~Damian~ "I regret yelling at her; it was a mistake," I muttered, frustrated, as I tugged at my hair.As I paced in the garden, I realized that my rude behavior would hinder any chance of her loving me. Losing my temper was something I detested.I needed to approach this delicately, finding a way to win her over without ruining everything. I refused to let Lucian take her away from me. While he could have fame, riches, and the throne, Cassie belonged to me.Leaving the garden, I made my way to the palace building, plastering a fake smile on my face as I acknowledged the bowing and greeting individuals.Among the women who stared at me seductively, I ignored them, hoping that it would be Cassie casting those looks my way."I must apologize to her for my outburst and the pain I caused. I shouldn't have acted that way," I thought, ascending the stairs toward the top floor.Reaching her chamber door, I paused, took a deep breath, and nervously knocked."I don't want to see anyone right n
~Cassandra~ Leaving Damian's room and heading towards my own, I was startled by his piercing scream, causing fear to surge through me. Turning around, I witnessed a crashing sound that made me flinch, my heart racing as I stared at his door.The terror of him potentially harming himself due to my words consumed me, yet I tried to detach myself from caring. With a heavy gulp and clenched jaws, I continued walking to my chamber. Once inside, I forcefully shut the door and struggled to catch my breath.I had not anticipated such a profound impact when I approached him calmly. It dawned on me that maintaining a tough façade would only empower him further. Seeing regret on his face as he witnessed my tears, I realized that I had affected him in some way.Wiping away my tears, I confidently made my way to the bed, content with the step I had taken to protect my perfect marriage from crumbling. Remaining still, I strained my ears, waiting for another loud crash, but there was only silen
~Cassandra~ Lucian shared the good news with everyone, and shortly after, we finished our dinner. Throughout the meal, I couldn't help but steal glances at Damian, who was thoroughly enjoying his time with Becky.I kept reminding myself that this was what I wanted. Now I would have the peaceful marriage with Lucian that I had always desired. However, I couldn't understand why he wasn't even looking at me.I had a strong urge to ask him about his hand, but he didn't give me the opportunity. Becky had already done that, and he seemed satisfied with her concern.As we walked back to my chamber, Zoe called my name, “Cassie”. I turned to face her and unintentionally blurted out, "He calls me that too." It took me a moment to realize what I had revealed.Feeling uneasy, Zoe furrowed her brows and asked, "Who calls you that?" My slip of the tongue became evident, and I gulped nervously before responding, "Damian. He also calls me Cassie whenever we're alone." Zoe shook her head and averted
~Cassandra~ ~The next morning~ "...Ahh..." We both groaned in satisfaction as we reached climax and collapsed onto the bed once again. Gazing at each other, we couldn't help but burst into laughter."What was that?" He inquired, and I shyly averted my gaze."What do you mean?" I replied, feigning ignorance of his question."You were so wild. Where did you find such energy?" He wondered, and we both erupted in laughter once more."Stop it," I responded, hiding my face in the pillow."Come on, don't be shy. I love it, and I want you to keep being passionate like that," he said, playfully spanking my backside.I chuckled and turned my head to face him. As we locked eyes, the smile on my face gradually faded away. "I love you, Cassandra. So much," he uttered, and before I could respond, our attention was drawn to a loud laughter from outside the window."Is that Becky?" Lucian asked with a grin, peering at the window."Why is she laughing so loudly?" I curiously inquired, slipping on m
~Damian~ I clenched my teeth as I made my way back to the living room. I forced a smile as I approached the dining room.Becky turned her gaze towards me and grinned widely. I returned the smile and took a seat beside her."Damian, Becky was just filling me in on my new schedule. I feel like I'll collapse from exhaustion," Lucian said wearily, causing me to furrow my brow."Why? What's the matter?" I asked, looking at him."I'll have numerous meetings at the headquarters now that I'm the chairman. I have to be present for every single one. Becky just informed me that I have a meeting on the night of the full moon. It feels more like an ordination," he explained tiredly."Really? So you won't be here on the full moon? How many days away is it?" I inquired, glancing at Becky."In three days. But it's not as terrible as it sounds, right? I'm sure they'll make arrangements for you too," Becky added."I know, but it can never compare to the one we have here at the palace," Lucian sighed h
~Cassandra~ ~Night Of The Full Moon~ I dressed in my black casual pants and a white top, hastily pulling my hair into a messy bun. Exiting my chamber, I made my way towards the front of the palace where all the pack members had gathered to celebrate. The sound of their cheering reached me even before I reached them, and the tantalizing aroma of roasted beef filled the air, causing my stomach to growl.As I stepped out of the palace, the pack members bowed slightly, addressing me as "Queen Cassandra."I acknowledged their gestures with a wave and encouraged them to continue the festivities, while I made my way towards the grilling area where the meat was being cooked.Approaching the grill, I spotted Damian standing beside it. He wore a protective brown apron and gloves to shield his clothes from stains. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing his muscular arms adorned with prominent veins. Despite sweating, he exuded an attractive aura. I desired to strike up a conversation wi
