ANNORA Opening my door to meeting Beta Kairel with a tray of food in his hand shocked me more than anything else. “Good morning, my lord—” I mouthed with a bow, opening the door even wider so that he could walk in. “Wh—” My words began to fail me, but I was willing to try again. “Wh—what are you doing here?” “Good morning, Annora—” Kairel led his way to the bedside, dropping the tray on the table next to the bed. “I'm sorry if I disturbed your sleep, Annora,” he said with a bow and pointed at the meal. “But I thought I should bring breakfast to you. Do you mind?” “N—no, no, I don't mind, my lord. But I believe you know you don't have to—” I looked at the table where the meal was dropped, realizing the treat was one of my favorites. “You didn't have to, Beta Kairel. You know Sora? She brings my meals to me every morning.” An unpleasant look came on his countenance. Kairel shook his head. He then walked farther from me—leaving me with no other option but to be glad that
AEGON “One of these days, I'll join you in going to check on him.” She turned around and I added. “Or her.” A smile came on my countenance. Annora bowed and without a word from her, she turned to face the door again and was out of my sight, leaving me to the many thoughts running around in my head. There were just so many of these thoughts. A sigh ran out of my mouth over and over again - while I spent a while thinking about Annora and the moments we'd had in this same room. Did she think about them? Throwing a spoonful of food in my mouth, I reached for water - sipping some as well. It was a good meal, but I didn't feel like eating. Not when a woman I was attracted to was in my chamber a while ago - while I did nothing but feast on the beautiful beauty she possessed. How could a woman be so pretty? Sipping some more water, I dropped the mug back on the table and was on my feet. It was a good thing for me - especially when there wasn't so much to do on this da
KAIRELLeft with no choice, I found myself laughing hard. What was Aegon trying to do? My laughing moment reduced to a smile and I put another spoonful of the meal in my mouth - thinking about the right response. “I don't understand you, Aegon. Is there something you're trying to say to me? I'm more than afraid I don't understand. Come clean, I plead with you.” Aegon. He sat there - moping at me with hatred in his eyes. Maybe it wasn't hatred but the look was that of contempt. What did he want to say to me? For some reason, I was more than afraid I had forgotten what he had said just a while ago - the more reason I wanted him to repeat it. “You're not deaf, are you?” “I'm not deaf, Aegon. I concentrated more on the meal before you said whatever it was you said.” He chuckled. Put another spoonful of the meal in his mouth before looking up to meet my gaze again. “I'm not saying you're deaf. It was a question but that should remain in the past if you may know. What are you doing
ANNORA Wh—what did I hear him say? I moped at Lord Kairel. My mouth opened in shock as I moped at the man who moped back at me. “Say something, Annora.”Say what exactly? What was he trying to say? A sigh only myself could hear ran out of my mouth. Another sigh ran out, and I caught up with the same couch I asked him to sit on - more than grateful he did not sit. I didn't know what to say. What was I supposed to say to such a request? “I—” I moped at him. “I don't know, Lord Kairel. Are you even sure about what you speak of?” “I'm more than sure—” He walked to the front of the couch, kneeling so that our faces could meet. “I'm more than sure of what I say, Annora. All I need you to do or say is agree to come with me, and that would be all.” That would be all? What happens to my child? A child that belongs to Aegon, who I knew would do anything to keep me under his roof? Under his watch also. Another sigh ran out of my mouth, and I looked up to meet his gaze again - Lord Ka
WENDELINE In the space of my chamber, I was alone as usual. But on this day, I wasn't alone. The thoughts in my head had come to keep me company and I was shocked by my actions recently - wondering also if I did the right thing. Stopping in my tracks, I looked at nothing in particular. What if I had done the wrong thing? What if I didn't have to tell Kairel of my feelings? A sigh ran out of my mouth for the umpteenth time as I turned around, leading my way back to the bedside with the stick in my hand. By now, he must have left the Pack, or has he not? According to what he said the other day, he would be leaving as soon as the next morning and for all that I knew, the next morning of that very day had come and gone. Was he gone already? I didn't want to ask to be told yes because it would break my heart - I took a seat on the bed and fell on my back, wondering what to do because the man in question was the man I loved with all of my heart. How could he leave? Because of a wom
KAIREL Another morning - another day to try again. What else was I willing to try if not convince Annora to leave with me by dawn? Aegon's words from the other day at the diner made me think all through the week, right from the moment Annora could not provide me with a ‘yes’.Maybe Aegon was right. Maybe he meant it when he said she would choose him over me - even though I hadn't completely confirmed that. But I was willing to try again for the second time. And the last time, of course. Waking up this morning, I felt good. Maybe more than good because this day would decide what my fate with Annora would become. That was all I wanted. I wanted to know - just as Aegon had made me suggest. Standing on my feet, I snatched a towel from the closet and caught up with the bathroom - more than ready for a bath as I planned to be at Annora's chamber before the next hour ended. That was what my day would be about. It didn't take long for me to be done with my bath, and I was hurrying
