The moment I set foot inside the I sensed her presence. My gaze darts from one face to another until I find her, staring at us, or me as we enter. Sarah’s fingers tighten around the crook of my elbow, making me glance at her. She peers at me through her lashes, a feat that doesn’t appeal to me at all. The emerald gown she is wearing and the jewelry to go with it make her look beautiful, but her beauty fades in front of the one who stands among the crowd as just another spectator of this engagement.I glance at Aysel again. She looks in awe and something about her expression unsettles me. However, I can’t deny that she looks stunning in her blue evening gown. Her side-swept braid bares the tantalizing curve of the neck. Her small pendant sits between her clavicles and the diamond drops adorning her ears twinkle now and then. She looks ethereal, and it is then that my gaze takes in the man beside her.A sudden jealousy flares up in my gut. Is he her boyfriend? Mate?“Alpha, shall we pro
The days following the engagement pass in a daze, the images of the celebration and Alpha Azriel's enigmatic presence lingering in my mind. The way he accused me as if he really believed that I was doing something wrong, had he known something? I hiss as yet again a dull ache shoots through my temples. The headaches have been persistent ever since I came back, but Mason has been managing and taking care of that. Yet, beneath the surface, a deep sadness clouds my heart.I can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy and confusion every time I think of Alpha Azriel getting engaged to someone. Why does it bother me so much? I barely know him, and he's practically a stranger. Still, the inexplicable bond that seems to connect us gnaws at my thoughts, leaving me restless and uncertain.“Dr. Knight?” I hear someone call me. My train of thought comes to a halt. I look up to find a nurse patiently waiting with a clipboard. I offer a sheepish smile. “Ah, I am sorry.” She shakes her head and han
The journey to the Royal Pack is both exciting and nerve-wracking. Alpha Azriel and Liam keep me company, and their presence brings a sense of reassurance. Throughout the trip, I can't help but steal glances at Alpha Azriel, wondering about the enigmatic connection that seems to linger between us.As we arrive at the Royal Pack's territory, I'm struck by its grandeur and magnificence. It's a place of power and prestige, and I feel a mix of awe and humility as I step onto the new grounds that will soon become my home.All the way to the new pack, I can't help but wonder about Alpha Azriel's intentions. Why did he go to such lengths to ensure my appointment? What is the nature of the mysterious bond that seems to bind us together?Liam is the one to show me to the Pack medical center. He too, behaves as if we have known each other for a while. At times when he is running me through the Pack’s rules and regulations, I catch him looking at me with an odd expression that I cannot place my
I jog away from the encounter with Alessia, feeling a jumble of emotions swirling inside me. The way she spoke to me as if we were old friends, left me utterly baffled. I can't recall ever meeting her before, yet she knew me well enough to engage in a casual conversation. My mind is a maze of foggy memories and unanswered questions.Back in my room, I try to piece together any clue that might explain the familiarity Alessia displayed towards me. Wait how did I know her name? I am startled by the realization. “What is going on?” I ask myself, putting my head in my hands in frustration. This is for the umpteenth time that day when I am asking myself this question, this time asking aloud however. First Alpha Azriel’s attitude towards me, then his fiance’s rude behavior and James’ indifferent one, and now Alpha’s half-sister’s overtly casual behavior. Well, I have heard enough rumors during my day’s work to know who is who in this Royal family, but where the heck have I met her?My effo
“What are you do—?”“Nothing just I needed to talk to you about something,” I reply hurriedly and somewhat nervously. Alpha Azriel’s eyebrows furrow. I am not sure if he is used to being interjected or not, but since he doesn’t look annoyed then I will let this pass.“I… I met Princess Alessia and she knew me so I am wondering how it is so?” I ramble because I have no way of looking suspicious and running out of the place will just make me look even more suspicious than it already does.Before he can reply, he is interrupted again.“Alpha, what's the matter? Oh.” James comes out from the office at the moment, like I had suspected he would because of course, you can hear the voices outside the door. I pray that he would think that I just arrived here and not stand listening in on him.I don’t look James’ way but at Alpha Azriel. I am sure he wouldn’t tattle on me.He looks at James and then his gaze darts back to me. “We will talk about this later. You should go now.”There’s no room f
The words echo in my mind, reverberating like a haunting melody. It keeps me awake all night long, refusing to let me rest even for a wink. I try hard to not remember anything because that would only lead to a bleeding nose and ears, and splitting headaches.When morning arrives, not quick enough for me, I get off the bed. Neither the chirping of birds nor the fresh air does anything to calm my senses. I step out of the room and squint at the view outside.The day is brighter than I like.Under the harsh light of the morning sun, the revelation strikes like a lightning bolt, electrifying my senses. My body sways a littleYet again, I am lost in a labyrinth of emotions, unable to find my way out. I hold the nearest pillar to keep me from collapsing on the ground. Thankfully it is quiet and devoid of guards.This kind of betrayal feels different, it is the betray
