Alright... let’s make this fun for all of us. 😌

Here’s how I’m rewarding you, my special readers, and the ink to my pen.

1. Hit a top ranking for a week straight → mass release of 3 Chapters.

2. Send a super gift → mass release of 5 Chapters.

Now for the real mischief, these are the rewards. Also, this is where the real chaos lies.

1. Top interactive reader in a week → gets a shoutout

2. One-time super gift → gets a Chapter dedicated to you.

3. Repeated super gifts → you start getting little spoilers + future hints.

4. Highest Golden Ticket sender of the month (20–30 range) → you get a permanent role in the book

Yes, an actual role. 😅🥹 Immortality secured.

Let’s build this story together 🤍

......

"You sick sadist. That is our mate." The voice roared out the moment the door slammed.

It didn’t echo through the hall. It was his wolf, roaring at him, almost about to tear him down.

Nate stilled where he stood. His eyes turned musky and glowed red. His wolf was on the surface.

For a moment, the only sound left was the faint ringing in his ears, from the slap. He still couldn’t believe that slap came from her.

His jaw tightened.

"She crossed a line," he said, his voice low, controlled as he replied to his wolf.

"No," his wolf snapped back, vicious and immediate. "You did."

Nate’s fingers curled slowly into a fist.

His gaze remained fixed on the door. The wood that shut him out without her touching it. He saw it, and that hadn’t been normal.

That hadn’t been nothing. Yet, his wolf wasn’t talking about that.

"You grabbed her," his wolf continued, relentless. "You pinned her. You spoke to her like she was beneath you."

"She is beneath me," Nate bit out. "She’s wolfless. She doesn’t understand the rules here."

A dark, humorless laugh echoed in his mind.

"And whose fault is it that she doesn’t feel safe enough to learn them?"

Nate’s expression hardened. "She doesn’t need to feel safe," he said. "She needs to obey."

"You’re lying." His wolf spat.

That landed heavier than the slap.

Nate’s chest rose slowly.

His wolf didn’t stop. "You don’t want obedience," it said. "You want control. You want her quiet. You want her small because that’s easier than facing what she is."

Nate turned sharply, pacing once, twice. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"What she is," he repeated. "Is a liability."

"No." His wolf’s voice dropped. "Say it properly." it ordered.

Nate didn’t respond.

"Say it," his wolf pushed, pressing harder now. "Or I will."

A beat passed between them.

Nate exhaled through his nose. "She’s dangerous," he said finally. "And no one seems to see it."

"She walked into the woods alone," he continued, his voice in his head tightening. "She walked out alive."

"She didn’t walk out," his wolf corrected. "You carried her."

"And yet she wasn’t afraid," Nate snapped. "Not of the forest. Not of death. Not even of me. She’s supposed to fear me."

That last part came out quieter, almost unwilling.

His wolf caught it.

"She’s afraid," it said. "Just not in the way you want."

Nate stilled. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means," the voice said slowly, "she doesn’t fear you as Alpha." he paused for a second. "She fears you as a man."

Nate’s brows pulled together. "That’s the same thing."

"No," his wolf said. "It isn’t."

Silence stretched between them. The air felt heavier now.

"You saw it," the voice continued. "When you touched her. When you pinned her. That wasn’t submission in her eyes. She never submitted to you."

Nate’s grip tightened. "It was defiance," he said. "She’s a stubborn wolfless curse."

"It was revulsion."

Nate jaw clenched as tbat word sat in his chest like something sharp, wrong, annoying, and uncomfortable.

"You’re exaggerating."

"I’m not, you shimmy arrogant bastard."

His wolf didn’t soften. "Your mate looked at you like you were something she had to survive. And you feel good about it."

Nate’s jaw clenched. "She’s dramatic."

"She’s very much honest."

Nate dragged a hand through his hair, irritation spiking in again.

"She went into the woods alone," he repeated. "At night, with no wolf. That’s not bravery. That was a huge stupidity."

"No," his wolf said quietly. "She feels caged. When would you understand all I’m saying, you dimwit."

Nate scoffed. "She’s protected."

"She’s restricted."

"At least she’s alive."

"She’s suffocating."

Nate stopped pacing at once. His chest rose and fell in sync. "You’re choosing her side."

"I’m choosing what’s right."

A sharp laugh escaped Nate. "You don’t even know her."

His wolf didn’t hesitate. "I know enough to choose her as my mate. I simply need your body as a font."

Nate’s patience snapped. "She disrespected me."

"And you deserved it."

The words cracked through him, sharp and unapologetic.

Nate’s eyes flashed red. "Careful."

"Or what?" his wolf challenged. "You’ll silence me too?"

