he said simply.
I swallowed.
4200
10 voucher?
The words I wanted to speak rose and fell inside me, colliding against the walls of my chest. ¡°Tell him. Don¡¯t tell him. Protect him. Trust him.¡®
In the end, I managed only: ¡°Isolde spoke again.¡±
His jaw tightened.
He crossed the distance between us, each step deliberate, until he stood close enough that the heat of him banished the night¡¯s chill.
¡°What did she say?¡±
I hesitated.
My heart hammered.
How could I tell him?
How could I shatter what little peace he carried?
Not yet, I told myself.
Not until I knew more.
¡°She tried to twist things again,¡± I said carefully. ¡°But I won¡¯t let her. She won¡¯t win.¡±
His eyes searched mine, dark and piercing, but he didn¡¯t press.
He only gathered me into his arms, his hand sliding to the back of my neck. ¡°I trust you,¡± he murmured. ¡°Whatever shadows she throws, you are my light.¡±
The words broke something inside me, and I clung to him, burying my face against his chest.
He smelled of smoke and steel and the wild, steady heartbeat of the man I loved.
But even as he held me, even as his warmth wrapped around me, the question coiled tighter in my mind.
¡®If Franco wasn¡¯t the true hand behind the Lycaon tragedy¡ who was?¡®
And would we survive learning the answer?
Still His 206
Chapter 206
I had promised myself I would not hurt him.
10 vouchers
Francesco carried enough already¡ªthe betrayals, the whispers, the blood of kin he had been forced to spill.
I told myself silence was mercy, that keeping Isolde¡¯s poison locked inside me was an act of love.
But silence is its own venom. It spreads quietly, unseen, until the body stiffens and the heart begins to ache under its weight.
And Francesco¨Cmy mate, my king¨Cwas too attuned to me not to sense it.
For days, he said nothing. But I felt it in the bond. The subtle press of worry against my chest, like a heartbeat that wasn¡¯t mine. His gaze lingered too long. His touches, though gentle, held a searching edge. At night, when he thought I slept, I felt him trace my arm as if counting the ces I was still whole.
He knew something gnawed at me.
And he hated not knowing.
I thought I could keep carrying it.
That I could swallow the bile Isolde had spilled about him, about the Lycaon name, about love turned into mockery. But
I underestimated Francesco.
He had lived with snakes too long.
He knew the sound of scales in grass even when no one else heard.
And tonight, the serpent would be dragged into the open. Updates are released by find?novel
*****
I felt it before I saw it.
The bond jolted like lightning through my veins, sharp and hot.
Rage¨Cnot mine, his.
So fierce it stole my breath.
Francesco¡
I ran, skirts clutched, boots biting against stone as I tore down the corridor.
Audrey called after me but her voice was nothingpared to the thunder in my chest. The scent of metal
andvender grew stronger with each step, the signature of the ward.
12:01 Tue, Sep 30
The doors were open
I skidded to a halt at the threshold.
The scene inside froze my blood.
Isolde sat upright on her bed, silver chains biting into her wrists but her chin lifted like she wore a crown. Her beauty was sharp still, but herposure wavered. Because across from her stood Francesco,
My Francesco,
But not the man who kissed me soft in gardens or who carried me from dirt¨Cstained soil to bed.
No, this was the Lycan they whispered about.
The executioner of his family.
The heir forged in silence and steel.
His ck eyes burned molten, his chest heaving, his whole body trembling with contained violence.
¡°What did you say now to my Luna?¡± His voice was low, terrible, echoing like thunder off stone walls.
Isolde was startled.
For the first time since she had been brought here, her poise cracked.
She scrambled to recover, lips twitching into something mocking. ¡°What do you mean, Fran¡ª¡± She faltered, too familiar. Her throat bobbed as she corrected herself. ¡°Ehem¡ My King Alpha.¡±
But he did not flinch.
The name meant nothing anymore.
¡°My Luna changed,¡± he said, stepping closer, voice slicing through the air. ¡°I know you spread your venom. I know your tongue is as poisoned as the de you once tried to hold.¡± His eyes narrowed, cruelly bright. ¡°I understand why I thought I loved a woman like you once. Because you are like a snake¨Cbeautiful, cold, waiting for a moment to strike. And I should have cut off your head the moment I saw you slithering back, exactly as I should have long ago.¡±
The torches along the wall guttered, their mes bowing under the weight of his fury.
Even the air seemed to shiver.
Isolde¡¯s mask faltered again.
She had yed with his affection, twisted his grief, but she had never met this side of him¨Cthe raw force of the Lycan executioner, unbound.
I couldn¡¯t let this continue.
12:01 Tue, Sep 30
¡°Francesco,¡± I whispered.
But, he didn¡¯t hear me.
His rage was a beast pacing a cage, straining for release.
His chest rose and fell too fast, his fists curling at his sides.
¡°Francesco,¡± I said again, louder this time, reaching for him.
He roared, the sound a shattering quake that rattled windows and made Monica, watching from the hall, flinch back. ¡°TELL ME!!¡±
The sound ripped through me, raw and desperate.
Oh no¡
He was not only furious¨Che was afraid.
Afraid that Isolde¡¯s venom had touched me in a way he couldn¡¯t undo.
Afraid she had nted seeds between us.
I couldn¡¯t let that fear consume him.
I crossed the room, heart pounding, andid my hand against his chest. His heart thundered beneath my palm, his skin searing¨Chot.
¡°Francesco.¡± My voice was steady this time, carrying the bond, pouring love through it like cool water on me. ¡°Look at me.¡±
Slowly, agonizingly, his dark gaze dragged from Isolde to me.
The fury was still there, molten and barely restrained¨Cbut when his eyes locked with mine, it bent, tempered, reshaped by the tether between us.
His chest heaved, breath catching on a growl, but his hand moved¨Cto cover mine where ity against him.
The room was silent but for the sound of our breathing.
Behind me, Isolde stared, shock carved into her features. She had thought she could twist him with her words. She had thought she could destroy me with her poison. But the bond between us was a fortress she could not breach.
Still, Francesco¡¯s voice was sharp when it came again, vibrating against my palm.
¡°What did you say to my Luna?¡±
The demand filled the room, heavy and inescapable.
Isolde flinched, truly flinched this time.
And I knew¨Cwhether by my lips or hers¨Cthe truth would soone out.
Still His 207
:.
The weight of Francesco¡¯s fury filled the ward like a thunderstorm contained in walls.
His voice, usually low andmanding with that subtle edge of steel, cracked out now like a whip.
¡°What did you say to her?¡±
79
Isolde flinched. For the first time since I¡¯d known her, herposure shattered. She had sneered, lied, postured like a queen stripped of her crown, but in that moment, when Francesco¡¯s golden eyes burned into her, she trembled..
¡°My King-¡± she began, smoothing her tone, twisting her lips into the silk of false deference.
But he cut her off, his roar breaking the air:
¡°Don¡¯t call me that! You speak with poison in your mouth! You don¡¯t address me with titles you never respected!¡±
His shoulders heaved. His fists clenched, trembling not from weakness but from the strain of holding back the violence that surged in him. His wolf prowled beneath his skin, and for a moment, I saw his eyes sh to the molten light of his Lycan form.
¡°I should have killed you the first time,¡± he growled, voice ragged. ¡°The moment I saw what you were, I should have ended it. But I was blind. I thought¡¡± His jaw locked, the word love dying in his throat. ¡°No. I was a fool.¡±
Isolde pressed back against her pillows, the chains at her wrists clinking. For once, the seductress was silent. For once, she looked small.
And I-
I could not bear it.
Not because I pitied her, but because I knew this rage, left unchecked, would devour the man I loved. Francesco was fury incarnate, yes, but he was also tenderness¨Cthe tenderness that belonged only to me. If I let this boil over, it would scar him deeper.
So I stepped forward.
¡°Francesco.¡±
My voice was quiet, but it was enough. His head snapped toward me, his fury still burning, but when his gaze met mine, something faltered. He breathed hard, chest rising and falling like a storm¨Ctossed sea.
I held his gaze. I would not let him drown.
¡°I need to tell you myself,¡± I said softly, though my heart thundered in my chest.
He frowned, confusion cutting through the anger. ¡°Eine¡¡±
12:02 Tue, Sep 30
10 vouchers
¡°No,¡± I interrupted gently, stepping closer until I was between him and Isolde. Audrey shifted a half¨Cstep forward out of instinct, but I lifted a hand to her without looking. ¡°I need him to hear this from me. Not from her venom. From me.¡±
The room stilled. Even Isolde leaned forward slightly, sensing that something raw and dangerous was about to unfold. Monica¡¯s hands, which had been fussing with linens at the edge of the ward, stilled against her apron. Alfonso crossed his arms, but his jaw tightened.
I drew a breath that scraped like broken ss down my throat. ¡°She didn¡¯t lie about everything. That¡¯s what makes her words dangerous.¡±
Francesco¡¯s eyes darkened, but he waited. Always, he waited when it came to me.
I let the truth pour out, raw and trembling.
¡°She told me you gave your heart to women who never wanted you. Isolde admitted she only wanted your name, your family¡¯s power. Anastasia¡ª¡± I faltered, the name sharp as a thorn in my mouth. His shoulders stiffened at it. ¡°Anastasia¡ used magic. Lied to you. Bound you. She didn¡¯t love you either. Both times, you gave pieces of yourself to someone who mocked it. Who mocked you.¡±
The words cracked something in me. My chest burned as though I¡¯d swallowed fire. ¡°When I heard it, Francesco, I wanted to scream. I wanted to rip her throat out. Not because I was jealous, but because¡ª¡± My voice broke, tears burning their way free. I didn¡¯t hide them. ¡°Because you didn¡¯t deserve that. You didn¡¯t deserve to be made into a story of power, or a pawn, or a trophy. You are not your name, Francesco Lycaon. You are the man who carried me when I had nothing. Who chose me when the world had already thrown me away.¡±
Tears streaked hot down my cheeks. I didn¡¯t care that everyone saw. My pain wasn¡¯t shame¡ªit was loveid
bare.
¡°I was rejected once,¡± I said, voice shaking. ¡°My mate turned from me for ambition, for power, and it almost destroyed me. I thought no pain could be greater. But when I look at you¨Cat the man who was lied to by those he trusted, not once but twice¨CI realize I never knew the full weight of betrayal until I saw what they did to you.¡±
His lips parted, as if to speak, but I raised a trembling hand. ¡°Please. Let me finish.¡±
I wiped at my tears, smearing dirt from my earlier nting across my cheek, but I didn¡¯t care. ¡°I cannot bear the thought that you might think their lies mean anything about you. I cannot bear the thought that you might believe, even for a heartbeat, that I could love you for your name, or your crown, or your power. Francesco¨CI love you because you are the man who listens to the silence in me. Who sees me when I try to hide. Who looks at me like I am not a weapon, not a pawn, not a broken thing, but a woman who can be whole again.¡±
My voice cracked fully now, ragged and desperate. ¡°That¡¯s why I can¡¯t let her venom be thest thing you hear. I need you to know the truth from my mouth. From my heart.¡±
The room was deathly still. My tears fell in silence.
And then-
Francesco¡¯s fury broke.
12:02 Tue, Sep 30
4200
It didn¡¯t vanish. Fury never truly vanishes in him. But it cracked, and from the fissures came something molten and devastating¨Clove, raw and unguarded. His eyes glowed gold not with rage, but with the bond that tethered us.
In two strides he was in front of me. His hands came up, trembling as they cupped my cheeks, smearing away my tears with the same reverence he once kissed my knuckles. His forehead pressed to mine, his breath ragged.
¡°Eine,¡± he whispered, voice hoarse, like my name was the only prayer he remembered. ¡°Never¨Cnever again -will I let anyone make you carry pain that belongs to me.¡±
My sob shook into him, but his arms caught me, strong, immovable. He gathered me to his chest and held me like he could anchor me to the earth.
¡°You think I could ever doubt you?¡± His voice broke. ¡°You¨Cwho cried for me when I was too proud to cry for myself? You¨Cwho nted hope in the soil while others nted lies? Eine¡ amore mio, you are the only truth I¡¯ve ever been given without cruelty attached.¡±
I clutched at his shirt, the fabric damp beneath my tears. ¡°Then promise me¨Cpromise me you¡¯ll believe me before her, before anyone, always.¡±
He pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes. His own were wet now, though he would never let them fall before anyone but me. ¡°I vow it. On my name, on my blood, on the ashes of my cursed family¨CI vow I will never doubt you. You are my Luna. My mate. My only truth.¡±
The bond between us red like fire through dry grass, zing with power so fierce that even Audrey shifted, startled, at the force of it. Alfonso¡¯s eyes widened, and Monica¡¯s lips parted in awe. Even Isolde, still chained to her bed, looked away with something like defeat etched on her face.
Because she had tried to break us with venom, and instead, we burned brighter.
Francesco kissed me then¨Cnot gentle, not soft, but with the desperation of a man who had almost been drowned by lies and now clung to the only breath he trusted. His mouth was salt and heat and vow. I melted into it, pouring my own strength back into him, sealing our truth not with words but with the onlynguage the bond demanded: love.
When we broke apart, gasping, his hands framed my face, and his forehead leaned against mine again. ¡°You will never cry for me alone again. If there are tears, we shed them together. If there is pain, we bear it together. That is my vow.¡±
I nodded through thest of my tears. ¡°Together.¡±
Silence stretched, thick but not heavy. The kind of silence that feels like a sanctuary.
Behind us, Alfonso cleared his throat, deliberately soft, as if to remind us that the world still turned. Audrey stood sentinel, her hand on her de, but her eyes softened when theynded on me. Monica, ever gentle, dabbed at her own cheeks, caught in the echo of our bond.
But Isolde¨CIsolde stared, her lips trembling. For the first time, her beauty cracked not with anger, but with something hollow. Perhaps envy. Perhaps despair. She had used power, seduction, lies. She had never understood love. And seeing it now, undeniable before her, was the cruelest defeat she could taste.
12:02 Tue, Sep 30
28
ta 10 journers
Francesco finally turned his gaze back to her, his voice low but lethal. ¡°You thought you could twist her. Break her faith in me. Instead, she gave me more strength than you ever could. You lose, Isolde. You were never love -you were only a shadow. And shadows vanish in light.¡±
Isolde flinched as though the words themselves burned.
Francesco gathered me closer, shielding me with his body though I no longer needed it. His lips brushed my temple, his arms an unyielding fortress. Official source is Find?Novel
And in that ward, surrounded by witnesses and enemies alike, I knew one truth with absolute rity:
They could throw venom, rumor, history, ghosts of the Lycaon curse-
But they could never sever us.
Because we were no longer two broken hearts trying to survive.
We were one bond, one fire, one vow.
Unbreakable.
Still His 208
&
78
10 vouchers
The ward emptied in ripples: Monica back to her herbs, Alfonso to his ledgers and orders, Audrey to the shadows she wears like armor. Isolde¡¯s breath steadied into the thin, spiteful rhythm of someone who has lost the game and will try to invent a new board. The door shut. Thetch settled.
Francesco didn¡¯t let go of my hand until we were in our rooms.
He closed the door with his heel and stood there a moment, head bowed, as if listening to the echo of his own roar dying out in the wood. I watched his shoulders rise and fall, watched the tremor in his fingers smooth under the warmth of the fire and the quiet of the bedchamber.
Then he looked at me. The fury was gone. What remained was something far more dangerous¨Cunvarnished tenderness.
¡°Come,¡± he murmured.
He didn¡¯t lead me to the bed.
He led me to the hearth and sank with me onto the rug, drawing me between his knees, my back to his chest, his arms a circle as sure as a promise.
For a while, we said nothing. The fire did the talking: crackle, settle, breathe. I let my head fall back to his shoulder.
He tucked his face into my hair and inhaled like a man at the end of a long road.
I love it¡
¡°Thank you,¡± he said finally, voice low and hushed, the edge gone. ¡°For telling me yourself.¡±
I let my fingersce with his. ¡°I should have sooner.¡±
He shook his head, the lightest brush of stubble at my temple. ¡°You carried it because you are kind. But we decided¨Ctogether.¡±
I nodded ¡°Together,¡± I echoed, and kissed the inside of his wrist.
Silence again, but the kind that heals.
He pressed one more kiss to the crown of my head. ¡°There¡¯s more,¡± he said, not as an usation, only as certainty. ¡°I can feel it in you, like a tide waiting for moonlight.¡±
I turned in the circle of his arms so I could see his face.
The fire put gold where grief had lived all day. I smoothed my thumbs under his eyes. ¡°There is more.¡±
His hands settled at my waist. ¡°Tell me everything.¡±
So I did.
12:02 Tue, Sep 30
2
I told him about the fen and the reeds, about a name breathed like a curse and a prayer¨CMother S¨¦verine.
I told him of a dress called youth that can be borrowed, of oaths bought with girls¡® lives and a witch¡¯s ledger that never forgets.
I told him Isolde had been a pawn, and Franco a prettier one, and behind them both the wet mouth of an old debt asking for Lycan blood to break a lock our ancestors had set and then fled.
He didn¡¯t interrupt.
His jaw worked once when I said ¡°girls,¡± and again when I said ¡°Lycan blood,¡± but he didn¡¯t look away.
When I reached thest piece¨Cthe whisper Isolde threw after me like a hook¨Cthat Totti Lycaon had died with an older name on his lips, one that tasted of storm and would point the way to the fen, he went very still.
¡°When my father died,¡± he said slowly, ¡°he said my name. And he said¡¡± He stopped, eyes cutting to the fire as if the shape of the me might line up with memory. When he looked back, the gold was bright and distant. ¡°He said ¡®Bring the sea back its stolen name.¡® I thought he was raving. I thought¡ I buried it with him.¡±
¡°Sea,¡± I repeated. ¡°Fen. Salt and reeds. It fits.¡±
He huffed something like augh, humorless, at the ceiling. ¡°The Lycaon line¨Ctoo proud to pay a bill.¡±
¡°We will pay with honesty,¡± I said. ¡°Not with blood.¡±
He took my face in his hands again, a fierce, gentle bracket. ¡°No one takes your blood. No one takes mine. Not while I breathe.¡±
¡°I know.¡± And I did. The room knew, too; the pledge thudded into the rafters and settled there like weight- bearing timber.
He drew me forward until our foreheads touched. ¡°You believed me when I killed a brother. Believe me now: I will kneel to nothing that takes children and calls it a fee.¡±
I kissed him for that, soft and sure, and felt the vow join the others we keep between our ribs.
We stayed like that a while¨Chis palms warming my jaw, my fingers in his hair, our breath the only wind.
Then he pulled me closer and we shifted until I was straddling his thighs, my knees bracketing his hips. The fire painted us. He smoothed his hands down my back and I felt safety like a tideing in, steady, inevitable.
We didn¡¯t need to rush toward heat; we let it find us, small and real. He kissed along my cheekbone where tears had dried, my eyelids, the corner of my mouth¨Creverent. I took his bottom lip between mine and felt the line of him soften, lengthen, trust.
When we parted, I tucked myself under his chin. His heartbeat had slowed. Mine matched it.
Outside, the manor murmured¨Cthe tter of dishes far below, a sentry¡¯s cough.
Inside, just us.
12:02 Tue, Sep 30
:
I traced circles on his chest and felt him melt into the rug.
¡°I will speak to Alfonso,¡± he said, voice a shade firmer. ¡°Quietly. We put eyes south. We map every midwife¡¯s story, every missing girl¡¯s name. We find the salt roads. We pay the markets to send word if anyone asks for rare herbs the fen¨Cwitches favor.¡±
78 Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel
¡°And we open the ward doors wider,¡± I said. ¡°Not to Isolde¨Cto mothers. To daughters. We tell them we believe them before they have to teach us how.¡±
He caught my hand, kissed the dirt still living in my cuticles. ¡°That is why you are Luna.¡±
¡°And you are my stubborn king,¡± I said, smiling against his throat.
He turned his head, smile answering mine. ¡°Your stubborn king,¡± he corrected.
Itnded in me like warm bread.
We might have stayed there the rest of the night, armoring ourselves with limbs and vows.
The world, predictably, refused to wait.
Still His 209
Knock.. Knock¡
:
A knock¨Cdouble, then single¨CMarlow¡¯s pattern for not urgent, but notter.
Francesco sighed into my hair once, then stood in one fluid lift, bringing me with him.
978
10 vouchers
He set me on my feet, brushed my skirts smooth with the kind of domestic care that would make Maria cackle, and went to the door.
Marlow didn¡¯t quite fill the threshold the way my mate does¨Cno one does¨Cbut he brought the weather in with him all the same. Behind him: Alfonso, eyes already busy with lines only he can see.
¡°Forgive the hour, my Alpha.¡± Marlow said, which meant we considered waiting and didn¡¯t. ¡°There¡¯s¡ movement.¡±
Francesco¡¯s hand found my back and stayed there, a habit now. ¡°Speak.¡±
Alfonso nced at me and didn¡¯t bother softening it.
¡°Spies,¡± he said. ¡°Not ours. Must be Dorian¡¯s. Quiet ones. Kitchen ears, stable mouths. One of them got a message out after the ward scene. A hawk rode the wind before supper. Dorian will know by dawn that the old lover is still alive and chained and that the King shouted in the ward.¡±
¡°And that the Luna wept,¡± Marlow added, his tone dry, already braced for how rumor would chew that. ¡°They¡¯ll make poetry of your tears and politics of his temper.¡±
¡°They always do,¡± Francesco said.
He wasn¡¯t annoyed. Official source is find?novel
He was choosing where to set his weight on the map.
¡°What else?¡± I asked.
If they hesitated to tell me, I would learn it anyway in the tilt of their mouths.
¡°Two Alphas on the Loire changed their tune by nightfall,¡± Marlow said. ¡°Aren¡¯t riding home yet. Staying in border taverns, listening. Dorian¡¯s men poured coin into cups there this evening. They¡¯re telling a version where the Lycan King is unstable and the Luna¡ª¡± He flicked eyes toward me, apologetic only in the smallest
¡°-bewitches kitchens and councils alike.¡±
way.
