Bernardo“Bern,”Harlyn whispered my name. I looked at her, my only reason for still being sane after everything that I had just heard from her. If she wasn’t with me. If not for her presence. If I had been hearing the things I heard from her from someone else, I would have lost my sanity.Heck, I wouldn’t have even believed those words if they came from someone else. The fact that he was so fucking close to me. We ate together, we did things together for years and all those times, he was plotting to take over.No, even before I was born, he was already plotting. From the moment he found out he wasn’t going to be the next alpha king after my grandfather, he started plotting. His plans worked. At least halfway. He took out my father and many other pack members just to get what he wanted.If Harlyn hadn’t come into my life. If I had let her go and stubbornly not tried to look for her, I would probably have died, and not just me. Every member of my family would have faced the same fate.
Bernardo“What do you mean why? You are the king of the Crimson Moon and you got shit to do.”“Yeah? But I am your mate and I got shit to do here.”I said pointing from myself to her.“Whatever you want to do with me can wait. The kingdom needs its king during the day. I will take the nights for now.”Wow, I couldn’t believe her.“What if I don’t want to leave you? After what happened, I don’t feel okay leaving you on your own.”She sneered at me.“I am not a baby and what happened before won’t happen again. You have a lot on your plate. The sooner you are done; the sooner we can spend more time together without you worrying. I am doing this for myself. Small sacrifice for the bigger enjoyment. I love you.”She added the last part and I couldn’t argue.“You are literally driving me away and doing it lovingly that I can’t even say no.”“You are right. Now go be king. I love you.”She brought my face close to hers and kissed me. I let her kiss me for a while before I took over and kisse
Bernardo“Bastard,” He was truly a bastard in many ways. How could he be so ruthless? My grandmother took care of him after his own mom passed away. My father became alpha king because he was more deserving. It was a unanimous decision and not because they stole anything from him.I still couldn’t bring myself to accept that that bastard killed my grandmother after everything she did for him. Lyn told me how disrespectful he had been towards her from the beginning.“Hey yo! King!” Hillan’s voice brought me out of my thoughts. I gazed at him in confusion wondering what he told me. He snapped his finger in my face as if to wake me up.“What?” “Where are you? Why are you glaring at the screen? We can go check it out if you want.” Hillan suggested. I shook my head. We have been through enough today already. No need to rush into some hideout without plans.“Is Theo still coming over?” I asked, remembering that the witch had said earlier that Theo was heading back to the Crimson Moon.
Bernardo “I can’t imagine my father’s brother or his children fighting me for my position as alpha either.” Hillan added.“I can. My father’s brother almost killed my parents. If not for our Luna, he would have succeeded.” Damien chirped in, reminding me of the good deed Harlyn had done for his family. I smiled proudly.“That’s fucking sad,” Harry said and both Damien and I nodded in agreement. It was sad because families are supposed to have each other’s back. I wanted so much for my family to be that way. That's why I did my best to keep a close relationship with Sean and his family but that turned out to be my biggest mistake.“Guys! I think we should take a break. You guys go to your mates and have a good time and we will come back tomorrow, refreshed and ready to hatch out a plan to end things fast and clean so that we can go back to our normal life.” Hillan suggested. It was a nice idea so I nodded in agreement and then felt bad when I remembered that he didn’t have a mate
HarlynI don’t know how long I slept after Bernardo left me in our room but when I woke up, it was lunch time so I had lunch alone in our room and then went right back to bed. I felt exhausted and knew it was a result of the strength I used to heal that bastard.I fell asleep again only after a few minutes on the bed and woke up to my phone ringing loudly. I reached for it and picked it up without looking. I placed my phone on my ear and almost lost the ability to hear when Helaine shouted out my name.“It's a video call. Move your phone away from your ear, your majesty.” I sat up immediately and rubbed my eyes to clear the sleep off.“Hi, Laine.” “Hi sleepy.” She greeted me back. She was wearing a lab coat which took off immediately. She looked so much like me that for a moment, I thought I was staring at myself. Even her smile. “That’s us!” My wolf chirped in. glad, I wasn’t the only one who thought so. It must be the sleep getting into my head. Laine went off the screen and t
Harlyn“It doesn’t matter.” I told Laine.“I know. It doesn’t. You will be just as gorgeous. Wait, even more gorgeous. Once the pregnancy glow hits you, you will be more breathtaking. I should watch out for my brother-in-law.” I laughed at her words and she laughed too. We both went silent and just stared wordlessly at each other for a minute before she spoke again.“I went to see our relatives and we talked about you. They are all so eager to meet you.” Same. I want to meet them too. All of them. I wanted them to hug me and welcome me into the family.“Me too.” I told her.“I found out something from our aunt and would like to try it out once I arrive back at the kingdom.” Helaine told me.“What?” “Triplet power. Apparently, the birthmarks that we carry aren't just there for fancy. Something is supposed to happen when we join hands in the right order.” I stared at her with interest.“In order?” She nodded.“Yes, in the order that we came out of mom’s womb. Harry, me and you.
