LOGINAfter several long seconds, Carlisle gave in.Without saying a word, he bent down and carefully helped her back onto the bed. He adjusted the pillows behind her before easing her into a comfortable position.Even then, she refused to release him. Whenever he tried to pull his hand away, her fingers immediately tightened. If he shifted in his seat, her eyes flew open and searched for his face, making certain he was still there.She looked almost frightened.In truth, she was.Somewhere deep inside, Raquel couldn’t escape the terrifying feeling that the moment Carlisle walked through that door, he wouldn’t come back.The months she had spent imprisoned by vampires had changed her. She had learned to notice tiny changes in people’s expressions, their voices, and the emotions hidden behind their smiles.Because of that, Carlisle’s distance hadn’t escaped her. She felt it every time he looked at her. Every time he answered with cold politeness instead of warmth. Every sentence he left unfi
No matter how Carlisle looked at the situation, there was no legal or political way to force Raquel to leave.She had made her decision. She wasn’t returning to the Royal Palace, and she wasn’t meeting the royal convoy. Instead, she had placed the entire burden on his shoulders and expected him to deal with the consequences alone.Carlisle hated it, but refusing wasn’t an option.At least there was one advantage. If he handled the royal convoy personally, he could decide what information reached them and what remained hidden for the time being. Every hour he managed to buy gave him another chance to uncover the truth behind Victoria’s case. Until he had solid evidence, delaying matters was his only real option.Outwardly, none of those thoughts could appear on his face. He carefully wore the expression of a man caught between duty and frustration. If he looked even slightly relieved that Raquel intended to stay, she would immediately misunderstand his intentions. She would think he se
A leader who inspired only kindness risked appearing weak.One who ruled only through fear eventually lost the hearts of the people.The greatest leaders knew how to balance both.Compassion had meaning only when it was backed by strength.Without power, mercy became nothing more than helplessness.That was the lesson the Alpha King had drilled into his daughter from childhood.Because of it, the royal princess grew into someone known for both her kindness and her ruthlessness. She could comfort the innocent without hesitation, yet destroy anyone who threatened her people just as easily.That rare balance made countless wolves admire her.It also painted an enormous target on her back.Although she had not yet reached adulthood, she was already carrying responsibilities meant for the future ruler of the kingdom. Naturally, countless enemies wanted her dead before she could inherit the throne.To protect her while still allowing her to train freely alongside elite warriors and particip
It had taken Raquel a long time to build this plan, and in her mind, every piece fit perfectly.The first step was simple. She only needed to become the Luna of the Red Moon Pack. Once that happened, everything else would fall into place. Even if Carlisle eventually learned that she wasn’t the missing royal princess, what could he really do? By then, she would already have a place beside him that no one could easily take away.If anyone confronted her, she already had an answer prepared.She had never introduced herself as the royal princess. She had never formally claimed the title. Everyone else had simply assumed it, and she had allowed the misunderstanding to continue. That wasn’t the same as openly lying… at least, that was how she intended to defend herself.Raquel had always believed she could escape almost any situation with the right words. As long as she remained calm and confident, people usually accepted whatever explanation she gave them.More importantly, she knew exactl
Meanwhile, the omega who had accompanied Beta Marcus to the dungeon still hadn’t returned to tell Raquel everything that had happened.She had intended to visit Raquel as soon as things calmed down.Unfortunately, they never did.Since Raquel wasn’t an official member of the pack, the omega couldn’t contact her through the mind link. She had no choice but to speak to her in person.Before she had the chance to leave, Beta Marcus ordered her to stay behind and clean the dungeon.That delayed her once again.Later, after Beta Marcus informed the entire pack through the mind link that Victoria had escaped, several omegas serving Raquel realized that something serious had happened.They wanted to tell her as soon as she woke up.Unfortunately, the doctor and healer never left the room.None of the servants dared speak openly in front of them, so all they could do was wait for the medical staff to leave.“Carlisle, could you stay by my side? I was so sad losing my pup.”Raquel’s soft voice
That thought consumed Raquel completely.The only thing that had stood between her and Carlisle was gone. She didn’t see the loss as something to mourn. To her, it was another opportunity. This time, she would carry Carlisle’s pup, and no one would stop her.The thought thrilled her.The moment Carlisle came close enough, she rushed toward him and threw her arms around him before he had the chance to react.His entire body went rigid.Every instinct urged him to push her away. If she had been anyone else, he would have done it without hesitation. The only reason he held back was because she was the royal princess. That title alone forced him to bury his disgust behind a calm expression.Raquel either didn’t notice his discomfort or simply didn’t care.She leaned into him even more, pressing herself firmly against his chest as though that was where she belonged. Every curve of her body rested against him. Only a few hours had passed since she had lost the child in her womb, but her min
Alpha King’s POVI furrowed my brows. Too many things weren’t adding up and others were starting to notice as well.It was clear that the situation was far more complicated than it appeared, and we needed to proceed with extreme caution. At the same time, we had to keep the incident strictly confid
That same truth was the reason Victoria had made her choice earlier. The moment she rejected her mate bond and cut ties with the pack, she had acted without hesitation. As long as she remained connected, Carlisle would always be able to find her. There would be no escape.So she severed it.She bec
Carlisle’s POV When she finally cried herself to sleep and collapsed onto the grass, I couldn’t help myself. I went to her, scooped her into my arms, and held her like she was something precious I couldn’t afford to lose. I brought her back to our marital room, a space heavy with her scent that
Carlisle’s POVBut then again, as much as I hate her with every fiber of my being, I also find myself longing for her and it’s that contradiction that drives me mad. Being around her feels unbearable, like she’s subtly manipulating my every thought, and I’m powerless to stop it.My mother hates her







