*Yolanda's POV* “Mom,please !!! stop!”Noelle cried as I desperately pushed my finger in her throat. “What's happening to you!”Noelle screamed as her fingers scratched me, I swear on my own goddamn life,If Selene poisoned my daughter,I would kill her,right here and right now. I felt hot tears stream down my face when it wasn't working–why wasn't she vomiting? How deep did the damn cake go? Was it way too late? I grabbed her throat and started her deep in the eye. “Listen Noelle,”I say breathlessly. “You have to vomit—” I felt hands yank me off her and another line of tears rushed down my cheeks. I wasn't going to lose my daughter,at least not tonight. “She poisoned the cake!”I yelled,trying to free myself from their grasp. “Selene poisoned the cake! I heard her say it!” I looked around the room In hopes they would start accusing Selene but all their eyes were still glued on me,with pity,as if I was crazy. Noelle’s especially,staggering back as she took deep steady breaths
*Selene's POV* Something wasn't right. I could tell Something had gone horribly wrong by the way he looked at me tonight,by the way everyone looked at me tonight. My eyes grazed over the attendants of tonight's claiming ceremony,brushing over the entitled faces of the packs elite,trying to discern their gazes. It didn't help. I steadied my breath and try not to fidget,I only did that when I was nervous,and I refuse to allow this little inconvenience to make me nervous. I was here to by Luna,that's all that mattered. “Selene Fortlyn."Alpha Ares said,his tone commanding the attention of everyone in the room. I glanced up at him as he made his way down the stairs. “Alpha Ares.”I replied confidently as I bowed gracefully before him.Confidence wasn't something I had always had always displayed so boldly,but there was something about watching my mate before me that gave me the audacity. The lingering noise of gentle whispers was sucked dry out of the room,gently replaced by the m
[Four Years later] *Ares POV* “Did you watch her last night?”I heard my sister ask as she sits beside me. I had. I watch Selene's interviews religiously,I don't know what would have kept me sane if she hadn't become a movie star. “No.”I lie without remorse,chewing hard on my food as if it was the cause of my problems.I dread these types of questions. “Why not?”she asked knowingly. Part of Me knows she knows I watch Selene,but I rather choke on my meal right this instant than to actually admit it out loud. “Any way,”Athena continued,cutting herself some lemon cake. “She said she has no intention of being Luna,and her visit is strictly professional.” “I'm not looking for yet another wife.”I say immediately. “I know.”she chuckles,picking strategically through the bowl of fruits for the most perfect pieces of strawberries. “I just want you to keep it in the back of your mind that if you choose to chase her,you will be crawling on Your hands and knees…and she would still
*Selene's POV* Greta walked in noisily and opened the curtains as wide as it could go,letting the eager sunlight inside the room. I groan and rub my eyes open. Sometimes, I wonder if she actually does it to try to blind me with so much light. “Wake up.”Greta says as if the light won't have been enough to wake up the dead. She marches to the foot of the bed and throws a bright red magazine at my feet. I could recognise The Timeless magazine cover anywhere,any time. “What's the news today?”I yawn,sitting up. “I rather you read it.Its interesting.”Greta replies monotonously. “Page twenty-six.” I hesitantly reached for the livret and flipped to it. My eyes almost widened at the picture of me plastered beside him. Almost. I was used to this by now.They did it when he was getting married,they did it when we were in Italy at the same time, and they did it when Noelle was rumoured to be pregnant…. The only shocker was that even Timeless,a magazine I once adored for speaking
*Selene's POV* The atmosphere of the Blossom Ball just as it had been advertised on the invitation—elite and extravagant. This was one of those events that tend to redefine the meaning of wealth.It had a very strict standard for eligibility to buy the ticket,new money couldn't get you in,you couldn't have a scandal to your name and you had to have good ties with the Royal family. I was everything they didn't want,and yet I got four VIP tickets,how hypocritical. I tucked my head out the car’s window and took a big sniff of the flower scented air. This palace has been reported to have a century old garden with the rarest and most precious of flowers. Of course, I thought it was all another assumption by the press since journalists were not allowed near the property, but the air itself was a testimony to this claim. “Miss Fortlyn.”an usher greets me as the limo comes to a smooth halt.”Welcome to the Blossom Ball.” “Foxx.”I corrected as he opened the car door. “It's Miss Foxx
*Ares's POV* Elais gets up from his seat the moment I enter the room. “We have done the research on him.”he begins with an unusual coolness. “He is into real estates and hotels.He has already bought land in the territory for construction.He is from Ravenclaw pack but his family relocated to England years ago.I doubt he is the spy.” I stare at my beta blankly,he wasn't giving me anything I can use to pin on this man and drive him out of my territory. “Did you find anything incriminating?”I oblige despite my countless requests that he did it earlier. He hands me the file and shakes his head. “No.” I frowned,Elais could find out if you cheated on your fifth grade test if he wanted to. No one is perfect,if he had searched,he would have found something. “Did you look for anything incriminating?”I asked calmly. Elais rubbed his hand on his jaw. “No.” Be calm,I tell myself.You already snapped once tonight.“Why not?” His eyes searched around the room for listeners and found n
