"Liora?"
Zyra's voice cracked through the tightness in her chest.
She stared, breath caught, as the Omega...no, that couldn't be the same Liora—stood on the backs of her kneeling servants, being carried through the vampire village like royalty. Her hair , more luscious and white. Her skin was pale, her blue eyes swept the crowd with bored superiority. Everything about her presence screamed control.
It was both mesmerizing and terrifying.
Zyra took a step forward, she had to see her, but Selene grabbed her arm.
"Stop," Selene whispered harshly. "Why would Veyron let her walk around so freely? That's not the Liora you remember."
Zyra's jaw clenched. "Her scent... it's different."
"Exactly," Selene said. "Look at her skin—she's not just a werewolf anymore. She's a vampire too."
"How?" Zyra demanded. "Vampires don't use magic. The spell masking her—it's just like the one you cast."
"They don't," Vaelna cut in, her voice low with dread. "Unless… the witches are helping them."
Zyra's eyes sharpened. Her gaze returned to Liora, who was now glaring at her handmaiden in annoyance for something she whispered. Her aura was magnetic. The crowd didn't dare breathe too loudly around her. Even those who feared her couldn't look away.
Her beauty was a weapon.
And then….
"You!!"
The entire village froze.
Liora had pointed.
Zyra didn't need to look behind her. The finger was aimed directly at her.
Her heart dropped.
"You," Liora repeated, lips curling with annoyance. "Come here."
Zyra hesitated, but her body obeyed. Something about the command sliced through every wall she had. Even her Alpha blood faltered. Her steps were slow but steady as she moved closer.
Liora bent slightly, studying her like a hunter would a strange new creature.
Then, coolly, she turned to her personal maid. "Take her to the castle," she said. "I don't like seeing anyone who looks more beautiful than I do."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Some looked at Zyra with sympathy. Others with fear.
It wasn't the first time Liora had done this.
And the last girl never came back.
Selene exhaled behind the crowd, her eyes following Zyra. "Well... at least she's in," she whispered. "Now we just need a way to follow."
Liora turned, entered her carriage , as they carried her off.
Zyra walked behind on foot. No escort. No explanation. Just the weight of eyes and whispered rumors following her every step.
She didn't know what the Omega wanted.
But she intended to find out why she was like this and how to take her away from here.
—------------
Selene slowed her pace as she passed a fruit stall draped in deep violet cloth. A young woman with braided black hair was arranging baskets, humming lightly.
Selene leaned in, voice curious and sweet. "The princess… she's stunning, isn't she?" she said with a light laugh. "I've lived here for so long ,but I've never seen her before. I didn't even know our king had a sister."
The woman raised a brow, amused. "She doesn't come out much. We've known about her—whispers mostly—but she's always locked away in the castle. They said she was sick. Something serious."
Selene blinked. "Sick?"
"Yeah… but I guess the illness passed. She looked pretty alive and regal the past 2 days." The woman laughed, almost nervously.
Selene smiled politely and nodded, then walked away slowly. So that's the lie he told the people, she thought. An illness... when in truth, he had stolen and kept her caged with fake identity.
Sera stood nearby, quiet, her eyes pinned in the direction Liora had gone. Her hands trembled slightly, even though she tried to hide it.
Selene turned toward her, her tone soft but firm. "You okay?"
Sera didn't look at her. "That wasn't Liora," she said under her breath. "I mean… it was. But it wasn't. She didn't even flinch when she looked at me, Selene. She always noticed me first, always." Her voice cracked.
"I know," Selene said gently. "But you can't lose hope. She's in there somewhere. Maybe just buried too deep."
Sera closed her eyes for a moment, steadying herself.
Selene placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll find a way into the castle. Somehow. We'll get to her. Meanwhile, Ciara and Vaelna will keep working on the portal, and when we have our chance… we move."
Sera finally nodded. Just once.
And Selene looked back up at the towering castle. Her mind is already working through possibilities.
—------------
Veyron watched as his "sister" strolled into the grand hall, a new face trailing behind her.
Veyron tilted his head. "Who's this, Laura?"
Zyra flinched inwardly.
Laura?
That wasn't her name. Her wolf stirred, agitated beneath the cloaking spell. She didn't need to be told—it was Liora. Even cloaked in cold elegance and vampire glamour, her soul hadn't changed. Zyra could feel it in her bones.
Liora turned slightly, a cruel smile dancing on her lips. "She looked prettier than me" she said casually, throwing herself into the velvet-lined throne beside her brother. "So I took her. She'll serve me… until her beauty fades."
Veyron's sharp eyes scanned Zyra slowly.
Yes, she was beautiful… pale skin , silver eyes– Striking, even.
"She's yours, then," he said with a dismissive wave. "Just don't get attached. Pretty ones tend to rot quicker than the plain ones."
The last pretty pet the omega brought ended up dangling by the neck when they stopped being entertaining.
"Follow me," Liora commanded without looking back.
Zyra obeyed silently, her boots echoing softly against the cold marble floor. So that's Veyron... she thought. I expected an old, cursed king rotting in robes, not... that. He looked young. Lethal. calm but dangerous, her insides felt it, her wolf was restless on seeing him.
Her chest tightened. I need the others. I don't know how to do this alone.
Her heart pounded as they reached the upper chambers. The vampire guards didn't question a thing. Not when she walked behind their princess like a new ornament.
They reached the omega's chambers.
Liora walked in first, tossing her cloak aside with practiced grace. Zyra entered a few steps behind, her eyes scanning the room—lavish walls, dim lanterns, a moon-carved mirror on the far end.
Liora turned and sat on the bed slowly, kicking off her boots and crossing one leg over the other. She stared at Zyra without blinking, her gaze dark and unreadable.
Zyra stood still. Tense. Watching.
Liora tilted her head.
Silver eyes met blue eyes.
"You know why you're here?" Liora asked.
"No," Zyra replied, tone cold, gaze fixed on the floor. She wasn't stupid. One wrong word in this place could get her killed. If she pushed to tell her the truth , Liora might snap. So she swallowed her pride and stayed still.
"There's something about you…" Liora murmured.
Zyra looked up. "What is it, Your Highness?"
Liora rose slowly, her presence commanding . "I don't know, but I'll find out."
She walked toward her slowly smirking, each step heavy with purpose. "But now, whatever happens in this room... stays here."
She stopped inches away.
The Omega leaned in. Her cold fingers grazed Zyra's chin and tilted it up
"One word outside," she whispered, "and you won't live to see the next day."
Zyra's heart thudded against her ribs. This liora was deadly, she felt it and being serious now , she had to keep her words in check.
"Got it?" Liora asked.
Zyra nodded once. "Yes."
Liora's lips curled faintly, her eyes glinting. She leaned in closer, voice dropping to a low, dangerous purr.
"Undress"