¡°Bewitches,¡± I repeated, amused despite the knot in my chest. ¡°At least they know I like herbs.¡±
Alfonso¡¯s mouth twitched because I could speak joke.
¡°There¡¯s more,¡± he said. ¡°Another thread stitched in¨Colder story, new cloth. Someone is whispering a name we¡¯ve heard exactly never in the taverns: Mother S¨¦verine. Not the whole. Just enough to make people feel clever for being afraid.¡±
12:02 Tue, Sep 30
Heat rolled through me, not fear¨Cfight.
Francesco felt it, his thumb pressed once at the base of my spine.
¡°How fast?¡± he asked.
4200
¡°Fast enough.¡± Alfonso said. ¡°The hawk flew before sunset. A rider left an hour after. He¡¯ll make Dorian¡¯s sear before dawn if the moon favors him.¡±
¡°Dorian will not sleep,¡± Marlow added fast. ¡°Men who build their power on rumor never do. He¡¯ll throw coin at the wind until it sounds like an army.¡±
1 nodded, agree with what he said ¡°And he¡¯ll test the border again,¡± I said. ¡°Not to win¨Cyet. To separate. To see if we run toward each other or away.¡±
Francesco¡¯s mouth curved¨Cnot smile, something more feral. ¡°Let hime. He learns the same lesson every time: I don¡¯t separate.¡±
Alfonso¡¯s eyes lit. ¡°Then we set our stage first.¡± He gestured with the ledger he¡¯d brought. ¡°Public forum tomorrow at sunset. We announce it before breakfast so rumor has to run uphill to meet us. You listen; the Luna speaks first.¡±
¡°Of course.¡± Francesco said, like there was no world where I would not.
Marlow shifted his weight. ¡°We also widen the patrols¨Csouth and east. Rogues will wear better faces next time. And if Isolde is right¡ª¡±
¡°She is right enough,¡± I cut in even though I hate to admit it. ¡°We add the fen to our map as if it were an army. We protect our girls like we protect our grain.¡±
Alfonso nodded, already moving pieces only he could see. ¡°And we put coin on the rumor mills we can¡¯t silence. If they insist on telling a story, we feed them ours¨Copen windows, full tables, Luna in the ward¨Cnot with chains, with charts. Witches don¡¯t love charts.¡±
¡°Nor does Dorian,¡± Marlow said, smug.
Francesco¡¯s hand left my back only to squeeze Alfonso¡¯s shoulder once, a wordless go. Then he looked at me, the whole n glinting in him, and I saw the man who can end a map and begin a garden in the same breath.
¡°One more thing,¡± I said, before the room could break to its errands. ¡°We ask Julius and Bethany to gather the elders and the children at noon. Stories. Not the kind they¡¯ve heard. The kind their bones need. We tell the truth about the Lycaon line¨Cabout duty and mistakes and how an apology can be heavier than a sword. We say the old name out loud, even if we don¡¯t know it yet. So when someonees whispering in the market, our people say, ¡®We¡¯ve heard better around a fire.¡°¡±
Marlow¡¯s grin showed a wolf. ¡°Yes, Luna.¡±
Alfonso closed his ledger with the quiet satisfaction of a man who has just watched a tide choose to turn. ¡°I¡¯ll
wake the scribes.¡±
They left on their different winds.
12:02 Tue, Sep 30
The door shut.
The chamber exhaled.
79
10 vouchers ???? !!&
Francesco turned me toward him with two fingers under my chin. ¡°You did that,¡± he said. ¡°You took the day that tried to swallow us and turned it into bread and a n.¡±
¡°We¡ did that.¡± I corrected.
He bent to kiss me¨Csoft, grateful, a thank¨Cyou in the shape of a mouth¨Cand when he straightened, some of the iron that lived in him looked easier to carry.
We slept a little, sometime between the first patrol¡¯s shift and the coals turning low, a tangle of limbs that felt like a prayer answered, again and again.
The bond hummed¨Ca cat at a windowsill¨Ccontent to keep watch while we closed our eyes.
Morning didn¡¯t knock.
It arrived with boots and breathless news.
Alfonso, again, this time without Marlow.
He brought the cold in with him and something sharper: urgency dressed as calm.
¡°Dorian,¡± he said, not bothering with greetings. ¡°He didn¡¯t wait for dawn. The hawk did its work. He sent riders out in four directions before the moon slept¨Ceast to the Loire, west to the hills, north to the river towns, south¡¡± He flicked his eyes to me. ¡°South toward Camargue. He is throwings in water he barely understands.¡±
¡°Let him tangle,¡± Francesco said, tying his hair back with the strip of leather he never can find until I hand it to him. I did. ¡°But we move first.¡±
¡°What does he know for certain?¡± I asked.
¡°That Isolde still lives, that you visited her, that the King thundered,¡± Alfonso said. ¡°And the rest he fills with the things he¡¯s always believed: that a Lycan is a storm; that a Luna is a spell; that fear is cheaper than grain.¡±
I stepped to the window.
The courtyard below was already alive¡ªMaria bossing baskets, Audrey drilling a line of new guards with a frighteningly serene smile, children chasing a dog that had stolen a heel of bread as if it were a crown.
The ce had begun, finally, to sound like a pack again.
I would not let Dorian¡¯s coins buy that music.
¡°Then we set the table again,¡± I said. ¡°Bigger. Louder. With better bread.¡±
Francesco slid a palm to the small of my back. ¡°And sharper knives,¡± he added, not unkindly.
12:02 Tue, Sep 30
¡°Always,¡± I said.
78
10 vouchers
A runner in the hall skidded, then remembered to walk before Alfonso¡¯s raised brow scorched his youth. ¡°Message,¡± the boy panted. ¡°From the south¨Cmarket gossip. A woman in gray, hair like reeds, was seen asking after salt roads and old names. Paid in silver that smelled of¡ of the marsh.¡±
My skin pebbled.
I looked at Francesco.
He didn¡¯t need the bond to read me.
¡°We have our witch,¡± he said.
¡°Or one of her hands,¡± Alfonso cautioned. ¡°Either way¨Cthe forum tonight bes a.¡±
Marlow¡¯s voice floated from the doorway¨Che¡¯d arrived without sound, as usual. ¡°We bait it with truth and courage. We haul what bites.¡±
Francesco¡¯s hand tightened once at my spine. ¡°And if Dorian rides to interrupt our market with soldiers and stories?¡±
I smiled, not gently. ¡°Then we feed his men first. It is difficult to march on a full stomach.¡±
¡°Impossible, if Maria cooks,¡± Marlow muttered, reverent.
Alfonso¡¯s quill was already moving, the room bing lines and circles. ¡°I¡¯ll spread word: sunset, the square. Open forum. No des beyond the outer ring. The King hears first petitions after the Luna speaks.¡±
¡°And if the woman in grayes?¡± Audrey asked from the arch, where she had been for¨Cwho knows how long¨Cblending with the wood. ¡°What if shees to smell our blood?¡±
¡°Then she will smell rosemary,¡± I said, thinking of the little nts bending their brave heads in the garden. ¡°And findw.¡±
Francesco kissed my temple, a benediction and a brand. ¡°And if she wants a name,¡± he murmured, voice gone quiet and old, ¡°she cane ask me which one my father whispered.¡±
¡°Will you tell her?¡± Alfonso asked, curious, cautious.
Francesco¡¯s smile showed a little fang. ¡°I¡¯ll tell her I¡¯ve given it a new ce to live.¡±
¡°Where?¡± Marlow asked, half augh in it.
Francesco looked at me.
The answer made my ribs warm. ¡°Here,¡± he said simply, pressing his hand over my heart.
By noon the notices were up.
By midafternoon the square smelled of bread and ink and the sharp, bright tension of a people about to learn
12:02 Tue, Sep 30
the shape of their own spine.
By sunset the world would be looking toward our windows¨Csome to cheer, some to count our missteps, or two to tally the way fear fails to feed a family.
The day rolled forward.
We rolled with it¨Cshoulder to shoulder, hand to hand, vow to vow¨Cready to greet Dorian¡¯s whispers with daylight.
And far to the south, where the salt eats stone and reeds write their names in the wind, something old turned its face toward us and smiled like water learning our measure.
Let it smile.
We had learned how to be a hearth after storms.
We had learned where to nt knives among the rosemary.
We had learned how to turn rumor into a table for all.
Tonight, we would learn who wanted our names, and why.
And tomorrow, if the fen asked for blood, we would teach it a differentnguage.
AD
Comment
Still His 210
We decided before the sun touched the lip of the hill: we would y the fools.
EX 20 vouchers
Yes, but not the kind that bend their backs for kicks, not the kind that beg a rumor for mercy.
No¨Cour kind of foolishness would be the sort that makes enemies grind their teeth: smiling when they expect snarls, feeding when theye hungry for fear, opening windows when they think smoke will choke - us.
We would make a stage of warmth and let the cold shiver outside our circle of light.
Marlow called it camouge. Alfonso called it narrative control. Audrey called it bait. They will thought that the Lycan became soft or weak.
I just called it a table.
Byte afternoon, the square had changed skins.
Banners that had hung limp under the previous Alpha now moved with the wind as if relieved to be seen. Lanterns were strung from balcony to balcony like small moons caught in a.
Maria hadmandeered half the street with trestles and tters: roasted roots zed in honey, loaves split open to show their steam, cheeses dusted with rosemary, bowls of olives, figs, sliced pears. She smacked hands that reached too early, kissed cheeks that needed it, and barked at anyone who tried to put a knife where a spoon should go.
¡°Bread first,¡± she decreed, ¡°then brave speeches.¡±
The people came.
Not in a rush¡ªthat would have meant panic¡ªbut in a steady, widening trickle.
Elders first, because they knew the value of a good seat. Children the color of dust and sunshine, noses smeared with jam, darted between legs and under tables. Warriors came with the wary posture of men who have learned not to trust crowds; they eased when they saw the way Francesco stood¨Cvisible, yes, but unarmed, his coat open, his hands empty except for mine.
Dignitaries from neighboring packs arrived in twos and threes, eyes bright with curiosity and calction. And stitched among them, exactly where we expected, were the watchful ones who didn¡¯t belong to anyone but the men who paid them: Dorian¡¯s fragmented brood of ears and eyes.
We didn¡¯t point. We didn¡¯t whisper. We weed.
Because the thing about spies is this: they have to stand close to hear.
Yes, let theme within the radius of thenterns. Let them smell the bread. Let them carry back a story sticky with honey and inconveniently full ofughter.
Francesco and I stood side by side on the low stone steps of the old well.
12:02 Tue, Sep 30
We didn¡¯t dress like a coronation, we dressed like the people we needed to be. His shirt was open at the throat, the top button undone because he had forgotten and because I liked it that way.
I wore no crown, no jewels¨Cjust the shawl Maria had knitted in Florence when I was a girl with mourning in my bones and a future I was too frightened to name. I tied it around my shoulders now and felt my old selves
nod.
Audrey posted herself one step back and to my left, her attention nowhere and everywhere.
Alfonso angled himself on the right, ledger in hand, looking like a man taking dictation from the weather.
Marlow drifted, the way a shadow does when it likes a ce, smiling with half his mouth at anyone who tried to look past him.
The bell sounded once.
It wasn¡¯t ceremonial.
Julius simply rang it when the crowd looked ready and the bread had stopped vanishing long enough for mouths to be empty of crumbs.
Conversations braided themselves into silence. Faces turned.
I stepped forward.
¡°Good evening,¡± I said Loudly to everyone.
No magic in the words, only the decision to say them as if we had every right to.
A murmur moved through the square, that small intake people make when they expect thunder and the sky gives them birds.
¡°I am Eine,¡± I went on, letting my voice carry. ¡°Your Luna.¡±
No need to add and I am the White Wolf you whisper about.
Because, they would decide for themselves which name mattered.
¡°You¡¯ve eaten with us,¡± I said, lifting a hand toward the tables, ¡°and you¡¯ve seen us open the windows of the old houses. I have asked you to bring your questions, your anger, your fears. We will not answer with swords. We will answer with daylight.¡±
Francesco¡¯s hand settled at my back, warm as a living oath.
It wasn¡¯t a im.
It was permission and pride, and the square saw it.
A man near the front¨Cone of the French lieutenants who had hovered at breakfast the day before¨Craised his chin. ¡°Is it true,¡± he called, voice pitched to carry, ¡°that the King roared in the ward like a beast and shook the walls?¡±
12:02 Tue, Sep 30.
Marlow¡¯s shoulders twitched,
Audrey¡¯s head tilted, the motion small and predatory,
Alfonso¡¯s quill did not pause.
ÁãÔª
18 20 youchers
1 smiled. ¡°He roars when my bread burns,¡± I said, light as adle. ¡°The walls of this ce have held worse.¡±
A ripple ofughter broke tension like kindling snaps.
The lieutenant tried again, less sure. ¡°It is also said the Luna wept.
¡°Ah.¡± I put a hand to my heart as if considering the rumor¡¯s weight. ¡°Yes, I am guilty. Bread and tears¨Cit is how I keep my husband civil.¡±
Theughter this time wasrger, apanied by a whistle from a table of young warriors.
Maria, across the square, pointed at me with a spoon and nodded vigorously, which made it worse (which made it better).
The lieutenant sat down, flushed and disarmed.
The spy three feet behind him muttered to his elbow.
We let it roll like we didn¡¯t know it, yes, we acting fools.
A grandmother with a cane stepped forward with the dignity of a queen. ¡°Where are our girls?¡± she asked, and the square hushed as if someone had put a hand over its mouth. ¡°The ones who went with the rogues. The ones who disappeared in the dawn. Will you look in the corners where men don¡¯t like to look?¡±
Warmth is not softness.
Bread is not surrender.
¡°Yes,¡± I said, and the word carried iron. ¡°We will look. We will ask. We will not let wolves, witches, or men with coin hide behind our fear.¡±
I felt, in the bond, the way Francesco¡¯s pride poured through him and into me, heat meeting heat.
He stepped up beside me then and let his voicey next to mine.
¡°Julius and Bethany will gather names. Alfonso, my beta along with the best warriors we have will set patrols to walk the roads your daughters would have walked. Marlow will pay for mouths that have answers. We do not shout into empty fields. We follow tracks. We open doors. And if a man has taken what is not his, we end that man and bring the girls home.¡±
A roar of approval, raw and unpretty¨Cthe sound of people who have wanted blood for a long time and finally hear their king say the word end like a promise and a n, not a performance.
We kept it moving. Petitions, then replies. Questions, then maps. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? Find_Novel(.
AOD - 70 ch
Someone tried to goad Francesco into recounting the duel with his brother. He said. ¡°No.¡± Someone else asked it Hemi¡¯s ghost still walked theke. I said, ¡°Only when men forget to feed their sons.¡± That earned a thoughtful stillness, which is rarer and more nourishing than apuse.
I could feel the spies shifting, anxious.
They don¡¯t like warmth, it makes their stories slippery.
They don¡¯t like questions with lists attached or kings who promise ledgers instead of lightning.
They like their kings as storms.
We were a hearth tonight, and a hearth has gravity.
Still His 211
Halfway through the hour, I saw her.
Not because she pushed forward¨Cshe didn¡¯t.
Not because she wore a costume¨Cshe wore gray, nothing more, the color of a cloudy afternoon.
I saw her because the air around her seemed to choose her.
It¡¯s like a room chooses a window when it wants to breathe.
20 vouchero
Her hair the color of dry reeds. Skin the color of salt. A in dress. Hands that looked like they had folded a thousand sheets with a washerwoman¡¯spetence. She stood where themplight thinned, her eyes on us as if the rest of the square were a story told for other people.
Audrey saw her too. She did not look; she narrowed everything inside her without moving ash. Marlow¡¯s drift acquired intention. Alfonso added a note to his ledger without looking down.
The woman in gray did nothing but watch.
so, we kept ying.
A boy climbed the stone steps uninvited, clutching his cap. He stood on his toes and blurted, ¡°Is it true you was a nobody, Luna? Before?¡± He looked mortified as soon as the words left him, as if expecting a cuff for presumption.
I crouched so my eyes were level with his. ¡°Yes,¡± I said. ¡°I was a nobody.¡±
He squinted. ¡°How¡¯d you be a somebody?¡±
¡°Maria made me wash dishes,¡± I answered gravely. ¡°And I fell in love with a man who listens.¡± The rightful source is find¡¤novel
The squareughed gently.
The boy¡¯s shoulders eased. ¡°Can I wash dishes?¡± he asked, sidelong and hopeful toward the tables.
Maria¡¯s spoon rose like a scepter. ¡°Bring me those hands, subito.¡±
The boy scampered off to cheers.
The woman in gray did not smile, but I thought I saw her breath change¨Cone long inhale, like tasting new bread.
A man from thekeside asked about the council we had burned. ¡°What reces it?¡± he demanded, not hostile, only hungry for bones under meat.
¡°Elders,¡± I said. ¡°Not old men with keys. Elders who know the price of winter. Mothers who remember how to ration grain when the river lies. Warriors who can count as well as they can cut.¡± I nodded at Julius, at Bethany, at Monica, at a scarred young guard with ink¨Cstained fingers. ¡°A circle wide enough that no one has
12:02 Tue, Sep 30
420
20 vouchers
to shout to be heard. A circle small enough that you can see the faces when they raise a hand to vote¡±
The woman in gray shifted her weight. It was nothing. It was everything.
Near the edge of the crowd, a rumor¨Cblower tried to season the air: ¡°They say the Lycaon line ran from a debt.¡± The words were tossed carelessly, like gravel into a pond. A few heads turned.
Francesco didn¡¯t look toward the speaker. He looked at me. I nodded once, because this, too, was part of the dance.
¡°We don¡¯t run,¡± I said easily. ¡°We map. If our grandfathers wrote their names on a wall they shouldn¡¯t have, we will read it and decide whether to scrub it off or paint a better picture. Either way, we will do it in daylight.¡±
It wasn¡¯t an answer, not the kind rumor¨Cmongers like.
No, it was worse: a refusal to be baited.
You would be surprised how often that works.
¡°Petitions,¡± Alfonso called, to keep the rhythm. ¡°Petitions before the sun leaves the roofs.¡±
A farmer wanted seed. A midwife wanted oil. A pair of warriors wanted permission to wed and the right to keep their posts. Francesco said yes to the first two and told the warriors to be at their posts at dawn and at Maria¡¯s table by dusk to be married. The square howled happiness for them and threw bread, which was better than coins because you can eat bread and you can¡¯t eat coins.
We were winning the street when the woman in gray moved.
It wasn¡¯t dramatic.
She didn¡¯t cut a path.
The crowd eased around her like the way grass eases around a stone it has decided to love.
She stepped until she stood three paces from the well, exactly where themplight ended and the shadow began, and then she spoke.
¡°Luna,¡± she said, and her voice was like water that remembers being river. ¡°Will you answer a question for an old widow who sells salt?¡±
I smiled as if my heart hadn¡¯t begun a slow, measured pounding. ¡°If I can, yes.¡±
She nodded, courteous. ¡°Is it true that when a king dies, he speaks a name the living do not know?¡±
Beside me, the bond tightened, a string plucked by an unseen hand.
Francesco didn¡¯t move.
Audrey¡¯s mouth softened into a line that meant ready.
Marlow looked at a pigeon.
12:03 Tue, Sep 30
Alfonso didn¡¯t breathe.
47
120 vouchers
I kept my smile. ¡°Sometimes,¡± I said. ¡°Dying men say many things. Some of them are curses. Some are recipes.¡±
The woman in gray made a small sound that could have been amusement. ¡°And what did your king¡¯s father say, Luna? Did he speak of bread? Or of tides?¡±
The square didn¡¯t understand the question.
The square only heard the sound the question made.
I tilted my head, not coy. Curious. ¡°Why do you ask, mother?¡±
The titlended without offense. Mother is a word that can be a trap or a bridge. I built a bridge.
¡°Because I am old enough to remember a winter when the sea took back three boats and left us a name on its mouth.¡± Her eyes didn¡¯t blink. ¡°Because sometimes debtse due when themps are lit.¡±
I stepped one pace down from the well.
Not away from Francesco¨Cnever¨Cbut closer to her, so I could see the lines around her eyes. They were not the lines of vanity. They were the lines left by wind.
¡°Then perhaps you should stand with our elders tomorrow,¡± I said gently. ¡°We are gathering the children and the old stories. We would be poor hosts if we let a winter¡¯s name wander alone.¡±
Her gaze flicked¨Cfirst to Alfonso¡¯s ledger, then to Audrey¡¯s hand (open, rxed, deadly), then to Marlow¡¯s smile that did not touch his eyes. Finally, to Francesco. They looked at each other as if they had been introduced once by a river that didn¡¯t like to be crossed.
¡°And if the name wants blood?¡± the woman asked, mild as milk.
I didn¡¯t look at Francesco to answer.
Because, I didn¡¯t need to.
¡°Then it will leave hungry,¡± I said. ¡°We pay with truth andw. Not with children. Not with kings, especially not with blood.¡±
The murmuring that followed wasn¡¯t fear.
It was relief making sure it had heard correctly.
The woman inclined her head. ¡°A bold house,¡± she said. ¡°To speak so.¡±
¡°A tired house,¡± I replied. ¡°Tired of old stories being used as knives.¡±
A hush held for a heartbeat.
Then she smiled, very small, very real, more dangerous than anything she¡¯d said.
¡°Tomorrow, then,¡± she said. ¡°At your fire.¡±
She turned and was gone before the crowd remembered to let her.
20 vouchers.
Not a vanishing trick. Justpetence. Good boots. A body that knew where to put its weight.
Alfonso exhaled, soundless. Audrey¡¯s eyes followed nothing in particr with absolute focus. Marlow¡¯s grin tilted like a de catching light. Francesco¡¯s hand pressed once at my back¨Cbrava¨Cand then lifted.
