Elara's POV

The corridors felt longer on the way back to the servants' quarters.

My legs shook with every step, but I kept my spine straight until the heavy oak door of the maids' dormitory closed behind me. Only then did I let myself slump against the wall, sliding down until I sat on the cold stone floor.

My chest still ached where the bond had torn. Not the sharp, ripping pain from the hall anymore-just a deep, hollow bruise that throbbed with every heartbeat. My dress clung uncomfortably to my skin, champagne and sweat and shame all mixed together. I could still feel the ghost of Darius's hand on my waist, the heat of his body pressed against mine, the low rumble of his voice promising things I refused to let myself imagine.

I pressed my palms to my eyes until spots danced behind my lids.

No.

I wouldn't cry again. Not over a king who looked at me like I was dirt one second and like he wanted to devour me the next.

The dormitory was quiet. Most of the maids were still working the ball, carrying trays, refilling goblets, smiling through exhaustion. I was alone with the echo of his words.

Be my mistress.

Hidden. Discreet. No crown. Just his bed.

I laughed. A humourless, wry laugh.

My skin flushed hot at the memory of his thumb brushing my neck, the way his breath had ghosted over my ear. My body had reacted before my mind could catch up-nipples tightening, thighs pressing together, a slick ache I hated admitting to. I'd wanted to lean into him. Just for a second. Just to feel something other than invisible.

But I'd said no.

And now the hollow in my chest felt even bigger.

I dragged myself to my narrow cot in the corner, peeled off the ruined dress, and pulled on the thin nightshift I kept folded beneath the pillow. The fabric was rough, but clean. I curled onto my side, knees to chest, trying to ignore the lingering scent of pine and storm that still clung to my hair.

Sleep didn't come.

Instead, memories flickered-small, confusing things. Liora's face when we were twelve, the way she'd suddenly stopped sharing secrets with me overnight. The way the pack had started looking past me like I wasn't there. I'd always assumed it was because I hadn't shifted yet. Wolfless. Weak. Easy to ignore.

But tonight felt different. Personal.

A soft knock startled me upright.

The door cracked open. One of the younger maids, Anya slipped inside, eyes wide.

"Elara," she whispered. "You're needed in the east wing. Liora sent for you. Said it's urgent."

My stomach twisted. "Now? The ball's still going."

"She said immediately." Anya bit her lip. "She didn't look happy."

I nodded once, pulled my gray dress back on over the nightshift, and followed her out.

The east wing was quieter, private guest suites for visiting Alphas. Liora waited in the corridor outside one of the larger rooms, arms crossed, golden hair still perfect despite the late hour. When she saw me, her lips curved into that familiar sweet-sharp smile.

"There you are," she said. "I was starting to think you'd run off for good after your little display."

I kept my voice even. "What do you need, Liora?"

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "I felt... unwell during the toasts. Nauseous. Dizzy." She pressed a delicate hand to her stomach. "I think something I drank didn't agree with me."

I frowned. "I can fetch the healer-"

"No need." She waved a hand. "But I remembered you brought me that glass of wine earlier. The one from the special decanter."

My blood went cold. "I didn't. I was serving champagne. You asked for water after the first dance."

Her smile didn't waver. "Are you sure? Because the cup I drank from had your fingerprints all over it and your scent is strongly evident on it. And now there's a bitter aftertaste. Almost like... nightshade."

The word landed like a stone in my gut.

Nightshade. Poison.

"That's impossible," I said. "I never touched any wine tonight. I was barely around to even serve anyone wine."

Liora tilted her head. "Then how do you explain this?"

She opened the door behind her.

Inside, the suite was lit by low candles. On the low table sat an empty goblet, my fingerprints smudged clearly on the stem-and beside it, a small vial of dark liquid. The faint scent of bitter herbs drifted up.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

"I did not do this, and you know it." I whispered.

Liora's eyes gleamed. "Of course you didn't. I know you didn't. But it looks bad, doesn't it? A wolfless handmaid, rejected by the Alpha King in front of everyone, suddenly poisoning his chosen Luna-to-be? People will talk. It's the only reasonable conclusion."

She stepped inside and closed the door behind us, leaving Anya outside.

"I could scream right now," she continued softly. "Guards would come. They'd find the vial. They'd find you here. And Darius..." She let the name hang. "He already wants you gone. This would make it permanent."

My mouth went dry. "Why are you doing this?...What do you want?"

She studied me for a long moment. Then she smiled again-slow, satisfied.

"I want you out of my way. Permanently."

She rang a small bell on the table.

Within seconds, guards burst in-two of Darius's personal men, faces hard.

"Take her to the holding cells," Liora ordered. "She's under suspicion of attempting to poison me."