“But… but… Mom said…” I am suddenly feeling overwhelmed, overwhelmed enough that my words are simply tumbling out and I am not sure if I am making sense. In my mind, I can only think that my brother is alive and well and he is here in front of me.Why does that feel like a deja vu? Why does that feel like …“Mom lied,” he simply says and I can only gape at him with disbelief.Of course…She never loved us to begin with and she never made any effort to do anything except ask how much I am earning. She was the one who protested about me coming to this pack the most. James is working with her which is obvious otherwise…This is so unfair. This is so unfair to me. What have I done to her? To anyone?A sudden chuckle leaves my lips and I am not sure why that turns into peals of laughter.I can sense both Kai and Alpha Azriel’s confusion. They are very palpable in the s
Azriel:As I watch the one person whom I thought loved me enough to break society’s rules for me, walk away. I realized two things: Yet again, I had hoped for too much and I had also been betrayed by the ones I thought I could trust.My lycan is growling, he wants a bloodbath and he wants to end James’ life. But can I do so? No. I cannot simply because the man has been there for me and the reason behind him hurting Aysel is also me, protecting me and making me the eligible alpha for the throne.I go back into the cabin. Kaizen has been pacing and stops when he sees me enter.“What did you talk about?” He scowls at me.“Don’t pretend as if you did not eavesdrop,” I mutter.“So my sister lost her memories, got kidnapped, and is now trying to cope with her present life because of you? You are the reason from the beginning, the root of all her problems until now,” he says throug
[Azriel] As I dragged the alpha king by the hair down the corridor, I wondered why I had restrained myself. Why I had waited for my mother, who I knew was dead, but I am not sure who killed her. The impostor who took me by surprise and played with my emotions might have also told me a secret and that is, they were the ones responsible for my mother’s death. I would prove that too eventually, but for now, I looked down at the Alpha king, writhing and flailing, and yet unable to get out of my hold. The courtroom would be full by now because, according to Alessia, the ceremony would take place early in the morning. The auspicious hour as they call it. But I knew better, he was afraid that I would barge, which I had done. No one stopped me, maybe after looking at my eyes, which I knew were pitch black. My irises probably had gold rings around them too, which happened a lot when I first turned into my wolf. Or, maybe they were too shocked to see their esteemed king without a stitch of c
[Azriel]Rowan did not hesitate to take over and even though it hurt like hell when I transformed, once that part was done, I felt mostly right. We trotted through the forest. The dawn was just about the corner. My mind went back to Aysel who must be sleeping and when she woke, she would find the bed empty.‘We will return soon,’ Rowan murmured. I hummed. Yes, after dealing with the man who had taken everything from me. I would go back. The thought of my impostor even touching Aysel fueled my anger.We sped through until we reached the back forest. I became extra alert as I changed back, biting back the pain as each bone in my body cracked and contorted. Valerie wasn’t joking when she said I need rest.This side of the palace usually remained quiet, but I spotted guards standing at the entrance this time.Fuck.Entering would mean fighting them and wasting my time and energy on them. I didn’t want that. I took a deep breath, I needed to find other ways to go about this.“Finding ways
[Aysel]“Good news. Azriel has very few traces of poison left in his system and this means his wolf will make a re-entry soon,” Valerie informs me over the phone the next morning. Azriel still rests while I pace around the living room as I speak to Valerie.“Any complication you feel might occur?” I ask.“None as much as I can tell. Just make sure that he doesn’t transform into his wolf even when he resurfaces completely because he might be a little unstable, and we don’t want someone hurt here, and by hurt, I don’t mean Azriel.” Her voice has a tinge of humor. I let out a small sigh.“Thanks. I will keep this in mind.”After ending the call, I go back to the room. Kai and Alessia are yet to emerge from my room. I hope for Kai’s sake that he had the goodwill of keeping the sheets clean.“Ah, I see someone woke up early,” I comment dryly as I enter the room to find Azriel sitting on the bed, leaning against the headboard. I lean down to kiss him good morning, but this man simply takes
