Novels by Ayishat

Serena’s POVThe silence in the courtyard was heavy, thick enough to choke on. My father looked as if he might faint. His eyes darted frantically between the Lycan King and me. His face was a mask of pure terror. Alaric remained perfectly still. His eyes scanned me with a cold detached indifference that made my skin prickle."Grey," Alaric said. His voice was deep and smooth like a stone rolling over gravel. He did not take his eyes off me. "I was not aware that your servants were permitted to stand in the driveway during a royal inspection. Have your help cleared away at once."I felt a surge of hot bitter anger. I stepped forward. My boots crunched loudly on the gravel. "I am not a servant," I said. My voice was sharp and clear, cutting through the tense air of the courtyard.Alaric finally shifted his gaze slightly. One dark eyebrow arched in surprise. "No?" he asked. His tone was mocking. "Then you must be the most daring housemaid in the history of Hollow Fall to interrupt a King

Serena’s POVThe entire estate was screaming with noise and panic. Servants were scurrying like ants polishing silver that was already clean and frantically fixing stones that were already level. My father was everywhere at once, his face red with stress barking orders that changed every five seconds. He treated the pack like a broken machine he was trying to hide before the master came to inspect it."You stay here," my father spat at me and Penelope in the nursery. He had locked us in the east wing hours ago. "You are damaged goods Serena. A disgraced ex mate. If the King sees you he will know I have lost control of my own blood. You stay out of sight or I will make sure you never see the light of day again."He slammed the door and the lock clicked into place with a final heavy sound. Penelope began to cry. Her shoulders shook in the dim light. I ignored her tears. My mind raced. I walked to the window watching the long driveway that stretched toward the horizon. If the King was co

Serena’s POVThe silence in the room was suffocating, punctuated only by Penelope’s jagged breathing. I sat on the floor beside her holding her hand. Her skin was ice cold, a stark reminder of the terror my father had instilled in her. Looking at her I did not see a stranger. I saw myself three years ago trapped, silenced and waiting for a rescue that never came."I can not go through with it Serena," Penelope sobbed. Her head rested on her knees. "He says I am lucky. He says a marriage to that monster will secure the pack's future. He does not care if I die.""You are not going to marry him," I said. My voice was firm. I felt a surge of protectiveness that was entirely new to me. "I was a pawn for too long letting men like Grey and Caden decide my worth. I will not let you become the next sacrifice on their altar of greed."Penelope looked at me. Her eyes were red rimmed. "Why are you helping me? I am just a mistake remember?"I brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. "You are my

Serena’s POVThe girl did not run. She stood there frozen staring at me with a look of pure unadulterated awe. Her face was a ghost of my own, a mirror from a different life. Before I could move toward her a shadow fell over the hallway. My father Alpha Grey strode past me without a glance. His hand came to rest firmly on the girl’s shoulder."Go to your room Penelope," he commanded. His voice was a low warning rumble."Father, wait," I started stepping forward.He spun on me. His eyes flashed with irritation. "You have no business with her, Serena. She is not your concern. She is a mistake of my past, a daughter from a discreet affair that I have kept hidden for good reason. My affairs are not your concern nor is she.""A mistake?" I echoed. My voice shook with disbelief. "She is your daughter! How could you keep her hidden away like she is some dirty secret? Why did no one tell me?""Because you were too busy playing Luna in a pack that never wanted you," he sneered, pulling Penelop

Serena’s POVThe gates of Hollow Fall loomed ahead tall and iron wrought cutting through the dense mist like jagged teeth. My heart was a frantic bird against my ribs. I had not been back in three years not since I was bartered away to the Thornblood pack like a piece of livestock."Are you sure about this my lady?" Gale asked. His voice was low. He kept his hand resting on his sword. His eyes scanned the familiar unwelcoming woods of my home."I have no choice Gale," I said. My voice was steadier than I felt. "This is the only place Caden would not dare invade without declaring open war. And my father he is the only one who can help me take this to the Council."We crossed the threshold. The pack grounds were just as I remembered orderly silent and suffocatingly strict. We walked straight to the great hall. My boots echoed on the polished stone floor. My father Alpha Grey was seated at the head of the long wooden table. His face was a mask of carved granite.He did not stand. He did

Liliana’s POVI watched Caden stand in the middle of that dusty, pathetic cabin. His shoulders slumped under the weight of his own failure. He looked small. For a man who claimed to be an Alpha, he looked remarkably like a boy who had broken his favorite toy and realized too late that he could not put it back together.“You are still chasing her,” I said.My voice cut through the silence like a blade. I did not bother with the dainty, trembling tone I used when the pack was watching. There was no need for that act here.“Even now, with the proof of your treason sitting in her hands, you are thinking about her. You are wondering if she is safe.”Caden stiffened. His jaw locked tight. He would not look at me. He just stared at the floor. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides.“I am thinking about the pack, Liliana,” he replied. “I am thinking about how to fix this disaster.”“Are you?” I asked, taking a slow step forward. My eyes traced the line of his spine. “Because I do not