LOGINDraven pov
They call me the Ruthless Rogue Alpha King.
The Butcher,
The Devil of the Rogue Kingdom's
The monster who laughs while kingdoms burn If only they knew the truth that monsters don't remember every innocent soul they've failed to save.
Monsters don't wake in the middle of the night hearing the screams of women they couldn't protect and monsters certainly don't pray for death.
I do, Every single day.
The wind howled beyond the towering windows of Blackthorn Keep as I stood overlooking my kingdom.
Thousands of lights flickered below, scattered across the Rogue Territory.
How long will I protect them?
They had no idea I was the greatest threat they would ever face.
"Your father grows weaker." The voice slithered through my mind Ancient and Cruel, The beast it self.
"Soon his heartbeat will cease..and when it does the blessing dies with him." My jaw tightened.
"I know." As a low laugh echoed inside my skull.
"Do you?"
"Then why do you hesitate?" Pain exploded beneath my ribs my fingers curled against the cold stone windowsill until cracks spread through the marble as Black veins crawled beneath my skin as every breath felt like swallowing shattered glass.
The curse was reminding me who held the power as it crushed my bones from inside.
"A Luna......Bring me a Luna."
"The kingdom demands a queen and Your dying father demands an heir and I..." The voice lowered into something almost pleased.
"I demand blood "
I shut my eyes, For generations, the Rogue bloodline had carried this curse bonded to their souls as every king before me had obeyed, had sacrificed but I refused.
For years, I had refused as the curse answered with suffering.
Every act of defiance came with a price my people had to pay instead of me and that was the cruelest part. It never punished only me.
"You grow weak, little king."
"I am not your king."
"No..." It laughed.
"You are merely my vessel....." A sharp knock interrupted the silence.
"My King." Kael's voice carried through the chamber doors.
"The girl has arrived." The pain beneath my skin eased as Simply retreated. The curse became strangely quiet.
"What is that scent?" I frowned even before the doors opened...
Sunflowers and Fresh rain.It didn't belong inside a fortress built on blood.
"I dislike it."
"So do I." That was a lie because something about it made the constant pressure inside my head ease only slightly but enough for me to notice.
The doors opened as Footsteps echoed across the chamber floor.
I didn't turn.
"Leave us." Kael hesitated only a second before bowing as the doors closed behind her the Silence settled between us.
I could hear the tremble in her breathing, The rapid beat of her heart as if fear kept people alive.
"What is your name?" I asked, keeping my eyes on the kingdom beyond the window.
"Ashina Crawford." Her voice was softer than I expected.
"I expect you to be afraid of me?" A brief silence.
"Should I be?" The corner of my mouth almost moved because everyone who entered this room either begged or lied.
I slowly turned as my Silver met hers as she looked frightened as her chin remained lifted despite the fear swimming in her eyes.
A brave mask one that wouldn't survive long in my world. I held her gaze while I walked towardsher.
"Prepare yourself." She frowned.
"For what?" I didn't stop walking.
"Your Bonding ceremony." The room fell silent.
"You'll marry me before sunset."