[Azriel]I expect to wake up with darkness before me, with the smell of dirt and desolation engulfing my senses, but when I open my eyes, I see a ceiling.I blink a few times, trying to get rid of the blurry vision. Yes, this is a ceiling and as my senses become more aware, I smell a familiar scent. Aysel’s scent.At that moment, I hear a door open. I feel too weak to move but become alert nonetheless. And then… and then I hear a gasp.“Azriel?”I am dreaming, I think. Surely dreaming because there’s not a chance of her being here. Or is there?I find my answers in the next few seconds as the citric scent engulfs my senses completely when she practically wraps herself around my prone form. I grunt, and that makes her pull away, much to my dismay.Aysel doesn’t pull back too far. Taking a strand of hair behind her ear, she says, “I… Sorry, I was too excited to…”Her gaze doesn’t meet mine, but I can tell that she is trying to hold back tears. I compel myself to lift my hand. Rowan has
[Aysel]“Where are you going now?” Kai murmurs as he follows me out of the house.“To find James,” I mutter as I wrap the coat around myself.“Where the heck will we find him?” Kai growls in frustration.“I don’t know, but we might find something because if not him then who?” I shout, my tone sounding louder in the otherwise silent area.Kai lets out a slow breath. “Fine… let’s be more sensible then, okay?”“Where will he be? Like where could he go? I don’t even know if he has any other place to go. Like didn’t he look after him, his whole life?” I ask incredulously.Kai is thoughtful with his hands on his hips, eyes searching but distant, and unfocused.“Let’s scour the forest,” he murmurs.I nod. “Good idea.”“What did the voice sound like?” He asks again as we head towards the outskirts.“Hoarse and unfamiliar, but I am sure it is someone we know,” I reply as we take the small trail. The night air is chilly, and the darkness grows as we walk inside.He hums. “Hopefully we will find
[Aysel]“Hello? Hello?” Despite the line going dead, I keep the phone pressed to my ears.Kai rounds the table and hands me a glass of water. Rubbing my shoulders, he asks, “Who was it?”I keep the phone down on the table, and stare at it for some time as if waiting for the person to call again but as predicted the screen stays black.“Someone… said ‘he is not the alpha’,” I reply in a quivering tone. I look at Kai for his reaction, and even his gaze has clouded with worry. His eyebrows have furrowed.“You mean—”I push back the chair to stand up. My vision blurs with unshed tears. My brain feels tired yet restless.“I think… that’s not Azriel.” I sniffle.“He cannot be… he cannot behave like that no matter what medicine he took.” I grab Kai’s shoulder.“Can’t you ask Alessia? Like she was on guard right? When you came to bring me back?” I ask hopefully. Kai nods slowly, his gaze on something on the table.“I did not think about that,” he murmurs. Neither did I. The shock of Azriel be
[Aysel]Alessia and I race towards the palace. What the hell is wrong with Azriel? First, he asks Kai to practically throw me out of the premises and now he is trying to kill Aiden. I feel too overwhelmed to even think about whether or not the wolfsbane is responsible for this. Damn.We reach Aiden’s office and Alessia cries out as we find Azriel choking him to death. Aiden’s eyes have almost bulged out at this point.“Azriel, leave him!” I say hysterically. Alessia rushes towards the duo before I can stop her.“What’s happening?” Kai somehow reaches just when we need him, and he too, rushes to help Alessia who is trying her best to push Azriel away.I draw courage from my brother and help him in separating the two. We topple backward as Azriel tries to fight us as well. However. Aiden scrambles back and is out of reach, panting for breath. His face slowly gains color, and a guard quickly takes him out of the room. I sigh in relief but my happiness is short-lived because suddenly fing
[Aysel]“Where are you going?” Mason asks as I am hurrying towards the bike with Kai. He has somehow found out and is now as always asking after me. His concerned gaze makes me want to hug him. I am not sure how I ended up getting a friend like him.“Work,” I lie, my voice trembling with sadness, anger, and fear. He gives me a pointed look, one that says that he is not convinced. When I avert my gaze and take my seat on the bike, he frowns and looks at Kai.I am glad he hasn’t asked who Kai is, or maybe he has received the information about him as well.“We have more urgent matters to solve. Please excuse us,” Kai answers his quizzical look with a curt nod.“I will call you later,” I say to Mason and then we leave for the palace. My hands are clammy with sweat as Kai picks up speed to reach the destination as fast as possible.He has not divulged much to me because when I heard the news, I almost fainted and felt numb all over.How did he…? I can bet that it was due to that medicine w
[Azriel]The moment they leave, I try to leave the bed, but as soon as I sit up, the room begins to spin and I am forced to lie down once again. I groan and it is then I feel the pain lancing through my body. Everything rushes back again and despite lying down, I feel nauseous.Mom’s eyes flash across my face.The pity and pain in her eyes faded in front of the betrayal that I faced. Growls of anger and pain leave my mouth unbidden. I roll on my side and somehow get off the bed. I crawl to the waste bin near the desk because the washroom is too far away and dry heavy.My stomach clenches and with every muscle contraction, I feel the pain increasing tenfold. I belatedly realize that I am crying. I am sobbing and it is painful. My chest constricts painfully with each breath.Why did Aysel leave again? Why did she not have faith in me?Rowan whimpers in the back of my mind. A sense of despair fills inside and before I know it I fall sideways. My vision blurs and slowly is engulfed by mad