~Cassandra~ While still concealed behind the tree, I eavesdropped on Damian engaging in a conversation with Becky. The sun was rising, illuminating everything around me. "I'm waiting for Cassandra. She hasn't returned yet. We'll go back to the palace together," he said. I peeked out from behind the tree and noticed that he was still unclothed."While you wait, can't I keep you company?" Becky asked, her gaze fixated on his lower body with desire and lust.She approached him, but he stepped back and shook his head firmly. "I'll see you at the palace, Becky," he replied, causing Becky to pause. Disappointment was evident on her face as she nodded slowly. "Okay. See you later," she uttered, stealing one last glance at his private area before walking away. As soon as she was out of sight, I let out a heavy sigh and cautiously emerged from my hiding spot. Damian turned to face me and flashed a wide smile."She's gone," he stated, moving closer to me. I shook my head and extended my han
~Cassandra~ Upon waking up, I extended my arm across the bed, hoping to find Lucian's presence, only to realize he was not there. . I sat up, running my hand through my hair before getting out of bed. Making my way to the bathroom, I splashed water on my face, attempting to clear my mind and avoid any troubling thoughts. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, maintaining a vacant stare, determined not to let anything disrupt my peaceful slumber.Leaving the bathroom, I grabbed a shirt and pants, dressing myself before venturing towards Lucian's room. To my disappointment, he was absent. Letting out a sigh, I proceeded down the hallway, deliberately avoiding Damian's chamber and any thoughts associated with him. Reflecting on my past actions, I regretted the choices I had made and sought to distance myself from him. Upon reaching the living room, I furrowed my brow as I noticed Zoe sitting alongside Damian. Their silence and lack of interaction caught my attention.They held sm
~Cassandra~ ~After A Year~ “Good morning!” I heard Zoe’s loud voice from my slumber, causing me to tighten my eyes in discomfort.“Wake up! I have good news!” She continued talking in a loud voice and even jumped on my bed, forcing my eyes open. “Shhh! You’ll wake Darian up!” I mumbled, hastily throwing a glance at the baby bed that was placed not so far from my bed. He was the first person I was concerned about. “Relax, Cassie. Damian and Lucian are playing with him already. He woke up and began to cry so they took him away before he could wake you up.” Zoe further explained, and I raised my eyebrows. “Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize he wasn’t here. I was up all through the night because he kept wanting to eat.” I grumbled, lifting my body off the bed and sitting up. “Well, for the tenth time in three months, welcome to motherhood,” Zoe answered, causing me to smile. Three months ago, I conceived and gave birth to Darian. Everyone in the kingdom was happy. We finally have such
~ Lucian ~ When we got closer to the palace, I realized that the people who had left before had arrived again. Bernard must have sent some of his people to summon them. Deep down, I wanted to break free and teach him a lesson, but somehow, I felt extremely weak. I was a Lycan, why wouldn’t I summon the wolf in me? While tied to the church, I tried too hard to reach that locked-up power inside of me, but it was so hard, I couldn’t even brush the surface. It wasn’t really surprising because I never really used that part of me. I never found any reason to, and now it seemed like it was gone. Like my Lycan power was dead completely. I also couldn’t believe I chose to trade my throne for Cassandra’s life. At the point of death, I realized I still loved her and saw her as my wife, regardless of everything that had happened between us. The soldiers that went with us were armed and more in number compared to the guards at the palace. I knew they had no chance right from when I set my ey
~Sara~ “I hired Sara and Agatha to act like my family so that we could execute our plans better. The fact is, I am single, but I won’t mind having your wife as my queen when I inherit the throne.” Bernard uttered with a smirk. “Go f**k yourself.” Lucian spat angrily. I couldn’t look them in the eyes because I knew they were disappointed, and they hated me already. I kept my head lowered as I let my guilt taunt me. “I think I’ve done enough talking. We need to get down to business.” Bernard uttered. “Now to you…” He added, making his way back to the bed where Cassandra lay. “Your life is tied to whatever Lucian wants.” He uttered, raising his hand to touch her hair. “Don’t you dare touch her!” Lucian growled, causing Bernard’s hand to hang in the air. “I hate you,” Cassandra mumbled, staring at him in a disgusted manner. “Well, I never liked you. So here is what we are going to do. We are going to match down to the kingdom right now, call everyone together, and then you’ll anno
