THIRD PERSON POVOlivia embraces her former servant with fake affection and the girl looks so delighted that she sheds tears as Olivia gently pats her back."I missed you so much! The palace is so boring without you." Rose mutters hugging her former master tightly. She could hardly believe it when she received the small letter asking her to be here at this moment. She had no hope of seeing the Queen again after she got banished by her own husband. "I am sorry I made a bad plan and it fell apart at the worst of times. But I now have a new one and we will succeed." Olivia whispers in Rose's ear despite them being alone in the middle of trees and bushes. Rose regards her with scepticism. As much as she still loves Olivia whom they have a lot in common, she knows that the former Queen no longer has the capability to make things happen. Without loyal soldiers and the respect, she used to have she can only dream of doing the things she used to have people do for her by just asking. Not to
TALIA'S POV"I was mean to you because I sincerely love Evan. I had no right to be bitter since I am sadly not his fated mate. I just couldn't help feeling hurt watching him pretend to suddenly love you when we had a thing before you showed up." Rose says with that innocent face that she puts on when she is uttering things that are infuriating.Apparently, she thinks that it's not obvious that she loves my mate and thinks that I need to hear her say it. She even has the guts to claim that Evan is pretending to be in love with me, right in front of my face.Everyone probably thinks the same. We were enemies after all before he proved that I needed him as a friend. My name didn't mean anything to him before the mate bond of course. That's why I too doubted the genuineness of his affection. But who else would have found my brother and brought him back to me without strict demands? So far he has been nothing but the best helper and only someone bitter would claim that he is pretending to
TALIA'S POVMaybe Rose wasn't exaggerating the agony of knowing that the man you love is with another woman. I came up with a plan, feeling smart and in control, but now it's hurting me. I didn't know I had gotten so addicted to having Evan at my side. We have only been together for a few days, yet thinking of what he could be doing to entice Rose to tell him her secrets makes me feel sick. She seemed so obsessed with all that he is, so insanely taken up that I am certain she would kill to have him. I wonder if he would carry on despising her if he knew how much she would willingly sacrifice for him. I hate feeling envious, so I keep telling myself that I don't love him that much. That thought however doesn't cure the agony. I doubt the pain I feel is only caused by his absence. We have been away from each other in the past and it didn't even hurt. The distress I feel is because of him being way too close to someone else, probably touching a servant I hate."Are you alright? You loo
TALIA'S POV"How much longer are you going to stay in there?" I shout at my mate who has been taking a bath for a whole hour and a half. "I really need to get her disgusting smell off me." He shouts back. "You can walk right in, I don't mind." He teases. His day cannot have been any better than mine. I would like to comfort him, but I will be risking ruining our plan. Rose would go mad if she realises that we are playing her. She needs to believe that we fell apart and that Evan is attracted to her with all his heart. It hurts but it's a situation we will have to endure so we can win this war."I am sorry I can't join you. We are supposed to act like enemies, remember?" The door finally opens and he steps out with only a towel wrapped around his waist. I pinch myself just to make sure that I am not hallucinating his beauty. His skin is so smooth to a point of glowing and my fingers itch to touch every inch of it. His flawless muscles become even more taut and salient when he takes
THIRD PERSON'S POVOlivia seethes as she stands leaning on the door to Miss Abrams's holding room while eavesdropping on the conversation between Alpha Jason and her former friend. This isn't the kind of partnership she was seeking even though she was extremely desperate at the time she arrived at Alpha Jason's palace. She imagined he would treat her with the respect and attention a noblewoman like her deserves. So far all she has experienced is his arrogance and uncaring attitude. His real concern is always focused on the woman he is speaking with, her worst enemy."I meant it when I said that you can ask for anything you want. Everything except getting out of this room of course." She clenches her jaws at his words as if they physically harmed her. "You know very well that women like me don't get comfortable with just food and drinks. Life is too short to be wasted in a locked room." Miss Abrams responds, her voice still carrying the same amount of bravery and confidence that Oli
TALIA'S POVI wonder if I should be out there with the soldiers searching for my mother and Taylor. I know Evan is doing his best to make Rose reveal everything to him, but what if his mother doesn't contact her again? It's good that we didn't choose to torture the answers out of her. If she had the slightest idea of where his mother is she would have already told him. She seems too eager to please him that I am certain she wouldn't be holding that information back. Evan won't be thrilled to hear that I am leaving him with Rose. But I know he will understand. After all, he is in a palace while my mother is a hostage and Taylor is lost somewhere in the south. I also noticed that I have become an object of pity as everyone now believes that their King chose a servant over me. I can even hear the voices of the servants gossiping while hanging wet sheets to dry several metres from where I stand. They're talking of how inhumane Evan is to break my heart after all that I have been throug