A dangerous pause.

"You forget who’s in control."

"Try me," the voice said calmly. "Once an arrogant fool, always an arrogant fool."

Nate went still.

Nate looked back at the door again.

"She hit me," he said after a moment.

There was something almost... incredulous in his tone.

His wolf huffed. "And?"

Nate turned slightly. "And?"

"Yes," the voice said. "And?"

"She hit me." He repeated, almost roaring this time.

"She defended herself."

"I didn’t hurt her."

"You were going to."

Nate exhaled slowly, trying to reason. He knew he wasn’t going to hit her. He simply wanted her to shut up.

"She said she never liked being my mate."

His wolf didn’t answer immediately. "That’s because you’ve given her nothing to like." it said carefully, almost whimpering.

Nate’s chest tightened.

.......

The night air was colder outside the castle grounds.

Mitchell pulled her cloak tighter around herself as she moved quickly through the narrow path leading away from the estate.

Her eyes darted around multiple times, making sure she wasn’t followed. She had been careful, but lately... things had been shifting.

She didn’t like it.

The meeting point came into view. It was a small, abandoned structure hidden beneath overgrown trees.

She stepped inside the quiet abandoned and isolated place. As expected, she wasn’t alone.

"Finally." The voice came sharp, and annoyed.

Hannah stepped out from the shadows. Her expression was already twisted with irritation.

Mitchell dipped her head slightly. "My lady."

"Don’t ’my lady’ me," Hannah snapped, folding her arms. "You took too long."

Mitchell kept her face neutral. "I had to make sure I wasn’t followed."

Hannah rolled her eyes. "You’re a maid, not a war general. No one is watching you."

Mitchell said nothing.

Hannah stepped closer. "Well?" she demanded. "Is it done?"

Mitchell hesitated.

That was enough answer for Hannah. Her expression darkened instantly.

"You haven’t done it."

Mitchell lowered her gaze. "I haven’t had the chance yet." She admitted.

"You haven’t had the chance?" Hannah’s voice rose, incredulous. She couldn’t believe what she heard. This was a simple task. Two drops of the portion would do the work. Just two drops. "I placed you inside that castle for a reason!" she grunted.

"I know."

"Then why is she still breathing?"

Mitchell lifted her eyes carefully. "Things are not as simple as you think. I trued to use Lady Blackfen, but with her father gone, she has no interest in Your grace. She’d rather stay in her room reading, or in the training ground."

Hannah laughed. The laugh came out harsh, and ugly.

"Oh, I’m sure they’re not. Poor you. Is it too hard to poison one girl?"

Mitchell’s jaw tightened slightly. "It’s not just any girl."

"I don’t care what she is!"

"You should."

That stopped Hannah in her track. Hannah’s eyes narrowed. "Excuse me."

Mitchell exhaled slowly.

"There’s more protection around her now," she said. "There are more eyes around her now with .ore guards. And the King himself is paying attention to her meals."

Hannah scoffed.

"Of course he is. She’s their first cursed little Luna."

Mitchell hesitated again. "There’s something else."

Hannah’s irritation flickered into curiosity. "What?"

Mitchell leaned in slightly, and lowered her voice. "I don’t think she’s as weak as they believe."

Hannah blinked, then laughed again. "Oh, please."

"I’m serious." Mitchell said quietly, "just an hour ago, her door moved without her touching it today."

That wiped the smile off Hannah’s face. "What?"

Mitchell held her gaze. "I saw it."

Hannah’s mind began to turn. "You’re saying she has power?"

"I’m saying," Mitchell replied carefully, "there’s something about her we don’t understand yet."

Hannah’s lips curled slowly. "Good," she murmured.

Mitchell frowned slightly.

"My lady—"

"Good," Hannah repeated, sharper now. "That makes this even better."

Mitchell’s unease grew. "This could complicate things."

"No," Hannah said, smiling now. "This makes things fun." She stepped closer, her eyes gleaming. "You said you haven’t had the chance?"

"Yes."

Hannah tilted her head. "That’s fine."

Mitchell blinked. "Fine?" she asked. "What about my_"

"Yes," Hannah said lightly, cutting her off. "Because now, we won’t rush it."

"What do you mean?" Mitchell asked, uneasy. Her mother was still in Beta Kole’s Park as leverage to be held untol she completes the task. She woukdnt want anything happening to her mother.

Hannah leaned in. Her voice dropping to a whisper. "We’re not just going to get rid of her." she said. "We’re going to ruin her first."

Mitchell’s stomach tightened. "How?"

Hannah’s smile turned cruel. "By letting her destroy herself. Like she did with the council elder."

Mitchell stilled. Before she would say another word, Hannah was gone.