~Damian~ Getting to the house where Sara told me to hide in the meantime, I wasn’t at rest. Something felt so wrong, but I found it so hard to figure it out. I couldn’t stop thinking about Cassie and the palace as a whole. What was going on? Was it a good idea to run off in such a heated moment? Shouldn’t I have taken Cassie along with me? That guilty thought and part of me kept resurfacing. And I couldn’t help but feel bad. It was like I ran away from the problem that was looming around those I love. I felt like a coward. Heaving out a deep sigh, I raised my head and stared at the ceiling, thinking about what I was going to do next. ‘If Cassie doesn’t get here in the next forty-eight hours, then I have to return to the palace. Hopefully, Lucian won’t ask for my head on a platter of gold.’ While I was lost in thoughts, trying to cook up my next big plan, a knock came on the door. Surprised and excited, I sprang to my feet and ran to the door. “Cassie?” I called, opening the d
~Cassandra~ I felt disgusted as Bernard exposed his tobacco-damaged teeth when he smiled. I should have always suspected him. I should have always known that something was so fishy about them. How they came into our lives was pretty suspicious. But who could have imagined it would turn out like this? Damian came into our lives the same way, and he’s one of the reasons I’m still fighting to stay alive. “What do you mean by that? What games are you trying to play, Uncle…” “I told you I’m not your uncle! Call me Bernard! And I’m playing no games. This is reality. The earlier you realize that the better for you.” He disrespectfully cut Lucian’s short, letting him choke on his own words. In awe, Lucian turned to look at me, and I shook my head, feeling so bad for us. “Fine. If you’re not my uncle, then can you please tell me who you are?” Lucian retorted, trying to keep on that bold, masculine look, but I could perceive that this layer was pretty thin. He was going to lose it any m
~Bernard~ I headed back to the palace after Cassandra opened her eyes. Before I fetch Lucian, I need to do one more thing. I needed to convince the people that I was the right king for them. After that, I need him to come in front of the people and renounce his throne to the people. Hopefully, he was going to cherish his life and that of his wife so that that would happen. Getting back to the palace, I saw the people were beginning to exit the building. They still murmured things to each other nonstop. When some of them saw me, they diverted their attention to me. “Where were you, Mr. Bernard? We expected you to be in the hall too so that you can support our claims. You were the one that told us everything that has been happening. Why didn’t you show up?” One of the elderly men spoke up. “Yes, that is true. You should have been there to call him a liar to his face. How do you prove to me that you’re the one we want when you were absent?” Another woman added. “Relax, everyone. I
~Sara~ After making sure we were very far from the kingdom, I stopped running. Damian also stopped and turned to look at me. “What’s wrong? Why did you stop?” He asked, our chests rising and falling due to our intense breathing. “I need to go back. No one can know I snuck out with you. But I need you to keep going. Don’t look back.” I warned him, and he nodded. “Remember your promise, Sara. You promised me you’d help Cassie too.” He retorted, and I gulped hard and nodded slowly. “Yes, I will.” I lied. How was I supposed to help her? My father got her already and there was no going back this time. Only the gods could shift the death lurking around her. “Okay. Thank you, Sara. I’ll be in the house you prepared. Bye.” He uttered as he took to his heels again. Watching him leave, a relieved sigh escaped my lips. I was so glad I could save him from my parents. He had been so nice to me and I wasn’t going to take it for granted. I had described the path to our former kingdom to him,
~Lucian~ “We want another king! Give us another king!” The persistent voices of the people pierced the door of the hall where they were, hitting my earbuds mercilessly. Shaking off the fear that began to rise in me, I occupied my mind with the words that I had planned to say to them. I kept repeating the words in my head as I walked into the hall. The voices of the people multiplied greatly when they saw me, and it seemed like if I wasn’t very careful, they were going to pounce on me. Even though guards surrounded me, it didn’t seem like enough protection. I raised my hand, hoping to see if they still had little regard for me, and I wasn’t disappointed. The roaring and murmurings stopped instantly. “Thank you,” I uttered in a loud voice before I proceeded to what exactly I wanted to say. “Good evening, people of this kingdom! Your complaints have reached my ears, and I think it’s only fair that you let me share my own side of the story too, don’t you think?” I asked, and I got a
~Cassandra~ I headed to Lucian’s chamber with so many thoughts running through my head. How were we supposed to handle the situation on ground? I knew Lucian wasn’t his best self, but I still needed to talk to him about Damian too. I hated that Damian was locked up in a cell for no reason. Getting to his chamber, I walked in and met him pacing at the cover of his study. “Lucian,” I called, but he ignored me and kept pacing. I heaved a sigh and moved closer to him. “Can you stop pacing? You’re making me dizzy.” I retorted, causing him to abruptly stop. “What do you want?” He asked in a cold manner, keeping his gaze off me. “What are we going to do now? I don’t understand what has come over these people anymore. Are we not going to do something?” I asked worriedly, and he scoffed, finally looking at me. “What do you want me to do, huh? I know you all are happy with how everything is going. You don’t have to pretend like you are worried.” He responded and continued his pacing aga