CHAPTER 44I took in a deep breath of the sweetly scented air that filled my nostrils as I walked through the garden.With my arms crossed behind my back, I inspected the flowers around me. Their sweet scent rose steadily, filling the atmosphere with an assorted perfume.I paused and closed my eyes immediately I sensed the guards strategically positioned around me.“I want to be alone”, I announced loudly.They stayed still, pretending that they were not there in the first place.When I was just the commander, I trained all the Alpha's guards to secure him from a short distance at all times, making sure that he was never alone and that they were never detected around him.They mastered the stealth enough to be invisible to an untrained eye, but Vincenzo was always so observant, so he always knew when they were around, how many they were and where they stayed hidden.I had also been trained with the same stealth and lightness as them, and I had even trained a few of them myself, but it
CHAPTER 45Charlotte's POV “How many days has it been since I sent men to the wastelands to kill Vincenzo?”, I asked lowly.“Answer me”, I yelled, my voice thundering through the hall.Denzel, my second commander, stood in front of me, shivering like a pig.He had been stripped down in the courtyard to only his underwear. Two hefty guards stood behind him with a drum of water and a small bowl which they used to scoop the water and pour it on him as he shivered.“It must feel so uncomfortable, being made to stand naked and have cold water repeatedly thrown at you, especially since it's freezing outside”, I said.He shivered nonstop and just looked at me. He was unable to even mutter a word.I sighed wearily and nodded slightly at one of the guards.He turned to the drum of water and plunged the bowl into it, taking up a lot of water with him.Just as he was about to throw it all at the man who stood quietly and shivered in the middle of the courtroom, the doors flew open and one of th
Roberta's POV:Happiness, a never attaining illusion that I had deceived myself into thinking I had finally attained. But such was never the tale of the pack reject.How did I get here where all I can do is watch my mate be happy in the arms of my cousin with everyone applauding them.Even the room that I was given, the first I ever owned, was being turned inside out as Charlotte stood guard for her minions to tear everything apart.But when a maid grabbed my most prized possession and I tried to rescue it, a hot slap was delivered and I could do nothing but take the hits from the one I once called my sister.The hits stopped and I heard Charlotte screaming at someone to get the f*** out. Whoever this stranger was, he didn't say anything to her but placed a hand on my face. Instant relief flooded my system.“I said, who the hell are you and what right do you have to interfere in my affairs?!" Charlotte screamed at the man whose presence screamed power. I did not know who this man was
Roberta's POV: Today was the day I was to leave, somehow I woke up and forgot all about Alpha Narcisse asking Alpha Sebastian to take me with him. His beta, Beta Manuel nicely reminded me when I nearly had a panic attack from seeing my things, or what was left of it outside the palace doors. But just to try my luck, I thought to talk to Elijah, maybe he could reverse this verdict. Even if it would be out of spite, I was willing to take that risk. What is the worst that could possibly happen anyway? After all I have heard of Alphas who rejected their moon blessed but kept them around the pack. I was willing to risk it. “Are you out of your fucking mind? Why do you think you can come in here in the first place? Did you hear me stutter when I rejected you? Get out of my sight, at least have the decency to go with the person that wants you for whatever reason!" Elijah said to me so heartlessly that I ran out of his room. This just got so much worse. Just as I ran out of the ballroo
Alpha Narcisse's POV:“My room is next door and can be accessed through here. You are welcome anytime." As soon as those words left my mouth, I wanted to slap myself across the face.Ever since I laid my eyes on this female at her rejection, there has been this inexplicable urge to draw close to her. Saving her from that pack remains my best decision yet. But keeping her safe was my next target.If she thought her pack was scary, they would eat her alive and spit her out in no time here. Exactly how I trained them to be. We did not get our title by sitting around campfires.And there was only one person that I could trust with this special assignment. Natalie, my second in command after Manuel.She was perfect for the job. I'll do that tomorrow or so, I need to ensure that she has settled into her new home properly.Just as I closed her room door behind me I saw Natalie walking towards my room. I guess I was doing it right now.“Alpha Narcisse, welcome home. Was your trip successful?
