ANNORA
“Ouch!” I hit the ground with a thud after the nasty guard threw me to the ground like I was a piece of rag. He smelled like rotten onions.
I didn’t know what to do with the ache in my chest— the truth was that everyone I knew was dead, and my pack was destroyed. I’ve had tough pills to swallow, like the fact that my father might not have cared about me, but none were as tough as the heavy truth that had been dumped into my arms.
There was a sinking feeling in my stomach that ate me up, it sucked all forms of life out of me, and my eyes felt dry. My throat mirrored a desert.
Was this really it? Was this…how it ended for us? My mother…and sister, they are just gone? The disbelief hurt more than anything I’d ever known. Rage and tears didn’t work well together. As I cried, I hated myself a bit more. If I hadn’t been so weak, this would have turned out differently.
The floor was cold and arid, cracked just like my heart and pride. The temperature made my bones ache. Sitting was just as tortuous as standing. Worst of all, my stomach decided to indulge in an orchestra— growling with the need to taste something that wasn't my tears.
Angrily, I pulled myself up. “Get me out of here! You can’t have me locked up forever!” I grabbed the bars and started to yank them.
The cold, unyielding iron caused my palms to blister. “Someone!! Get me out of here, please!”
I didn’t care that another guard would barge in with a whip. The Alpha liked to carry out those despicable deeds by himself. Or better still, the guard should beat me to my death. It bettered breathing in this traitorous air.
“Someone! You swine! Bottom feeders!!” I cried. My throat fucking hurt. “Get me out of—”
“You might want to keep it down,” a voice responded from behind the door, and I froze.
I may not know that voice, but I…recognized it. Within seconds, the figure appeared from the shadows, announcing its presence in the most subtle yet impactful way ever.
A wild amount of fresh breeze seemed to have ridden on his shoulders, spreading themselves around the dungeon in no time. I drew in a much-needed inhalation and ambled closer towards the bar.
My mate.
Was this what having a mate felt like? Like hot and cold at the same time. It was a livening feeling that I couldn’t express with words. Even my heart couldn’t handle it as it slammed hard against my ribcage fiercely and repeatedly.
“The others are asleep,” he added. By the others, he meant the other slaves. Why would he even care about that?
I furrowed my brows. Heat built up inside me, which only heightened as he swayed closer.
He looked athletic, maybe not as much as their Alpha but he was a considerably hefty man. And he looked too handsome to be true.
I gawked.
He had short hair, with an undercut and beautiful brown eyes that reflected everything. His height? Well, my head stayed high to capture the view of him. He wore a brown shirt that was rolled up to his forearms, with a few buttons undone that revealed a fairly hairy but toned chest.
The Alpha’s brother was my mate. How? My brain seemed to be wiped clean in the instant his eyes glued to mine.
And this momentary feeling in my stomach— this was the buttercup people talked about. I wish I had a drink of water to drown out their needless flutters.
“Hey there,” he said. He wasn’t smiling but his eyes glistened with what? Awe?
I mean, I got why. Not everyone found their destined mates to be slaves. Neither did I want to stand there and have him say ‘Hey there’ to me from the outside of prison.
Backing away from the bar, I threw myself to the floor and sat, completely ignoring his entire existence, irrespective of whatever feelings his presence stirred.
“You yelled so much that you have suddenly become mute? That’s fair.”
He smiled, and my heart took a blow. Oh shit. He had amazing dentition. He had my purest smile on a living man in so long. But I choked on it, unwilling to say a thing.
“Good thing I excelled in sign language,” He added and awed me a bit more by sitting on the cold, hard floor next to me, just restricted by the iron bars. “And it’s no lucky guess you’re good at it too. It’s compulsory for…people like you, Royalty.”
People like me? He was the brother to an Alpha? And he wasn’t wrong. Sign language was mandatory for all of royalty— especially those looking forward to a life outside a dungeon.
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“That’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. Just look at me.”
Unwilling, against my very own ego, I locked eyes with him. This nameless mate of mine brought up his hands and signaled to me, “What is your name?”
I read the signs in his voice. He signed beautifully. Yet, I didn’t respond. He tried again. “How can I persuade you to talk to me?”
“By getting the hell away from me!” I signed back. I would find this more beautiful if my entire life weren’t just upheaved by his brother.
He paused, obviously not taking no for an answer. He continued signing. “Are you hungry?”
“No!” I lied. Even my fingers creased, almost refusing the lie.
“If you tell me you are, I promise I’ll get you whatever you want to eat.”
Of course, he was as sadistic as his brother. I planned to starve to death, in case no one had noticed. “Go fuck yourself!” I signed back.
