Chapter 5
Cassian Wolfram confronts an old healer with fierce intensity, demanding to know the identity of the woman who saved him. Despite the healer’s trembling denials and pleas, Cassian’s grip tightens until the man reveals that she is the princess of the Pack, married to another Alpha. Cassian mocks their devotion and weakness before releasing the man and leaving, his authority unmistakable.
As Cassian awakens, he recalls the brutal battle with the King of Rogues and the bitter betrayal by his own servant, who poisoned him with a deadly mix of wolfsbane and belladonna. The poison causes torment and madness, but a mysterious woman with fiery red hair appears, removing the arrows from his body and saving him. Though he never sees her face clearly, her scent—a unique jasmine fragrance—haunts him, fueling his determination to find her.
Cassian sets out to the River’s Edge Wolf Pack, a small but prosperous group known for its red stone and fertile land. Upon arrival, he senses tension and overhears talk of Lady Roana, the Pack’s princess, who has defied her warriors by crossing the border with her horse and fighting fiercely. Despite disdain from some, Alpha Alexander defends her strength and vows to pursue her if she heads east.
Cassian learns from female Omegas that Lady Roana is indeed the princess and that she has run away from home. Recognizing her as the woman who saved him, Cassian prepares for a dangerous game of pursuit and possession. He is determined to claim her, setting the stage for a tense and thrilling chase against Alpha Alexander and others who seek her return.
Chapter 5
Cassian Wolfram,
“Tell me—who is she?” My claws, sharp and unyielding, curled tightly around the frail neck of the old he-wolf. His skin felt delicate beneath my grip, almost as if it might shatter like glass. I pressed harder, reminding him that a single twitch from me could end his miserable existence in an instant.
“My—My Lord, please! I swear I don’t know. I don’t know who she is. I only found you lying at my doorstep!” The old healer’s stubbornness was infuriating, but worse was his foolishness. His trembling didn’t earn my sympathy; it only stoked my irritation.
“Do you dare lie to the Lycan King himself? Don’t you value your life?” I snarled, leaning in so my breath brushed his face. His pulse hammered wildly beneath my claws. “Who is the woman who saved me? I may have forgotten her name, but her scent lingers here, clear as day p>
“Is she so important to you that you protect her?” I growled, teeth clenched tight as my grip tightened, watching the veins on his neck bulge and his skin flush crimson. The sound of his strangled gasp almost tempted me to crush his windpipe and silence him forever.
His eyes widened in terror, desperation etched into every line on his weathered face. “My… My Lord! She is the princess of this Pack. But… she is married to another Alpha!” His voice trembled as the secret slipped out, weakening him further.
So, they truly adored their princess. They were willing to sacrifice everything to keep her identity hidden. How pathetic, yet strangely entertaining.
“Tsk. Weaklings.” With a flick of my wrist, I released him, sending the old man sprawling across the room like a broken ragdoll. His body thudded against the floor, but I didn’t spare him a second glance. Each step I took toward the door carried the weight of authority. “I won’t harm anyone who saves me. You should have told me about her sooner.” I tossed a heavy stack of coins onto the shoe rack; the cold clink echoed in the small room. “Thank you for saving me. But next time, don’t play the hero. Heroes die first p>
I stepped out into the chill air, leaving the old man gasping on the floor like a fish floundering for breath.
When I finally awoke, I found myself lying in a bed, wrapped tightly in bandages. The memories of yesterday’s brutal battle with the King of Rogues flooded back—the Dark Rogues, notorious for their strength and ruthlessness. But what haunted me most was the bitter sting of betrayal by my own people, especially my personal servant, the one I trusted enough to bring along.
Not only did that ungrateful omega poison me with a potent dose of wolfsbane, but he also attacked me when I was vulnerable. The thought of his face, the treachery etched into his features, ignited a burning fury inside me. When the time comes, he will be the first to feel my wrath.
Reality crashed down hard. I had lost the loyal ones who would have laid down their lives to protect the Packs under my watch. They were slaughtered just as I had been targeted.
All I had done was run—flee like a coward. The shame was unbearable. But I am no loser. They will pay for every last betrayal, until their blood stains the earth beneath my feet.
As I fled the battlefield, I realized the poison coursing through my veins was not wolfsbane alone. The traitors had been cunning—belladonna mixed with the wolfsbane, twisting my thoughts, burning my flesh from within.
The agony was unbearable, even for my Lycan form. Desperate, he plunged us into the icy river, the numbing cold biting into our skin, quenching the flames just enough to keep us alive.
When I finally opened my eyes, she was there—a woman standing before me, her hands gripping the arrows my Lycan carried. Panic surged through me, fearing another attack from a rogue.
But I was powerless to do anything except watch as she carefully pulled the arrows free, as if her life depended on it.
Her face was hidden beneath a cascade of fiery red hair, but I recognized her body, her scent, and the sound of her voice.
