Novel-novel oleh Shakirah

Maxine wakes to the sound of someone calling her name, or rather, her new title.“Your Highness?” A groan escapes her lips before she can stop it.The morning sun streams through the curtains, its golden rays piercing directly into her eyes. She throws an arm over her face and buries herself deeper beneath the warm, cozy blankets.“Oh, you are awake, Your Highness.” Eliza sounds entirely too cheerful for this hour of the morning. Inside her mind, a familiar voice grumbles. “Can I shut her up?”Maxine bites back a laugh. Thraen was not a morning wolf—at all. ‘No,’ Maxine replies silently. ‘You may not.’“Shame.” A yawn stretches through their shared consciousness. “I was having a wonderful dream. There was food. Lots of food.”Maxine cracks an eye open. “Why are we awake so early?” she asks, her voice thick with sleep. “It’s not like I have much to do around here.”Across the room, Eliza has already begun pulling back the heavy curtains one by one, flooding the chamber with even mor

Dalton pauses and nods once, strutting towards the door. The moment he disappears into the corridor, Eliza closes the distance between them.“Drink while it’s hot.”Maxine looks down at the tea, then back at Eliza. The maid smiles. Everything looks normal yet today it feels wrong.Still, Maxine raises the cup to her lips. She takes a sip, then another, and another... The warmth spreads through her body almost immediately. Her shoulders relax and the room softens around the edges. She blinks, a yawn escapes her lips. “I guess it’s time.”Eliza’s smile widens. “The medicine is working.”‘Medicine.’Right, of course. That made sense. Maxine tries to nod. The effort seems strangely difficult. She sits down on the bed. The song from the forest sounded farther away now. Like hearing music underwater.“Get some shut eye your highness.” Eliza coos.Maxine’s eyelids grow heavier, but she thinks about Dalton, about what he had almost said. About the way he’d looked at her.“Eliza?”“Yes, Your

“Quick, I want you to hear something.”The excitement in Maxine’s voice echoes through the spacious room before Dalton has a chance to respond. He already knew what she wanted to show him.He had known from the moment she’d insisted on returning to her room to watch the forest. He knew the exact window she would run to. He knew the exact sound she would point out. He even knew the precise moment her face would light up.Still, he forces himself to play his role.“Yes, Little Spark,” he says, allowing a hint of curiosity into his otherwise even tone. “What is it you would like me to hear?”She grins. “Come here.” Without waiting for him, Maxine hurries across the room.Dalton follows at a much slower pace, his boots making soft sounds against the polished stone floor. He watches her weave around the furniture with an energy that seems impossible after everything she’s endured.The room itself was grand, befitting the future queen of wolves. Rich crimson drapes framed towering windows.

“You know,” Titan murmurs, his voice unusually quiet, “I waited so long for my mate that I almost convinced myself I never had one.”Maxine blinks. “What? How could that be? From everything you’ve told me—”“I know.” His gaze drifts away from hers. “But ever since I was a child… There were rumours.”A knot formed in Maxine’s stomach. “What kind of rumours?”For several seconds, Titan remains silent. His eyes lowered to the polished wooden desk between them. When he finally speaks, his voice is barely above a whisper. “A prophecy.”From the way he says it, a chill dances down Maxine’s spine. “A prophecy?”“There was a prophecy.” He releases a slow breath. “One about a mateless ruler.”Maxine’s eyes widened. “A mateless ruler?”Titan nods slowly. “The prophecy spoke of a Wolf King destined to rule alone. A king without a mate.” His jaw tightens. “Without the one thing every wolf treasures above all else.”Maxine’s brows knitted together.She wasn’t sure what she had expected him to say,

Draven leans back in his chair. “I don’t know yet, actually.”Jeremiah blinks. “You don’t know?”“I don’t quite think there is one.”The room goes quiet, and neither of them speaks. Then Nyxar belows. “Are you insane?” Draven ignores him.“What do you mean there isn’t one?” Jeremiah asks.“Yeah,” Soren agrees. “She’s your mate. That’s usually where the planning starts.”Draven stares at the ceiling.“Maybe.” Then he shrugs. “…she’s not worth the trouble.”Jeremiah nearly chokes. Soren sits upright.“Excuse me?” Nyxar demands.Draven rubs at his temple. “If she’s the one from the prophecy…” The words hung in the air. “…then eventually I’ll have to end her.”Silence takes over; the easy atmosphere that had filled the office moments earlier evaporates completely; Jeremiah’s expression darkens. “But she didn’t do it.” Draven’s eye twitches, a telltale sign of his growing frustration.“I know.”“Then why are you talking like she’s already guilty?”“I’m not.”“You kind of are.”Draven exhal

Draven sits alone in his office at the pack house, leaning back in his chair as he looks around the room. His desk was spotless, every folder neatly stacked, every pen exactly where it should be. Most Alphas liked showing off their power. Draven just liked things organized.He'd already gone through the latest shipment reports. Patrol schedules were finished. Trade agreements with neighbouring packs had been signed and filed away. For once, nothing needed his attention. He closed the last folder and slid it onto the shelf behind him.“I guess that's it for today, Nyx.”A satisfied rumble echoes through his mind. "Great. I want to go for a run."Draven tilts his head in thought. 'Of course you do.'"You sound surprised." Nyxar drawls sarcastically. 'You've been wanting to run a lot lately.'Nyxar huffs. "Can you blame me?"Draven taps his fingers lightly against the desk. 'Not with all that pent-up tension.' The wolf goes quiet. Draven frowns. 'I just can't shake—'Knock. Knock. Kn