AZALEAOnly ten minutes. I have ten minutes until the clock strikes twelve, and I will officially be an adult. In ten fucking minutes, maybe I'll be able to meet my wolf and sense my mate as well. Azalea is my name, and I am a late bloomer. The fact that I am nineteen and have yet to feel the primal beast within me is telling.I've been called wolfless my entire life, tortured and humiliated for my inability to shift, and it's getting more miserable by the day. The mockery and hostility that reaches my ears every time I am forced to go out in public, or even when I enter a crowded room for the first time, is worse than anything else I have ever experienced. They label me as weak, pitiful, useless, and unlovable. Some believe I'm cursed. Some claim I won't live long enough to find a mate since I don't have a soul - whatever that implies, I have no idea. Others have even called me an abomination. In truth, I sometimes revel in their insulting words because I'm not sure who I am anymor
AZALEAMy heartbeat becomes deafening, and I feel like my entire being is pulsing madly inside my chest. As he takes a step forward, Landon's stare never leaves mine. My legs wobble beneath me, and I try to stand tall, but I fail miserably."Is this some cruel joke by the moon goddess?" His voice reverberates like thunder through the air. "Is this some cosmic retribution for all the shitty things I've done to you?" He continues to speak as he strides briskly towards me, but I do not respond. I don't say anything since my head is racing with thoughts. How is this possible? Why would the moon goddess leave me mateless only to bring him now, after all these years? Worst of all, she matches me with Landon, the man who is the bane of my existence. But for some strange, unexplainable reason, I'm happy. I know I shouldn't be, but I can't stop myself. Riley, for one, is incorrect. My mate is the future Alpha King of Shadow Valley, not some 'lowly' Omega. Two, my mate is also her cherished
AZALEA I make my way down the corridor towards the Alpha King's quarters. I'm excited to see what he's gotten me. I quickly arrive at the room, and even though it is heavily protected, the guards let me in. When I walk in, the room is dark, but after groping around in the darkness, I find the light switch and turn it on. The room lights up, and that’s when I see it—a red box on the king-sized bed.I approach the box and pick it up, excitedly biting my bottom lip. I eagerly unwrap the red wrapper until only a tiny black velvet box remains. I carefully open it, and my heart leaps at the sight of a stunning ruby necklace.I gently place the box on the bed, taking small steps towards the nearest mirror. I put the jewelry around my neck. It complements my porcelain skin and chocolate hair. I take up the box and set the necklace inside before leaving the room to go to mine.As I dash down the hall and into my room, I throw the package on my bed, grab a towel, and run into my small bathroo
AZALEA'Run, Azalea, run. Don't ever look back.' This sentence echoes as I move discreetly and try to blend into the darkness. It's nearly 4 a.m., and I'm taking advantage of the early morning hours to escape. I pray my timing is correct since the last thing I want to do is run into the castle's security.I rush down the long row of buildings, avoiding the dense wall of shrubbery that leads to the garage. I quickly arrive and dash inside the dark room, grabbing my cell phone and putting on the flashlight. All I have to do now is find Landon's car, and the rest will be history.Earlier, it appeared that the stars aligned in my favor because, as I was preparing to flee, I discovered Landon's keys on the dining table. It's not surprising that he'd forgotten it there — he is always so careless. No one else was nearby, so I stole the keys discreetly. I soon notice his shining black Ferrari, and I run towards it, gently sliding in the keys while looking around to see if anyone is approa
AZALEA 'You've been purchased to become my Alpha's surrogate.' Purchased? Slave-trader? Surrogate. None of the words make sense, but then again, I am in an unfamiliar room. My mouth falls open in surprise as I stare at the stranger, whose name I now know as Donovan, and I hold back my words. But the earnestness in his eyes tells me he's not bluffing at all. He is dead serious. And I'm scared shitless. I should sprint towards the door. I should scream as well. Maybe someone would hear and come to my rescue. But I know better. Doing all those things would be a complete waste of my time because this is his territory. I'm alone with this man—the Beta of a pack I've never heard of, and from his fierce features and stoic stance, I know he'll have no issue subduing me. He’s stronger than me and can snap my neck in a second if necessary. A chill runs down my spine. "I…You’re joking, right?” I ask, the question spilling from my mouth before I can stop it. There is complete silence—an uns
ALPHA ANDRAS"If I complete this surrogacy deal, will you let me go?" The girl asks again, a little less confident this time, and I clench my teeth.My wolf begins to emerge due to her arrogance, and I look at her, puzzled as to how someone so small could be so daring. Daring enough to challenge an Alpha who has dominated werewolf packs for years. Brave enough to question me. Me?! Nobody, not even other Alphas or Betas, dares to disagree with me or query my decisions. But now I'm being interrogated by a petty woman who isn't even royalty! A woman who is now at my mercy. As I irritably rake my hands through my hair, my wolf stirs within me again, restless and agitated, questioning her stubbornness, and I'm discreetly reminded of the gory reason I'm here in the first place. I stare at her, my jaw clenched, and my mind wanders back to the day I made the most crucial decision of my life. The day I accepted Jenna as my Luna, my first love. Our mating rite was performed years ago, and our