¡°Last petitions,¡± he said, the king returning without needing to arrive. ¡°And then we eat what¡¯s left and send the rest to the ward and the watch.¡±
We finished like we began¨Cwith bread.
I made sure the grandmother with the cane sat and ate until her jaw stopped clenching.
I put a wedge of cheese into a spy¡¯s hand when he thought I wasn¡¯t looking and told him to take two. I held a baby while her mother found a seat, and the baby grabbed my shawl and drooled on it andughed at my face, and if Dorian¡¯s men wanted a poem, they could have that.
When thenterns burned low and thest tter emptied, we walked home through streets that smelled like normal life¨Cgrease, jam, smoke, sweat.
My hand stayed in Francesco¡¯s. The bond hummed like a hive satisfied with its own work.
In the privacy of the stairwell, where the walls hold secrets because they are busy keeping the house upright, he said, ¡°She knows.¡±
¡°She suspects,¡± I answered. ¡°Suspicion is not a map.¡±
¡°It is apass,¡± he murmured.
¡°Then we will set true north tomorrow,¡± I said. ¡°In front of everyone.¡±
He stopped at thending and turned me to him. ¡°You were perfect,¡± he said simply.
¡°So were you,¡± I answered. ¡°You let them see the king who listens.¡±
We kissed like people who are not hiding, like people who have decided to be seen and therefore cannot be shaken by being watched.
Behind us, at the edge of the square, a boy finished washing dishes under Maria¡¯s ferocious instruction and was paid with a heel of bread and a kiss on the head.
On a balcony, an old man unpinned a shutter that had been shut for seven years and left it utched.
In an alley, a spy wrote a report that tasted of honey and confusion and did not rhyme with the story been paid to tell.
he¡¯d
Far away, where salt writes its own scripture, a woman in gray set down a small packet of rosemary on a stone and said a name only the wind answered.
12:03 Tue, Sep 30
We would see her tomorFOW.
400
We would bring our elders and our children and ourws. We would bring a ledger and a loaf. We would bring the memory of a father¡¯sst words and the refusal to let anyone cat our future because our past forgot to clean its te.
We would y fools again, if we had to.
Because the only thing more dangerous than a king with a sword is a pack with a table.
And we had built a long one.
Still His 212
The days that followed the gathering blurred into something soft and unexpected.
20 vouchers
Where once the streets had felt heavy with silence and suspicion, now they carried small signs of life.
Laughter here, a broom sweeping there, and always¨Cflowers.
It began with a little girl no more than six, pressing a wilted daisy into my hand when I walked the courtyard.
She had no words, only wide eyes, but she ran before I could ask her name. The next morning, a cluster of women waited by the steps with sprigs ofvender and rosemary. ¡°For the Luna,¡± one of them murmured, cheeks pink as though she was daring something forbidden. Soon it was elders, stooping under years, tucking violets on the ledge of my window. And then the children¨Calways the children¨Cbringing handfuls of dandelions, wild roses, whatever their small fingers could gather.
What?
At first, I didn¡¯t know what to do with it.
I had lived in Florence long enough to know how people look at power¨Cwith awe, with fear, with hunger. But not like this. Not with simple gifts, not with eyes that warmed when they met mine.
Maria teased me mercilessly. ¡°You¡¯ll be buried in petals before spring, Luna.¡± But I saw the pride in her face as she arranged each offering in jars and bowls until every room smelled of green life.
Even Francesco noticed.
One morning, as I wound a sprig ofvender into my braid, he caught me at the mirror and arched his brow. ¡°Is my Luna building herself an altar?¡±
Iughed. ¡°It isn¡¯t me. It¡¯s them. They bring it, unasked.¡±
His smile tilted, not mocking but reverent.
¡°Then let it stand. A king does not stop his people from worship, and they have chosen well.¡± He leaned close enough that I could feel his breath stir the flowers. ¡°I only hope they never see how much sweeter you smell than all of this.¡±
His words curled hot in my chest, and I smacked his arm yfully before fleeing, cheeks burning.
But it wasn¡¯t only flowers.
Soon there were cakes. Small, clumsy ones at first¨Cburnt at the edges, too much honey, uneven slices. The kind that spoke of children¡¯s hands or elders¡® trembling attempts. Then finer ones,yered with cream, dusted with sugar. Cakes arrived on trays, wrapped in cloth, carried shyly by boys who bowed too low and women who blushed too hard.
¡°Careful, Luna,¡± Audrey muttered one day as I epted yet another te. ¡°If you eat everything they give, you¡¯ll not fit through the manor doors.¡±
12:03 Tue, Sep 30
¡°Better than being unloved,¡± I teased her.
:
20 vouchers
But I listened when she insisted on tasting first, on sniffing each offering like a hound. Francesco had told her more than once: Guard her like your own life. And Audrey obeyed with almost feral devotion.
Still, I confess I grew careless.
Not careless from arrogance, but from the sweetness of it all. From the joy of belonging.
After years of rejection, years of being whispered about, to be cherished by people who had no reason to love me¡ it softened me.
And perhaps too much.
It happened on the fifth day.
The morning was bright, the sky washed pale blue, and I had gone to the garden with my sketchbook though I drew nothing.
Children found me there, three of them, with a small cake held carefully between their palms. It was lopsided, the icing uneven, and the pride in their faces was so bright I didn¡¯t think twice.
¡°For you, Luna!¡± the smallest one chirped.
I smiled, heart swelling. ¡°For me? You made this yourselves?¡±
They nodded furiously, grinning. I didn¡¯t call for Audrey. I didn¡¯t summon Monica. I simply broke off a piece,ughing when sugar dusted my fingertips, and ate it.
Sweet. A little bitter at the back. But sweet.
I was smiling when the first pain hit.
It mmed into my stomach like a stone, sharp and hot. My smile crumpled. The children¡¯s faces blurred as I doubled over, gagging. My throat burned, bile rising, and I fell to my knees in the dirt.
Mika roared in my head, but her voice was muffled by the poison flooding me. ¡®Wolfsbane. Silver. Something worse¨Cmove, move!¡®
I couldn¡¯t¡
My body convulsed, my vision flickering ck.
¡°LUNA!¡± Audrey¡¯s voice tore across the garden.
She was there in a heartbeat, shoving the children back, sword drawn as though the cake itself had sprouted
ws.
Monica sprinted from the kitchen, skirts flying, shouting for water, for herbs.
I tried to speak¨CI¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine¨Cbut all that came was vomit, hot and sour, staining the earth. My hands
shook so hard I couldn¡¯t wipe my mouth. The pain was a wikite now, wearing through every wor
Then the world shook with a different fire.
230
Francesco.
I felt him before I saw him, the bond ripping open with his fury,
The air thickened, heat pressing down, and then he was there, storming through the garden like a god of old. His eyes zed darkened, his chest heaved, and blood¨Cfresh, hot¨Cwill wreaked his hands from training,
¡°Eine!¡± He dropped beside me, hauling me into his arms. I tried to push him away, not wanting him to touch the filth, but he only held tighter. ¡°Who did this! His voice was not a question. It was a death sentence waiting for a name.
Audrey knelt, sword still in hand. ¡°Cake. From the children. She ate-
His roar split the sky.
Birds exploded from the trees.
The children screamed and cried.
Even Monica stumbled back, clutching her satchel Official source is f¦É?dn¦Ïvel
I clutched his shirt, fighting through the haze. ¡°Francesco, stop. It isn¡¯t¨Cdon¡¯t-*
But he wasn¡¯t hearing me. His Lycan power surged, the ground trembling. Marlow came barreling in with warriors, skidding to a halt at the sight. His eyes widened; he¡¯d seen Francesco in rage before, but not like this.
¡°Alpha!¡± he barked, as if reminding him he was king, not beast.
Francesco¡¯s head snapped up, teeth bared. His eyes burned with murder. For a moment I thought he would unleash it all¨Cburn the garden, tear the walls down, ughter anyone in reach.
And then the bond tugged. Hard.
I forced myself upright in his arms, though pain knifed through me. ¡°Francesco¡ My.. Love¡ Look at me!!¡±
His gaze dropped, wild, unfocused.
¡°Look at me!¡± I grabbed his face with both trembling hands, forcing his golden eyes onto mine. My tears burned, but I held steady. ¡°I¡¯m here. I¡¯m alive. Don¡¯t give them what they want.¡±
His breath came ragged, chest heaving like a man choking on fire.
But slowly, slowly, the ze dimmed.
His grip tightened around me, desperate, as though he might anchor himself through me alone.
¡°Eine¡.¡± he whispered, voice cracked. ¡°My mate. My Luna. They dared-¡±
12:03 Tue, Sep 30
A
678
20 vouchers
¡°I know,¡± I cut him off, swallowing bile. ¡°But if you rage, if you burn, you¡¯ll prove them right. They want to see that I am your weakness. Don¡¯t let them.¡±
The words cost me everything, but I said them.
And he heard.
Francesco closed his eyes, forehead pressing to mine.
His arms trembled around me, but he held.
When he spoke again, his voice was low, deadly calm. ¡°Alfonso.
The Beta was there instantly, face pale.
¡°Send word to Florence,¡± Francesco ordered. ¡°Now. Bring Lira. Run the wolves to bone if you must. Shees. Today.¡±
Alfonso bowed sharply and vanished.
Monica knelt, pressing a cloth to my lips. ¡°Luna, spit what you can. Don¡¯t swallow.¡±
I obeyed weakly, coughing, shaking.
Audrey hovered, de still drawn, eyes darting for threats no one else could see.
Marlow cursed under his breath, directing soldiers to secure the grounds.
Francesco never let me go. His voice stayed in my ear, steady and soft, even as his body shook with rage. ¡°You¡¯ll be all right, amore mio. I swear it. I¡¯ll bring the world down before I let it take you.¡±
And through the pain, through the bitter taste on my tongue, I knew the truth: this was no ident. No careless gift. This was a strike aimed at his heart, through me.
They thought to prove me his weakness.
But they had no idea how strong love could make him.
Still His 213
Chapter 213
They carried me upstairs, not to the ward but to our room.
Francesco would not let the smell of iron and tinctures be the first thing I breathed when the world steadied.
Heid me on the edge of the bed and knelt on the rug as if prayer could be stitched into wood. Monica¡¯s hands moved in clean, practiced circles¨Ccloth at my mouth, bowl ready, vial uncorked, bitter drops on my tongue that made the poison roll and spit instead of cling.
¡°Again,¡± she murmured, voice both order and luby. ¡°Spit. Good. Again.¡±
Audrey posted herself at the door, a de in her hand and a second one in her gaze. Marlow paced like a tide -three strides to the hearth, turn, three strides back¨Cmuttering orders under his breath that runner wolves would hear two corridors away.
¡°Where is Alfonso?¡± he asked without looking.
¡°Already gone,¡± Audrey said. ¡°Took two of the fastest and that brown mare he hates. They¡¯ll switch at Saint- Ferr¨¦ol, again at the white bridge.¡±
Francesco¡¯s palm was a brand at the small of my back, keeping me anchored when the room lurched. He did not speak except to answer Monica when she asked for water, for a cloth, for the tiny ss spoon Maria uses for saffron.
¡°She¡¯s emptying,¡± Monica announced after a time that felt like a winter. ¡°Good. But it¡¯s not all kitchen craft.¡± Her eyes met mine¨Cgentle, then flint. ¡°There¡¯s a second mouth in this poison. I can taste its teeth.¡±
¡°Wolfsbane and tinctured silver,¡± Audrey said.
Monica nodded once. ¡°And something that doesn¡¯t belong to mortars or pestles. It lingers at the edges. A¡ hum.¡±
The fen. The word didn¡¯t need saying. Ity between us like a wet shadow.
Francesco¡¯s hand tightened on the linen. ¡°You¡¯ll hold her until Liraes.¡±
Monica¡¯s chin went up. ¡°Like the tide holds the shore.¡±
He bent and kissed my temple, the press lingering as if he could bruise the poison itself into retreat. ¡°Amore,¡± he murmured into my hair. ¡°I need to-¡±
¡°To hunt,¡± I finished for him, breath still ragged. ¡°Yes.¡± My palm found his jaw, the scrape of his stubble a familiar map. ¡°But listen to me.¡± I swallowed, a small burn. ¡°The children. Do not frighten them. Do not punish them.¡±
His eyes cut to mine, a re of wolf¨Cbright anger damped by the request. ¡°They carried the de to your throat.¡±
¡°They carried a cake,¡± I said softly. ¡°Someone else tied the de to it. Let Audrey and Marlow ask. Gently. If you glower, they¡¯ll drown in fear and we¡¯ll learn nothing.¡±
11:40 Wed, Oct 1
2
¡ê64
55 Vouchers
¡°Better than being unloved,¡± I teased her.
But I listened when she insisted on tasting first, on sniffing each offering like a hound. Francesco had told her more than once: Guard her like your own life. And Audrey obeyed with almost feral devotion.
Still, I confess¨CI grew careless.
Not careless from arrogance, but from the sweetness of it all. From the joy of belonging.
After years of rejection, years of being whispered about, to be cherished by people who had no reason to love me¡ it softened me.
And perhaps too much.
It happened on the fifth day.
The morning was bright, the sky washed pale blue, and I had gone to the garden with my sketchbook though I drew nothing.
Children found me there, three of them, with a small cake held carefully between their palms. It was lopsided, the icing uneven, and the pride in their faces was so bright I didn¡¯t think twice.
¡°For you, Luna!¡± the smallest one chirped.
I smiled, heart swelling. ¡°For me? You made this yourselves?¡±
They nodded furiously, grinning. I didn¡¯t call for Audrey. I didn¡¯t summon Monica. I simply broke off a piece,ughing when sugar dusted my fingertips, and ate it.
Sweet. A little bitter at the back. But sweet.
I was smiling when the first pain hit. Updates are released by find~novel
It mmed into my stomach like a stone, sharp and hot. My smile crumpled. The children¡¯s faces blurred as I doubled over, gagging. My throat burned, bile rising, and I fell to my knees in the dirt.
Mika roared in my head, but her voice was muffled by the poison flooding me. ¡®Wolfsbane. Silver. Something worse¨Cmove, move!¡®
I couldn¡¯t¡
My body convulsed, my vision flickering ck.
¡°LUNA!¡± Audrey¡¯s voice tore across the garden.
She was there in a heartbeat, shoving the children back, sword drawn as though the cake itself had sprouted ws.
Monica sprinted from the kitchen, skirts flying, shouting for water, for herbs.
I tried to speak¨CI¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine¨Cbut all that came was vomit, hot and sour, staining the earth. My hands
11:40 Wed, Oct 1 ¨C
shook so hard I couldn¡¯t wipe my mouth. The pain was a wildfire now, searing through every nerve.
Then the world shook with a different fire.
Francesco.
I felt him before I saw him, the bond ripping open with his fury.
The air thickened, heat pressing down, and then he was there, storming through the garden like a god of old. His eyes zed darkened, his chest heaved, and blood¨Cfresh, hot¨Cstill streaked his hands from training.
¡°Eine!¡± He dropped beside me, hauling me into his arms. I tried to push him away, not wanting him to touch the filth, but he only held tighter. ¡°Who did this!!¡± His voice was not a question. It was a death sentence waiting for a name.
Audrey knelt, sword still in hand. ¡°Cake. From the children. She ate-¡±
His roar split the sky.
Birds exploded from the trees.
The children screamed and cried.
Even Monica stumbled back, clutching her satchel.
I clutched his shirt, fighting through the haze. ¡°Francesco, stop. It isn¡¯t¨Cdon¡¯t-¡±
But he wasn¡¯t hearing me. His Lycan power surged, the ground trembling. Marlow came barreling in with warriors, skidding to a halt at the sight. His eyes widened; he¡¯d seen Francesco in rage before, but not like this.
¡°Alpha!¡± he barked, as if reminding him he was king, not beast.
Francesco¡¯s head snapped up, teeth bared. His eyes burned with murder. For a moment I thought he would unleash it all¨Cburn the garden, tear the walls down, ughter anyone in reach.
And then the bond tugged. Hard.
I forced myself upright in his arms, though pain knifed through me. ¡°Francesco¡ My.. Love¡ Look at me!!¡±
His gaze dropped, wild, unfocused.
¡°Look at me!¡± I grabbed his face with both trembling hands, forcing his golden eyes onto mine. My tears burned, but I held steady. ¡°I¡¯m here. I¡¯m alive. Don¡¯t give them what they want.¡±
His breath came ragged, chest heaving like a man choking on fire.
But slowly, slowly, the ze dimmed.
His grip tightened around me, desperate, as though he might anchor himself through me alone.
¡°Eine¡.¡± he whispered, voice cracked. ¡°My mate. My Luna. They dared-¡±
11:40 Wed, Oct 1
4G 64
55 vouchers
¡°I know,¡± I cut him off, swallowing bile. ¡°But if you rage, if you burn, you¡¯ll prove them right. They want to see that I am your weakness. Don¡¯t let them.¡±
The words cost me everything, but I said them.
And he heard.
Francesco closed his eyes, forehead pressing to mine.
His arms trembled around me, but he held.
When he spoke again, his voice was low, deadly calm. ¡°Alfonso.¡±
The Beta was there instantly, face pale.
¡°Send word to Florence,¡± Francesco ordered. ¡°Now. Bring Lira. Run the wolves to bone if you must. Shees. Today.¡±
Alfonso bowed sharply and vanished.
Monica knelt, pressing a cloth to my lips. ¡°Luna, spit what you can. Don¡¯t swallow.¡±
I obeyed weakly, coughing, shaking.
Audrey hovered, de still drawn, eyes darting for threats no one else could see.
Marlow cursed under his breath, directing soldiers to secure the grounds.
Francesco never let me go. His voice stayed in my ear, steady and soft, even as his body shook with rage. ¡°You¡¯ll be all right, amore mio. I swear it. I¡¯ll bring the world down before I let it take you.¡±
And through the pain, through the bitter taste on my tongue, I knew the truth: this was no ident. No careless gift. This was a strike aimed at his heart, through me.
They thought to prove me his weakness.
But they had no idea how strong love could make him.
No Ads
They carried me upstairs, not to the ward but to our room.
55 vouchers
Francesco would not let the smell of iron and tinctures be the first thing I breathed when the world steadied.
Heid me on the edge of the bed and knelt on the rug as if prayer could be stitched into wood. Monica¡¯s hands moved in clean, practiced circles¨Ccloth at my mouth, bowl ready, vial uncorked, bitter drops on my tongue that made the poison roll and spit instead of cling.
¡°Again,¡± she murmured, voice both order and luby. ¡°Spit. Good. Again.¡±
Audrey posted herself at the door, a de in her hand and a second one in her gaze. Marlow paced like a tide -three strides to the hearth, turn, three strides back¨Cmuttering orders under his breath that runner wolves would hear two corridors away.
¡°Where is Alfonso?¡± he asked without looking.
¡°Already gone,¡± Audrey said. ¡°Took two of the fastest and that brown mare he hates. They¡¯ll switch at Saint- Ferr¨¦ol, again at the white bridge.¡±
Francesco¡¯s palm was a brand at the small of my back, keeping me anchored when the room lurched. He did not speak except to answer Monica when she asked for water, for a cloth, for the tiny ss spoon Maria uses for saffron.
¡°She¡¯s emptying,¡± Monica announced after a time that felt like a winter. ¡°Good. But it¡¯s not all kitchen craft.¡± Her eyes met mine¨Cgentle, then flint. ¡°There¡¯s a second mouth in this poison. I can taste its teeth.¡±
¡°Wolfsbane and tinctured silver,¡± Audrey said.
Monica nodded once. ¡°And something that doesn¡¯t belong to mortars or pestles. It lingers at the edges. A¡ hum.¡±
The fen. The word didn¡¯t need saying. Ity between us like a wet shadow.
Francesco¡¯s hand tightened on the linen. ¡°You¡¯ll hold her until Liraes.¡±
Monica¡¯s chin went up. ¡°Like the tide holds the shore.¡±
He bent and kissed my temple, the press lingering as if he could bruise the poison itself into retreat. ¡°Amore,¡± he murmured into my hair. ¡°I need to-¡±
¡°To hunt,¡± I finished for him, breath still ragged. ¡°Yes.¡± My palm found his jaw, the scrape of his stubble a familiar map. ¡°But listen to me.¡± I swallowed, a small burn. ¡°The children. Do not frighten them. Do not punish them.¡±
His eyes cut to mine, a re of wolf¨Cbright anger damped by the request. ¡°They carried the de to your throat.¡±
¡°They carried a cake,¡± I said softly. ¡°Someone else tied the de to it. Let Audrey and Marlow ask. Gently. If you glower, they¡¯ll drown in fear and we¡¯ll learn nothing.¡±
55 Vouchers
He closed his eyes once, a slow hinge, then opened them on obedience. Not to me¨Cnever that¡ªbut to the bond we¡¯d tied with truth. ¡°Audrey,¡± he said.
She was already at the threshold, even before he spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll find them.¡±
Marlow halted his tide. ¡°I¡¯ll go with you. I know the corners where children hide when they think they¡¯ve done something wrong.¡±
¡°Not wrong,¡± I whispered. ¡°Kind. That¡¯s what they thought.¡±
¡°Kind,¡± Marlow repeated, dry and fond. He gave me a brief, courtly bow that would have looked ridiculous on anyone else. ¡°We¡¯ll bring back kindness and names.¡±
They vanished.
Silence widened, a necessary room. Monica¡¯s hands stayed steady. My breaths found a slower count. Francesco remained kneeling, not moving except when my body needed movement¨Ca cloth, a cup, a brace at my spine when a shiver rattled through me.
After a time, the world sharpened at the edges. The nausea retreated to a shoreline inside me, still present but not crashing. Iy back against pillows that smelled faintly of rosemary and smoke. Francesco¡¯s fingers slid into mine and stayed.