Ashina pov The castle wasn't silent. It only pretended to be. I stood in the doorway of my chamber, my fingers tightening around the wooden frame as two women dragged a dead body leaving a thin trail of crimson behind them. My stomach twisted as one of the women caught me staring."You'll get used to it." Used to it? I watched them disappear around the corner only then did I realize where I truly was.The Rogue Territory, Growing up, the women in my old pack loved gossip. Whenever Mother entertained guests for afternoon tea, they whispered about the Rogue Alpha King. They called him a butcher, a monster. A man whose kingdom survived because fear ruled it. I had always believed they exaggerated. Standing here... I realized they hadn't exaggerated enough. The rumors hadn't even scratched the surface."Enjoying the view?" The deep voice made me jump as I turned as Draven stood at the end of the corridor, dressed entirely in black as his silver eyes fixed on me. "I wasn't." He walke
Ashina's POVThe morning after my failed escape, the castle felt colder not because of the weather but because of him. I hadn't seen Draven since the curse had nearly consumed him the previous night and part of me hoped I wouldn't.The other part knew that was impossible.A maid silently handed me a dark blue dress before lowering her head."The King requests your presence." Requests It sounded polite but we both knew it wasn't.I followed two guards through endless stone corridors until enormous double doors came into view as the doors opened.My footsteps faltered as dozens of warriors lined both sides of the room, their heads bowed. Ministers stood in silence while several prisoners knelt in the center of the hall, their hands bound behind their backs.As Draven sat on the throne his posture was relaxed as he watched the prisoners with unreadable silver eyes.He looked Bored and obviously Angry as usual.A guard shoved me forward."My King, Your Luna is here ." His gaze shifted to
Ashina pov The heavy doors slammed shut behind me as my heart pound against my ribs.We were alone.I took an instinctive step backward but Draven stood near the bed, his broad shoulders tense, his silver eyes fixed on me with unsettling calm.He wasn't the beast anymore, He was the man.The Rogue Alpha King and somehow that frightened me even more as He started walking toward me.Slowly and Deliberately as Every step made my pulse race faster."Don't come any closer," I warned, forcing my voice to stay steady but He didn't stop."I said don't.""I make the rules here Sunshine ." His deep voice was calm enough to send a chill down my spine as my back hit the wooden door.There was nowhere left to go. He stopped only inches away towering over me as his silver eyes searched my face before one hand slowly reached up, brushing a loose strand of hair away from my eyes.I jerked my head away."Don't touch me." I voiced as his brow lifted."Are you afraid of me?" My terrified eyes met his g
Ashina pov My wrists burned beneath the cold iron shackles. The chains rattled softly every time I moved, the sound echoing through the enormous underground chamber.They had chained me because if I died It would be easier to drag my body back out.The thought sent another wave of fear crashing through me. I pulled against the chains instinctively before stopping.There was no escaping especially not from him. The air smelled of damp stone and iron.Torches flickered along the walls, their flames barely reaching the darkness ahead.A low growl, Deep and Heavy.The kind of sound that didn't belong to any ordinary wolf.My heart slammed painfully against my ribs.Slowly as a massive shadow emerged from the darkness.The beast, He was enormous twice the size of any wolf I'd ever seen, his black fur shimmered beneath the torchlight while glowing silver markings crawled across his body like living veins.His eyes were silver.Col
Ashina povMy heart pounded so violently, it felt like it was trying to break free from my chest.By sunset, I would be dead.I stood motionless while the maids fastened the last buttons of the black ceremonial gown. Their hands moved quickly, efficiently as though they had done this countless times before.Maybe they had.Maybe every woman before me had stood exactly where I was standing now...Waiting to become the Rogue Alpha King's next dead mate. I stared at my reflection as the black gown fit perfectly, flowing to the floor like a shadow. Silver embroidery curled across the bodice, catching the moonlight spilling through the tall windows.A beautiful dress for a doomed bride."You're going to survive." The words echoed inside my head not because I believed them Because I needed to.I hadn't endured eighteen years of my father's hatred just to die in a kingdom that wasn't even mine.I refused so I would have to surviv
Draven povThey call me the Ruthless Rogue Alpha King.The Butcher, The Devil of the Rogue Kingdom's The monster who laughs while kingdoms burn If only they knew the truth that monsters don't remember every innocent soul they've failed to save.Monsters don't wake in the middle of the night hearing the screams of women they couldn't protect and monsters certainly don't pray for death.I do, Every single day.The wind howled beyond the towering windows of Blackthorn Keep as I stood overlooking my kingdom.Thousands of lights flickered below, scattered across the Rogue Territory. How long will I protect them?They had no idea I was the greatest threat they would ever face."Your father grows weaker." The voice slithered through my mind Ancient and Cruel, The beast it self."Soon his heartbeat will cease..and when it does the blessing dies with him." My jaw tightened."I know." As a low laugh echoed inside my skull."Do you?""Then why