AEGON I knew in my heart that I should have reacted to the talks of Kairel that day by making a move on Annora just as he was doing. But there was no way I could do that. Or maybe I could have. Maybe I could make a move, but I didn't want to. Not now. Not ever. Even though I was angry at Kairel for trying such nonsense, I could not do anything but let him try his luck, at least. The last time I checked, Annora was old enough to make certain decisions and that was what I wanted her to do. Choose who she wanted to be with. And what was going to happen if she chose Kairel? What the fuck would become my fate? A sigh ran out of my mouth as I sat up on the bed, nodding in satisfaction but with a wonder of what would happen to me if she chose him. Nothing would happen. What was supposed to happen if not a woman left with a man she loved even though she was leaving with a child that belonged to me? A smile came on my countenance and I got on my feet, pacing the chamber for some tim
WENDELINE Late in the afternoon on this day, I spent a whole hour getting ready to meet the love of my life - Kairel. He was staying back in the Pack and this was right after I pleaded with him to not leave. How could he not stay back when he realized I would be a lonely person if he left? Especially after professing my love to him. A smile came on my countenance. I heaved a sigh this time around, hungry - realizing also that there was a need to eat something before I would leave for the chamber where the love of my life existed. “Will that be all, my lady?” Startled, I snapped out of my thoughts, recalling that there existed a maid with me in the chamber. “No. That should be all, or maybe not. I believe I am hungry and in need of food to eat before I leave this chamber.” “What shall I bring?” “Food. Anything at all. All I know is that I am hungry.” The door made a sound. I knew I was the only one in the chamber, so I walked to the couch with aid from my stick, taking a seat
KAIREL What to expect from this war was unknown to me. Even though this was the case, one part of me didn't care. That part of me was ready and willing to go on this war—just to see the end of a man who did this to me. So far, I have become a beast. But was I to blame for it? No, there was no way I could be blamed for turning into who I had become even though one part of me did not believe myself also. But what could I do? Waking up this morning, these and many other thoughts ran around in my head. Deep inside of me, I hoped that Annora had reached the pack and given out messages to Aegon who should ask his armies to do the needful by now. A smile came on my countenance at the thought of how Fennic made his men go out to look for Annora who was long safe and I was certain because I could feel it. The man didn't have the slightest idea who did this. I could not let him know, either. Another smile came on my countenance and I caught up with the bathroom door, walking in s
AEGON “Wh—what did you just say?” “Yes, Alpha Aegon. I saw Kairel at The Stormbringers Pack. That's where I am coming from. I got back there and there were so many people in the Pack. I didn't expect that. One part of me thought the members were dead long ago. They are all alive including the Alpha Fennic.” I watched her closely, listening, waiting for more. “And what happened next?” I could not wait to hear it all and then deal with her in my way. How could she poison me? And why did she tell it to my face that she did? “Speak up already, Annora. I don't have all day.” I cried, taking a spoonful of the meal and putting it in my mouth. “He was there. Apparently, I was locked up in a prison for more than two days when I refused Alpha Fennic my consent to go on a war with him.” More confusion ran around in my head. What was this woman talking about? “What war?” I looked around the chamber, at the men who moped at her while some had their mouths open. “What war are you ta
AEGON My eyes opened in a room I could barely recognize. Something went on inside of me but even at that, it was hard to lay my hands on it and tell what went on exactly. Where was I? Looking around the chamber, I met the gaze of men I could also barely recognize. “Aegon?” My eyes opened the more. That voice. The voice of a woman I surely could recognize. Even if I forgot the other things I should not forget, I was ever going to recognize the voice of Annora which sounded in my head. “Annora—?” “What has happened?” Someone mumbled. “Tell me. What has happened?” The person asked me who could not and would not provide an answer to the question. If not because of anything but because I didn't know the answer. How could I open my eyes in the space of a chamber I didn't recognize, with men I also could not recognize but the voice of a woman I could recognize? Someone barged into the chamber. “What is this that I hear?” The old Healer who I now recognized, walked towa