¡°When Liraes,¡± I murmured, ¡°you have to let her be awful for a moment.¡±
He huffed a breath. ¡°She always is.¡±
¡°You need awful,¡± I said. ¡°It will save me.¡±
He bent enough that his forehead rested on our joined hands. He didn¡¯t tell me not to say save. He had learned that with me, it was a prayer, not drama.
A soft knock, and then the door eased open without waiting for permission¨Conly two people did that: Maria and Audrey. This time, Audrey. She slipped inside with a pocket of quiet around her that made even the coals listen.
¡°They¡¯re below,¡± she said. ¡°The children. Marlow has them by the ovens. Maria gave them seats and slices they are not to touch until I say.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Francesco said, rising in one economical motion. He looked down at me; the gold in his eyes had cooled to warm metal. ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±
I shook my head. ¡°No. Not at first.¡±
He almost argued. Then his mouth firmed into a different kind ofmand¨Cof self. He came back to the bed and kissed my knuckles once, lightly, as if they might bruise into stars. ¡°I trust you.¡±
¡°Take your Alpha off,¡± I said, managing the ghost of a smile. ¡°Put on your¡ uncle face.¡±
He actually huffed a quietugh, one hand briefly over his eyes. ¡°Saints help us all.¡± He turned to Audrey. ¡°You lead. He does the smiling.¡±
11:41 Wed, Oct 1
Audrey¡¯s mouth might have twitched. ¡°He can practice on Maria.¡±
They were gone a heartbeatter. The door clicked shut.
A64
55 vouchbis
Monica fussed, which meant she was stalling a worry she didn¡¯t want me to see. ¡°We¡¯lly you on your side? she said. ¡°No, the other, let the liver. Good. Breathe. She tucked nkets where chills might enter and smoothed my hair back the way she does with children and kings alike.
¡°How long?¡± I asked.
¡°For Lira?¡± Monica¡¯s mouth twisted. ¡°If Alfonso doesn¡¯t break a leg, dusk. If he does, she will still be here by dusk. She rides worse than any man I¡¯ve seen and still somehow arrives first.¡±
I smiled, and it didn¡¯t hurt.
Still His 214
Chapter 214
E 15 Voucherss
The hour between then and the sound of small feet in the corridor stretched like dough¨Cstic, sticky.
necessary.
Twice more the nausea rose and receded.
Once I dozed for three breaths and dreamed of reeds whispering in anguage that had too many vowels.
Then Audrey slipped in again, eyes solt in a way she reserves for wounded wolves and foolish boys.
¡°They¡¯re ready,¡± she said. ¡°In the warm room. Marlow is telling them a story about a prince who married a baker and always smelled like cinnamon. Maria keeps correcting his pastry technique.¡±
¡°Of course she does,¡± I murmured.
Francesco came in behind Audrey, and he looked¨Che did it- human.
He had stripped coat and title both.
His sleeves were rolled, hair tied back in the crooked knot I always fix, boots dusty.
If you didn¡¯t know, you would think he was a man withrge hands and arger voice who lifted flour sacks for sport.
¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± he asked me,st chance at a different choice.
¡°Yes,¡± I said. ¡°Bring them.¡±
He bent and touched my cheek with his mouth, brief and grounding, then vanished again.
A momentter they arrived in a cluster of knees and elbows and fear: the three from the garden.
The smallest clutched her cap in both hands, twisting it as if she could wring the cake back out of the past. The boy stared at the rug and didn¡¯t blink. The oldest girl¡¯s chin trembled with determination not to cry.
Marlow came in behind them like a cloud that rains when you need it.
Maria upied the doorway with a tray of untouched slices and the confidence of a woman who could break a siege with butter.
Francesco stayed back, a long shadow by the hearth, not looming.
He did not look at the children except to make sure they saw he wasn¡¯t looking.
I gathered a voice that had been used too hard. ¡°Come,¡± I said, and patted the foot of the bed. ¡°Sit. Not so close we breathe each other¡¯s air, but close enough I can see your eyes.¡±
They sat. Three careful, small animals pretending to be brave.
¡°What are your names?¡± I asked.
The smallest squeaked. ¡°Pia.¡±
204
55 vouchers
The boy: ¡°Henri.¡± He flinched at his own name, and Marlow put a hand like a tree on his shoulder.
The oldest: ¡°Snge.¡±
¡°Good names,¡± I said, and meant it. ¡°Pia, Henri, Snge¨Cthank you for bringing me a cake.¡±
Their eyes snapped to mine, shock and relief keening together.
¡°It was good,¡± I lied kindly. ¡°A little too much honey, but good.¡±
Maria hmmphed in the doorway in a way that meant urate and forgivable.
Snge¡¯s face crumpled. ¡°We didn¡¯t mean-¡± The rest drowned in throat¨Csob.
¡°I know,¡± I said. ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re here with me and not in the hall being shouted at. No shouting in this room. Only questions and answers.¡±
Pia¡¯s fists squeezed her cap until the seam popped. ¡°Are you going to die?¡± It burst out like a bubble that had waited too long at the bottom of a pond.
¡°No,¡± I said, simple as adder rung. ¡°It hurt. Monica is cross with me for eating before she sniffed. My husband is practicing not breaking furniture. I am going to live.¡±
They sagged as if their bones had been scared out and now returned.
¡°Now,¡± I went on, ¡°tell me about the cake. Who baked it?¡±
¡°We did,¡± Henri said quickly, brave in the wrong ce. ¡°We used the oven behind the stables where Maria doesn¡¯t look.¡±
Maria arched one eyebrow in a way that promised sweeping consequencester that had nothing to do with politics.
¡°With what flour?¡± Audrey asked, and her voice had no edge. It was the voice she uses when horses startle.
¡°The flour barrel,¡± Snge said. ¡°Not the big one. The little one next to it.¡±
¡°Who gave you sugar?¡± Marlow asked, gentle curiosity as if he were cataloging pies.
¡°Madame Lise,¡± Pia whispered. ¡°At the stall. She said we were kind to make something for the Luna, so she gave us a scoop and a handful of sugared peel.¡±
¡°She has always been kind,¡± Maria said, mostly to herself, storing the information neither defensively nor with malice¨Cjust a line on a ledger of favors.
¡°And the eggs?¡± Audrey asked.
11:41 Wed, Oct 1
64
55 vouchers
Pia swallowed. ¡°A man gave us those. He said he had too many. And he said his wife used to make cakes for their Alpha and that it was a good habit for children.¡±
¡°A man,¡± Marlow echoed. ¡°What did his hands look like?¡±
¡°Like rope,¡± Henri said at once, grateful for a question he could answer. ¡°The kind sailors have. He smelled¡¡± He wrinkled his nose. ¡°Like my uncle who salts hides.¡±
Salt. Rope. Sea. The fen leaned its elbow on our windowsill and grinned without showing teeth. ?????? ???? ?ovelFind
¡°Did he tell you his name?¡± I asked.
Snge shook her head. ¡°He told us to make sure the cake was warm when we brought it to you. He said that meant love.¡±
Maria swore in anguage she ims to have forgotten. Francesco¡¯s fingers flexed once on the mantel.
¡°Did anyone else touch the batter?¡± Audrey asked. ¡°Anyone at all?¡±
The children looked at one another, then at their knees, then at me. I kept my mouth soft. ¡°It is not a sin to tell the truth,¡± I said. ¡°Even when the truth frightens you.¡±
¡°We broke the eggs,¡± Pia whispered. ¡°But thest one¡¡± She heaved in a breath. ¡°The man said we were too slow. So he cracked it for us. And then he stirred.¡± She made a little circle in the air with one forefinger. ¡°Like that. Ten times. He made me count.¡±
Monica¡¯s head lifted; she and I had the same thought¨Cten is a number witches like when they want to hide a thing in a thing.
¡°Did he say anything when he stirred?¡± Marlow asked, so mild you could butter it.
¡°He hummed,¡± Henri said miserably. ¡°A song I don¡¯t know.¡±
¡°What did it taste like?¡± Maria asked abruptly.
Three small faces frowned at her. ¡°The song,¡± she amended. ¡°What does it taste like?¡±
¡°Wet,¡± Pia said promptly, with the certainty children sometimes have when they are absolutely right. ¡°Like the river when it gets into your mouth and it¡¯s not supposed to.¡±
Monica¡¯s breath went in sharp. Francesco¡¯s jaw worked once, a tide pulling back from a cliff.
I reached out, palm up. ¡°Pia. Give me your cap.¡±
She did. I turned it over; a few pale grains clung to the seam, sugar the color of winter morning. Maria took it, sniffed, then put the smallest touch to her tongue and spat with elegant fury into the hearth.
¡°Not mine,¡± she announced. ¡°Not from any stall that pays me the respect of washing their jars.¡±
¡°Madame Lise?¡± I asked.
11:41 Wed, Oct 1
1:0
64
55 Vouchers
¡°Would never,¡± Maria said, a de in her voice that would cut kind and unkind alike if they lied to her face. ¡°This came from a hand that knows sugar as a mask, not a food.¡±
Marlow rubbed his jaw. ¡°The man with rope hands will not be a man by the time we find him. He will be a change of coat, a different hat, a new mouth. But rope burns hem a life. I¡¯ll ask at the river.¡±
¡°Not just the river,¡± Audrey said. ¡°The salt sheds. The tannery. Anywhere the fen leaves itsundry.¡±
Francesco stepped forward then, and the children went very still. He did not get closer than he had been, but the air changes when he moves in a room. He knelt¨Cslow, unwinding height into humility¨Cand rested his forearms on his thighs.
¡°Pia. Henri. Snge.¡± He spoke their names like they were a password to a gentler country. ¡°You brought my mate a gift because you wanted to be kind. That is the truth that will stay in this room.¡± He paused until they were breathing again. ¡°Later, soldiers may ask you questions. They will be Marlow¡¯s men and Audrey¡¯s women. If anyone else speaks to you, you bite them. In spirit or in ankle.¡±
Pia made a small noise that might have been augh. Henri stared, then nodded as if given a sword. Snge¡¯s chin steadied.
¡°No one will punish you,¡± I added. ¡°If anyone tries, you tell them your Luna said to send them to me. I am very cruel before breakfast.¡±
Maria snorted. ¡°After breakfast too.¡±
The smallest¨Csweet saints¨Csmiled. Something unclenched in my ribs.
¡°Go with Maria now,¡± I said. ¡°Wash your hands. She will teach you to break eggs without swallowing their ghosts.¡±
Maria clicked her tongue and swept them like a tide. At the door, Snge turned back. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± she whispered. It wasn¡¯t for the cake. It was for the way fear had made her doubt she¡¯d done a good thing.
¡°I know,¡± I said. ¡°We will make another one when I am hungry again. You¡¯ll crack thest egg.¡±
Her chin rose a fraction. They vanished into the corridor, a small weather moving toward the kitchens.
The room exhaled. The ache in my belly had shrunk to something I could hold in my palm and call by a name: not yet. Outside, hooves ttered in the yard. Not hurried enough to be Lira¨Cyet.
Francesco rose and came back to me. He didn¡¯t touch until I nodded, and then he did¨Cmy wrist, my cheek, the corner of my mouth.
¡°You were right,¡± he said. It had the quiet of an oath. ¡°No fear on the children. We will find the hand that
stirred.¡±
¡°Find the song,¡± Monica said, eyes distant with the kind of listening healers do when they eavesdrop on what the body remembers. ¡°The circle and the hum.¡±
Marlow rolled his shoulders, already scenting the day¡¯s hunt. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the river.¡±
11:41 Wed, Oct 1
&
64
65 vodeners,
¡°I¡¯ll go to the sheds,¡± Audrey said. ¡°And the women who salt skins. They always know who brings more stink
than meat.¡±
Francesco nodded, then nced toward the window as if he could drag the horizon closer by will. ¡°Alfonso¡¡±
¡°Is not falling off a horse,¡± Audrey said, that rare sliver of humor again. ¡°He sent a runner from the bridge. Lira was already moving before his letter reached her.¡±
Of course she was. Lira always knows when a thread on our side of the tapestry snags.
¡°Then we wait,¡± Francesco said¨Cwords he hates, spoken without flinch. He bent to me again. ¡°And we don¡¯t make any more promises to blood we didn¡¯t spill.¡±
It was a line he¡¯d been smoothing sincest night, and I loved him for holding it like a de he could pass to me when my hand shook.
Hooves, closer now. Voices in the yard¨Castonishment, augh, someone swearing he¡¯ll never race a woman from Florence again as long as he lives.
Still His 215
Knock.. Knock¡
64.)
65 vouchers
A knock like a knuckle that owns the door, and then it opened, and the room filled with a scent that always makes me think of thunderheads and clean linen: Lira.
It¡¯s been a while since I see her, since I decide to go with Francesco from Florence, only ending in different territory with new adventure here.
She looked exactly like herself¨Csevere braid, in dark dress, eyes that turn soft only when she is about to be unkind to pain.
She didn¡¯t spare anyone a greeting except a nod for Monica and a brief, fond pinch for my toes under the nket.
¡°You¡¯ve been eating gifts,¡± she said, as if I¡¯d been found with a hand in the sugar bowl.
¡°Only the sugary ones,¡± I croaked.
Sheid cool fingers at my throat, and the hum Monica had named shivered against skin and bone.
Lira¡¯s mouth hardened. ¡°Fen has clever children,¡± she said. ¡°And cleverer grandchildren.¡±
Francesco¡¯s hands closed into fists. ¡°Fix her.¡±
She rolled her eyes in annoyance ¡°Always so polite,¡± Lira murmured. ¡°Monica, the green jar. No, the ugly one. Audrey, bolt the door. Marlow, if you pace while I work, I¡¯ll sew your feet to the rug.¡±
If I am not sick, I alreadyugh at her.
God, I missed her.
She bent over me, and the taste on the air shifted¨Cmint, char, something like rain hitting hot stones. ¡°This will not be graceful,¡± she warned. ¡°You will want to throw me off the bed. Don¡¯t.¡± Then she turn her gaze at Francesco ¡°This warned for you too, Alpha, don¡¯t move¡±
I heard my mate huff and scoffs loudly when I try to nodded ¡°Yes, not even a little?¡± I breathed.
¡°Maybe at the end,¡± she said, and began.
The pain that came was not the wildfire from before; it was a deep wrench, like a hook being unthreaded from a that had decided it liked the fish.
I bit the inside of my cheek and tasted copper.
Lira¡¯s voice braided old words with newer ones, a rope thrown across a gap. Monica¡¯s palm stayed steady at my shoulder. The hum faltered, then snarled, then weakened again like a storm running out of sky.
¡°Good girl,¡± Lira said, which I always hate and always save under my pillow forter.
11:42 Wed, Oct 1
64
55 Vouchers
When she leaned back, sweat beaded fine along her hairline. She wasn¡¯t old, but the work ages the hands first, and hers looked like a woman who has held too many breaking things and insisted they learn a new shape.
¡°It¡¯sing out,¡± she said. ¡°Not all at once. The bit that hid will sulk. You¡¯ll dream of water with teeth for a week. Don¡¯t drink anything you didn¡¯t watch being poured.¡± ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find~novel
Francesco¡¯s exhale was almost a sound.
He bowed his head over my hand and then kissed Lira¡¯s knuckles like a prince bribing a saint. ¡°Thank you.¡±
She sniffed. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet. You will make me go to the south with you and shout at a swamp. I will have to wear boots.¡±
Marlow made a pained face. ¡°Swamps shout back.¡±
¡°They do,¡± Lira agreed. ¡°And they hold grudges longer than kings.¡±
Audrey unbolted the door.
The house breathed in a draft that smelled like bread and steel and the particr kind of relief that lives in kitchens after storms.
¡°We found a thread,¡± she said. ¡°Rope¨Cburn hands. Salt¨Cshed smell. A song that tastes like wet.¡± Her eyes slid to me. ¡°Children safe.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Lira said briskly. ¡°Keep them near ovens. A witch¡¯s pocket stays warm when it is empty.¡±
Francesco straightened.
The part of him that is map and de stepped forward, one hand still on me, the other already closing around the day.
¡°Go,¡± I said, because it had to be me who said it. ¡°Hunt the hand. Not the cake. Not the children. The hand.¡±
His eyes met mine¨Cgold, steady, a hearth that remembers being wildfire.
¡°I will bring it back to you,¡± he said. ¡°And if it won¡¯te, I will bring you its name.¡±
I nodded.
The nausea sighed, sullen and smaller.
Lira tucked something under my tongue that tasted like the underside of a stone and sunshine, somehow both.
¡°Rest,¡± shemanded. ¡°Later you may lecture kings.¡±
He leaned down, pressed his mouth to my brow, and let the kiss say what he could not yet ce intonguage.
Then he was gone¨CAudrey on one shoulder, Marlow on the other¨Cdown into the house that had learned
how to be a hearth and out into streets that smelled of salt.
&
64
250 vouchers
Monica drew the curtains half a hand and sat where she could count my breaths without me noticing.
Lira tidied anger into jars and bound it with string.
I closed my eyes and saw a reed¨Cbrown dress, hands stirring batter in ten circles, and a hum that tasted like river in the wrong mouth.
¡°You¡¯ll not have us,¡± I whispered to whatever listened from the south. ¡°Not with cakes. Not with songs. If you want a name,e to the square and ask with yours.¡±
The house creaked like a ship choosing to hold together.
Somewhere below, a childughed¨CPia, or Snge, or some other wild thing on light feet who believed a kitchen could forgive anything if the bread was good.
The bond hummed.
Francesco¡¯s anger moved along it like weather¨Cpurposeful now, not a storm but a wind that knows which direction keeps a house standing.
We would be ready when it turned.
We would be ready when she did.
And when the fen¡¯s hand reached again, it would find not a soft Luna and a roaring king, but a pair of wolves who had learned how to turn knives into spoons and back again without spilling a drop.
Still His 216
420
SE Vouchers
¡°I thought I never meet you again, but yet, when I heard you two got a territory and decide to y¡ home¡ She whistle ¡°Only you could do that, Luna¡± She smile knowingly and I just rolled my eyes.
Lira¡¯s medicine tasted like the underside of a stone that had learned sunlight.
It sat bitter on my tongue and then melted, a slow, steady warmth unfurling through the ces the poison had tried to im.
The worst of the nausea had passed; what remained came and went like a tide, a reminder more than a threat.
Lira called it the hum. ¡°It will grumble,¡± she¡¯d said, fingers cool at my pulse. ¡°But it will do as it¡¯s told.¡±
The house learned the cadence of my recovery the way a body learns to breathe around a bruise.
Monica¡¯s footfall outside the door every hour, exactly.
Audrey¡¯s shadow passing by the threshold whenever a corridor creaked.
Maria scolding anyone who tried to bring flowers before she sniffed them herself¡ª¡°If the Luna sneezes, I will salt the culprit like cod.¡±
Lira, who had moved into the room across the hall, sliding in without knocking to re at my color and decide whether the world had earned my presence for another hour.
Through it all, Francesco.
He worked in the same room when he could, maps unfurled on the desk, quill gnawing through paper like a disciplined storm.
When he had to leave, he kissed my knuckles as if they were a seal on a letter he¡¯d entrusted to a careful
messenger.
The bond, greedy and grateful, tugged and answered, our days a call and response of proximity and vow.
I pretended to sleep the first time I heard the whispers.
Not the household¡¯s steady, useful gossip¨Cwho¡¯d taken extra bread to the ward, which rooster had finally learned manners, the baker¡¯s girl who had epted the stable boy¡¯s gand with a dignity that made Maria weep into her apron.
No. These were the whispers of people who stand just beyond a door and hope the wood will eat their words before a king hears them.
¡°¡poor thing¡¡±
¡°¡the Luna is sweet, but¡¡±
¡°¡his weakness. Everyone knows it now.¡±
¡°¡a king shouldn¡¯t-¡±
:
Thest one shushed the others. ¡°You want your mouth to be the next thing salted? Hush.¡±
255 voleters
I opened my eyes to the ceiling and let the ache have me for a heartbeat. Not the ache in my belly. The one that lives where the first rejection left its nails. It would have been easy to harden. Easier still to slip anger on like armor and go downstairs with a speech sharpened to a point.
Instead, I reached for the little sprig of rosemary Monica had left on the nightstand. I rubbed it between my fingers until the scent rose, green and stubborn. Love is not a weapon to be hidden, I told myself, and it is not a weakness to be scorned. The people who needed to learn that would not be taught by a lecture. They would be taught by the sight of us standing together while the world tried to arrange us apart.
The door eased open.
Audrey slipped in, made of quiet angles and watchfulness. ¡°How¡¯s the hum?¡± she asked.
¡°Sulking,¡± I sighed. ¡°It will live.¡±
¡°Good,¡± she said, relief so subtle most people would have missed it. ¡°Um.. We have a man.¡± A flick of her eyes toward the hall. ¡°Marlow has him. Salt¨Cshed hands. Rope burns. The smell you described.¡±
Is that¡..
Thest bit was mine¨Cthe taste the children had given Maria in words she could not forget: wet, like the river in your mouth when it isn¡¯t supposed to be there.
¡°He¡¯s here?¡± I asked.
She nodded ¡°Below, not the ward. The room by the bread ovens. Maria insisted.¡±
I sighed ¡°Of course she did.¡± I swung my legs off the bed and waited to see if the world tilted. Yes, It didn¡¯t. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ming.¡±
¡°You are not!¡± Lira¡¯s voice, from the doorway, made even Audrey¡¯s spine straighten. Lira¡¯s gaze swept me, sharp and satisfied. ¡°You will being¨Ctomorrow. Not today.¡±
Great¡. The person I can¡¯t defeat in my condition.
¡°But, Audrey just said-¡°I try to give her a reason.
¡°I heard,¡± Lira interjected without let me finish my words. ¡°You heard, too, when I said you will be alive tomorrow if you behave today.¡±
Damn it, Lira!
I lifted my hands in surrender.