Roberta's POV: What just happened? I touched my lips that still tingled from the kiss that it was just given. Was he going to accept me as his mate or was I in for another rude awakening? I didn't lock the door when I came in so I slowly pulled the handle open and what I saw scattered the illusion that I was under. Alpha Narcisse was having a conversation with Natalie which immediately reminded me of her words when he left me alone with her for about two minutes today. “So you are the reject that he brought back? Don't think so much into it, you are yet another stray. I truly wonder what magic he expects me to perform with you." Natalie had said to me as her face had taken a sneer. But the second I felt Alpha Narcisse's eyes on me, her language changed and her face brightened like I had imagined her words. What in the world was happening? But seeing him outside his chambers at this time was telling me that she was more than just an assistant. There was a relationship there
Alpha Narcisse's POV: It was getting more difficult for me to spend some time with Roberta these days because of work. Yesterday I noticed some bruises on her arms and when I asked her she said it was nothing. Silly girl, when was she going to learn that she was a terrible liar. Manuel told me about the incident at the market. I was mad, not just because it happened but because they didn't defend themselves. What exactly has Natalie been doing with her these days?! Natalie strode into my office at that moment. “Alpha Narcisse, it looks like you need a break." Natalie said to me as she got on my desk and crossed her legs at her knees. The gesture made the coat she wore to open up and reveal the garter she had on. I turned away and picked up the documents I was working on earlier. “Come on, it's been far too long. I know you miss it too." Natalie said to me and went on to unbutton the coat. “Go away, Natalie. I'm working." I said to her with disinterest because she was definitel
CHAPTER 6Vincenzo’s POVI watched Roberta steadily and we both strolled through the primrose garden outside my courtyard. The sun had made most of its way across the sky just to kiss the earth, and the moon had begun to peak.I watched as the moonbeams fought to pass through her luscious, dark hair and scatter around her face. I felt her body tremble when I wrapped my hands around her tender waist and pulled her into myself for a kiss. After I pulled away, the image on her face was priceless. Her deep blue eyes shone in the dark and her lips were parted in confusion. It took everything in me not to smile. As I trail my hands firmly down her hips, I notice her wince as my hand brushes her right side.“What is that?” I asked sternly. She immediately pushed my hands away.“It’s nothing. I fell in the bath”, she said hastily.This little lamb could never fool me.I scanned the garden thoroughly to make sure that all the guards were far behind.After making sure that we were alone, I s
CHAPTER 45Charlotte's POV “How many days has it been since I sent men to the wastelands to kill Vincenzo?”, I asked lowly.“Answer me”, I yelled, my voice thundering through the hall.Denzel, my second commander, stood in front of me, shivering like a pig.He had been stripped down in the courtyard to only his underwear. Two hefty guards stood behind him with a drum of water and a small bowl which they used to scoop the water and pour it on him as he shivered.“It must feel so uncomfortable, being made to stand naked and have cold water repeatedly thrown at you, especially since it's freezing outside”, I said.He shivered nonstop and just looked at me. He was unable to even mutter a word.I sighed wearily and nodded slightly at one of the guards.He turned to the drum of water and plunged the bowl into it, taking up a lot of water with him.Just as he was about to throw it all at the man who stood quietly and shivered in the middle of the courtroom, the doors flew open and one of th
CHAPTER 44I took in a deep breath of the sweetly scented air that filled my nostrils as I walked through the garden.With my arms crossed behind my back, I inspected the flowers around me. Their sweet scent rose steadily, filling the atmosphere with an assorted perfume.I paused and closed my eyes immediately I sensed the guards strategically positioned around me.“I want to be alone”, I announced loudly.They stayed still, pretending that they were not there in the first place.When I was just the commander, I trained all the Alpha's guards to secure him from a short distance at all times, making sure that he was never alone and that they were never detected around him.They mastered the stealth enough to be invisible to an untrained eye, but Vincenzo was always so observant, so he always knew when they were around, how many they were and where they stayed hidden.I had also been trained with the same stealth and lightness as them, and I had even trained a few of them myself, but it
CHAPTER 43Vincenzo’s POV The sun scorched my face as I trodden up a sandy hill with a small bag of my possessions hung over my back.There was a dry, dusty wind circling about the hill as I climbed steadily. The scene seemed like it wasn't an actual day. It felt more like it was a sick attempt to recreate one of my countless nightmares about everything I lost to the wastelands. I sighed in relief as I spotted the top of the slope I was climbing.Just like I had suspected, there was a small cave there.It was small enough that it would not draw attention or get me overly comfortable. It was just my perfect fit.I hummed in relief as soon as I stepped into the shelter of the cave, away from the blazing sunlight.I walked deeper, looking around to make out where I would lay down to sleep.As I was about to sit down to get my breathing right, I heard a foot shuffle echo into my ears.My head shot up as all my hairs stood on high alert.Someone had followed me and they were probably in