*Yolanda's (Selene's stepmother) POV* “That's it Selene has returned!”the reporter exclaimed. I switched the channel. “And in other news.”the blonde began with a bright smile. “The Selene Foxx has just marked this town as her playground with tonight's latest activities–” I switched the channel again.This time it was my favourite show;‘The Analysts’,sitting in a circle discussing the exact same thing the other channels were discussing. I swallow hard and try to give it a chance.Maybe they were seeing it as the catastrophy that it was that she returned.Or perhaps they cared that she had completely stolen the entire point of the Blossom Ball and made it about her. Oh but I was wrong. I was so wrong. “I think Ironclaw should feel particularly blessed that they got to witness this phenomenal women right at their ball.”On of the TV hosts said as he admired the picture of her on the screen.“And they say she is staying for six whole months?” “She is indeed. She
*Selene POV* I reached for a bath bomb and threw it in the tub.I dissolved into bubbles and filled the water with a red tint. I took a sip from the champagne glass and placed cucumber slices on my eyelids. I could barely sleep last night,let's reiterate that : I couldn't sleep last night.My eyes were stuck on my ceiling,face frowned and mind in disarray watching the fan slowly turn the controls in my head. Blue. It was such a beautiful shade too,I had forgotten–or at least tried to forget what his eyes felt like. It slid into my blood,defrosting me from the inside. I had grown into the habit of calculating everything precisely before I went to bed.It helped me concentrate and gain clarity.It used to be just a hobby,but last night,it suddenly felt like a need. I then began to replay his actions from the night before,the arrest,his smirks,his distracting gaze,the disappointment etched in his features…it was like I was watching a movie,scene by scene…each piece more puzzling
*Yolanda's POV* “Mom,please !!! stop!”Noelle cried as I desperately pushed my finger in her throat. “What's happening to you!”Noelle screamed as her fingers scratched me, I swear on my own goddamn life,If Selene poisoned my daughter,I would kill her,right here and right now. I felt hot tears stream down my face when it wasn't working–why wasn't she vomiting? How deep did the damn cake go? Was it way too late? I grabbed her throat and started her deep in the eye. “Listen Noelle,”I say breathlessly. “You have to vomit—” I felt hands yank me off her and another line of tears rushed down my cheeks. I wasn't going to lose my daughter,at least not tonight. “She poisoned the cake!”I yelled,trying to free myself from their grasp. “Selene poisoned the cake! I heard her say it!” I looked around the room In hopes they would start accusing Selene but all their eyes were still glued on me,with pity,as if I was crazy. Noelle’s especially,staggering back as she took deep steady breaths
*Selene's POV*“He finally graces me with his presence”I mocked,walking to the patio,where he stood. “I'm assuming I should bow and thank you now.” His dark broad shoulders kept facing the abyss,his face towards the sky as another perfect ring of smoke elevated in the air. My heart beat strangely at the sight of him, I felt annoyed that he had ignored me for so long,partly terrified because he was slipping out my hands and now here I was standing behind me,talking to him and yet he pretends like he doesn't hear me. I bit into my lower lip and marched towards him,setting my purse gently on the railing and trying to collect my thoughts properly. “I didn't know you smoked.”I said finally,turning to face him. He is still fucking looking into the vast night,barely acknowledging my presence,starving me of his attention. It feels like hell, how could we be so close and yet so distant. “Stress habit.”He replies roughly before sending the cigarette between his silver ringed adorned finge
*Ares’s POV* “What is going on?”Noelle whined beside me. “What are they talking about?” I looked down at her annoyed,this was the second time she has asked those questions since Yolanda went to talk to Selene,as though I wasn't also here,several feet away,watching them whisper with gritted teeth. “I have no idea.”I obliged myself to tellher despite my obvious discontent. “Finally,”my mother said,keeping her tone discreet. “Someone to make the party alive.” I ignored her and took my seat,fixing my tie and trying not to look her way. The guests murmurs were already beginning to annoy my ears “Who even invited her?”Noelle asked me again and I can already feel a migraine spiralling in my head at this point. I shot her a glare and she retreated her hand from me and looked away. Her eyes caught my mother and She turned her questionaire skills to her instead. “Are we just going to sit here and act like nothing is happening?” “Your mother is a wise woman.”came the reply,a subtle sa