¡°Then you go,¡± I told Audrey. ¡°Ask with his kind of gentleness. Marlow can practice restraint by letting you
11:42 Wed, Oct 1
speak first,¡±
A rare half¨Csmile ghosted across Audrey¡¯s mouth.
She nodded ¡°I¡¯ll start the questions as if he were a skittish horse. If that fails, I¡¯ll be Marlow
¡°Don¡¯t be Marlow,¡± Lira said dryly. ¡°We¡¯ll need himter¡±
Audrey left without a sound.
Lira mixed something in a cup that steamed and smelled like secrets. I took two sips and scowled. ¡°Ugh¡ Tastes like regret.¡±
¡°Good that you still able to taste something,¡± she said calmly. ¡°You haven¡¯t had enough of that to satisfy me
I sighed as I leaned back on pillows and counted my breaths while the potion worked. Ten in, ten out. Ten circles with a spoon, the man had made the child count. Ten hums to stitch a poison under a sweetness.
The door opened again.
This time, Marlow.
He shut it behind him and leaned, for just a moment, as if the wood knew how to hold the weight of a tired
man.
¡°Well?¡± I asked.
He nced at Lira, who made a shape with her mouth that meant don¡¯t waste time with preambles.
¡°We have our salt¨Chand,¡± Marlow said not long after. ¡°He says he¡¯s a fisherman who never learned the water. Lies. His calluses are wrong fors. They¡¯re right for knots.¡±
I nodded ¡°Who paid him?¡± I asked.
¡°A man with a voice that wasn¡¯t his,¡± Marlow said, thoughtful. ¡°That¡¯s how he described it. Says the man spoke as if he was tranting for someone who didn¡¯t want to be seen.¡± Marlow¡¯s mouth went wry. ¡°I asked if the man hummed. He went pale.¡±
Could it be¡
¡°Dorian,¡± I said. Not a guess. A line drawn between two points and a third that had been waiting.
Marlow nodded once. ¡°I guess, but not him in person. His kind. Paid well. The salt¨Chand is stupid, not cruel. He didn¡¯t know what sat in thest egg. He thought he was earning coin for bread and children. He cried when he found out.¡±
Lira made a small sound that could have been sympathy in a different life. ¡°Fools are more dangerous than viins,¡± she muttered quitely.
¡°Where¡¯s Francesco?¡± I asked him.
11:42 Wed, Oct 1
??
264
55 vouchers
He point with his head ¡°Alpha is in the kitchen,¡± Marlow exined. ¡°He wanted toe upstairs first. I told him if he left the room where the man could see him, the man would never stop shaking long enough to be useful.¡±
I snort. God, that image hurt me with a strange kind of pride.
The king who terrifies knows when to stand behind a door.
Marlow crossed his arms. ¡°Audrey thinks someone else fed the salt¨Chand timings and routes.¡±
I frown and stare at him closely ¡°By someone inside?¡± Iment. ¡°Close enough to know when the kitchens are quiet. Close enough to know that I like roses and cakes?¡±
Well.. She has the same thought as me. Chapters first released on
He nodded. ¡°Or close enough to watch the square without being watched.¡±
Yes, the traitor wasn¡¯t a surprise.
¡°We¡¯ll find them,¡± I said, steady. ¡°We name them. We choose¡± punishment not for spectacle, but forw.¡±
Marlow¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°You always make a better crusader than a judge.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t want to be either,¡± I said. ¡°I want to be the woman who waters the rosemary and counts the children when theye home. Failing that, I¡¯ll settle for being the Luna who insists we don¡¯t be what we rece.¡±
He opened his mouth¨Cprobably to say that insisting on anything in a world like this is worth more than most rulers give¨Cbut the door swung and Francesco filled the frame.
He was stripped to shirtsleeves again.
Not deliberate humility this time¨Cutility.
His forearms were braced with leather; the scars there caught the morning.
He crossed the room and kissed me as if the people in it could vanish and returnter. When he straightened, the glint in his eyes steadied to warm metal.
¡°Eine,¡± he said, and I loved the way my name sounded when his voice finally found rest in it. ¡°Looks like they¡¯reing.¡±
I frown..
What? Who?
¡°Dorian?¡± I asked In shock.
He shook his head. ¡°Not yet. But his friends¨Cthe three he uses when he wants to call the thing a council without doing any work.¡± His mouth twitched, amusement without joy. ¡°They sent word at dawn. The hawk flew before your hum slept.¡±
11:42 Wed, Oct 1 - 55 voucher
I breathed out slow. ¡°They¡¯ll want answers. And they¡¯ll want to say the word weakness with their eyes on me.
¡°They will,¡± he said, honest like a de with a nodded. ¡°Which is why you will not be there¡±
What?
Silence, then, brittle as spun sugar.
¡°Francesco,¡± I said, and let his name hold warning and plea. ¡°I am not a jewel to tuck away whenpany
¡°Company,¡± he repeated softly, as if tasting the wrongness of the word. ¡°This isn¡¯t a neighbor with a basket of figs. These are men who would crack your rib to count how well I bleed.¡±
¡°I know,¡± I sighed. ¡°Which is why I have to stand beside you.¡±
Lira cleared her throat. ¡°If I say no, will either of you listen?¡±
¡°No,¡± we said together, which made Marlow mutter a swear that sounded like a blessing.
Francesco brushed a stray hair behind my ear. ¡°You were nearly taken from me in our garden with sugar. The words were bare in his mouth, unadorned pain. ¡°Humor me in this.¡±
¡°I will not let them teach our people that a Luna hides,¡± I said stubbornly. ¡°They will make that lesson intow if we let them. And we have been building a different kind ofw.¡±
He closed his eyes, just for a beat, then opened them into surrender that wasn¡¯t defeat. ¡°Not the hall,¡± he said. ¡°Not at first. The square. The well. Where we stood two nights ago. I want eyes on the sky as well as the door.¡±
I nodded my head ¡°Done,¡± I said, and the relief moved through me like warm water.
Lira made a face that meant, if you die, I will be inconvenienced, and then set to mixing another draught as if control over herbs could be traded for control over kings.
We will prepared.
Still His 217
News travels like sparks when the straw is dry.
ð^
? ?
By the time we stepped into the square¨CFrancesco two paces left of me, our hands not quite touching. Audrey a shadow where shadows love to rest, Marlow nowhere and everywhere¨Cpeople already lined the edges Julius stood with Bethany. Monica, arms crossed, head high. Maria had imed the base of the well and installed a tray there, because no speech should be given on an empty throat, even if the throat belongs to a fool.
The three Alphas chose their positions with care. None near the other. None close enough to look like allies. none far enough to look like cowards. I knew two by sight¨CLemaitre, who dressed like money that didn¡¯t know how to be ashamed, and Bourdon, who always looked like he¡¯d been interrupted at the worst moment of his favorite story. The third had the tight mouth of a man who had taught himself to love not having to tell the truth.
Dorian did note.
Of course he didn¡¯t. He was too seasoned to put his body where scaffolding might pout.
Lemaitre raised a hand that held no callus. ¡°King Francesco,¡± he called, voice pitched for a stage. ¡°Our condolences. We heard of your Luna¡¯s¡ ident.¡±
How¡.?
Beside me, Francesco¡¯s breath smoothed out like a man deciding where to set his weight. ¡°You heard wrong,¡± he said, pleasant as a chair. ¡°It was not an ident.¡±
I stepped forward before Lemaitre could process the bait. ¡°It was a gift,¡± I told them. ¡°A sweet one. Brought by kind hands and dirt under fingernails. And then someone added bitterness to it because they were afraid of how sweet can move a city.¡±
Bourdon half¨Csnorted. ¡°Sweet. Is that what you call it when your king almost burns down a garden?¡±
I blinked ¡°What¡ He didn¡¯t,¡± I said.
¡°He roared!!¡± He correct me like he was there at that time.
I smile ¡°He breathes,¡± I said, equally factual. ¡°So do you, I presume.¡±
A ripple ofughter. Not derisive. Relieved. It¡¯s remarkable how often people will let go of fear if you hand them something useful to hold in its ce.
Lemaitre recovered quickly. ¡°The concern is that the Lycan King is¡promised.¡± He said the word with the delicacy of a man stepping around a puddle in good shoes. ¡°That his Luna¨Cno insult¨Cpresents a risk to his judgment. That someone could use affection to lead this territory into peril.¡±
¡°Affection,¡± Iment. ¡°A treacherous thing. Bread. nkets. Night watches shared so the old sleep and the children dream.¡± I cocked my head. ¡°Is it peril if men eat? I¡¯m new to thenguage you speak.¡±
Even Bourdon¡¯s mouth twitched.
11:42 Wed, Oct 1 ¨C
?
64
Da vouchers
The tight¨Cmouthed Alpha tightened further.
Francescoid a hand on the well¡¯s stone, a gesture as casual as it was deliberate. ¡°My Luna does not weaken me,¡± he said. ¡°She makes me inconvenient to the men who prefer a king they can frighten in private and praise in public.¡±
Lemaitre¡¯s eyes slid to where our fingers nearly touched. ¡°So this is what you¡¯ve be¨Cdomestic.
He shook his head ¡°I am alive,¡± Francesco said proudly. ¡°You might try it.¡±
A murmur rose, honest, not choreographed.
The elders nodded without deciding to.
A child waved at me from behind Maria¡¯s skirt and dropped a crust in the excitement.
The tight¨Cmouthed Alpha stepped forward atst. ¡°We did note to trade jokes,¡± he said. ¡°We came because this territory has a history of¡ idents. Lakes swallowing girls. Rogues swallowing borders. And now, poison in pies.¡±
¡°Cakes,¡± Maria corrected, scandalized.
Ehm¡ Cakes,¡± he amended with martyrdom. ¡°What assurance have we that your household is not alreadypromised? That your council holds? That your walls aren¡¯t speaking to men like Dorian¨Cmen who seek order?¡±
I smiled. It wasn¡¯t particrly kind.
¡°Dorian and order fit in a sentence only if you add a negative. But let me answer the part of your question worth answering.¡± I lifted a finger, and the square quieted the way it has learned to. ¡°Yes. We havepromised walls.¡± I let the truth sit. ¡°They werepromised before I came. Old cracks. New holes. People who listened to the wrong mouths because the right ones had been closed for too long. We are mending. With bread andw. With soldiers who can count and elders who know how to say no even to kings. If you want a guarantee, pick a god and ask them to give you one. I have only work to offer.¡±
Work. Itnded in the square like a tool someone had been seeking and finally found.
Lemaitre opened his hands. ¡°Very stirring. And yet¡ we heard you keep a woman¨CIsolde-¡±
¡°-in your strongest ward, Even though she was known to made mistake¡± Bourdon finished for him, unable to resist the taste of scandal. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look likew to me. Looks like a leverage you are not entitled to hold.¡±
¡°Come,¡± I said, before Francesco could growl. ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡±
The air shifted. They had expected denial, not invitation.
We walked.
Not a procession¨Cthose belong to men who hide what they mean to reveal.
Just a gathering of legs and eyes, moving as one toward the house my mate had decided would be a hearth or
nothing
4:5
63
58 vouchere
Francesco kept pace with me. I felt his pride, his temper, his low, steady readiness like a second pulse.
Audrey flowed ahead to clear corners.
Marlow drified beside Bourdon and said something that made the Alphaugh against his own will.
Lemaitre adjusted his cuffs, then adjusted them again, as if the thread might answer better than I would.
The ward smelled of rosemary, iron, and the kind of order only women can keep when men forget to be careful.
Monica stood at the foot of the first bed, charts in hand, gaze cool as a clean de.
Lira had taken the window. She did not bow.
Isolde was not in chains. She was upright, sleeves rolled, wringing out a cloth, her beauty a little less terrifying in the good light. She looked at me, then at Francesco, then at the Alphas, and for a second¨Conly one¨Cshe smiled. Not for them. For the sport. Because she know what is this.
¡°This is your dungeon?¡± Lemaitre said.
¡°This is where we keep people alive, I already show to othe Alpha too.¡± I told him softly. ¡°Men in dungeons get dramatic. Women in wards tell the truth out of boredom.¡±
It broke augh from too many throats for Lemaitre¡¯sfort.
Bourdon peered, greedily polite. ¡°She looks well.¡±
¡°She is,¡± Monica said. ¡°She is also watched. She has asked for honey and received gruel. She has asked for razors and received patience. She has asked for the King and received the Luna. She is alive because we decided knowing things is more useful than burying them.¡±
Lemaitre shifted his weight. ¡°And has she told you anything¡ useful?¡±
Ha..!
Isolde opened her mouth with the hunger of a woman who hears her cue, but I lifted a hand without looking
at her.
¡°Yes,¡± I said, eyes on Lemaitre. ¡°Enough.¡±
He bristled. ¡°Enough for what?¡±
Are we curious? I try to notugh watching him and keep my neutral face.
¡°Enough¡. To keep you safe,¡± I finally said. ¡°From your own curiosity.¡±
Lira coughed. Well¡ It might have been augh.
11:42 Wed, Oct 1
We did not linger.
$63
50 vouchers
We let them see a ward that smelled likew and a woman whose eyes held the story of her own undoing.
We let them carry back to Dorian the image of a Luna who does not flinch and a king who does not show his teeth until he needs them for more than scaring children.
Back in the square, the light had shifted gold.
Frances, the mason whose hands I trust with corners, had climbed the well to fix a nail that did not need it; I smiled up at him and he grinned down at me like a man who likes the job gravity keeps giving him.
Lemaitre cleared his throat, thin, and reached for anotherce of rumor. ¡°The Lycaon name has always¡¡± He stopped, because the crowd had begun to turn, not against him, but toward the stalls where Maria had decided it was time for juice and the call of real life had eclipsed the performance.
He tried again, louder. ¡°The Lycaon line¡ª¡±
¡°Will answer for itself,¡± I said firmly. ¡°Tomorrow. When the elders and children gather. You are wee to listen if you can keep quiet.¡±
He shut his mouth on a retort that would have made him look small.
Bourdon, to his credit, nodded with genuine curiosity.
The tight¨Cmouthed Alpha nced toward the road as if measuring how long it would take a horse to leave.
I almost felt sorry for him. Discover more novels at find¡¤novel
Well¡ Almost.
Still His 218
Alfonso arrived at my shoulder, moving like a man who had news and knew where to put it.
He did not speak.
He didn¡¯t have to.
I felt the bond tug a second before Audrey¡¯s head turned toward the hall.
¡°Inside,¡± she said softly.
13 55 vouchers
We dismissed the square with warmth. Not pomp. Not a king¡¯s wave. A woman¡¯s hand, a man¡¯s nod, the promise of tables to be set before the sun dropped. People spilled into their lives with relief and talk. Spies wrote down the wrong details with admirable industry.
In the hall, we found what we knew was waiting.
The salt¨Chand man slumped on a bench, a nket around his shoulders, rope burns bright against skin that had not been meant for this kind of work.
He looked up and flinched when he saw Francesco. Not fear for himself. Fear for having made my mate look at him.
¡°Tell us again,¡± Audrey said, gentle. ¡°The words. Not just the coin.¡±
He swallowed nervously While watching us all.
His voice came out hoarse. ¡°He said¡¡± He stopped, eyes sliding to me in apology. ¡°He said to give the children thest egg if I could not¡ if I could not.¡±
Lira¡¯s mouth went knife¨Cthin. ¡°Of course.¡±
¡°And the stirring,¡± Audrey prompted.
¡°Ten,¡± he whispered. ¡°Ten circles. And hum. So it wouldn¡¯t¡ so it would hide.¡±
¡°Hide from what?¡± Marlow asked fast in curious.
¡°From the house,¡± the man said, blink¨Cearnest. ¡°He said this house remembers prayers.¡±
God, what is it now?
I closed my eyes for the space of two breaths.
Whoever he was¨Cthe man who paid, the voice that hummed for him¨Che had been here before in some other life.
Or he knew the houses.
Or he knew the wolves.
¡°And the voice?¡± Audrey said. ¡°Say again how it felt.¡±
6:0
165 vouchers
He turn his gaze back at her before he speak. ¡°It¡¯s like two men in one,¡± he exined. ¡°Like one was wearing the other, and the one inside had his teeth clenched.¡±
My skin prickled.
I didn¡¯t look at Francesco; I didn¡¯t have to.
The bond moved like a hand over a map, finding the shape without our mouths admitting it¨Ca voice wearing
a voice.
Dorian¡¯s hand, yes.
But another hand inside it. Or behind it. Or beneath.
¡°Who else spoke to you?¡± Marlow asked softly. ¡°Who gave you times and doors? You did not find those with salt and rope.¡±
The man stared at his hands as if they might have learned to sign when he wasn¡¯t looking.
We wait until he speak in patiently.
¡°A woman,¡± he whispered finally. ¡°But I never saw her face. She left messages where only the stable boys read.¡±
A woman¡.
¡°Where?¡± Francesco asked, all quiet.
¡°In the bucket under the third stall,¡± he told him. ¡°Wrapped in twine and oilcloth. Always dry when it shouldn¡¯t be.¡±
Oilcloth¡
Salt¡
A hum¡
A woman without a face leaving dry parcels where water should have had its way.
¡°Inside,¡± Audrey said, her voice no longer soft. ¡°They¡¯re closer than I like.¡±
Alfonso closed his ledger. ¡°We¡¯ll watch the stalls without making them feel watched.¡±
Marlow¡¯s eyes had gone a little distant¨Cthe way they do when he is listening for the one note in a song that does not belong. ¡°We follow the rope. We follow the sugar. We follow the egg.¡±
¡°Egg?¡± Lira asked, suspicious.
¡°Men who hide things in things getzy,¡± Marlow told her. ¡°They repeat themselves. The pattern shaker ja own hand. We¡¯ll find where else thest thing is always a little too easy¡±
I felt the tired in my bones then, not of body, but of the part of me that holds the day so others don¡¯t have to.
Francesco must have felt it, too, his arm slid around my waist, anchoring, without iming
The salt¨Chand man looked up then, sudden, fear and shame and a little courage crossing his face like clouds. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he blurted. ¡°I didn¡¯t know. I swear by the water I didn¡¯t know¡±
I sighed and give him a small smile. ¡°I know,¡± I said. It surprised me that my voice didn¡¯t shake. ¡°You will make it right by telling us everything you remember, and then by carrying wood for the ward until Monical says your back is enough.¡±
He blinked In surprise. ¡°Not¡ In prison?¡±
¡°Prison is for men who n,¡± I exin tiredly. ¡°You were used. Your debt is to the women who have had to learn to sleep with one eye open. You will pay it with blisters.¡±
He started to cry the way grown men do when they have held too much for too long¨Cquiet, offended by its own existence.
Marlow handed him a cloth without making a production of it.
Audrey looked away to give him a dignity she would never name.
We dismissed him.
Alfonso took him to a pallet in the corner with a cup and a promise of a job.
Monica said the word good in a way that made the air less sharp.
When the hall was ours again, Francesco spoke to the rafters more than to us. ¡°There is a voice inside a voice?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± I breathe.
¡°And a hand inside a hand,¡± Audrey added.
¡°And a woman who knows roofs,¡± Marlow said. ¡°Because oilcloth is a craft for rain, not for kitchens.¡±
So it means¡.
¡°We¡¯re being watched,¡± Alfonso said. ¡°From a ce that knows how we move when we think no one is looking.¡±
¡°Now, we knew that,¡± I finished them. ¡°Now we know which stall to start with.¡±
¡°Not just stalls,¡± Lira said, suddenly join our conversation. ¡°The well. The bucket under the third stall, always dry, when the ground is wet¨Cshe is keeping her messages above the waterline. She is not a stable hand. She is a river woman.¡±
11:42 Wed, Oct 1
60 Vouchers
¡°Camargue,¡± Alfonso agreed.
¡°Or an apprentice thereof.¡± Lira nodded. ¡°A woman who has been near reeds long enough to think like one.¡±
Francesco¡¯s fingers tightened just once at my hip. ¡°Tomorrow,¡± he said quietly. ¡°We gather the elders and the children. We speak the story out loud before someone else sells it to us with a spice we don¡¯t want. And we open the stalls after, and the wells, and the cupboards. With bread, not des. Until we need des.¡± For more chapters visit Find1Novel
¡°Dorian will send men to interrupt,¡± Marlow said, almost cheerful. ¡°He cannot bear a story that does not belong to him.¡±
¡°Well.. He can stand at the back,¡± I said. ¡°He will learn that the back is where the sound is better.¡±
Francesco turned me toward him with two fingers under my chin.
The hall fell away until it was only us and the hum we had turned into harmony.
¡°You will stand with me,¡± he said, not as a question.
I give him a warm smile ¡°Always,¡± I said, not as a vow but as a reminder to myself of the life I had chosen.
We left the hall.
The day leaned into evening.
The house loosened its shoulders and decided to hold a little longer.
Outside, in the blue hour whennterns be the only stars you can touch, someone stood in the shadow of the arch and watched us pass.
A woman, perhaps.
Or the idea of one.
The air around her felt attentive.
She did not move.
She did not need to.
Somewhere beyond the roofs, beyond the fields, beyond thest ce our maps have ink for, the fen turned its face toward us and whispered through someone else¡¯s mouth.
We would answer in ours.
We would do it in daylight.
And when we asked for names, we would not settle for a voice inside a voice.
We would take the hand inside the hand, and we would hold it up to the square until the story had to tell the truth or go hungry.
11:42 Wed, Oct 1
Still His 219
The morning felt heavy.
63
bo vouchers
Not because of the weather¨Cthe sun was out, pale gold threading through the shutters of our chamber¨Cbut because of the silence pressing in from the halls beyond.
Silence in a house filled with wolves was never natural.
Wolves thrived on sound: footsteps echoing down corridors, sparring grunts in the yard,ughter rising from
kitchens.
Silence meant something had cracked.
I stirred beneath the nkets, my body still sluggish from the poison.
Lira¡¯s herbs lingered bitter on my tongue, their scent still clinging to my skin.