CHAPTER 42Charlotte's POV The huge doors to the courtyard flew open as I walked inside, ushered in by the guard who held the door for me.I turned back to look at him in confusion when I realised that the room was completely empty.“My Alpha will be with you shortly”, he said before he turned around and walked out, slamming the doors shut.I scoffed in disbelief and turned away from the door to take in the full view of the courtyard.It was a very simple design, yet it appeared to be practical and sophisticated too.The place was covered in drawings and paintings of various flowers.It looked regal in a manner that seemed soft to the eye, and maybe even to the touch.However, there was a certain feeling in the air that sat a little too well with me.The place only looked innocent, coated in all those flowers. In reality, I wondered if anyone had tried counting how many times they'd have had to wipe the blood off their pretty flowers.Before my mind could go totally off the rails, I
CHAPTER 41Roberta’s POVI blinked slowly and wiggled my toes eagerly as the evening breeze caressed my face. Dark locs of my hair were thrown around carelessly in the air.I sucked in a deep breath, enjoying the smell of all the activities that went on in the city beneath me.I had healed nicely in my first week at the stranger's house. The pain in my body had definitely lessened. I could move my upper body somewhat freely. I was even able to take a few steps, although with much difficulty.I had asked to be moved from the bed inside the room to a comfortable looking hammock outside on the balcony.I ended up appreciating the scenery a lot more than I expected to.I had no idea which city or pack I was being held in, but from the balcony where I sat, I was very amazed by its beauty. I could see the lamps lit in straight lines on the streets.I could see the beautiful floral patterns formed on the roofs of the bungalows while light shone through the windows of the taller buildings.I
CHAPTER 40Vincenzo’s POV “What are we going to do?”, Natalie asked.After she brought the news of the council's visit to see me and pay condolences, we knew we needed to have a game plan if we were to keep the peace and order in the colony.Manuel paced up and down restlessly. He stared at the ground in deep thought as his mind wandered and tried to find ideas to evade the covetous councillors.“We're just going to play it that way. We can say I've been calling the shots from behind the scenes, and that I am finally ready to run the colony in person”, I said.Manuel stopped in his tracks and stared at me.“There's no way they know that I haven’t spoken to anyone since I got back. You just have to follow me closely. There can't be that many new things in the pack. Anything that I do not recognise, you can speak up for”, I said.He sighed and stepped closer to me.“No probl
CHAPTER 39Vincenzo's POVI sat on the bed as soon as Manuel's knocks woke me up from another one of my nightmares where Roberta died right in front of me with both of our children."Vincenzo, you need to come out now, please", he said, hitting the door steadily.I turned away from the door and stared at the window. Heavy drapes hung lazily across the pole on the wall, making it impossible for any light to get in or out of the room.I had closed the curtains in hopes to trap whatever remained of Roberta's scent in the room. I didn't even know what the time was, or if it was morning or evening."Vincenzo, I saw a council member's spy today. They are definitely plotting something”, Manuel said. His voice had been muffled by the heavy door and the thick wall that surrounded the room.I could, however, hear what he said clearly.I slowly got off the bed and walked to
CHAPTER 38Manuel's POV I huffed in anger as I walked away from the door to Roberta's room.Vincenzo had been in there for a whole week after he returned from the wastelands and said that his entire family was murdered by Charlotte and her guards.It made me feel like a terrible person to be so upset at him for grieving for just a week when I had spent almost a whole year going in and out of taverns and pubs after Lucia died.Even though I was coming to terms with the fact that people grieve in very distinct ways, I was still upset about Vincenzo’s seclusion technique because even though I was drunk most of the time, I still did my job after Lucia died.I walked out to the courtyard where a small crowd of townspeople had gathered, waiting to be received. Just as I mentally prepared myself to go to them and hear what they had to say, one of the palace guards walked towards me with swift strides. I sighed and slowed down my pace, giving him time to catch up.“Good day, commander “, h
CHAPTER 37Vincenzo’s POV My eyes shot open and all the lights around me took that small opportunity to concentrate themselves on my face and find a way to leave the painful sensations that I felt in my head as I slowly stood up to my feet.I raised up my body slowly, feeling pain grip me in certain areas as I got up off the floor.“What the heck is this?”, I asked, getting up on my own two feet.I squinted my eyes and shielded my face with one hand as I tried to take in the scope of my surroundings. I seemed to be standing on a very bright green piece of land.I stood at the training centre, but the grass in it seemed greener and brighter than it had ever been before then. Something felt different about the place.If places could feel things like people, I would have thought the training arena was just in a good mood.I started hearing grunting and the clanging of weapons from a distance. I decided to walk towards the sound and see whom I ran into. A great part of me was anticipat