Harlyn “Sure, I will do that once I arrive. I can’t believe your mate’s family members are the ones against him. Don’t they know the importance of family? I can’t imagine our aunts and uncles hurting each other. Our family have lived together for decades and still care about each other.” “Maybe because there’s no throne to fight for.” I said even though I knew that wasn’t a good excuse.“We have treasures, fortunes that go way back to centuries ago. We have generational wealth too yet no one is fighting.” “Tell me about our family's generational wealth.” I said with interest and Helaine laughed before diving into a story that got us talking for hours on the phone. I didn’t even realize how much time had passed until Bernardo walked back into our room looking worn out and ready to crash for the night.“Laine, I have to go. His majesty is back.” I told Laine who made a face that made me smile.“Are you picking your mate over me right now? I am your sister. Your blood. We met in th
Harlyn I woke up the next morning alone. I was used to waking up alone now so I didn’t think much of it, I just went about my morning routine before breakfast. After the events of the past two days, I actually hoped that today would just be a normal day for me. I really didn’t want to deal with any negativity. I knew I was reaching out because as long as Theo and everyone associated with him and his father are still out there, there will definitely be negative things happening. I just hope it doesn’t affect those I care about and all the good people of the Crimson Moon. Even though I knew the chance of it being a peaceful day was low, I still made a mental note to make the most of today. I didn’t even notice Bernardo had left a note for me until I finished getting ready. I only saw the note because I went to pick up my phone from the bedside. I smiled when I saw the note. “I didn’t want to wake you because you were sleeping so peacefully. Out for my daily kingly duties and w
Harlyn “Were you two talking about me?” She called out and I couldn’t even deny it because we had been talking about her for real. She ran the rest of the way to us and pulled me into a hug which I returned. Just holding her in my arms melted away every little doubt I had in me. My body released a million happy cells and even my wolf jumped in joy inside me.“You are glowing and I am happy to see you like this after what happened yesterday.” Helaine said when we pulled apart. Loved her and how she was able to tell my mood. I love everything about her and even more.“We are good now. The enemies are gone and I have you guys with me.” I told her with a smile. She smiled at me before looking at my mate. “Hello, your majesty. How was your night?” She asked my mate who smiled.“It was great and yours?” “Mine was splendid. I watched the news last night and I must say, I get why everyone fears and respects you. I was impressed.” Bernardo looked at me and smiled.“Thanks, I have been
Harlyn“I can’t believe all that is really over and we are on the path to return our kingdom to how it was before the great discovery.” I couldn’t resist saying. The whole of last night, I kept thinking about everything that went down. I couldn't believe everything really happened and it was all really over. As of last night, both the remains of the traitors have been taken away from the kingdom completely and everything they have ever owned has become public assets to be given out to charity or confiscated if not useful.“I am glad you finally accept that you are one of the leaders of the kingdom now.” I smiled and blushed when my mate touched my cheeks. Yeah, after yesterday, there was no doubting it. He literally told me that my coronation is the next big event that will happen in the kingdom. Like I am going to be queen officially and the man waited until he was deep inside me to tell me.It was the hottest thing ever and I loved it too much that it got into my head and erased a
Harlyn “This is not the end! This will never be the end! You think killing me will make it all go away? You think that will make it all stop? You are wrong! It will never end as long as you are on the throne! My fight will continue even in death and I will win against you, bastard!” I don’t even know how the idiot got all the strength to be shouting out foolish words. I looked at my mate and he had a smirk on his face. He stood up and I did too but he made a stop motion. Even though I wanted to argue and insist on following him, I realized really fast that it wasn’t the time to argue with him. As soon as he made sure that I wouldn’t follow him, he marched away from where we sat. Not even the elders who tried to stop him succeeded. I sat and watched as my mate marched toward the center of the auditorium. I didn’t know what he was going to do but I knew it would be bad for the idiot who couldn’t just shut up and die in peace. “Oh no,” I exclaimed when Bernardo got him, jerked h