Francesco had hardly left my side since that night. Hey stretched across the bed beside me now, one arm thrown protectively over my waist as though even in sleep he feared someone might take me. His hand twitched when I moved, the reflex of a man who had learned too many times what it meant to wake to loss.
I kissed the back of his hand gently and slid from beneath it.
Mika stirred inside me, her ears pricked. ¡®Careful,¡® she warned. ¡®Something¡¯s wrong. The pack¡¯s heartbeat is off.¡®
Yes, I felt it too.
That restless energy in the air, like the moments before a storm when birds went silent.
The corridor outside confirmed it.
Warriors stood stiff at intervals, their eyes alert, but there was no chatter, no easy banter.
Heads dipped respectfully as I passed, but their gazes carried unease.
It¡¯s like they were guarding something¡ªnot just me.
Monica met me at the bottom of the stairs, her face pale, hands wringing her healer¡¯s cloth. Follow current nov?ls on ?ovelFind
¡°Luna.¡± She bowed, but her voice wavered.
¡°What is it?¡± My stomach twisted.
She hesitated. ¡°There¡¯s been¡ an incident. You shoulde.¡±
I followed her through the manor, my bare feet whispering against stone.
The air grew colder the deeper we went, until we reached the side courtyard near the old barns. A cluster of
11:42 Wed, Oct 1
warriors stood there, their bodies forming a tense circle.
When they saw me, they parted.
The smell hit me first.
It¡¯s bitter. Acrid. Metallic.
My throat clenched before my eyes confirmed what my body already knew.
On the groundy a man.
???? (63 )
55 vouchers
One of the kitchen hands¨CI recognized him faintly from the days I¡¯d spent slipping into the kitchens to help
Maria.
His face was ck, his lips stained with a faint green tinge. His eyes stared sightless at the sky.
Monica knelt beside him, her hands moving with a healer¡¯s precision but her face drawn with dread. ¡°He¡¯s gone,¡± she said softly. ¡°The poison. It¡¯s the same as yours.¡±
The same.
I staggered back a step, bile rising in my throat.
Not from fear for myself¡ªLira¡¯s healing had steadied me¡ªbut from the realization.
No, this wasn¡¯t just a poisoning. It was silencing. Someone had killed the man who might have known how the tainted cake reached me.
Francesco arrived then, his presence like a thunderp.
He strode into the courtyard, Marlow and Alfonso close behind him. His ck eyes swept the scene, and the air shifted instantly¨Cwolves stiffened, the tension sharpening. Power rolled off him, barely leashed. He crouched over the body, nostrils ring as he inhaled. His jaw tightened.
¡°The same scent,¡± he growled. ¡°The same bitterness she tasted.¡± His gaze flicked to me, softer for a heartbeat, then hardened again. ¡°They mean to tell me something.¡±
Alfonso¡¯s mouth was grim. ¡°Not just you, my King. It seems like they mean to tell everyone. That we cannot keep even our Luna safe. That we cannot keep a kitchen boy alive within our own walls.¡±
The wordsnded like stones in my stomach.
And worse¨Che was right.
Already whispers were spreading. I could feel it in the bond we all shared as a pack, the restless shuffle of fear moving through minds and bodies. A man was dead. And his death smelled like mine.
Marlow¡¯s hands flexed at his sides. ¡°This is strategy. Someone wants the people to doubt. They couldn¡¯t break you with poison, so they strike faith instead. They want wolves looking at you, my King, and asking if you are strong enough to protect them.¡±
11:43 Wed, Oct 1
63
55 vouchers
Francesco¡¯s eyes zed. For a moment I thought he might shift right there in the courtyard, rage pouring too hot to contain. But then his gaze cut to me, and I saw the war inside him: fury demanding blood, love demanding restraint.
¡°My love,¡± he said low, so only I could hear. ¡°They will not take you from me. But if they cannot take you, they will try to take the people¡¯s faith. That is how kingdoms rot.¡±
I reached for his hand. His fingers clenched around mine so tight it almost hurt, but I didn¡¯t let I go. will not let them rot it,¡± I whispered back.
He looked at me a long moment, then nodded once.
The decision settled into his shoulders.
¡°Then we
¡°Burn the body,¡± he ordered Alfonso. His voice carried, iron wrapped in me. ¡°We will not let their poison spread even in death. And gather the people tonight in the hall. I will speak to them. They will hear truth from me before lies take root.¡±
Alfonso bowed. Marlow barked orders. The warriors moved.
But, as the circle broke, I caught the edge of murmurs. Eyes darting. Fear unspoken.
That night, the hall filled with wolves. Old ones with weary faces, mothers clutching children close, warriors standing rigid with barely concealed rage. The long dining table I had set days before was pushed aside, reced by benches and standing room.
Francesco stood at the head, tall and terrible, his presence alone enough tomand silence. I stood beside him, my hand in his. He did not hide me away¨Che ced me in full view.
He spoke simply. ¡°A man was found dead today. Poison. The same poison that tried to take my Luna.¡± Murmurs rippled, fear thick. He lifted a hand, and they stilled. ¡°This is no ident. It is not weakness. It is war. Someone thinks to frighten you. Someone thinks to frighten me. They want you to believe we cannot protect you.¡±
His voice grew, deep as the earth itself. ¡°Hear me now. No force, no poison, no coward¡¯s trick will take what is mine. Thisnd, this pack, this Luna. They think to test us. They will learn the cost of their mistake.¡±
The hall shook with the force of his words.
Some wolves bowed their heads, reverence spilling through them.
Others exchanged nces, emboldened.
Then I stepped forward.
Francesco¡¯s hand tightened, but he let me go.
¡°They tried to use me to break you,¡± I said, letting my voice carry. ¡°They tried to make you believe the King cannot keep you safe. But look at me. I still stand. I will not hide in chambers or behind walls. I walk among you, eat among you, nt in your soil. I am not afraid, and you must not be either. Fear is their poison. Faith is our cure.¡±
11:43 Wed, Oct 1 - nt vouchers
Silence held for a heartbeat, then apuse broke. First a few hands, then many. Not the wild roar of a battle cry, but the steady beat of unity.
Butter, as the crowd dispersed and the warmth faded, I caught a whisper near the back of the hall.
Two young wolves, voices hushed but sharp enough for me to hear.
¡°If they can¡¯t protect the Luna,¡± one said, ¡°what chance do we have?¡±
The words pierced deeper than any de.
I turned, meeting Francesco¡¯s eyes across the hall. He had heard it too. His jaw clenched, and I knew¨Cthis was
not over.
Whoever our enemy was, they weren¡¯t trying to kill me anymore.
They were trying to kill belief.
Still His 220
m.
(63)
65 vouchers
They came to my room because the council chambers felt too public for the words we needed to speak.
The hall had already been used for the ritual of bread and truth; this was going to be the ritual of nning.
The light here was softer, the rugs newer, the one crooked chair that had once been mine in Florence now bearing the weight of men used to iron and ink.
Here, with the curtains half¨Cdrawn and the garden scent drifting through the window, we could say what we meant and watch the faces around us for signs of fear or steel.
Francesco sat with his back to the bed, one arm across my shoulders as if he¡¯d learned overnight that I was something to rest against when the world wanted to lurch.
Alfonso was at the small desk, half¨Csitting on it with his ledger closed and his gaze like a de under a cloak.
Audrey leaned in the doorway, always a silhouette, always an edge; Marlow had one knee up on a chair, boots scuffed, looking like a man who only pretended to befortable; Monica sped her hands in herp, the healer¡¯s worry softening into a look of readiness; and Lira¨CLira had arrived like a winter wind and set herself on the footstool, watching the way wolves watch a trapped hare: careful, sure she could catch what tried to get
away.
¡°This isn¡¯t my ce,¡± Francesco started, and he didn¡¯t look like a man asking for permission.
I raise an eyebrow.
He sounded like a man naming a fact he¡¯d begun to live with.
¡°Truly our territory,¡± he corrected quietly, as though saying our aloud imed it further. ¡°There¡¯s more here I didn¡¯t know¨Cold bargains and worse. Whatever the previous Alpha left behind was not just neglect. It was rot dressed as tradition.¡±
We all knew the story¨Chow Henri had given up the pack and how,ter, this ce had been abandoned, its young taken to bring his mate back, its roots eaten by whatever greedy thing prefers covenant to kindness. We¡¯d taken it on because we could not abide a ce left hungry. That was the short version that looked good
on paper. Original content can be found at Find?Novel
The truth had teeth, and it showed itself when men like Dorian decided to buy rumor with coin and throw it into countries where the poor have long memories.
Marlow nodded. ¡°French Alphas never weed us. They spun it into a story the night the rookery burned -the Italian King wants morend, they said. Now they make rumors into arrows.¡± His voice had the gravel of long roads under it. ¡°Poison the Luna. Kill the witness. Watch the pack wobble. It¡¯s tidy, if you like to work with other men¡¯s tragedies.¡±
I listened to the men name the enemy and felt something small and fierce in
I walked and stood beside Francesco, letting my shoulder rest against his.
my
ribs.
11:43 Wed, Oct 1
65 vouctions
He wrapped his arm around my back and kissed the top of my head¨Cthe small, domestic thing he has given me that always bnces the world. The gesture steadied me more than steel ever could.
¡°New ces are never easy,¡± I said, gathering their attention.
Their faces turned; I felt the weight of their hope and fear like weather.
¡°I¡¯ve missed being with you In Florence too. I know you worried I¡¯d vanish again. I know the poison¨Cboth the bitter taste and the rumor that follows¨Churt everyone. But people here are depending on us. They started because they believed we would hold them. To leave now would be cowardice.¡±
I could see it in their faces¨Crespect, surprise, that little crack of awe some people get when they realize a woman means what she says. We have been poured by long nights into something that looks like a kingdom.
It was easy to forget sometimes how much raw courage such gentle things take.
¡°Danger is everywhere,¡± I continued. ¡°ying nice worked yesterday because warmth was our weapon then. But warmth alone does not intimidate the kind of men who hire hands to stir a poison with a song. They don¡¯t respect shepherds or bakers. They respect only two things: the sharpness of teeth and the measure of your reach.¡± I looked at Francesco then, my voice softer. ¡°If they want the Lycaon to be a story of ruthless blood, let them. We¡¯ll answer the story with a new chapter¨Cone where warmth has teeth.¡±
Alfonso scooped a brow. ¡°You want us to trade our bread for des?¡± His ledger hit his palm like a small thunderp¨Cpaper and ink that always smelled of diplomacy and lists.
I turn my gaze at him when I answer ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Not trade. Add. Hearth to hammer.¡± I tapped my finger on the edge of the table. ¡°We continue the warmth¨Cfood, shelter, the open ward. That is our root. But above that root we build a wall, and along that wall we post men and wolves who do not smile when coin clinks suspiciously at the tavern table. We teach our people the smell of the fen and the taste of a hum in an egg. We don¡¯t let ruin wear kindness like a cloak.¡±
Audrey¡¯s lips twitched in a way that almost counted as a grin. ¡°In other words: we stop being velvet and start being iron, too.¡±
Marlow barked augh. ¡°About time. My men were beginning to feel too polite.¡±
Lira lifted one eyebrow in amusement. ¡°And how does Eine suggest we be dangerous without bing monsters ourselves?¡± Her voice had that dry humor that always preceded a n so precise it would leave
scars.
I give her a wide smile ¡°You know how,¡± I said. ¡°We set baits that catch more than spies. We force the ones who hide behind rumor to walk into the light, and we measure them there. We keep the kitchens open but locked to strangers. We let children keep their cakes, but we sit beside the ovens and teach them how to crack thest egg. We make every stall and every well a watched and honored ce. And when we find the hands that stir-¡±
I let the silence cut like a de.
¡°-we make sure our punishment is not poison returned for poison. We set it intow, intobor, into making good. We¡¯ll break theirworks, not their spirits.¡±
Alfonso¡¯s mouth softened. ¡°You¡¯re giving them dignity,¡± he said, thinking like a ledger man who knows the
11:43 Wed, Oct 1
power of a list. ¡°Turning punishment into restitution. Not all men will like it.¡±
$63
65 vouchera
¡°They won¡¯t.¡± I agreed with a nodded head. ¡°But the people will. And the ones who matter in the long view- those who¡¯ve lost daughters to the fen or sons to old bargains¨Cwill stay because we do not make them into spectacles for the fearful to gawk at. They¡¯ll stay because we chose them instead of choosing vengeance like a feast.¡±
There was a long, quiet moment.
I watched each of their faces¨CFrancesco¡¯s steadying, Alfonso¡¯s calctions cycling through, Audrey¡¯s jaw flexing at a smile too reluctant toe out, Monica¡¯s hands tightening into a knotted promise, Marlow¡¯s grin splitting the line between amusement and the thrill of the hunt. Lira¡¯s lips pressed together like a seam not yet cut. It was enough.
¡°First step,¡± Francesco said, voice low but certain, make our gaze turn to him. ¡°we show them our teeth without losing our hands. Patrols increase. No one goes to the well alone after sunset. The stalls stay open,
but
we instate a watch that includes mothers and elders, not only men with spears. We teach the market to sing our story before the rumor does.¡±
I smile. That¡¯s my Alpha!
¡°You want the women at the watch?¡± Monica asked, the healer¡¯s mind already envisioning how hands could be
trained.
¡°Yes,¡± Alfonso answered for me. ¡°Mothers know whose steps belong by the river shops. The watchers will be our people¨Cfarmers, midwives, cooks¨Cthose with eyes on what matters. Not strangers with coin.¡±
Marlow mmed a palm on the table once, delighted. He looks like a young children just get a new toys. ¡°And wey traps. Not for killing, but for catching¨Csnare the footprints, pin the threads. If they think to move in by night, we move in first. Let them think twice before they try to suffocate our kitchens.¡±
¡°Second step,¡± I said, leaning forward so my voice was the room¡¯s new gravity. ¡°We take the debate to Dorian¡¯s doorstep. Not by blood, not by insult, but byw. We send emissaries with petitions¨Clists of the missing, names of the children who gave me cakes, records of our patrols. We make the case so public and so proper that his men cannot hide behind gossip when the square can read what we say.¡± I paused, thinking. ¡°If we go to him with a hand full of truth and an open ledger, he cannot simply snarl and say we¡¯re weak without showing himself for the bully he is.¡±
I watch everyone nodded in agreement.
Lira hummed. ¡°And if he snarls, we show him teeth. Diplomacy with teeth. I know how to speak with swamp women and sorceresses; ten times out of ten the bogs prefer a sharp edge to a dull one.¡±
Francesco¡¯s hand found mine under the table and squeezed.
His shadow in the room did something I will never grow tired of: it steadied the unsteady. ¡°We will do it our way,¡± he said quietly. ¡°No poisoning them back. No shows of cruelty. Thisnd learns whatw sounds like when it belongs to its people. We hold them. We do not give them another reason to trade one tyrant for another.¡±
¡°Agreed,¡± Alfonso said, and the ledger in his mind started building the scaffolding. ¡°Marlow: you and Audrey take the southern markets. Find the man with rope hands. Question¨Cgently¨Cthen loudly if you must. Maria
55 Vouchers
hummed with responsibilities and risks. But there was a line of light along the sill where the curtains let the sun in, and it felt like a measuring stick for what we could bear.
Francesco walked me to the window and wrapped an arm around my waist.
He smoothed the hair at my temple with a thumb that still smelled faintly of leather and fresh horses.
¡°You were right,¡± he said, quiet and profound. ¡°We will be hearth¨Cand hammer.¡±
¡°And if Dorian thinks to test that?¡± I asked worriedly.
¡°He can test the wrong side of his reach,¡± he replied calmly. ¡°We have the people now. We have thew. And we have each other.¡±
I kissed him then¨Cnot avish thing, but a seal. A reaffirmation.
Outside, the manor¡¯s night noises had settled into the ordinary business of wolves who know their homes.
For all the ns and the sharp edges we had just set, the simple truths remained: a child¡¯sughter, Maria¡¯s humming, a guard¡¯s boot scuff.
Those were the things worth fighting for.
Tonight, we would begin to show our teeth.
Tomorrow, we would take a ledger to Dorian and demand he answer the questions he had been paid to keep hidden. We would do it with more than heat in our voices: with proof, with mothers at wells, with men who counted more than they feared, with women who held cake and spice and knew what poison tastes like.
F
Still His 221
Chapter 221
The next morning, the hall felt heavier before anyone spoke.
The weight wasn¡¯t from stone or ceiling beams.
No, it was from the way the air carried rumor, the way the servants whispered behind their hands, the way warriors moved in sharper lines as if expectingmands that would hurt when theynded. Readplete version only at f?ndnovel
We had set the long dining table again, silver polished, flowers cut fresh, bread warm enough to let steam rise
when torn.
Because, I had insisted on it¨Con keeping the warmth even as strategy shifted. It mattered that people saw bread and blossoms, not just des.
But the people had already heard the news: the King Alpha himself would speak new rules at breakfast.
And that was notmon.
So, when Francesco entered, followed by Alfonso and Marlow, the room hushed. His presence was enough to silence even the scrape of spoons. Warriors straightened in their seats. Women pressed their children¡¯s hands to keep them quiet.
My mate didn¡¯t sit immediately.
He let the silence thrum until every heartbeat in the hall belonged to him.
Then he ced his hands on the back of the chair at the head of the table¨Chis chair¨Cand spoke firmly.
¡°Yesterday we weed you as family,¡± he began, his voice deep, steady. ¡°We gave you bread and music and warmth. We offered you safety. And I meant it. But safety without teeth is an illusion. A house that keeps its doors open without guard will be burned. A wolf that shows only its belly will be eaten.¡±
Murmurs rustled through the hall.
Some elders frowned, confused.
Others nodded grimly, as if they had expected this all along.
But my Francesco¡¯s gaze swept the table. ¡°From this day, patrols double. Curfew returns at sundown. Any stranger who crosses our border without being known will be questioned, not weed. The wardens will check every loaf, every sk, every gift brought to this house.¡±
A gasp rose from one corner¨Cwomen clutching children.
I heard one whispered, ¡°But¡ yesterday, he smiled.¡±
I rose before fear could root deeper. I have to do something.
My voice carried clear, steady: ¡°Yesterday was the wee. Today is the shield. A family is both. Do
you
fear
protection? Or do you fear the lies others whisper about us?¡±
And that shut them.
Francesco¡¯s hand found mine briefly as I sat again, the warmth of his palm saying brava.
Then he continued¡
170
55 vouchers
¡°I will not y at warmth while enemies sharpen knives. We will show the face they fear¨Cthe Lycan they say is ruthless. Yes. To enemies. To those whoe in shadow. But to you-¡± his voice lowered, almost a growl ¨C¡°to you, who eat at this table, whobor and bleed and raise children here¨Cyou will have our strength. You will have me.¡±
The room trembled with that promise.
I saw awe on some faces, relief on others, fear still lurking in the eyes of those who did not yet know him.
Afterwards, when bread and stew were finally served, the tension did not vanish. It shifted. Men ate in silence, measuring. Women looked at me with questions in their eyes. When one finally spoke¨Cher voice small, uncertain¡ª¡°Luna, why such hard rules, so suddenly?¡±
I met her gaze without flinching. ¡°Because safety is not given, it is kept. Do you worry for your children?¡±
She nodded quickly.
¡°Then know this: every order the King gives now is for them. Protection first,fort after. A mother does not feed her children sweets before bread. We are the same.¡±
Her mouth snapped shut.
Others nced away, chastened.
But, no one asked again.
By the time breakfast ended, the rules had settled over the hall like a new roof¨Cheavy, strange, but necessary. Alfonso¡¯s jaw was tight with approval. Marlow wore that small, dangerous smile that meant he was already nning drills. Even Monica, who usually frowned at talk of des, only sighed softly and muttered, ¡°At least this way, fewer will end in my ward.¡±
But the people¨Coh, the people¨Cthey looked both afraid and oddly proud.
As if to say: ¡®our house is hard, but perhaps it will not fall.¡¯
Later, when Francesco and his knights walked toward the training field to begin their sharper regimen, I lingered behind.
My heart was proud of him, but it was also tired, knowing what enemies would twist from this show of steel.
By the time I returned to my chambers that evening, the day had already worn me.
I longed for Francesco¡¯s arms, for the quiet bond¨Chum that came only when we breathed in the same room.
12:35 Thu, Oct 2
But when I pushed open the door, I froze.
-70
The room was dim, the moon slicing the curtains into pale ribbons. And in the corner, in the shadow where themplight did not reach, someone waited.
The woman in gray.
Mother Severine¡.
Not a prisoner. Not a supplicant. Not an intruder who had forced her way. No. She stood as if she belonged there all along, as if she had only been waiting for me to notice.
Her hands were folded calmly before her.
Her eyes fixed on me with that same unsettling stillness from the square.
My heart thudded, but I closed the door behind me, deliberate, refusing to give her the satisfaction of fear.
¡°Luna,¡± she said, soft as the settling of ash.
I give her a small smile, I bet she know that I know her. That Isolde has spoke about her.
So I nodded my head before I called her. ¡°Mother,¡±
Her eyes caught the word mother and glinted, not with surprise but with recognition¡ªlike a candle ring in a draft.
It was the look of someone who already knew her name had been whispered, who could smell the trail of words back to the mouth that had spoken them.
As if she could taste that Isolde had given her away
Themplight trembled between us, and I knew: this was no ident.
She hade to make herself known, and whatever she wanted, I would hear it alone.
Because the reason why shee when noone around must be that she wants me only.
And like she know what¡¯s in my head, she gave me a small smile.
Still His 222
:.
A voucher.
¡°I remember yourst words to me,¡± she began, her voice smooth as old river stone. ¡°He tells you¡¡±
The pause was deliberate. She let the silence stretch, let it press against the walls, until I could hear my own blood in my ears.
