LOGINLeo stood in front of Lucien, his posture composed, but his exhausted appearance couldn't be hidden. The dark circles beneath his eyes, the redness around them, and the unnatural paleness of his face told a story he desperately wanted to keep buried. There Stood beside Lucien, Elara's gaze lingered on him. The moment her eyes met his, memories from the previous night flooded her mind like an unstoppable tide. The Moonveil Garden... The moonlight... Leo standing beneath the silver blossoms... And the unknown man who had kissed him so passionately. Even now, she couldn't convince herself that what she had witnessed was real. Countless times she had wondered if she should confront Leo, ask him who that man was, or demand an explanation. But every time the thought surfaced, she forced herself to bury it. It isn't my place. No matter how much the truth unsettled her, Leo's personal life was none of her business. Meanwhile, Theo stood in complete silence. Unlike Elara, his thoug
Seeing her mother Lyra immediately pulled away from Elara's embrace, her cheeks puffing in annoyance as she pointed an accusing finger at her brother. "Mother, look! Luci is getting angry at me!" The moment she reached Queen Vivienne's side, the Queen's expression softened. Seeing Lyra's swollen, tear-filled eyes tugged painfully at her heart. She gently brushed a few loose strands of hair away from her daughter's face, her touch as comforting as ever. Vivienne let out a quiet sigh. She knew very well that scolding Lucien would accomplish nothing. The Alpha Prince had harbored resentment toward her for years, and forcing him into another lecture would only push him further away. Instead, she silently chose peace over conflict. "It's alright, Lyra," Vivienne said softly, stroking her daughter's hair. "He must have had his own reasons for raising his voice. Don't cry anymore, my brave little girl." A teasing smile tugged at the Queen's lips. "Now... where has my little troublemak
Shadow rose from where he had been resting, his towering frame commanding the courtyard in an instant. Every gaze shifted toward the majestic black stallion as he strode forward with calm, deliberate steps. His sharp eyes never left Elara. Stopping right before her, Shadow lowered his head. Confused murmurs rippled through the crowd. None of them understood what the horse was doing. Except Lucien. A faint smile tugged at his lips. He knew Shadow better than anyone. Whenever the stallion wanted affection, he would simply lower his head and wait patiently. Lucien loosened his grip on Elara's hand. Only then did Elara realize he had been holding it all along. A strange feeling crept inside her realising she didn't felt any discomfort because of Lucien's hold, before her attention shifted back to Shadow. Lucien gently lifted his hand and stroked Shadow's silky mane. The mighty horse leaned into the touch with obvious contentment. The sight softened Elara's heart. Even Lyra, who h
Elara's ears perked up a bit as Lucien's voice tore through the air. "Lyra!" Her heart skipped a beat when she heard her name, "Elara!" It was Lucien's voice But more deeper It wasn't the calm, commanding voice she had grown accustomed to. It was raw. Desperate. A deep, fear-stricken roar that sent chills racing down her spine. Confused, she looked up in front, towards Lyra. The young omega was still walking backward, completely unaware of the danger charging towards them. Elara's eyes widened in horror. A massive black stallion thundered across the field, its wild eyes blazing with fury as it barreled straight toward both of them. There wasn't a second to think. Her body moved before her mind could. "Lyra, move!" She sprinted forward and shoved Lyra with all her strength. Lyra cried out as she crashed onto the rough ground, scraping her palms against the dirt. Looking up, she froze. Shadow stood only a few feet away from Elara. His powerful body trembled with rage a
Lucien frowned as the guard delivered the report, though he gave a curt nod and immediately strode toward the training grounds. His personal guards followed closely behind, their armor clinking with every step. The moment he entered the courtyard, his sharp green eyes widened at the sight before him. Theo stood in the center of the training grounds, his bandaged palm wrapped tightly around the reins of Shadow, Lucien's beloved stallion. The usually calm horse was wildly restless, rearing on his hind legs and tossing his head violently as if trying to break free. Lucien's gaze shifted to Theo's injured hand. His brows knitted together. What happened to Theo overnight? Pushing the thought aside for the moment, he approached them with hurried steps. "What happened to Shadow?" Lucien demanded. "Why is he so restless?" Hearing his Alpha Prince's voice, Theo immediately released his grip from Shadow's neck, keeping hold of the reins instead. Despite the chaos, he bowed respectfully. "
"Guards!" Lucien's commanding voice echoed through the palace corridor. "Search every corner of the palace. The intruder couldn't have gone far. Find whoever dared to spy on us." "Yes, Alpha Prince!" The guards immediately bowed before rushing down the hallway, their armored footsteps fading into the distance as they scattered throughout the palace in search of the mysterious figure who had been secretly watching the Alpha Prince and his mate. A heavy silence settled once they were gone. "Lucien..." Elara called softly, unable to hide the fear lingering in her voice. "Who could possibly be spying on us?" Her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the blood-stained blade still resting in his hand. The crimson coating its edge sent a shiver through her body. Noticing where she was looking, Lucien quietly lowered the knife until it rested by his side, gently pulling her attention away from the weapon and back to him. "I don't know," he admitted, his expression darkening. "But I hope th
"Wait, isn't that a little too casual a way of announcing something this huge?" Lyra exclaimed dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. Beside her, Leo nodded in agreement. "Seriously. You just dropped that like you're talking about the weather." A few chuckles echoed around the room. Theo
Lucien's gaze remained fixed on Elara's retreating figure until she disappeared around the corner. Only then did he release a heavy sigh. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to lean back against the stone pillar, rubbing his temples. His life was already complicated enough. Unfortunately, fa
Everyone took in the words said by the king.Lyra's eyes widened in shock while Theo subtly stiffened.Even Kael looked momentarily caught off guard.But Elara..."To take over the throne, you need your Queen beside you."Ragnar's words echoed relentlessly inside Elara's mind.Again.And again.And
Silence rang through the Alpha's Crucible.Not the peaceful kind....but the suffocating, heavy silence that pressed against the lungs, thick with unspoken truths and rising tension.Elara stood frozen, her gaze locked onto Lucien.For a heartbeat....two....three....No one moved.Then Lucien broke.