They grabbed my arms.

"Please Liora...don't do this Liora. I'm innocent and you know it."

I was on my knees now. I knew begging was useless, but I also knew that the punishment for treason was death. I had to try. Maybe, just maybe they would spare me.

Just then, Liora pretended to fall. She was coughing continuously. The healer appeared and checked her, confirming it was nightshade.

"Liora...Liora please!" I tried again, attempting to grab her hand.

Luna Seraphine, the Alpha king's mother, gave me another hard slap.

"Let go of her you treacherous thing. You attempted this inside my palace walls...this is unforgivable." She yelled.

"Mother..." Liora called sounding sick and weak.

"Save your breath child, take her to her room." Luna Seraphine ordered.

"Mother...please don't hurt Elara. She's my hand maid. There might have been some sort of misunderstanding. She probably got jealous that the Alpha King rejected her and chose me instead. I understand her completely."

"Oh poor sweet child. You have such a sweet heart. Do not worry. This will be properly investigated and this unfortunate creature will pay dearly."

I was stunned into silence. Liora was such a great actress. Even I started to believe her. As the maids helped her out, she lounged at me and hugged me tearfully.

"You should never have come here with me." She whispered.

Out loud she said "Don't worry, I know you're innocent, all this will be sorted out."

"You are such an ungrateful peasant. Look how she treats you so kindly and yet you commit this atrocity against her?!" Luna Seraphine's voice sounded distant. I was no longer there. I could not even move.

"Take this dirty creature out of my sight before I rip her apart." I heard Luna Seraphine say again.

This time I didn't fight, didn't struggle. I let them drag me.

As they dragged me down the corridor, Liora called after me, voice sweet as honey.

"Don't worry, Elara. I'll speak to the King. I'll beg for mercy. I'm sure he'll listen."

The cell door clanged shut behind me.

Dark. Damp. Cold stone under my bare feet.

I sank to the floor, back against the wall, knees drawn up.

Hours passed-or maybe minutes. Time blurred in the dark.

Then footsteps.

The door opened.

Darius stood there, silhouetted against the torchlight.

His eyes burned silver.

"The evidence is compelling," he said quietly. "Death is the sentence for treason."

My heart stuttered, I already knew this but it felt more real to hear him say it.

"But Liora has asked for leniency." His jaw tightened. "She begs that I banish you instead."

He stepped inside. The door closed behind him.

We were alone.

He crouched in front of me, close enough that his scent wrapped around me again, pine, storm, fury.

"You should have said yes," he murmured. "None of this would have happened."

I was still silent, staring into space.

"You know, I can still save you. I am after all the Alpha King of this realm. You just need to say yes to me."

His hands were on me now. His face deliberately close. I could here his heart beat, his breath was on my face.

I thought about it for some time. All the privileges and the freedom. I would still be a servant, but I would serve a greater master. But I could not bear to be his sidepiece. I'd rather be a servant of the lowest rank.

I met his gaze. "My answer remains the same. I will not be your mistress, I am ready to accept the consequences. I was framed, but I know my words mean nothing."

Something flickered in his eyes-regret? Hunger? Rage?

He let me go and stood abruptly.

"Take her to the border at dawn," he told the guards outside. "Banish her. If she returns, kill her on sight."

He left without another word.

The door slammed.

I pressed my forehead to my knees.

Banishment.

Not death. I was going to live. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. I would be without a pack, without a home.

I laughed, this wasn't a home after all. Yes, banishment wasn't the end of the world. I would find a pack some day.

I looked outside the cell window. It was a full moon tonight.

"Moon goddess, please let this be the dawn of a new beginning for me." I said out loud.

But as the hours ticked toward dawn, Liora's final whisper echoed in my mind-the one she'd breathed as the guards dragged me away.

"Run fast, handmaid. My friends will be waiting beyond the border."

Elara's POV

Dawn broke gray and merciless.

The guards did not speak as they marched me to the border. Rope bit into my wrists until they cut it at the line, shoved me forward, and turned away without a word. One of them muttered something about Liora's "regards," but the wind swallowed it.

I crossed alone.

I looked wretched and dirty.

The pack link severed with a cold snap. No more distant hum of pack minds. Just silence and the Shadow Wilds pressing in.

Trees thickened fast, branches low and tangled. Mist clung to my bare legs, soaking the hem of my dress. Every step hurt, calf muscles cramping, chest still bruised from the rejected bond, stomach empty and twisting. I kept moving because stopping felt like surrender.

Liora's whisper looped in my head.

Run fast, handmaid. My friends will be waiting.

I told myself it was empty cruelty. A last twist of the knife. I tried to think of something else. The new pack I was going to have, my new life.