Though I never saw her face clearly, I would never forget that scent—the delicate fragrance of jasmine after a fresh rain. It was unique, soothing, and utterly unforgettable.
Yet my Lycan was in turmoil. The belladonna poisoned our minds, driving us toward madness. When she touched us, there was a strange pull—like magnets drawn to opposite poles—but our souls were raging, torn between wanting to destroy her and a deeper, more primal desire to claim her.
Now, I must find her. I have finally found the woman who saved me. How could I let her slip away without expressing my gratitude?
Pulling my hood low over my head, I set out to meet the Alpha of the River’s Edge Wolf Pack—a small but prosperous Pack blessed with red stone and fertile soil. They supplied quality vegetables and the prized red stone for construction projects.
Though I had never visited this Pack before, I learned about them through whispers and inquiries.
Upon arriving at the Alpha’s Packhouse, the atmosphere was thick with tension. I stood pressed between two walls, observing servants scurrying about, their faces pale and anxious. Had they known who I was, my mere presence would have silenced the entire place.
“The head maid reported that patrol guards on the eastern border spotted Lady Roana crossing with her horse. They tried to stop her, but she took down every warrior!” a guard announced breathlessly.
“How could Lady Roana overpower all the warriors? She never fights, you fool! Her Wolf is as slow as she is!” the head maid spat, her disdain clear.
“I’m not lying, Head Maid. We have the surveillance footage. She used her Wolf to fight,” the guard insisted.
Leaning against the wall, I tried to piece together the situation. The way they spoke of Lady Roana—the only woman I could think of who might have saved me.
But these people clearly held no respect for her. Their words dripped with contempt, yet she was far stronger than they admitted.
“Enough!” A commanding voice cut through the murmurs. Heavy footsteps approached from behind. “Roana is stronger than any of you realize p>
I narrowed my eyes as I recognized the speaker—Alpha Alexander. At the last Alpha summit, he had embarrassed himself terribly. But now that I think about it, he arrived with a woman—a doll-like figure with red hair. Could it be her?
“If she’s headed east, then we’ll go after her. We can’t let her slip away,” Alexander growled through clenched teeth.
“But Alexander! What about your mate? She’s pregnant with your child. Roana will come back once she realizes she’s as unwanted as always. No one likes a woman like her,” Alpha Milestones and Luna Milestones sneered.
Who were they talking about? The woman who saved me—was she their daughter? Or someone else entirely?
I approached three female Omegas moving toward the gate. “Excuse me,” I said softly, hiding my face beneath my hood.
“Who is Roana?” I asked, my voice steady but carrying the quiet intensity of a storm ready to break.
They froze, exchanging nervous glances. “Lady Roana is the princess of this Pack. Who are you? You’re not allowed inside the main Packhouse without permission p>
I smirked, stepping closer until my shadow swallowed theirs. “Well, here I am. I don’t need anyone’s permission p>
Turning my gaze to Alexander and the others, it became clear—Roana was the woman who saved me, the one who had run away from home.
Well, well. This was shaping up to be an entertaining game—a thrilling chase to catch the elusive rabbit. Let’s see who captures her first, Alpha Alexander. But no matter what, she belongs to me to claim.
The chapter closes on a tense and charged note, weaving together themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the fierce pull of destiny. Cassian’s internal turmoil, fueled by poison and treachery, contrasts sharply with the unwavering strength of the woman who saved him—Roana, the defiant princess whose courage disrupts the fragile balance of power. Their connection, marked by both primal desire and conflicted emotions, sets the stage for a complex dance of pursuit and possession, where past wounds and hidden truths threaten to unravel everything.
Amidst the shadows of Pack politics and whispered betrayals, the story reveals the fragile nature of trust and the unyielding will to reclaim what has been lost. Cassian’s resolve to find Roana and assert his claim is not just a quest for gratitude but a declaration of power and passion intertwined. The simmering tension between characters, laced with disdain and admiration, promises a volatile journey ahead—one where love and vengeance blur, and only the strongest will endure.
The next chapter promises to deepen the tangled web of loyalties and betrayals that swirl around Cassian and the mysterious Lady Roana. As Cassian steps further into the world of the River’s Edge Pack, the simmering tensions within the Packhouse become impossible to ignore. The disdain and fear directed toward Roana hint at secrets and conflicts that could explode at any moment, threatening to upend the fragile balance of power. Readers will be drawn into a world where alliances are fragile and every word carries weight, as Cassian’s pursuit of Roana becomes a race against time and rival ambitions.
Emotionally, the next chapter will test Cassian’s resolve and the strength of his instincts. The haunting effects of the poison and the turmoil within his Lycan form add layers of vulnerability to his otherwise fierce determination. Meanwhile, Roana’s own struggles—her defiance, her strength, and the cold reception she faces—promise to reveal more about her character and the sacrifices she has made. The clash between duty, desire, and survival is set to intensify, leaving readers eager to discover who will claim Roana’s loyalty and what price Cassian will pay to protect the woman who saved him.
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.