Harlyn “Are you sure that you still want to be here with me? You can still leave if you want.” I turned and openly glared at my mate. He has asked the same question over and over again for the past half an hour that we have been seated and waiting for the executive to happen. Right now, various deltas were putting the final touches to all their preparations and I have to admit that it kind of felt scary that they were doing everything in preparation to murder two people. But when I remember what those two have done and just how many people they have taken their lives unjustly, I just can’t feel bad for them. “If you ask me that one last time, I will tell the guards to walk you out of here. I feel like you are the one who doesn’t want to be here.” I whispered to him. Of course, I won’t ask the king to leave but it felt good to warn and felt even better when he nodded politely. “Yes ma’am.” He whispered back and left me alone. I watched as the deltas went about their duties and
Harlyn “You guys can go if you want. I will wait here with the twins.” Leah told the ladies who took the chance to leave. “They are going to spread the news that I have an identical twin.” I told Leah and Helaine. “How do you know that?” I smiled knowingly. “I just know.” I said with a laugh. “You look really pretty.” Helaine complimented. “I look just like you.” I told her. “No, not right now. You look like an elegant version of us and it really suits you.” I smiled at the compliment. We didn’t even get the chance to talk much because my mate walked back into the dressing room. “Oh, the royal couple, coupling.” Helaine cheered when she saw Bernardo. We must have unknowingly teleported our dress code because he was wearing a similar color-coded attire. Navy blue and white. He looked very kingly with the crown on his head and the staff of office in his hand. I don’t know about others but I was completely smitten by him and if I wasn’t already so in love with him, I wou
Harlyn “It looks so good on you, oh my goodness!” I did a three-sixty turn for her and laughed when the women cheered. “I know a secret.” Patricia let out and the three of us stared at her curiously. “Tell us,” Leah told her when Patricia didn’t speak. She smiled. “I don’t know if you will believe me but the queen mother had the dresses remade for her.” She said and pointed at me. I stared at her in shock and confusion. There’s no way that’s true. “You are joking, right? Harlyn became Luna not too long ago and my grandma has been gone for over a year now. She died way before the alpha and Harlyn got together.” Leah said and I nodded in agreement. It just didn’t make any sense. “I am not joking or lying. The queen mother knew you would one day be queen. At least that’s what she kept telling us. If you don’t believe me then you can ask the other worker, though she has stopped working at the palace. She knows, everyone who worked close to the queen mother knew.” I didn’t know
Harlyn “I know and I am grateful for it. Only you can make him agree to something like that and I am truly happy that he found you now. The side of my baby brother I see every day these days even with everything going on pleases me and I have you to thank for bringing that side of him out.” There she goes again with all the thanks as if mating with Bernardo didn’t change my life more than it did his. “I am glad too.” I told her because I didn’t want to argue his importance and just what mating with him has done for me. I am sure Leah already knows that. “Okay, let’s get you dressed. Ladies, let’s see what you got.” Leah called out to the two women who quickly started pulling out things that they had come up with. Leah pushed me gently into one of the chairs in the huge room and made a stay-put gesture before walking over to the women. I glared at my reflection in the mirror in front of me. I have seen myself in mirrors lately but every time I see myself, I see a whole new perso
Harlyn “Why do you look so in shock? You are the queen now, that’s yours.” It felt surreal. Everything in that room screams luxury, expensive and some of them very vintage. Even the queen mother only used that room when it was really important that she show up as queen and now, that place will be mine. It felt too huge to be real. “I don’t know, Bern. It feels like I will be stepping into a place that isn’t mine. Can’t I just get dressed in our room?” I asked him. “Sure you can any other time but it’s important that you show up in traditional crimson moon royal attire as the queen.” “But I am not queen yet.” I pointed out. “Oh, but you are my dear. The day I found out that you were my mate was the day you became queen of the crimson moon. Coronation is just to make it ceremonial.” Now why do I suddenly have doubts when I was the one who insisted that I want to stand by his side? I let out a deep sigh and nodded. I didn’t want us to waste more time. “Call her.” I told him.
Harlyn“Baby? It’s time to go!”I opened my eyes when I heard Bernardo’s whispers and blinked to clear sleep off my eyes. I must have fallen asleep while waiting for him. I don’t even know how long I slept. The last thing I remembered was reading through the PDF that Hillan had sent to me.“What time is it?”I asked Bernardo as he helped me up.“Past four pm,”He told me and helped me fix my hair. He had a look on his face that I didn’t like.“Did something happen while I was sleeping?”I asked him with concern. He smiled and shook his head but I wasn’t convinced. I looked around his office and it was just the two of us.“But you don’t look okay.”I said and reached to caress his face. He touched my hand and held it against his face.“I know. I am just in my feelings. I guess even though I passed the judgment, I hate to see it happen but I have to be there.”I understood immediately and pulled him into a tight hug.“Oh baby, but you don’t have to be there. You already did your part, r