Then the growls started.

Low. Multiple. Encircling.

I stopped breathing. Fear crippled me.

Yellow eyes appeared between the trunks, six sets, maybe seven. Rogues. Filthy fur, scarred muzzles, ribs showing under patchy pelts. They moved like a pack that had forgotten mercy.

The biggest one, scarred gray with one torn ear stepped into the open and shifted just enough to speak.

"Liora sends her love," he rasped, lips pulling back over yellowed fangs. "Said to make it slow. Said you'd scream pretty."

Terror locked my knees.

I backed up until bark dug into my spine. No claws. No fangs. No wolf. Just me-wolfless, weaponless, bleeding from yesterday's humiliation.

They lunged.

"Stay back!" I yelled suddenly finding my voice.

I picked up a rock and threw it at them.

They laughed. The sound of their laughter echoing into the forest.

I remembered the soldiers, maybe they had not gone so far. Maybe they'd hear me. Deep down I knew it wasn't possible. I had already crossed the border and the sound would not travel that far. I still tried anyway. I couldn't get myself to give up hope just yet.

"Help!"

"Help!"

I yelled at the top of my voice. But this seemed to excite them even more.

"Scream louder, maybe someone will come to save you." One of them said mockingly.

I stopped then. I knew it was pointless.

I twisted away from the first claws, but teeth caught my calf. Pain seared white-hot. I screamed, fell, tasted dirt and blood. They circled tighter, laughing-low, wet, animal sounds.

The scarred leader crouched over me, claws flexing.

I closed my eyes waiting for the worst to happen.

"Time to-"

The sound came then, loud, scary.

A roar shattered the air.

It wasn't a wolf sound. It was deeper, older, thunder made flesh.

Something enormous exploded from the undergrowth.

Black fur shot through with silver. Crimson eyes blazing. Taller than any shifter I'd ever seen, broader, more monstrous. Dark chains coiled around thick wrists and ankles, pulsing with red-black light like living veins.

The rogues froze for half a heartbeat.

Then they screamed.

"It's the Beast!"

"Run-!"

He didn't let them.

One swipe tore the scarred leader open from throat to groin. Blood sprayed in an arc. Another rogue lunged-claws met air as massive jaws closed around his neck and ripped. A third tried to flee; the Beast caught him mid-leap, slammed him into a tree trunk hard enough to crack wood, then drove claws through his chest.

Screams turned to gurgles. Bodies hit the ground in wet thuds. Limbs scattered. The forest floor darkened with red.

It was over in seconds. There was blood, body parts

Silence returned, broken only by dripping blood and my own shallow gasps.

The Beast turned.

Crimson eyes locked on me.

I couldn't move.

He took one slow step forward. Then another. Chains rattled softly with each movement.

Fear should have choked me. Should have sent me scrambling backward.

But when those eyes met mine, those deep red eyes, ancient, burning, something strange happened.

All the terror... slipped away.

Like warm water washing over ice. My heart still hammered, but not from panic. From awe. From a pull I didn't understand.

He crouched, still towering over me on one knee. Fur began to recede in slow waves, silver-streaked black hair falling forward to frame a face that shouldn't have belonged to a monster.

Sharp cheekbones. Strong jaw shadowed with stubble. Full lips parted slightly. Eyes fading from crimson to molten gold as the transformation finished.

The chains dimmed, hanging loose now around wrists that were suddenly human-strong, scarred, beautiful.

And he was gloriously, completely naked.

Broad shoulders. Carved chest rising and falling. Ridged abdomen leading down to narrow hips and powerful thighs. Every inch of him sculpted like he'd been forged in fire and moonlight.

I stared. I couldn't get myself to look away.

His voice came out low, rough from disuse, but velvet-soft.

"You're hurt."

I opened my mouth. Nothing came out at first.

Then, barely a whisper: "What... what are you?"

He tilted his head, studying me with those golden eyes. A faint, almost sad smile touched his lips.

"Something forgotten," he murmured. "Something cursed."

He reached out-slow, careful-brushing blood-matted hair from my cheek with the back of one knuckle. His touch was warm. Steady. Safe.

The world tilted. Everything became blurry.

Blood loss. Shock. The impossible shift from terror to this strange, aching calm. The sight of him-feral one moment, heartbreakingly beautiful the next.

My vision blurred at the edges.

His arms caught me as I swayed forward-strong, gentle, cradling me against a chest that smelled of pine, smoke, and something ancient.

Darkness rushed in.

The last thing I felt was his heartbeat against my cheek-steady, powerful, impossibly alive.

Then nothing.