*Yolanda's POV* My eyes couldn't leave the two empty chairs opposite me,I had sent out those invitations exclusively to high status residents of the pack,this was a prestigious event and being late to my birthday dinner–especially when your seats were on my table was very very insulting. I know for sure that I wasn't going to invite them to anything ever again,in fact, just to teach them a lesson,I will ensure they never get invited to anything important again. I took a small sip to calm my fuming nerves. It was my birthday,and I was celebrating it in grand style. There was room for negativity or worries. “Ladies and Gentlemen,”Silvia began,raising her glass in the air as she stood to her feet. “Today is a very special day for the Royal family,one of our very own”She turns to me ,her eyes glistening with unshed tears I know she didn't mean. “Today is our one and only Yolanda's fifty-second birthday,”she beamed,bringing her hands to a clap,and as expected,the guests at th
*Selene's POV*Detachment. It has always been my strong suit, or at least I thought it was before I began loosing my prorities. Either way,what matters now are the important things, like the reason I fought so hard for that house in the first place. I carefully installed a pair of hoop earrings and adjusted my hair off my face. Staring at myself in the mirror, I decided to give my lips another coat of lipstick.Greta came into the room with freshly washed towels, humming a carefree song as she waddled into the closet.“Has anything arrived in the mail?” I asked absently.“No,” she yelled from the closet. “Nothing yet.”I was expecting the invitations by now—Yolanda's birthday was tonight, and I couldn’t miss it. I began to consider getting the tickets myself.“Are you expecting anything?” Greta asked, attempting to make conversation. But I wasn’t really in the mood to talk; it had been hard to get in the mood for anything since the ‘incident.’I adorned my fingers with golden snake r
*Ares’s POV* I've been measuring how strong I am or in better words how deep this obsession was rooted…and I have come to a pretty confusing conclusion. I can bring myself to resist the urge to see her and confront her and yet at the same time,I can't get her damn face,voice,smell out of my brain. I have spent most of my time in my office since my little delightful “discovery”,What was I expecting anyway? I was chasing after a woman who glady branded herself as a man killer and I had somehow expected not to be killed. Maybe–just maybe she is too far gone. Besides,all the time I had spent with her had done nothing but weigh upon the thread that she might be my Luna. If she was,she would say it by now and her hair seemed completely jet black…it makes absolutely no sense to have someone so hell bent on destroying me so close to me. Anyway,I have come to realise that whenever I'm under stress,I become a workaholic…which by the way is just perfect for the situation. So far,I
*Selene's POV* “Are sure he is going to come?”Cassie asked for the third time in an hour. I glanced at the clock and the wall and nodded. “Of course he would.”I say,trying to keep my mind positive,but even my own voice sounded doubtful. “Why wouldn't he?” Cassie did a wide eyed blink and I knew right then and there that I was going to regret asking that question for at least two days. “Well,lets start with the basics.”she began,proudly laying the foundation to crush my heart and ego. “He is ignoring your calls,spending more time with his supposed wife on live TV and he might already know that you are the spy that–” I tapped my fingers on the chair anxiously and Cassie stopped talking when she noticed she was the cause of the tapping. “He's only two hours late and I am definitely sure he will have no problem coming to the most controversial brothel in town even though it might ruin him.”she added,her sarcasm hitting me like a slap in the face. “I think that's enough external p
*Yolanda's POV* I was at my last wine tasting for my party before he informed me that Victor had gone to the main castle,and not only that,he stood before the ex luna and told her he was my friend and was looking for me. Suddenly the fruity taste that lingered on my tongue turned citrus sour. “What?”I asked the maid standing before me. “A friend of yours,Victor, is sitting in the living room with Lady Silvia.” I felt air vanish from my lungs and the maid,seeing my reaction,offered the little comfort she could manage to provide. More information. “We wanted to send him away,but he was adamant and the ex luna wanted to talk to him…oh and Noelle came too.” That was way too much for me to bear,what if that rascal says something about my past,or about Noelle or straight up magically gained a conscience and wanted to confess. I rushed into the parlour,trying my best to reach there soon enough and also somehow not appear like a crazy woman in front of the maids on duty. I barged
*Selene's POV* I was fuming. He was not picking my calls. And I feel like I'm about to choke my own neck out. I saw him and Noelle on tv this morning again,I think he is way too dedicated to this damn lie. When I told him to pretend,I didn't actually expect him to go on an interview and actually say that I was just a story used against his marriage and he literally doesn't understand why these rumours were being spread. It almost felt like he was disassociating,I do this often but never been at the receiving end of the treatment. Dominic came up to me with a small glass of water. “Are you okay?”he asked,handing me the glass. “You seem shaken.” Then,suddenly it hit me. The thing that has been clouding my mind all day,messing up my lines,screwing with My senses,might be…no way. Was I—jealous? Obviously not,that would be stupid,I asked him to get back with her,I couldn't be jealous if it was my own plan right?But yet and still,a sharp sting hit my chest like small