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
AEGONFor a moment, I choked on my saliva. A smile came on my countenance. “I smile because I believe you to be joking, sister. Why do you play with my emotions in this way?” I turned around to be certain it was her I spoke to and no other person. “What can you see?” “I am in your chamber, of course—” she let out. “You're wearing a jacket over a black shirt and pants. Your hair is rough and you have your hand in a fist like you're going to punch me but I'll advise you not to.” “Wendeline!” I shouted. “Oh no.” Mouthing these words, I turned and walked to the other end of the room, while watching her eyes follow me even when I turned back to look at her. “I don't know you to be so wicked, Wendeline. How could you?” “How could I?” She walked to the other end just like I did, touching the walls before turning around to face me again. “You don't know you've tortured me all my life, do you? Do you think I blab when I talk about how much ruin you have caused me, Aegon?” She chuckled
WENDELINE Catching up with the door of my chamber, I walked into the space with the same tears that welled up in my eyes, running down my face. A loud shout ran out of my mouth as I fell on the bed. Many more tears ran down my face as I wondered about what came over me. It was unbelievable that I would speak to Ian like this and in this manner. More shouts ran out of my mouth. “My lady—” I heard a woman call from the door where she was. “Are you doing okay?” She knocked on the door and asked. “Would you need me to bring you something?” “Shut up!” I shouted at her. “And get out of my chamber!” Adding to it, I found myself on the ground and pacing the space - mouthing words I could not even hear. Anger welled up in my bones and I let out another cry. Standing back on my feet after pacing the space and sitting down on the couch a while ago, I walked to the window, leaning on it so that I could take a lookout. The wolves of the Pack, as usual, went ahead with their activities. Tod
ANNORAKairel was gone from the Pack. The right way to react to it was something I didn't know and could not figure out at the same time. What was I going to do? The strength to live was gone from me. All I wished to do was die and not be reborn at the same time - but be gone from the face of the earth for a long time. Kairel—Thoughts of this man overwhelmed me every time. Now that I thought about it, I realized I wished to have been gone with him from the very onset. Maybe from the life of Aegon who didn't deserve me, after all. And his child? They could always meet each other in the future. Could they not? A painful smile came on my countenance as I thought about my life and how it turned out of late. Many more thoughts ran around in my head, but I became startled, left with no choice but to sit up on the bed when a hand knocked on the door. Who else? Who else if not Sora? Who else if not her? “Who is it?” I jumped to my feet as I walked to the door to unlock it. “Who
100 - The TruthANNORAWh—what was she doing at the door of my chamber? “Do you know what you're talking about, Sora?” Maybe she had too much to drink the night before. “I'm more than sure, my lady.” These words were not enough and I was left with no choice but to catch up with the door so that I could take a look. She was the one right there. “Lady Wendeline—” myself and Sora echoed at the same time. “Open the door.” I added when the Alpha's sister knocked once again. “We can't keep her waiting.” The door was pushed and she walked in. Her fragrance filled my nose but why should I care? All I wanted was for Wendeline to be done with whatever it is she has come to do, and then be gone from my chamber. Sora was the only company I needed. “Lady Annora—” she was smiling. “Maid Annora.” She corrected with the wicked smile that I could see on her countenance. “It is nice to see you again.”Indeed. It was nice to see her too. No, it wasn't. “Good day to you, Lady Wendeline—” I bow
WENDELINE “I hope you survive this—” “Thank you—” tears welled up in her eyes and I moped, wishing I didn't do this but how could I not? A smile came on my countenance and I nodded. “I should make it back to my chamber, Annora. I should see you around and don't forget to make it to mine when you have an issue or even questions. Do you understand me?” “T—thank you, Lady Wendeline.” Bowing to each other, I turned and walked to the door. Another satisfied smile was on my countenance when I reached the door and was walking out of the chamber, thinking about how brave what I had done was. This was the perfect thing to do, for all that I knew. Aegon could suspect me if I killed anyone, as well as the rest of the pack which wasn't the right thing to do. “Good day, my lady—” wolves who met me on my way towards my chamber, did not hesitate to greet me. Including the ones who didn't greet me when I claimed to be blind. Little did they know that I wasn't blind. But how could they know? “G
AEGONEventually, I became a better man. How could I not be with the woman of my dreams next to me? Life was beautiful with Annora, and the seed she's given to me. My son. Our son. The prince of this Pack. I walked into the living room one morning, dressed for the occasion. It was the day when the name of our son will be given to him. With Annora by my side, I heaved a sigh. She was better. Better than the worst I saw that night in the Healer's abode. “Are you ready?” Her voice cut short my thoughts. In her arms was the baby, our new son. The name I would give him was known by myself and the woman I loved. Not just others. Except of course, Darius who I trusted so much, despite everything that happened long before now. He was the man I should have trusted long ago, not Kairel. “I'm ready,” I turned. “Where is Darius?” “On my way,” his voice sounded from behind. He reached the living room space in moments and together, we walked out of the living room. The pack was filled up w
AEGON It was exactly one month when I heard noises from the room, on the same bed where I lay. I opened my eyes and sat up, turned to look at the Luna who sat up with her hand on her waist. “Aegon, I think the baby is coming.” She announced and I was alert, jumping on my feet with fear that could be seen on my countenance. “What?” I asked even though I clearly heard. “Darius?” “My lord.” The man sounded from the door. Without permission, the man walked into the room and there was me who sat next to Annora who shouted at the top of her voice. “We must take her to the Healer's abode.” I tried to stand her up from the bed. She was quite heavy. I've never had a reason to do this until now. Together and with aid from Darius who was almost as strong as myself, we walked towards the door, out of the room, and were leading our way through the stairs, a hard task that scared me more than any other thing. “My lord. Hold her well.” He knew I was beginning to get tired. I gripped Annora