Lucian's POV (The Beast)

I slammed the last report onto the desk and shoved it aside. The scribes scattered like frightened rabbits. Another day of border disputes, tribute demands, and endless complaints from the lesser packs. I had no patience left for any of it.

Tonight the full moon would rise. I could already feel the curse stirring under my skin like molten iron. The beast wanted out. It always wanted out on nights like this.

I left the throne room without a word and strode through the long corridors of the palace. Servants and guards pressed themselves against the walls as I passed. They knew what night it was. No one spoke. No one dared.

The east wing waited at the end of the forbidden corridor. No torches burned there. No mirrors hung on the walls. Only darkness and stone. Even my most trusted Betas refused to enter this place. I pushed the heavy iron door open and stepped inside. The air was cold and thick with old magic.

I crossed to the center of the room where the enchanted chains waited. Thick black links forged in dragon fire and bound with ancient spells. I wrapped them around my wrists and ankles myself, then snapped the final lock into place. The chains glowed faintly as they tightened. They had held me for centuries. They would hold me tonight.

I sat on the cold floor and waited.

The pain always started the same way. A slow burn in my spine. Then fire in every vein. I clenched my jaw and breathed through it. Some full moons I wondered if it would be easier to end it all. One clean strike with the sacred dagger and the curse would die with me. But something always stopped me. A whisper in the back of my mind that said the wait was not over yet.

Tonight the pain came faster than usual. My muscles seized. My vision bled red. The beast roared inside my skull, demanding freedom. I gripped the chains tighter and forced it down.

Then I heard it.

A scream.

Not close. Far away. Miles beyond the palace walls, deep in the Shadow Wilds. A woman's voice raw with terror.

I froze. How could I hear something so distant? The palace wards blocked everything. Yet the scream cut straight through my mind like a blade. It grew louder. More desperate.

The beast surged forward so violently I gasped. The pain in my body faded to nothing. All that remained was one driving need.

Get to her.

I yanked against the chains. They held. Of course they held. They had never failed before.

The scream tore through me again.

We must save her. Our mate.

The beast's voice slammed into my thoughts. Not a suggestion. A command.

Impossible.

"No," I growled through gritted teeth. "Stop."

The chains creaked. Then they snapped.

Metal links exploded across the room like shrapnel. I stared at my freed wrists in shock. Nothing had ever broken these chains. Nothing.

The beast took control.

I launched at the small barred window. Glass and stone shattered outward. I hit the ground outside in a crouch, already shifting. Fur exploded across my body. Claws tore into the earth. The palace fell behind me as I raced into the forest. Branches snapped like twigs. Small creatures fled in panic. I did not slow.

The screams guided me. Louder now. Closer.

I burst into the clearing and saw them. Six rogues circling a small figure on the ground. The scarred leader raised a clawed hand to strike.

Rage unlike anything I had felt in centuries flooded me.

I roared.

The rogues spun toward me. Their eyes widened in pure terror.

"It's the Beast!" one screamed.

They tried to run.

I tore the first one in half before he took three steps. Blood sprayed hot across my fur. The second died with my jaws around his throat. The third I slammed into a tree so hard his spine cracked. The others fell in seconds. Claws. Fangs. Pure fury. Their bodies littered the ground in pieces.

Silence returned. Only the sound of dripping blood and a single ragged breath.

I turned.

She lay against a tree trunk, leg bleeding, eyes wide.

The moment our gazes locked something strange happened.

The terror in her storm-gray eyes softened. It did not vanish, but it shifted into something else. Recognition. A strange calm. As if she saw past the monster and found something worth trusting.

She did not look at me with fear.

Not anymore.

Her lips moved. Barely a whisper. "What... what are you?"

The question hit me harder than any chain ever had.

I felt the beast recede just enough for me to shift. Fur melted away. The chains that had once bound my wrists now hung loose and broken. I rose on two legs, naked, scarred, and completely exposed under the moonlight.

She stared. Her breathing grew shallow. Her eyelids fluttered.

Blood loss. Shock. Whatever this pull was between us.

I stepped forward and caught her as she collapsed. Her body was light in my arms. Warm. Fragile.

I studied her face in the moonlight. No wolf scent. No trace of black magic. She smelled like moonflowers and wild honey, nothing more. A human?

Yet the beast had gone quiet the instant I touched her. The full moon still burned bright overhead, but I had shifted back to human form. That had never happened before. Not once in a thousand years.

The Moon Goddess was playing another cruel joke on me.

A human mate?

I held her closer against my chest and carried her through the trees toward the palace. The beast remained strangely calm inside me, as if her presence alone had tamed the monster it had been fighting for centuries.

I did not understand it.

But I knew one thing with absolute certainty.

Whatever she was, she was now mine to keep.