ROSE'S POVHe has a way of making me feel like a Queen by just being sweet for a few hours. I have had all his attention since morning and I didn't bother doing servant work as I don't feel like I belong to the class of those pathetic people anymore.He didn't let me spend last night with him in his room and I am not disappointed. I imagine he was stressed by the heated argument he had with his selfish mate. She didn't hold anything back and neither did he and I are sure both felt hurt.But she had the audacity to walk into his room again so early in the morning and plead for his forgiveness. As if she didn't hear him say that she disgusts him.I was so thrilled when he kicked her out. And the look on her face was that of a shocked loser. Then she couldn't endure watching me touch the man she had the opportunity to have but became too self-centred to care for him. She must be dying inside and I like it. Thanks to Evan's mother for her wise words because I would never have gained the
ROSE'S POVAfter half an hour of waiting my guardian angel finally shows up, looking elegant and poise despite this being a thick forest. As usual, we are extremely happy to see each other so she embraces me with all the affection there is on earth. Can't wait to see her reaction when I tell her what I have achieved since the last time we met. She always wanted me to make her proud by being as passionate and strong as she and I finally did it. I achieved something that no lady has ever done before. "How have you been?" She asks her hands on my shoulders."Excellent. I really missed you though." Her smile brightens. "I missed you too." She sighs and looks straight at my joyous face. "Tell me, how close are we to success?""You won't believe it. We got everything we needed and a lot more! You can come back home with me now." I say divulging proudly. She regards me with scepticism and I understand. Who would have thought it could happen so fast? I was an ordinary servant and depresse
TALIA'S POVI thought he would act a little smarter in front of the council and my mate, but he apparently can't get any smarter than he was a few hours ago. I really hope that none of us inherited his stupidity. "How many times will I be punished for that crime? How much more torture do I have to endure before you're satisfied?" He yells out loud, his voice cracking with emotion and fear. I see Evan's jaws clench with annoyance."You condemn me for locking up my daughter but none of you cared when her notorious mother disrespected and humiliated me in the most hurtful ways! Don't your laws apply equally to all?" My so-called father carries on shouting.The entire council regards him with contempt and disgust. "And how exactly did her mother humiliate you?" One of the council members questions."She wouldn't obey me as her mate or husband. She trained to fight against my will and even challenged me into a match when I could no longer stand her immodest behaviour." He answers with a
TALIA'S POVThe tiny cell stinks worse than the time I was locked in it. I had sworn that I would not be coming back here after the last time I walked out fuming. But I feel like it's right that I hear my father's side of the story first before he gets sentenced by a council that doesn't really give a shit about the truth. Their main aim is always to please their king, not to make a fair judgement.I don't think there is anything he can say that can justify what he did to Taylor. Only an insane person would confine their teenage daughter in a dark cabin for months and rarely give her food. Our mother called him a monster and I believe that's what he is. I still want to know what happened between him and our mother before he left. Why did he leave with so much resentment? The soldier that unlocked the door followed me inside but I gesture at him to leave because I don't want the public to know about every one of my family issues. What our father did to Taylor is already shameful eno
TALIA'S POV"You weigh a tonne." I tease and the man resting his head and chest on me chuckles but doesn't move. The waves of his pitch-black hair look like a glorious mess and I couldn't resist the urge to bury my fingers in them. The thick strands feel incredibly soft against the skin of my hand. I am laying on his massive bed, courtesy of my sister spending another night in my room. I am however grateful that I am here instead of alone in that spacious room. At least my mate's scent is doing a good job of lulling my nerves so I can sleep. I had a headache immediately after my argument with Taylor which left me feeling like a wreck on the inside. She didn't say a single word to appreciate everything I have for her or our mother. All she cared about was revenge which I have had enough of. Luckily Michael chose to stay with us. Which is better than if he followed our mother back to a house that no longer looks like what we left behind. And starting off again will not be as blissful