ANNORAOur arrival was a success. Instead of a wicked welcome, members of The Stormbringers Pack welcomed us more than well. At some point, I looked in the direction of Aegon to be certain we had not walked into a trap. “Welcome home,” the Luna said. She smiled as she was seated at the extreme end of the room. “We didn't know how to come to you after everything that happened between you and your father, Annora. One thing you must know is that I never was in support of what he did to you.”How would I know? I nodded, heaved a sigh, and watched her. “How have you been since his death?” I asked and looked around. “How about Lila? Isn't she supposed to be around? Did she leave the pack?” I didn't know what to think and so I asked. “She'll be here shortly.” Aegon nodded. I did the same. There was nothing more I knew I would say, so I leaned with my back on a chair I had grown up seeing. “There's a lot we have at hand before my wife puts to bed.” He began. “One of them is coming over
ANNORAA week later, after Sora was kept in the dungeon, I had gotten over her and everything that happened even though there still was a sting. There was a plan. It was taking over the Stormbringers Pack. Aegon had suggested it and on second thought, I was supposed to be the next Alpha and Luna since the late Alpha was no more. Today was the day. I woke up in my new bedroom, my new home and looked at the other side of the bed. Aegon had left the room, or maybe he was in the bathroom but I didn't know. There was a lot to do rather than sit and think so I jumped to my feet and walked to the entrance of the bathroom. There and then, I could hear sounds coming from inside. “My lord?” I walked back to the bed. “Are you in there?” I took a seat and looked at the time before looking at the closet when I recalled I had yet to select an outfit for this trip. “I'm here, my lady.” He was there. Getting ready. We didn't have much time on our side and I understood that. By the time Aegon
ANNORA “Wh—what?” The words that came out of her mouth shocked me more than anything. What did she say to me? Did the woman standing before me recall I was the same woman who should be her best friend? “You heard me right,” Sora chuckled. She walked closer and moved farther from me the next time. “You don't want to know how much hate I have for you, Annora. You don't want to know.” “What's going on?” “A lot. A lot you don't know about.” Now it dawned on me. It dawned on me that this woman could be guilty and that Wendeline was right about what she said. How could I not believe Wendeline at this point? I did before now but with doubts, if not because of anything but the trust I have for Sora. Looking up, I asked. “You did something with Kairel, didn't you? Wendeline was right about it, wasn't she? You wanted Kairel to kill Aegon. Did you know about his plans to create a war?”“Why not?” Sora laughed. She looked around the room before facing me again. “Why wouldn't I have known
ANNORAIt was three weeks since the wedding and then the coronation when Aegon announced to me that I would need to move into the royal quarters. Since the event, without moving into the royal chambers, there has been no sort of respect I didn't receive from the members who did not hesitate to show me their good side. Before the wedding, there was no such side from them, and I could not blame them. I wasn't married to the Alpha, at least not yet and there was no need to waste their time showing me a side I didn't know existed, not until now. What more could I ask for? This morning, I woke up in a room that won't be mine any longer; not when I was moving into the Luna chamber and from there, the chamber where myself and the Alpha will live, a chamber that's his. A chamber that's mine already. Someone knocking on the door woke me up from my thoughts. I looked up to notice it was Sora. She was the only one who knocked that way on the door of my room. Without any hesitation, I snappe
WENDELINE After a few days, I walked out of my room with a smile on my countenance. My legs walked through the hallway. I reached the living room in moments. Everyone who passed by me looked in my direction, greeted me, and walked away. I reached a couch and was seated in moments, relaxing my nerves as I let the feeling of home sink in. It was beautiful, beautiful to be here. But it didn't change the fact that I was going to leave. Yes, I was going to leave soon enough, before the end of the week and if not this week, next week. “Good morning, my lady.” “Good morning,” I looked up at the maid who was standing before me. “How are you today?” “I'm very well, my lady. I came to know what you would love to have this morning. The Alpha told me a while ago that you're awake so I am here. What will you love to eat, my lady?” I thought about it. What would I love to eat? “Anything will do.” I relaxed my back and sat up. “Anything will do,” I said again to the woman who bowed and tu
ANNORAThe good feeling that ran around inside my belly. Wendeline's return was good news to not just me, but the Alpha and everyone in the Pack. As soon as Aegon finished changing, he walked through the door that would lead him into the hall, a smile on his countenance. He caught up with me and we kissed even without the priest's permission. Why should we care? Tears did not fail to gather in my eyes. There were just so many thoughts that ran around in my head and one of them was what could have happened to the man I loved so much. If not for the intervention of the woman who made me poison him once at a stage of my life. Crazy. Very crazy. The world itself was a crazy place and I could not wait to be done with the wedding so that some time could be spent with Wendeline who needed to tell me what had happened so far since she left us in the Pack for wherever she went. “Does anyone have anything against the union between Annora and Alpha Aegon?” My heart started to beat. Anothe
WENDELINE “That was smooth.” I walked out of my hiding place. “Hello, brother.” The Alpha only moped at me as though he had seen a ghost and I could not blame him. “You're not going to stand there and act as though you've not seen your sister who has been away for long.” My words caused him to move closer. Tears gathered in his eyes. Whether it was the tears of seeing me or being the winner of a challenge between himself and a man who should be his friend, I didn't know. But I knew deep down inside of me that I was happy to step into the picture and save the man. “I am so happy to see you, Wendeline.” He hugged me. I hugged him back. Tears ran down my face as well and we let each other go moments later. “I'm glad you're okay, Aegon. I'm more than glad the man did not touch you.” And to think that he was ready to die. What did he mean by that thing he did? Why did he allow Kairel to take over? What did he mean by allowing Kairel to kill him? Why would he ever d