ANNORA I ran like never before, even though I knew I had become far away from Alpha Fennic and his wicked pack. Who knew? Maybe Kairel was not safe. But at the moment, I didn't care one dime about him. Not with the many things I had on my list, of which one of them was arriving back at the pack. What was I going to say to Aegon? What would I tell him as soon as I got there? Where would I tell him I have gone to? A sigh ran out of my mouth. Automatically, I stopped running. One, because of the many thoughts running around in my head and again, the fact that I needed to put something in my mouth before I could move again. There was no time to waste. Relaxing under a tree, I realized the danger I was. A pregnant woman in a wild place like this. Where did such courage come from? I could not worry less, maybe because of the many others that needed to be done. Taking the backpack from behind me where it hung all this while, I placed it on my lap—wondering at the same
ANNORA My second day in the prison came and went. It was my third day and I had yet to take a bath. How could that even be possible? I looked around the box of a room, wishing I had not come here in the first place. Maybe I should have stayed back and endured with Aegon. But how was I going to know that he was innocent at the end of the day? All of these looked like they had a purpose but I could not lay my hands on what exactly to do in order to be gone from this prison and the Pack in total. Maybe I found out the truth to die with it. There would be no way to make corrections and this was the sad part of it. Tears ran down my cheeks at the thought and realization of this—leaving me with cries. “Good morning, Lady Annora.” Snapping out of my thoughts, I met the gaze of the wicked man who watched over me since I was brought to this prison against my wish. “Get off my face.” I declared. “My lady—” he wasn't going to listen to me. “Your food will be here in a short while
AEGON It was late in the night when I opened my eyes. I should be bothered about Annora who hasn't been found since all these while, but I wasn't and that was the least of my concern as there was something wrong with me. Something I couldn't lay my hands on. What was this? I placed my hand on my chest to ascertain but I could not. Not when I didn't have the slightest idea what was wrong. Standing on my feet, I realized how weak my bones had become. So many thoughts ran around in my head and I wondered whether it was because of how much I missed Annora and maybe Wendeline who also hasn't been found. Managing to walk to the door, I walked out. Darius was on duty. He bowed with a smile. “My lord. Do you need me to do something for you?” Nodding, I walked back into the chamber with an expectation that he would follow me which he did. “Darius. I don't know what's wrong with me—” Unable to hide it any longer, I spoke up. “Pain in my body, especially my chest. Do you think I
ANNORA “Are you two joking right now?” “No one is joking with you, Annora. I'm asking you to join hands with your family so that an end can be put to this. Don't you understand the implications of letting Aegon live? News about your situation with Kairel was told to me last night and I cannot help but wonder how you feel.” “I don't feel anyway—” I mouthed, a painful smile on my countenance. “You don't know how I feel and it should be the least of your business. If there's any way I feel, then it's because of what you've done to me and my life. Leave Alpha Aegon out of him—he's done nothing at all to you.” Kairel coughed. “You love him.” “I'm not supposed to hate him, Kairel.” “After all he's done—” he chuckled and looked at Alpha Fennic who didn't speak any longer. “We can force a horse to the river but we cannot force them to drink. That's the case right here with Annora, my lord. What do we do?” “There's nothing you can do—” I cut short their thoughts. “I want to be lef
ANNORA Shock could be seen on my countenance. I didn't want to believe what I saw. Maybe it was a dream. Maybe I was hallucinating, or was I not? “Kairel—” “Annora—” he called, a smile on his countenance. “It's me. I'm not here to hurt you.” No, I wasn't dreaming. This was more than real. I reached the lock and turned it, opening the door automatically. “What are you doing here, Kairel?” I looked around the room to be certain I was not in any way seeing visions. “Is this real?” He walked in and shut the door. “It's real, Annora. I'm the one standing right in front of you. How are you doing?” Did he really ask me that? Did he expect me to answer him? “What is going on here?” I cried. “You knew all this while that my family was alive, didn't you? You knew this pack wasn't burned to the ground, didn't you?” “I didn't know. I found out the same way you did, Annora. This is why you should understand how wicked Aegon is. Can't you see for yourself already?” What was
ANNORA I had spent over a week in this pack. Even though this was another home of mine, I felt more like a total stranger. My identity, even though I knew what I looked like, became strange to me and I thought about how unfortunate I was all day in the chamber where I spent my day and night. There were so many thoughts. My eyes had been open all day. No, all night. So many thoughts went around in my head and one was the costly mistake I had made as I wondered if it was or wasn't too late for me to thwart what I had done. What have I done? What else if not poison Aegon who had done nothing at all to me? How could I be so wicked to him? Was he dead already? Why didn't I think twice before making that decision? These and more thoughts ran around in my head, especially if I wanted to have the baby. A fatherless child. What would I say to him or her was the end of their father? A deep sigh ran out of my mouth as I looked out the window, realizing the day had broken. Also, I realiz