¡°What?¡± I asked, though my mouth was dry, though my bones already knew the answer,
Her lips curved faintly, the ghost of a smile with no kindness in it. ¡°Your King. Your Lycan. Francesco,¡± Chapters first released on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?
At the sound of his name, Mika stirred inside me, ears t, a low growl in the hollow of my chest. My wolf did. not like this woman¨Cnot the way she said his name, not the way she weighted it like a coin she had once owned and might yet spend again.
I forced my breath to steady. ¡°What do you im he told me?¡±
She tilted her head, reed¨Ccolored hair slipping over one shoulder. ¡°Not im. I know¡ The words he left in your ear.¡±
Ice pricked my spine.
The word struck like a flint against memory. A half¨Cremembered whisper from weeks ago, a thread of voice tangled in sleep. Bring the sea back its stolen name.
My stomach clenched. She saw it. Of course she did.
¡°Ah,¡± she breathed, eyes sharpening. ¡°You do know I will know.¡±
I did not answer.
I would not give her the satisfaction.
But the air seemed to lean closer, hungry for the next word.
¡°He tells you,¡± Mother Severine said again, lower now, like a confession spoken in a church with no God to hear it, ¡°because blood remembers what mouths try to forget. Because the old Lycaon promised me something he never gave. And promises have teeth.¡±
Her eyes locked to mine then, steady, patient, relentless. ¡°Tell me, Luna¨Cdo you know what your mate¡¯s father stole from me?¡±
My throat ached, but I lifted my chin. ¡°If he wronged you, it was not Francesco¡¯s hand that did it.¡±
For the first time, something like heat broke in her expression¨Cnot anger, not sorrow, but a spark of satisfaction. ¡°And yet¡ it is Francesco¡¯s blood that carries the debt.¡±
The bond between me and my mate thrummed tight in my chest, protective, warning. I wanted to end the conversation, to turn my back, to call Audrey, Marlow, anyone. But I held her gaze. Because if this woman smelled even a breath of fear, she would feed on it like wolves on marrow.
11:56 Fri, Oct 3 M¡
¡°What debt?¡± I asked. My voice was calm. Too calm.
:.
69
12 85 vouchers
Mother Severine¡¯s smile deepened, slow as dusk. ¡°The kind that cannot be paid with coin. Only with names. And blood. And the truth you do not yet know.¡±
She stepped closer, and themplight caught her eyes, turning them silver¨Cgray like storm clouds.
¡°Shall I tell you, Luna?¡± she whispered. ¡°Shall I tell you what your King has never dared speak?¡±
I gulped nervously.
Her voice dropped, soft as a thread slipping through cloth. ¡°Bring the sea back its stolen name.¡±
She knows¡
The words sank in me like a stone in water. My breath caught before I could stop it. She saw. Of course she saw¨Cthe flicker in my face, the tightening in my shoulders.
Her smile was a thin de, sharp and cold.
I forced my chin higher. ¡°If you came here to frighten me with riddles, you¡¯ll find me harder to scare than you think.¡±
She moved one step closer into themp¡¯s reach.
The gray cloth of her dress looked dull until that moment, when it caught the faintest sheen, like wet ash. Her presence pulled the air taut, every shadow in the room bending closer to her.
¡°Your mate¡¯s father,¡± she said evenly, ¡°the old Totti Lycaon. A man with a crown in one hand and fire in the other. He promised me power. He promised me forever.¡±
A sick chill coiled in my gut. ¡°Promised you¡?¡±
¡°Love,¡± she said without hesitation, without shame. ¡°He whispered love into me like salt into water. He wanted my magic¨Cthe deep magic, older than wolf or Lycan. I was a girl then. Foolish enough to believe a king¡¯s vow Foolish enough to give him what he asked.¡±
Her eyes glittered hard, bitter. ¡°Together we dreamed of ruling the whole of Europe, He said we would build an empire that neither wolf nor man could shatter.¡±
Oh God¡
Sheughed then, like he could hear the horror in my head, but it was an empty, rattlingugh. ¡°And then he left me. Left me with nothing but the taste of lies. He took from me what he could not keep¡ªand when he abandoned me, he sealed my power away with chains of dark iron. Buried me alive in silence, in stone. For decades Iy there, breathing dust, waiting.¡±
I couldn¡¯t breathe. My skin prickled cold.
The old Totti¡ Francesco¡¯s father?
11:56 Fri, Oct 3 M¡
:
69
El 56 vouchers
Her voice sank lower, softer, but the words carried like knives. ¡°So when he said, ¡®Bring the sea back its stolen name,¡® he was naming the debt. Because what he stole from me was a name.¡±
I frowned, shaken, unable to stop my whisper.
¡°A name?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± She leaned forward, and for the first time her voice trembled, not with weakness but fury contained like a storm at sea. ¡°He took my name, Luna. Not just what I was called¨Cmy very power. My true name, the word of me that bound my magic to my blood. Without it, I was a shadow. With it, I am what you see now.¡±
The gray in her eyes deepened, storm against stone. ¡°And it is his blood, your Francesco¡¯s blood, that ties me to my prison still. Do you see now why I cannot let the Lycaon line go unpunished?¡±
My heart hammered.
The bond inside me with Francesco shivered tight, as if even across the manor he felt the shadow of her words.
I swallowed hard. ¡°No.¡± My voice cracked once, then steadied. ¡°No. I see only that a bitter woman is still chained to the past. Whatever your quarrel was, it was with him. Not my mate.¡±
Her lips curved, faint, cruel. ¡°And yet you carry his legacy. You carry the curse that began with his father¡¯s betrayal.¡±
Her words hung in the room, heavy as iron.
I clenched my fists, soil from yesterday¡¯s garden still faint in my nails. ¡°Then you¡¯ll find I do not break easily. I¡¯ve survived rejection, I¡¯ve survived loss, and I will protect Francesco with everything I have. You may hate his father, but you will not have his son.¡±
Mother Severine regarded me for a long, endless moment. Then she smiled¨Cnot kindly, not warmly, but like a woman who has found her enemy¡¯s spine.
¡°Good,¡± she said softly. ¡°I prefer when the prey fights back.¡±
And then she was gone, slipping into the dark like she had never been there at all.
Or that¡¯s what I thought¡
11:56 Fri, Oct 3 M
Still His 223
¡
Chapter 223
Thetch clicked.
:
58 voticher
Such a small, ordinary sound¨Cyet it made my heart jump as though lightning had crawled down my spine.
Oh no, please tell that isn¡¯t who I thought he is.
I turned, and there he was.
¡°Eine¡?¡± Francesco¡¯s voice filled the doorway, steady but already threaded with suspicion.
His gaze swept the room¨Cand froze.
¡°What..¡± He stiffened.
His eyes darkened, sharp gold when it¡¯s catching themplight like a de unsheathed.
Because she hadn¡¯t fully gone.
No, mother Severine was still there.
Her gray dress drank the shadows, her presence heavy as iron despite her quiet stillness.
She stood with hands folded as though she were some harmless matron¡ªbut the air around her throbbed with something ancient, something wrong.
Francesco¡¯s lips peeled back in a growl that came from the marrow of him, the sound that had once silenced battlefields. It reverberated against the stone walls, making the very mes in the sconces quiver.
She smile when she saw who¡¯s there, like she¡¯s waiting for him.
¡°The Lycaon is here. Let¡¯s see,¡± she said softly, eyes gleaming as she looked not at him, but at me.
What¡.
¡°Let¡¯s see if a Lycaon can truly be trusted.¡±
I gasped, the sound torn out of me before I could stop it.
Francesco surged forward, the predator in him zing through every line of his body. ¡°Don¡¯t touch her,¡± he snarled, voice shaking the room.
But Severine only smiled.
A cruel, secret smile.
Then pain struck me like a spear.
Invisible, crushing. Make me gasped loudly like something hit me very hard.
11:56 Fri, Oct 3 M
My knees buckled as though the floor itself had pulled me down. I hit the ground hard, air ripping from my lungs.
What¡ Is¡ This?
¡°Eine!¡± Francesco¡¯s roar shattered into the night, so raw with terror it didn¡¯t sound human.
¡°The Lycaon¡¯s greatest power,¡± Severine hissed, her voice echoing through the chamber as if it were spoken both beside me and inside me. Her eyes glittered with unnatural light. ¡°It wasn¡¯t his. They stole it. And now- let us see if the Lycaon will sacrifice himself when the woman he ims to love¡ is in pain.¡±
¡°No¡¡± My voice broke as darkness wed at the edges of my sight. ¡°Francesco¡¡±
He lunged, dropping to his knees, arms catching me up from the cold stone. His warmth pressed against my skin but it could not stop the freezing weight crawling into my chest.
Mika? What is happening? ¡®I¡ I don¡¯t know, Eine¡
Mika¡
¡°What the¨CEine!!!¡± His voice cracked like splintering ss.
The door burst open.
Audrey, ws drawn out from her hands. Alfonso, eyes zing. Monica with her healer¡¯s satchel half¨Copen. hands trembling. Marlow behind them, three of his knights pushing in with a predator¡¯s silence.
They hade because they had heard him roar.
Not just a roar of fury. A roar of loss.
And to them, that sound meant only one thing: their Luna was falling.
¡°Protect her!¡± Francesco thundered, his voice breaking into something more primal. He held me as though the world might try to rip me from his arms. ¡°Don¡¯t let her touch her again!¡±
But it was toote.
Even as they fanned into the room, des out, silver shing, Severine¡¯s form blurred with a smile still ter
on her face.
The air twisted like smoke drawn into a hungry fire.
Then, she vanished¡.
Gone, as though she had never stood there make everyone froze in surprise, this isn¡¯t a thing they usualy face, so they have no idea what to do next.
But the curse she left behind clung to me like chains.
¡°Nooo!¡± Francesco¡¯s roar shook the very stones. His hand cradled my face, desperate, frantic. ¡°Stay with me!
11:56 Fri, Oct 3 M¡
Amore mio, don¡¯t leave me!¡±
But I couldn¡¯t fight it.
:
The ckness rose too fast, swallowing my breath, dragging me down, down, down.
I was gone from the chamber. Gone from his arms.
Falling and floating all at once.
My body no longer mine, suspended in some endless dark river.
??
I wanted to scream his name, to w back toward his warmth¨Cbut my lips wouldn¡¯t move. My hands wouldn¡¯t lift.
What is this¡?
What is happening to me?
*****
Then, after a while, I heard a voice.
A voice. Not his.
But, a woman¡¯s.
¡°LYCAON!!!¡±
The name cracked through the dark like thunder.
I twisted toward it, my mind jerking awake in horror-
And there he was.
A man who bore Francesco¡¯s face. Tall. Broad. Cold. His eyes glowed not with the gold of a bond but with something sharper, crueler.
My heart stopped.
No, It wasn¡¯t him.
It couldn¡¯t be him.
This was another.
¡°Ia that¡ Totti Lycaon,¡± I whispered into the void, though my voice didn¡¯t carry. This is his father.
And she was there too.
Severine¡
11:56 Fri, Oct 3 M-
Chapter 223
Amore mio, don¡¯t leave me!¡±
But I couldn¡¯t fight it.
The ckness rose too fast, swallowing my breath, dragging me down, down, down.
I was gone from the chamber. Gone from his arms.
Falling and floating all at once.
My body no longer mine, suspended in some endless dark river.
In 55 Vardh
I wanted to scream his name, to w back toward his warmth¨Cbut my lips wouldn¡¯t move. My hands wouldn¡¯t lift.
What is this¡?
What is happening to me?
*****
Then, after a while, I heard a voice.
A voice. Not his.
But, a woman¡¯s.
¡°LYCAON!!!¡±
The name cracked through the dark like thunder.
I twisted toward it, my mind jerking awake in horror-
And there he was.
A man who bore Francesco¡¯s face. Tall. Broad. Cold. His eyes glowed not with the gold of a bond but with something sharper, crueler.
My heart stopped.
No, It wasn¡¯t him.
It couldn¡¯t be him.
This was another.
¡°Ia that¡ Totti Lycaon,¡± I whispered into the void, though my voice didn¡¯t carry. This is his father.
And she was there too.
Severine¡
11:57 Fri, Oct 3 M¡
:
(69)
55 Vouchers
Not gray now. Not weathered. Young. Beautiful in the way fire is beautiful¨Cdangerous, consuming.
She moved toward him, her arms full of something¨Ca bundle, glowing faintly with strange light.
He reached for it¨Cclutched it to his chest as though it were treasure.
His hunger for it made my stomach twist.
¡°Severine,¡± Totti barked, urgency threading his voice. ¡°Here!¡±
She leaned close, her lips whispering into his car. I couldn¡¯t hear the words, but I didn¡¯t need to. The sight alone was enough.
My blood froze.
Oh my Moon Goddes.
This wasn¡¯t just a dream.
This was the curse dragging me into their past.
And the bundle in his arms shifted. The faint glow pulsed once, alive.
I gasped, my chest burning with the effort.
What was it?
A child?
A relic?
Power itself?
Severine¡¯sughter brushed my skin like frost.
My pulse pounded.
My lungs burned.
¡°No¡ no, please¡¡±
I understood now. The curse wasn¡¯t meant to kill me. Chapters first released on f?ndnovel
It was meant to show me. To drown me in their truth.
To bind me to the Lycaon family¡¯s oldest sin.
And as the light in the bundle flickered, my own sight went ck
Still His 224
The vision deepened.
It wasn¡¯t our world anymore.
This was before. Before heirs, before betrayal, before the wars that fractured the continent.
This was the seed.
Seems like she sent me to the past¡ Why? What does she want me to see? This text is hosted at find¡¤novel
The air shimmered, heavy with the tang of magic not yet tainted by blood.
E2 56 vouchdle-
I found myself standing in a stone courtyard, open to the stars. Torches burned low in iron sconces. The walls were draped in vines so thick they seemed alive, whispering in anguage I almost understood.
And there he was.
Totti Lycaon.
Not the grieving father I had heard about in old stories. Not the ruler weathered by responsibility. He was younger¨Cradiant, dangerous, the kind of man whose smile cut deeper than his de. His presence was power made flesh, and yet¡ there was calction in his eyes, like a predator pretending to nap while it measured the pulse of its prey.
Opposite him stood Severine.
Not the gray woman I had met. Not yet the bitter witch who haunted my halls. She was younger¨Calmost fragile, her hair the color of spun straw, her eyes bright and unscarred by cruelty. She held herself like someone who had been told all her life she was destined for greatness but had never been shown how to wield - it.
She was still innocent enough to believe.
¡°Do you know what you are, Severine?¡± Totti asked, his voice velvet over iron.
Her lips parted, hesitant before a nodded. ¡°A witch.¡±
¡°A white witch,¡± he corrected, stepping closer. ¡°The rarest of all. You carry the kind of power that makes the heavens themselves take notice. You could weave spells no coven dares whisper.¡±
Her breath hitched. She didn¡¯t deny it¨Cbecause she wanted to believe it.
And Totti knew.
He circled her slowly, like a hawk studying a dove. ¡°Do you think the gods gave you this power to heal scratches? To light hearths? To stir soup pots? No. You were meant to change the world. But power¡ power needs a hand to guide it.¡±
16:47 Sat, Oct 4
Her chin lifted. ¡°And you would guide me?¡±
:
$4
1955 vouchers
Totti smiled, all teeth and promise. ¡°I would teach you how to use what you already have. I would stand at your side as the world bows.¡±
I wanted to scream.
To warn her.
But the vision held me prisoner.
Severine nodded, her youth and hunger blinding her to the trap. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll do it.¡±
Her smile then was radiant, unguarded, hopeful.
And Totti¡¯s smile-
Gods.
It was the smile of a man who had just taken the first step toward damning an entire bloodline.
The courtyard flickered, the stars overhead trembling.
Mika whimpered inside me, fur bristling. ¡®We should not be here. This is where it begins.
I knew.
This was not love. This was not a partnership. This was the moment a young witch was tricked into writing her own chains.
The origin of every curse.
And I was watching it unfold.
Looks like Severine wants me to see why I shouldn¡¯t trust Lycan.
*****
The courtyard blurred again, and when the shapes returned, time had shifted.
I stood in a long hall lined with candles that bent toward a single figure: Severine. She was younger still, her face open and trembling with hope. She wore white linen, simple, unadorned, like the apprentices of the old witch circles. Her hands were inked faintly with half¨Clearned sigils, the marks of a girl still in training.
And yet she looked like every inch of her wanted to be chosen.
Totti Lycaon stood before her. Not the weary patriarch the world remembered in whispers, not the shadow whose sons wouldter tear the continent apart. No¨Cthis Totti was at the height of his prime, broad- shouldered, dangerous, beautiful in the way predators are beautiful. His eyes gleamed not only with power but with the certainty that he deserved more.
16:47 Sat, Oct 4
But what startled me wasn¡¯t his strength.
It was his tenderness.
9:
54
55 vouchers
He touched Severine like she was ss. Like she mattered. He brushed a strand of straw¨Ccolored hair from her cheek and murmured words that carried the rhythm of vows.
¡°My Severine,¡± he whispered. ¡°Do you know what you are to me?¡±
Her breath caught. ¡°A¡ a witch.¡±
He shook his head slowly, his mouth curving in that kind of smile that drowns reason. ¡°Not a witch. The woman who will make the world kneel beside me. The woman I love.¡±
Her knees almost buckled. I saw it¨Cthe way she swayed, as if a lifetime of being overlooked had just been rewritten in one word. Love.
I wanted to shout. To tear through the vision and seize her shoulders. ¡®Don¡¯t believe him. Don¡¯t give him your heart.¡¯
But Severine¡¯s heart was already his.
And Totti knew it.
He leaned closer, his voice low and urgent. ¡°There is something only you can do, Severine. Something no one else has the courage or the gift to attempt. If you do this, no council, no pack, no king could deny us. We will be eternal.¡±
Her eyes shone with unshed tears. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡±
He paused¨Clong enough to make her desperate for the answer.
Then he drew from his cloak a parchment scrawled with symbols I didn¡¯t recognize. Forbidden script. ck and raw.
¡°You¡¯ve heard of the heart of a mermaid,¡± he said. Not a question. A temptation.
Severine¡¯s lips parted, shock flickering across her face. ¡°It¡¯s a legend.¡±
His smile cut deeper. ¡°No, my love. It¡¯s real. And it¡¯s here. Hidden in the vault of your own coven¡¯s headmistress. Sealed by wards only a white witch could pass without burning.¡±
Her hands trembled. ¡°That is forbidden. It would mean betraying my-¡±
He caught her hands in his, kissed her knuckles as if to erase the thought. ¡°It would mean freeing us. Don¡¯t you see? With that heart, with your power and mine together, nothing will chain us. No one will treat you like a servant ever again. You will be my queen. You will be remembered forever.¡±
Her face crumpled. Hope warred with fear. ¡°You love me?¡± she whispered, raw, searching.
And Totti Lycaon¨Ccurse his name¨Cnodded with all the conviction of a man telling the sweetest lie. ¡°More
16:47 Sat, Oct 4.
(54
655 vouchers
than life. More than power itself. I love you, Severine. That is why I ask you. Because only you can help us be what we were meant to be.¡±
I felt the bond between them tighten¨Cnot a true bond, not fate, but a tether of lies and desperate need.
Severine¡¯s tears spilled, and still she nodded. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll do it. For you. For us.¡±
And in that moment, her doom was sealed.
The vision twisted again, showing her creeping barefoot through vaulted corridors of stone, wards dimming as her white magic parted them. Her hands clutched a crystal vessel that pulsed faintly with blue light, like the ocean itself had been caged. The heart of a mermaid.
Her eyes shone with triumph as she whispered, ¡°I stole it from my master¡¯s vault. For you.¡±
Totti kissed her like a victor, like a thief, like a man who had just bound an innocent girl to a chain she would never see until it was toote.
And Eine¨Cme¨Cwatched with my stomach sick, because I finally understood:
Severine hadn¡¯t been born bitter.
She had been made.
By a Lycaon¡¯s smile.
By a lie called love.
AD
Comment
Still His 225
The chamber did not vanish this time.
:
54
55 vouchers
It clung to me like smoke, and I was dragged deeper into Severine¡¯s world, like she want to make sure I get everything.
Days passed¨Cor what felt like days. I saw fragments, like shards of ss reflecting a story too sharp to hold.
Severine moving through the stone corridors with her hair undone, the tired smile of a woman who gave too much but believed it was for love. Her hands shook when she poured water into a bowl, and she steadied herself against the wall. Her lips were pale, her skin growing thinner, like parchment over me.
And always, Totti was there.
Not withfort. Not with worry.
With ambition. Th?s chapter is updated by f?ndnovel
He touched her as if she were both beloved and a weapon, stroking her hair before asking for more spells. Kissing her mouth before demanding more strength. Whispering love like a key to unlock her every hidden
power.
And she gave. Always, she gave.
One night, I saw her copse at the edge of the ritual circle. Her breath came shallow, her fingers bloodied from carving runes into stone. The heart of the mermaid pulsed faintly now within Totti¡¯s chest, its glow like veins of ocean fire threading beneath his skin.
¡°Tired again?¡± His voice was soft, but it wasn¡¯t concern. It was a calction.
She forced augh, weak but stubborn. ¡°I¡¯ll grow stronger. My master warned me of this¨Cmagic costs, she said. But you¡¯re worth the price.¡±
Worth the price.
The words cut through me like ss.
I wanted to grab her. Shake her. Tell her: No, it isn¡¯t supposed to cost like this. Not your body, not your soul. He¡¯s taking more than you know.
But she couldn¡¯t hear me.
She looked at him like he hung the moon, even as she coughed and crimson flecked her lips. She hid it, turning away quickly, wiping her mouth before he noticed. Or maybe he did notice, and simply didn¡¯t care.
The tragedy was not only in her blindness.
It was in his silence.
16:47 Sat, Oct 4
Because in Totti¡¯s eyes, there was no rm. Only hunger.
Hunger for what she could give.
Hunger for what she would sacrifice.
