KAIREL“This is quite the deep cut, Beta Kairel,” Agnes mentioned as she dressed my wound. That was the fourth time she’d mentioned it in just fifteen minutes.It was my shoulder that got stabbed, doesn’t she think I know that? “Why did you come instead of Banes?” I asked, ignoring her remark like I had the first three times. Banes was the healer, while Agnes was the head of maids within the facility. I was just as surprised to see her show up this morning. “Banes had to run errands for his pregnant wife. He asked me to fill it out for him. Alpha Aegon would be furious if he found out.”Of course, he would. Yet she found it comfortable to tell this to me despite being his Beta because she knew I wouldn’t say a thing. They all knew this. I bobbed my head slightly as the burn of the antiseptic bit into my skin. “I see.”She wiped the surface of the injury with cotton wool. It was only a matter of seconds before she asked another question. “What will be the slave's fate? She was not ki
ANNORAThe Beta. Wait, what? Why’d he have to come out half-naked? That was the first thing I could register about his appearance. He’d come out with bandages wrapped around his neck and shoulders— maybe he mistook that for a shirt. I watched him help Lady Wendeline up. He seemed so concerned that it was a little bothersome. It looked like they were friends. I didn’t know an Alpha who let his Beta and brother become so intimate with his bride. Then again, that was no concern of mine. I was dead meat.Lady Wendeline confirmed that she was okay, but the Beta seemed to need help with the injury I'd caused. Watching him momentarily scrunch his face in pain made me admit that I felt a little bit of guilt for stabbing him.All he’d tried to do was help me, and I took advantage of that. I shrank deeper into my uniform. “It’s you, isn’t it? The slave girl,” Lady Wendeline mentioned, and my soul almost snatched out of my body.How the hell did she know that? Doing my best not to look at th
ANNORA“Please! Anyone, let me out…” Life had started to wither from my voice, and my muscles wouldn’t longer move. Sitting was impossible because my head would be underwater, if not close.My eyes had adjusted to the darkness, but my mind continued to spiral. I didn’t take this punishment to end up dying in a well. My family hadn’t died for no reason! “Let me out!” I cried one last time.Climbing was impossible. Despite being tired, I’d tried twice and failed. A slippery slope slid me right back to the bottom of the well. I couldn’t even cry anymore; I kept screaming despite the bile that rose at the bottom of my throat.“Who’s there?” A male voice called out, concerned. Thank god. Thank god! “Please help me!” I cried. Desperation filled my every word, and I almost started to tear up. Was I supposed to be hopeful? It could be another guard who’d just watch me scream till I die.The rock was rolled off, and soon, the lid was cast open; I looked up to the silhouette of a figure lookin
AEGONWaddling behind me like a lost child, Sin wrapped her hands around herself, shivering from the blistering cold. It only made her look more pathetic than she already did in those unfortunate clothes.And she appeared meeker than usual, as though that defiant side of her had drowned in the well. Who locked her in and why? I couldn’t care less. Every near-death experience she incurred only made her fear me more.That was exactly what I wanted. There was clamoring within the maids as I slipped by— they all looked at her like she shouldn’t be alive. If anything, she shouldn’t have messed with Kairel, not when every single maid and slave he had helped pledged his life to him.Leading her inside my chamber, I pointed to a spot for her to stay. I couldn’t have a wet trail lining my entire rug. She looked up at me with sad, puppy eyes, though she stank everywhere. No one would know how much of a clown and menace she was with that piteous look on her face.“Strip,” I said as I took my sea
AEGON Did I sleep with her? Don’t give me ideas, Kairel. I leaned back against the chair and watched Kairel contemplate for a response. “What do you think?”“Just answer the question, Aegon!” He snapped. “Did you sleep with my mate?”“Your mate?” I repeated, tasting the disbelief lace heavily on my tongue. “That child is a slave! A product of my conquest. In what world do you acknowledge that the spawn of the devil who’d ruined our entire life is your mate, Kairel? Have you completely lost sight of what really matters here? Have you forgotten our goal?!”“You mean your goal?” He ran his fingers through his hair, prancing. “Because the last time I checked, neither of us agreed to your unorthodox ways. Not me, not Wendeline. We do not—”“That unorthodox way is what has kept you alive through years of existence, Kairel!” My voice boomed across the top, and I tightened my fist. “That savage way is what keeps the pack afloat. Do you think smiling and flirting with a few maids is what cut
ANNORA“Are you okay?” Beta Kairel asked me as he walked down the hallway, past the festering sight of the guards and maids.I still got goosebumps from walking within them, knowing they’d willingly set up my death and no one would know. Getting locked up in the well shrunk the size of Alpha Aegon as a threat. I had a lot more to worry about, and it was all sinking in that I’d have to worry about my life every day like thisTrying not to tear up as I did, I nodded, keeping my lips tightly pursed and tasting the bitter bile that sat at the bottom of my throat.There were concrete chairs just outside Alpha Aegon’s chamber, and Beta Kairel ushered me to sit. My thoughts were crashing very wickedly. “What happened?” he asked, seeming concerned. Was I even supposed to trust him?He lied that he would get a ladder and didn’t return. I was in that position anyway because of him and his incorrigible fanbase.“I got stuck.”“You were trapped in there. You didn’t put yourself in there, and some
ANNORAHis hands were like claw markings all over my body, pumping me full of disgust with every second waltzing by. I tried to shout.I screamed for help at the top of my lungs, but none came until the guard placed his huge hand over my mouth and muffled my cries.I heard a gasp from the direction of the entrance, and it was a maid, just like me, who’d come to deliver their food. “Help me! Please!” I pleaded, though my voice was muffled. A blubbering mess.But she could see what was happening, right? Her eyes were full of fear, and I watched her entire body quiver. Unbelievably still, she stood, taking in my unfortunate situation,“You saw nothing. Now, get the hell out of here. You know what happens when you snitch!” He growled, still groping me.Her face fell, and I recognized instantly that she wouldn’t help me. None of the maids would. The fragile lady hastily dropped the tray and sprinted like she had seen nothing. “No one is coming for you, princess!” With his other hand, he
ANNORAWhen I opened my eyes, Sora wasn't right next to me, and neither were any of my other maids. The soft bedding had deceived me and I forgot the kind of hell I was in.The fog cleared from my eyes as I took in the complete image of the room. It was Beta Kairel’s room. The moment I remembered that all the other memories punched in, too, I felt the fear lace my lower back as I sat up.All the horrid images, all the struggles, and tears, I felt them once more, as though I relived the moment again. I didn’t even want to think of the horrible things that would have happened if the Beta hadn’t found me faster.Shielding my face from the sun with the back of my arms, I shuffled my way out of the bed. I remembered falling asleep on his couch, not in here.I glanced around slowly, and it looked like a bedroom to me. The Beta’s room? Despite the pain that weighed on my bones, I leaped out of bed as I’d sinned.My heart lay heavy in my chest as it had always been, with a void in it that did
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