TALIA'S POV"Why are you so shocked?" I ask as I approach the bed and Taylor keeps watching me with a baffled face. I had imagined she would be happy to see me. But don't see a hint of joy on her face. Her gaze doesn't leave my face until I reach the bed and peck her forehead. A timid smile curves on her lips. I was however hoping for a more jubilant reaction."Don't you remember me?" "Of course I do . . . you're my sister. You just look . . . so different. Like a heavenly Queen." She stutters the look of shock finally fading away. I sigh in relief because I had thought she had lost her memory or worse gone mad."You're exaggerating. I only look older because it's been three years since the last you saw me. Your face on the other hand has grown prettier." I give her another peck on her left cheek and she giggles. "I look like a living skeleton thanks to our mad father. I didn't even know he existed until he locked me in a dark room for months." She mutters with pursed lips.I take
TALIA'S POV"Please quit trusting him too much. He is no different from his mother. Don't forget that her evil blood runs in his veins." Her venomous words make my stomach churn. Not because there is any truth in what she is in them, but because the bitterness in her voice is too much that I am afraid she may never be able to see the truth and admit she is wrong. I take in deep breaths and blink away the tears before turning to embrace my mate and my little brother. "What happened to our mom? She doesn't want us!" Michael cries as I hug him. I force a smile and cup his face. "No sweetie, mum still loves us. She is just . . . a little confused right now. She will come back and stay with us soon." I soothe even though I am not sure she will ever accept to return back here. I know she loves us, she would never abandon us forever unless she really doesn't have the chance to be with us. "She thinks you're bad," Michael says looking up at Evan. My stunning mat
TALIA'S POVI told her that I couldn't have saved her, Michael or Taylor without Evan's help, and those are the first words she says to him?! What happened to her reasonable and diligent mind? Can anyone be more thankless?Evan's beautiful face doesn't show any signs of annoyance, he looks totally unfazed by even as she takes a couple of steps back and glares at him. I wish I have the same control over my emotions especially when I know someone is acting irrationally. The fact that he isn't taking her mad raving seriously doesn't mean he is totally fine with it. He is annoyed, of course, his face is, however, good at masking it. Michael looks terrified as he looks up at his mother who has a tight grip on his arm. I imagine this isn't the happy reunion he has been looking forward to, she isn't acting like the incredible mother we knew. "Stay away from my family! We have had enough of your evils!" She again snaps at an unbothered Evan. The beta shakes his head in ast
EVAN'S POVI knew this meeting was going to be fun, after all, Talia herself was so terrified of me the first time I appeared in her rented room. She didn't immediately forgive my mistakes and I didn't expect her to. But she reasoned like a sane person. Her sister is totally different, she reeks of witless hostility. She has been through hell and she is a teenager. Her cold demeanour is understandable. You don't live in a dark room for half a year and come out stress-free and amicable. "Go be a slave for three years then come back and say that you're sorry!" She yells, her eyes glowing with rage. She is clearly struggling to force the words out. She is still in pain and physically weak. Days of starvation have left her body emaciated and bony. I imagine her outburst is only fueled by anger, not strength because she can't have much."I don't need to experience what you have been through to understand your pain. But there is no way of changing the past so I am t
TALIA'S POVMother shakes her head in denial for the hundredth time. She refuses to believe that Evan wasn't part of his mother's plan to destroy our family. I didn't want to believe it either at the start. Letting go of the hate is hard when you have been through the hell each of us has been through. "He told you that he didn't know and you believed it?" She questions, looking disappointed.We didn't tell her much last night because I wanted her to finally have a peaceful night as a free woman. She is eager to know everything before we head back home. We have an escort of Miles's ten soldiers to go with us. Not that we needed them but Miles insisted that it will be the perfect show of our alliance. Good Alphas like him are rare, I am glad we ended up allies even though I have not been exactly looking forward to being a Queen. Alpha Owen earnestly apologized for having hosted Miles's father together with his hostage in his palace. He offered Miles five good horses
TALIA'S POV"They must have seen us coming," Miles says looking ahead at the heavily guarded palace of the Blue Mountain pack. It's another palace without a tall wall surrounding it or massive gates to keep strangers from strolling in at will.What however surrounds the magnificent building ahead is a big army of werewolves that look well-prepared for battle. But they are not strong enough or too many to intimidate me. As long as my mother is within that palace I will get her out safely.They obviously didn't have the time to run off again since they had no way of knowing we are coming. They saw us coming from afar and hurried to get soldiers in a line outside to protect the palace. I objected to Miles's idea to bring with us his best lycan soldiers to attack and capture the palace. After witnessing how ruthless he can be I know he won't spare a single life if I let him fight. There is no need for bloodshed when I have my powers. "Don't worry about how many the