“So you’re not hungry?” He asked verbally this time, and before I could respond, my stomach released the most thunderous growl.
If hunger didn't kill me, shame will. “I'm not!” I defended. “I am really not, so just get out of here!”
“Of course.” Then he turned around and left. My heart sank a little. What did I expect?
I was about to crash into my ass again when the door creaked open, and it was him, alongside two maids, both bearing trays.
I didn’t even know his name. He fished for keys in his pocket and opened me up, the maids entered and placed tje trays on the floor, alongside two heavy blankets.
My mouth hung open. “What? So, I am a VIP prisoner? You want to feed me first before you and your vicious men take their turns on me?! Is that it?”
“You may leave,” He ordered the maids, and they hurried away immediately.
He stepped into the dungeon and crouched beside the food, lifting their lids. There was a lot! Steak, potatoes, baked beans, bread! I started to salivate, struggling to hold back.
Without looking up at me, he started to serve the meal—not for one person but for two people.
He was going to sit in here and eat. WHAT!? He looked up at me, catching the awe. Then he smiled and brought the spoon to his mouth. “In case you were wondering if it was poisoned, it isn’t. If it is, then you have a partner to die with.”
My…poor heart. It was all too much. The food, his scent, the indescribable confusion I’d been thrown into. What was…this?
He pushed the meal closer to me. Then his warm hands found mine, and he put a fork in my grip. “Eat, Annora.”
He knew…my name.
He already knew. My eyes started to water before I could say anything, and I lowered my head and started to eat like I’d never tasted spice in my entire life.
I didn’t want this person to see me cry about their kindness—not after they had just ruined my entire life. He ate silently beside me. I stole glances at him,and all I could see were reasons why he shouldn’t be here.
Why didn't he fit into this horrendous setting, so I broke the stinging silence by asking. “Wouldn’t you get in trouble with the Alpha for being here?”
Rather than a response, i got more meat shoved into my plate.
“That’s not for you to worry about. You are the one in trouble.”
That was all it took for the moment to fade into nothing, puffing into glittering dust right before my open eyes. He was right.
I was the one in trouble here. I was the victim. It was I whose entire family and pack had been massacred! The disgust bit hard into me that I tasted it in the food. My appetite became unattainable.
I needed to get out of here. I needed to get back home, see the condition of my people. Adrenaline pumped wild in my veins.
I looked down at the dishes set before me and the shiny little knife sitting next to the china ware. How much time would a stab get me? He said the others were asleep, that could include the guards too.
Or not. Only one reckless way to find out. I turned to him, hoping to distract him while I reached for the knife. “Why are you helping me?”
He looked at me like I asked a nonsensical question. “I’m the balance,” he responded. “I’m Alpha Aegon’s good.”
The knife sturdy in my grip, I sat upright. “I’m so sorry."
“What for?”
Swiftly, I lifted myself off the floor and sank the blade in his shoulder, deep and rough as I could.
AEGONIt was a complete uproar as I ambled down the corridor. The guards and maids cleared out at the sight of my presence. For some reason, more of a crowd than I’d expected gathered at the front of the manor.It was a commotion out here, and I could barely see what was happening. “The Alpha is here!” one of my guards announced, and the crowd slowly dissipated. The maids scurried away in fear, and the guards straightened up. I still didn’t see her—the slave girl.Not until I heard groaning and one of the guards yelling at her. “The Alpha is here! You’ll meet your death soon!”Oh. So she dared to stab my guard? How dare she? Where had she gotten the weapon? I found the middle of the commotion, and the sight unraveled before my eyes, taking me completely by surprise.Bent to her knees with her arms held to her back was Annora; she had blood stains on her hands and a tattered dress. While just a few steps away was Kairel. And he was busy tying a bandage around his blood-wet shoulder. I
ANNORALiving was about to become torture— the first word in my head as I stirred awake on this hard ground. I didn’t know where I was.It looked like a cellar. Dark and moist, with the sun's reflection from the little window lining the walls. Sitting up almost knocked me back into a state of unconsciousness. My head ached so hard, throbbing like it was about to fall off my shoulders.“Where am I?” I said loudly, confirming that I was, in fact, still capable of speaking. Soon, the memories of last night started to push their way back into my head with full force.I remembered everything. Stabbing the Beta and almost dying for it. A gasp ripped out of my mouth when the last clause also sank in. In his irritating voice, I heard it again. A personal maid for the Alpha.Shit! A maid for that son of a bitch?! I groaned and stood to my feet, trying to navigate and find a way to get out of there. Again.The door opened with a creek, and all the light in the world was let in. I raised my head
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
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