And Severine mistook that hunger for devotion.
She thought herself blessed. Chosen. Loved.
The vision twisted again, dragging me further.
$4
16 55 vouchers
I saw her sitting at the edge of the garden one morning, staring at her reflection in a basin of water. The sun gilded her hair, but shadows bruised her eyes. She lifted her hand to her face, as if searching for the girl she had once been. For the strength that used to live in her limbs before every spell wrung her dry.
Then Totti appeared, strong and shining, his presence filling the garden like a king. He bent to kiss her, and she melted against him, relief softening her features.
¡°I would give you everything,¡± she whispered. ¡°Even if it breaks me.¡±
He smiled. Not in gratitude. Not in fear.
In triumph.
The basin water rippled, and I saw my own reflection there¨Cmy own eyes wide, horrified, filled with tears.
I realized then: Severine was not yet ready to see the truth.
Her love was still too bright. Too blinding.
And that was the deepest tragedy of all.
She would keep giving until there was nothing left to give.
And Totti would keep taking.
*****
Severine stood near the ritual circle, her hair a wild halo around her face.
She was paler now than I had ever seen her in these visions, the kind of pale thates from sickness, not from birth. Her wrists trembled as she ground herbs into a bowl, dark streaks staining her fingers.
And Totti was there. Always there.
He looked impossibly strong. The veins of ocean¨Cfire from the mermaid¡¯s heart now pulsed under his skin like a second life, like a secret only he carried. His hands rested on the edge of the altar, his posture that of a king waiting to be crowned.
When he spoke, his voice was smooth as silk sliding over a de.
16:47 Sat, Oct 4
¡°Vampire blood.¡±
Severine froze. The pestle stilled mid¨Cgrind. For the first time, I saw her really look at him. Not with devotion. not with trust but with something like suspicion.
¡°Vampire blood?¡± she echoed, softly, as if saying the words might summon something.
Totti nodded, slow, deliberate. ¡°Thest thing we need. Once we have it, the ritual isplete. I will be stronger than any Lycan who has ever lived. And you¡¡± He smiled, stepping closer. ¡°You will be by my side, my queen.¡±
Her eyes flicked to his face, searching. I could almost see her thoughts, the threads of doubt starting to form. Her master¡¯s warnings, the growing weakness in her limbs, the blood she hid in her handkerchief.
¡°My master has been questioning metely,¡± she said atst, her voice quieter now, but firmer. ¡°He wonders why I¡¯m getting weaker. He will soon discover the forbidden heart of the mermaid is gone. He will know I
took it.¡±
Totti¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver. He reached out and touched her chin, tilting it up as though she were a child. ¡°Severine¡¡±
She drew back a fraction. Just a fraction ¨C but enough that my heart tightened.
¡°Where,¡± she asked, ¡°will we get vampire blood? It is not a thing to be found in market stalls. Even if I had strength left¡¡±
For the first time, there was a tremor of unease in her tone. Not fear for herself. Fear of what she was bing.
Totti¡¯s eyes darkened, but not with shame. With calction. He stepped closer until his breath stirred her hair. ¡°Severine,¡± he said softly, ¡°didn¡¯t you love me?¡±
The question was a dagger wrapped in velvet.
Her lips parted. I saw the war inside her ¨C the young witch who believed in the man who whispered love to her at midnight, and the apprentice who remembered her master¡¯s warnings about forbidden spells and their price.
¡°I do,¡± she whispered, and it sounded like a confession. ¡°I have done everything you asked. I stole the mermaid¡¯s heart. I built your circles. I burned my strength like kindling. But¡ª¡±
Totti didn¡¯t let her finish. He kissed her forehead, a gesture so gentle it was almost cruel.
¡°Then trust me,¡± he murmured. ¡°Trust that I will take care of everything. You just finish the ritual. For us.¡±
Her eyes fluttered shut. She wanted to believe him. She needed to believe him. But when she opened her eyes again, for a heartbeat ¨C a single heartbeat ¨C I saw something crack in them.
A question.
A shadow of doubt.
16:47 Sat, Oct 4
And then it was gone, swallowed by devotion.
She nodded, weakly. ¡°For us,¡± she echoed, though her voice didn¡¯t quite reach her own ears.
I felt my stomach twist.
The tragedy was no longer only that he had fooled her.
It was that she was beginning, piece by piece, to realize it ¨C and still she stayed.
Still His 226
Chapter 226
Love is a dangerous thing.
I sighed while watching the scene in front of me, no, more like a horrible backstabing love story.
No wonder Severine hate the Lycaon so much.
I don¡¯t know how it end, yet I know he used her loves toward him.
Her pure love¡
Only for power.
The light in the chamber had changed.
Where once there had been warmth from the blue fires of mermaid magic, now only a strange, cold glow remained ¨C pale and hungry.
The air itself trembled, humming low like something ancient breathing beneath the earth.
I could tell it¡¯s dangerous, yet, Severine love make her so blind.
I could feel it in my bones even from within the vision ¨C the moment before everything breaks. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? find~novel
Totti was no longer the lover who spoke softly. He moved like a man touched by madness, each step deliberate, each gesture filled withmand. The veins of sea¨Cfire under his skin had deepened into a web of light, crawling higher toward his throat.
Severine didn¡¯t notice at first.
Or maybe she refused to see? Or too in love to notice? I don¡¯t know.
She sat on the floor beside the ritual circle, her hands trembling as she traced symbols with salt. Her voice cracked as she recited words from the old tongue. Thest traces of her beauty were fading; her cheeks were hollow, her lips colorless.
She whispered, ¡°Tomorrow, it will be done.¡±
But Totti¡¯s eyes were elsewhere.
He stood near the far door, watching shadows move behind the iron grate. I followed his gaze
There was someone there.
A woman¡.? She bound at the wrists, her eyes burning red like embers in snow.
Oh God, that eyes¡.
A vampire¡.? Young. Frightened.
¨C
and froze.
17:56 Mon, Oct 6
My stomach turned cold.
¡°What have you done?¡± Severine¡¯s voice broke the air before I could speak. She had seen her too.
Totti didn¡¯t even look guilty. He smiled a slow, sharp curve that did not belong to love.
¡°Told you the ritual needed vampire blood,¡± he reminded her softly, as though he were exining something perfectly reasonable. ¡°And a white witch¡¯s blessing.¡±
Her hand flew to her mouth. ¡°You- you can¡¯t. The Council forbade-¡±
¡°The Council?¡± His voice was thunder now, echoing off the stones. ¡°The Council fears power, Severine. They keep witches like you crawling in dirt when you were born to reign beside me. Don¡¯t speak to me of their rules.¡±
He turned toward the vampire girl, eyes gleaming like a predator¡¯s in the half¨Clight. ¡°This one,¡± he said, ¡°will serve a greater purpose than feeding in alleys. She will make history.¡±
¨C
The girl struggled, fangs shing, but silver chains bit into her wrists. She screamed once didn¡¯t belong in this world ¨C and then fell silent as Totti pressed his palm against her chest.
The circle red.
a sound that
¡°Stop!¡± Severine cried, lurching forward. Her hand caught his sleeve. ¡°You said no one would die!¡±
¡°And you said you will do everything for me¡± His gaze flicked to her ¨C not cruel, not kind ¨C just void. ¡°My love, someone always dies,¡± he said. ¡°The heart of a mermaid. The blood of a vampire. It is thew of bnce, my love. And we are only tipping the scales.¡±
Then he slit the vampire¡¯s throat. ¡°Then¡ The witch soul¡±
Her blood hit the runes like rain on fire. The circle ignited with light so violent that it blinded me. I heard Severine scream
not a scream of grief, but of realization.
¡ª
She stumbled backward, the strength leaving her body all at once. ¡°No,¡± she gasped, clutching her chest. ¡°You lied. You said-¡±
Totti turned toward her, his face aglow with the impossible power of three realms- sea, blood, and moonlight.
His eyes gleamed gold and red at once.
¡°I said you would stand beside me,¡± he said, his voice low, almost tender. ¡°But every king must have a throne. And thrones require sacrifice.¡±
Her knees buckled. ¡°What¨Cwhat do you mean?¡±
¡°You were the vessel, Severine,¡± he said simply. ¡°You always were.¡±
The runes beneath her feet began to pulse.
17:56 Mon, Oct 6
She gasped, looking down and realized toote that he had drawn a second circle. A smaller one. Around
her.
¡°Totti!¡±
He didn¡¯t look away. ¡°It was never about love,¡± he said. ¡°Love is weak. But your power, your purity¨Cthose 1 could not create. Only take.¡±
She reached for him, her fingers inches away. ¡°Please, don¡¯t-¡±
The circle red.
Her scream tore through time. ¡°AAAAARGGGHHHHHH¡.!!!!!!¡±
The blue light from the mermaid¡¯s heart surged up his arm, his chest, his throat, until his entire body zed with unholy power.
And Severine fell, her magic ripped from her body in threads of white light, devoured by the man she had loved.
When it ended, shey still ¨C a ghost of herself, barely breathing.
Totti exhaled slowly, almost reverently. He looked at his hands, glowing faintly like the gods had touched him.
Then he whispered, ¡°The world will remember the name Lycaon.¡±
I felt something wet on my face and realized I was crying.
Not for her weakness but for her faith. For what I saw¡
¡ª
Because she hadn¡¯t just lost her power.
She had lost thest thing that made her human.
¡ª
And from that moment, I finally understood the curse she had spoken of the curse that had followed every. Lycaon since:
That power bought with love¡¯s blood would always demand love¡¯s blood again.
Forever.
The light shattered when I screamed¡.
And when I opened my eyes ¨C I was back in my room, gasping for air.
Francesco was there, his hand gripping mine, his eyes wide and wild.
¡°Eine! Wake up!¡±
I tried to speak, but my throat burned.
17:56 Mon, Oct 6
The scent of iron still clung to me, as if I had swallowed centuries of grief.
And in the shadows near the door, I thought I saw the faintest flicker of gray¨Ca woman watching, smiling
Mother Severine.
The witch who had once loved too much.
The witch who had cursed my mate¡¯s bloodline.
¡®You saw what he done to me¡ IF he wants you¡ Then a soul for a soul¡®
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Still His 227
$4
I could still feel the echo of her scream ¨C Severine¡¯s vibrating through my bones long after the vision shattered, or is it my voice?
I feel like my body flying again, but right now I could sense that I know this warmth and smells.
When I opened my eyes, I was back at my room.
The room wasn¡¯t quiet.
It breathed.
The walls seemed to pulse faintly, like the heartbeat of something that refused to die.
Francesco was kneeling beside me, hands cupping my face.
He never left¡
His voice¨Cdeep, desperate ¨C cracked in a way I had never heard before.
¡°Eine! Look at me, my love, look at me!¡±
I blinked, my throat raw. ¡°She¡¯s here¡¡±
His head snapped toward the corner ¨C where the light refused to stay, when he heard me and quickly moves when she hears my words.
And there she was.
Mother Severine.
No longer in flesh, but not a ghost either.
Her form shimmered ¨C gray, fractured, made of something older than life itself.
This is her truly form after everything that has happened to her.
She left her fake gray woman and choose to show herself to us.
A beautiful pure woman turn into a devil because of fake love.
Her eyes burned with the same blue fire that once lived inside Totti¡¯s veins,
¡°You¡¯re¡. Severine¡¡± Francesco growled, his Lycan voice breaking through like thunder. ¡°You dare¡ª¡±
¡°Yes,¡± she interrupted, calm as still water. ¡°Thest of his cursed line.¡±
Francesco stepped in front of me instantly, his body between hers and mine.
¡°What do you want?¡± he demanded. ¡°You¡¯ve haunted this name long enough.¡±
444
65 voucher
Herughter rolled through the room- soft, hollow, unkind. ¡°What I want?¡± She tilted her head, her gaze sliding to me. ¡°I want what he took from me what your bloodline stole. I want to see a Lycaon break!¡±
My skin crawled under her stare.
¨C
It wasn¡¯t hatred alone it was something far worse.
¨C
A grief so ancient it had rotted into cruelty. The rightful source is F¦ÉndNovel
¡°Do you know what I saw, little Luna?¡± she said softly. ¡°I saw thest Lycaon kneel by his mate¡¯s grave and swear love the same word Totti whispered to me before he cut my soul from my body.¡±
¡ª
Her tone darkened. ¡°And I knew then it¡¯s all the same lie. The Lycaon line cannot love. They pretend. They take. They destroy what loves them, because it is all they know.¡±
I quickly shook my head, trying to disagree. ¡°That¡¯s a lie, Francesco isn¡¯t like that¡± I whispered, though my voice trembled.
Her gaze turned sharp. ¡°Is it? This is the Lycaon who killed his twin to im the moon¡¯s blessing, he¡¯s like his father.¡± She give me a challenging smile before continue. ¡°So, tell me, girl ¨C what makes you think your mate will choose differently when the curse begins to whisper?¡±
Francesco¡¯s snarl split the air, his eyes bleeding gold. ¡°Enough!¡±
¨C
¨C
But Severine only smiled ¡ª that broken, haunting smile of someone who once knew gentleness and had it burned out of her.
¡°I cursed them,¡± she said. ¡°But I made a mistake. I made it too merciful. It only punished the line ¨C not the
heart.¡±
She means about Isolde?
And Anastasia?
¡°You make him get no love, first Isolde, then¡¡± I try to seek answer.
¡°Ahh¡¡± She nodded understanding ¡°The young witch, who¡.¡±
My eyes widened in shock, so it¡¯s true.
¡°Yes, Anastasia¡¡±
So, it¡¯s all because of her.
Her voice deepened, echoing like wind through catbs. ¡°Now, I¡¯ll fix that.¡±
She raised her hand, and the air turned heavy ¨C the scent of iron and salt filling the room.
What is going on?!
14:57 Tue, Oct 7
44
50 vouchers
My mark, the bond mark, began to burn.
I gasped, clutching at my neck, where Francesco¡¯s mark pulsed like a brand seared to my soul.
¡°Stop!¡± Francesco shouted in panic, grabbing me, his hands shaking.
But she only looked at him with cold satisfaction.
¡°Let us see,¡± she murmured, ¡°if a Lycaon truly can love enough to bleed for it. Or will you do what you always
do
¨C
save yourself?¡±
¡°Severine!¡± he roared. ¡°Don¡¯t do this! You¡¯ll regret it.¡±
Herughter cracked the lightbulb above us.
The me flickered, and her shape began to dissolve into smoke.
¡°Oh, I regret nothing,¡± she whispered, her voice fading. ¡°Because now, the game begins. And I¡¯ll watch you, Lycaon ¨C just as your father watched me burn.¡±
Then she vanished.
The silence that followed wasn¡¯t peace it was the silence before the storm.
¨C
Francesco was still holding me, but his hands trembled.
¡°Eine¡¡± His voice was low, raw. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong. I feel-¡±
He pressed a hand to his chest.
His veins shimmered faintly under the skin ¨C gold and blue intertwined, just like Totti¡¯s once were.
My stomach dropped. ¡°No¡ no, no, no-¡±
He looked up at me, fear flickering in those golden eyes.
¡°Whatever she did¡ it¡¯s inside me.¡±
And in that moment, I knew what Severine had meant.
She wanted him to suffer.
To relive her pain.
To make him believe that love was a lie
¨C
and to prove it, she wanted to see if the curse could twist Francesco
the same way it destroyed Totti.
If Severine was right¡
then someday, my mate would be forced to choose
14:57 Tue, Oct 7
between saving me¡.
or saving himself.
And she wanted to watch him choose wrong.
¡®Mika, what should I do?¡®
AD
Still His 228
The night had the wrong kind of quiet.
Not peace
-a pause.
Like the air itself was holding its breath, waiting to see if the story would end in blood of mercy.
I didn¡¯t need to look around to know she was there.
I could feel her. Mother Severine.
Her presence seeped through the corners of the room, the faint scent of salt and old ash curling into the air f could feel her even before she revealed herself like a pulse beneath the floorboards.
And then¡ the bond shuddered.
¡°Francesco?¡± I turn my gaze at him in shock.
He gasped, his back arching, a snarl ripping from his throat.
His eyes turned molten gold, his veins glowed faint blue, that same eerie color I¡¯d seen in the visions- the color of her curse.
¡°Eine, stay back!¡± he growled, his voice broken with pain.
What¡.?
But I didn¡¯t. I won¡¯t follow.
¡°Don¡¯t you dare tell me to step away!¡± I shouted, already moving toward him. ¡°You¡¯re not facing her alone again!¡±
The air cracked.
The floorboards trembled as his power surged
¨C
ancient, violent, untamed.
He dropped to one knee, panting, ws digging into the floor. I could see it ¨C the curse twisting inside him, trying to wake. Trying to consume him from the inside out.
And then I heard her voice.
Whisper¨Csoft, cruelly calm.
¡°You see? It begins again. Lycaon blood cannot love without destruction.¡±
Her words slithered through the room like smoke.
It¡¯s a word of poison¡
17:30 Wed, Oct 8 N
¡°Stop!¡± I yelled into the emptiness. ¡°You¡¯re wrong!¡±
:
A coldugh answered. ¡°Am I? You saw what he is. What they all are. He will choose himself, as his fathers did before him.¡±
Francesco groaned, clutching his chest, and I dropped to my knees in front of him.
¡°Look at me,¡± I whispered, grabbing his face with both hands. ¡°Francesco, look at me.¡±
¨C
He tried gods, he tried
1-
gods, he tried but his eyes were wild, unfocused.
The beast within him fought for control.
¡°Don¡¯t let her win,¡± I begged. ¡°Don¡¯t let her make you believe that¡¯s who you are.¡±
He shuddered, shaking his head. ¡°Eine, I can¡¯t- it hurts-¡±
¡°Then let it hurt,¡± I said fiercely. ¡°Let it hurt, but don¡¯t let it take you.¡±
And I kissed him.
The bond red
¨C
violent and beautiful
¡ª-
flooding my body with searing light.
Pain surged through me, not mine but his.
Ugh.. I could feel the curse trying to pull him away, to make him forget everything except hunger, power, survival.
But love isn¡¯t soft.
Not the kind that saves.
So I fought.
Every heartbeat, I poured warmth into that darkness, forcing the bond to burn brighter.
Every wound in his soul, I filled with memory of the garden, ofughter, of the way his hand always found mine in the dark.
About our love¡. His love¡.
¡°Eine¡¡± His voice cracked like a child¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s¡ it¡¯s burning¡¡±
¡°Good,¡± I whispered against his lips. ¡°Then maybe it remembers it¡¯s alive.¡±
The light grew too bright to see.
My lungs screamed for air.
The curse roared
¨C
furious, ancient, hungry.
And then it stopped.
I gasped when the light dimmed to embers.
The roaring silence returned. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel
Francesco copsed forward, gasping, his head buried against my shoulder. His heartbeat was ragged, his breath unsteady, but he was there. Alive.
The veins beneath his skin still glowed faintly, like fire hidden under ice. The curse was still there- not gone, but lulled. Watching. Waiting.
Paused¡
He clutched me tighter, his voice shaking. ¡°Eine¡ what did you do?¡±
I smiled weakly with a shake head. ¡°Nothing. I just reminded it that you¡¯re not alone anymore.¡±
Heughed once a rough, broken sound ¨C and pressed his forehead to mine. ¡°You¡¯re mad.¡±
¡°I¡¯m yours,¡± I murmured. ¡°That¡¯s worse.¡±
For a while, we stayed like that ¨C two creatures held together by love and defiance, surrounded by a silence that wasn¡¯t empty, just¡ tired.
And then I felt it ¨C that prickle on the back of my neck.
The air shifted.
She was still there.
In the far corner of the room, the light bent, and Mother Severine appeared ¨C not solid, but enough.
A shimmer of gray, a faint outline of the woman she once was.
Her eyes
ancient and bitter ¨C fixed on us.
She looked almost disappointed.
¡°You stopped it,¡± she said quietly. ¡°But you didn¡¯t destroy it.¡±
I met her gaze. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to destroy it.¡±
She tilted her head. ¡°Then what were you trying to do?¡±
¡°To show it something it never saw,¡± I whispered. ¡°That love doesn¡¯t always end in ruin.¡±
Her lips curved, faintly, almost pitying. ¡°You think love can pause what has been sealed in blood for
centuries?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t think,¡± I said, ¡°I feel it.¡±
17:30 Wed, Oct 8 N
That made her falter.
For the first time, she looked uncertain.
Her gaze flicked to Francesco still shaking, his head bowed, his arms wrapped around me as if I were the only tether he had left to this world.
Something changed in her expression.
A flicker of¡ something softer.
Pity? Envy?
Regret?
¡°I once believed that too,¡± she murmured. ¡°Before he made me forget who I was.¡±
Her words hung in the air like frost.
I wanted to speak to ask if she ever loved anything after him, if she ever forgave herself ¨C but she turned, her form already fading.
¡°I will be watching,¡± she said, voice distant now. ¡°The curse sleeps. But sleep is not mercy. It dreams.¡±
And then she was gone.
The silence she left behind was heavier than any sound.
Francesco¡¯s fingers trembled as they found mine. ¡°It¡¯s not over,¡± he said quietly.
¡°No,¡± I agreed. ¡°It¡¯s only resting.¡±
He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes. ¡°Then we rest too. Until it wakes again.¡±
I nodded, my heart aching but steady. ¡°And when it does¡ we¡¯ll be ready.¡±
He smiled faintly, pulling me against his chest.
¡°Together?¡±
¡°Always,¡± I whispered.
Outside, the wind shifted ¨C soft, uneasy, carrying whispers from forests older than kings.
And somewhere unseen, in the space between dreams and memory, Mother Severine stood in silence, watching the Lycaon King cradle his Luna with reverence instead of dominance.
For the first time in centuries, her conviction trembled.
She had wanted to watch them break.
Instead, she had watched them love..
And though she would never admit it for the first time since the day she cursed his blood, she felt something colder than hatred.
Doubt.
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!