AZALEA After an hour, we reach our destination, and here I am, staring blankly at my new home - Alpha Andras' Moonheart pack. When he first introduced himself as an Alpha, I never thought I’d attach the title to his name. But when I'd asked a simple question, and he'd tugged my hair so hard I thought I'd become bald, I saw I shouldn't have doubted any of his statements.Landon and Riley used to be the meanest individuals I'd ever met, but now I know better.My thoughts return to the incident at the motel. Not only was I chained like a prisoner, but I was also bundled and thrown into a car full of hulking guards three times my size! The recollections send shivers up my spine. I have no idea what will happen to me now because Alpha Andras has made it apparent that he will not let me go. And I shake a little more as his words replay in my head.'You are now mine, in spirit, soul, and body.' In a day, I went from being the mate of a cruel prince to a runaway wolf and now a breeder for
AZALEAEvening comes sooner than I expected, and I'm in my room with the Luna Queen, whom I now know as Jenna.She's doing a great job reminding me of who and what I am in this place. "You're just a surrogate in the making.""A breeder owned by Alpha Andras and the entire Moonheart pack."“Consider yourself fortunate to have been picked. Most female werewolves your age would take this offer without hesitation."'Most female werewolves would take this offer without hesitation?' The ironic comment makes me scoff internally. An offer for which I will receive nothing in return but suffer the most? I respectfully disagree. I attempt to remain calm as she speaks, but her words and the rude attitude accompanying them irritate me! And I can't stop screaming in my head. 'I understand my role. I fucking understand it. I don't need you or anyone else to remind me!’One thing I must acknowledge, though, is how gorgeous Jenna is, even if her face looks awful when she frowns. I wish she would smi
I fetched the candles that I had managed to uh, borrow, from the kitchen and placed it at the side of my little makeshift cake that I had whipped up earlier today. I wasn't sure if it would taste nice considering the fact that I had only thirty minutes to bake the whole thing plus minimal access to ingredients, but I didn't care. A cake was still a cake regardless.I probably looked nothing less of a Cheshire cat because I couldn't help the excited grin that remained plastered on my face. Turning eighteen was a very important thing for every werewolf because it brought a new life to the limelight and I was eager to find out who I was going to belong to for the rest of my life.Looking at how I placed the candles, I took it out deciding that the middle was the best spot for it. I was about doing so when my door was nonchalantly banged open and an aura that I hated the most stepped into my room.I looked up and to my utter dismay, Xavier was standing in my room, flitting his eyes around
He meets my gaze, his eyes filled with uncertainty. "I... I honestly don't know, Azalea. I was assigned to pack your things, but I wasn't told why"."Was it Jenna?, Does Alpha Andra know?” I question. She's the only one I know who would do such.I can feel my frustration bubbling and a deep sense of anguish wash over me. No matter how hard I try to push the thoughts away from my head, I can't help but feel like I am being treated unfairly.I have dedicated myself to my duties, always going above and beyond what is expected of me. I have never given Jenna a reason to strip me of my privileges and downgrade my living arrangements. Is Alpha Andras even aware of this?"It was an order from Alpha Andras himself Azalea, not Jenna". He mutters.My brows furrows as I gape at him. "A-alpha Andras?!".I try to sound confident but the tingles of shock in my spine wouldn't let me. The Alpha Andras that I've been with this past few days wouldn't do a thing as this!My assumptions when I walked in
"Bring that back Darla!". I yell at Darla, who's been a pain in the ass since we started working in this garden.There’s nothing we can do but play. It's been three hours already yet we still haven't worked up to half of the days job, all thanks to Darla and her antics."You wish". She snorts and continues to run around the garden. "You should be grateful to me you know? Atleast you've finally gotten the chance to live your childhood dreams of running around a garden with a bestfriend and sister".I chuckle, folding my arms across my chest. "And who says that's my childhood dream.”She smirks. "Your eyes, your laughter, and the full blown smile on your face".Darla's right, she's the best thing that has happened to me ever since I stepped foot inside this castle. The last few days have been so hectic for me. What with Alpha Andras harsh behaviors to me the last few days. It’s like he’s an entirely different person now, and it scares me. It scares me so much, I can hardly sleep or eat
ALPHA ANDRASIts been days since my outburst with Jenna and I haven't heard or seen her, not that I care so much but her absence in the palace is quite strange.I'm just about to leave my bed when a timid knock on my door stops me. I'm not expectant of anyone, especially not at this hour. It's too early for me to be disturbed"Who's there". I call out, scrunching my face in annoyance."A maid, your highness. The luna queen sent me to you". She responds, her voice trembling in fear.Jenna? That's a weird one. Jenna has never sent for me, especially not through a maid. She barges into my room whenever she wants and however she wants so what has changed?.I heave a worried sigh. "Come in."The maid steps into the room with her head bowed, I could literally see her legs shaking but then that's none of my problems."What did she say? I mean my wife?".My wolf groans as soon as I uttered the word "my wife". I didn't plan to but in as much as the sight of Jenna repels me, she's still my wife
As I walk into my room, I am taken aback by the sight before me. My belongings are scattered haphazardly across the floor. Confusion and anger wells up inside me almost immediately. What exactly is going on? Why are my things being thrown away. At the same time beads of sweat cascade down my face in fear. I approach Donovan who's standing nearby, observing my reaction with a neutral expression."What's happening here Donovan? Why are my things been moved?". I inquire, my voice trembling with a mix of frustration and worry.“I was asked to move your stuff to the servant's quarter" he says trying his best to keep a straight unbothered face "You have been demoted Azalea.”I have been demoted? To what? I almost ask this out loud, but I just swallow and mutter instead. “But why?"He meets my gaze, his eyes filled with uncertainty. "I... I honestly don't know, Azalea. I was assigned to pack your things, but I wasn't told why.”"Was it Jenna?, Does Alpha Andras know?” I question. She's the
ALPHA ANDRAS"My king, someone's here to see you.” Donovan, my beta informs me.The elders in the courtroom all turn to look at me, some casting glances at each other, some whispering nothings into the ears of their betas.The whispers turns into a commotion soon, much to my annoyance. I don’t know I can’t explain that I’ve not been in a good mood of late. Every fucking thing seems to annoy the hell out of me. And I can’t say I like it. What the fuck is wrong with me?"Silence!". I yell, my voice reverberating in the whole courtroom and everywhere goes deathly still.Donovan shivers and lowers his head to the floor, he knows I hate to be disturbed, especially when I'm in a meeting with the elders, so if he has the boldness to do so then it's probably important. However I can't attend to anyone right now, not in the middle of a very important discussion with the elders."Attend to him Donovan, as you can see I'm busy".He shoots his head from the ground. "I think you need to see this p
"The door is open". Alpha Andras voice rings from inside his room.I gulp hard, and hesitate to enter. I clutch my robe tightly, wrapping the soft fabric around my body protectively.Today is the start of our sessions and I can't help but feel nervous. It feels like a dream and I really can't believe this is happening again. There are so many things running through my head. So many questions I want to ask. So many things I want to say. His announcement the previous day had me palpitating in shock. I never would have imagined those words coming out of his mouth, especially in the presence of Jenna and a few maids. He’d said that in front of his wife. He’d disregarded all voice of reason and stood up for me. Gosh. I've always known he's full of surprises but his words and the demeanor that tagged along with it yesterday shocked the wits out of me."She's going no fucking where! As a a matter of fact she'll be carrying my child again" I never expected that. Not in that moment. In fact
KINGDOM OF WARWICK SILVERMAN’S POV My eyes flies open as I jerk from the bed in my cottage clutching my chest in fear. Something's definitely not right and I can sense it. My daughter's presence is near but it's not alone. I can sense a strange aura surrounding it.I stand up to leave the bed when I feel a hot liquid cascading down my arms.What could that be?I swirl my fingers in a circular motion and the room lits up immediately. My eyes trails down to my arms to see a reddish liquid flowing down in strides.Blood! That can only mean two things. Magic. Dark magic.I'm being attacked or someone else close to me! Suddenly the dots start to connect. She's in danger, my daughter is in danger!I swirl my fingers in a circular motuon again and the light goes off, plunging the room into total darkness.I wipe off the blood from my arm with a clean, white piece of clothe. As soon as I made sure every drop has being wiped off with the clothe. I place it on the bed and begin to make some i
JENNAI pace up and down my room, my face flushed in anger. It's been days since I successfully carried out the first phase of my plan that's supposed to make things better and easier for me to move on to phase two. But it seems every single thing I did, did not only work but also backfired.That bitch and Andras are much more closer than before because of the miscarriage and it's so bad that even if Fiona was still here in the castle her services would be useless.They now spend time together openly and it seems like I'm no longer visible in the eyes of Andras. I can't count how many times I've told him to send her out cause she's not strong enough to carry another seed of his and gotten a negative response and reaction too.The last time I brought up the topic, he'd flared up and demanded that I stop talking about it else he'll use his Alpha command on me. Shocked was an understatement of how I felt. I felt my blood boil in rage for that bitch and her faux body.'Faux body?' Why the