ANNORA “You!”I spat, my voice venomous. “How could you do something so evil? You almost killed her! What did I ever do to you?”Her face was battered and bruised, proof of the beating she must have received at the hands of the guards.Without hesitation, I rushed towards her, my anger and hurt boiling over. Emily didn't respond, didn't even flinch. She just kept staring at the floor, her expression blank.I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to see Aegon standing beside me. “I just wanted you to see her. I didn’t bring her here to be torn apart.”But I shook him off, my emotions too raw to be calmed. “No. I deserve to know why she did this! What did I ever do to her? What would you do in my shoes?!”Aegon’s eyes lingered on mine, the judgment obvious in his expression. I almost forgot how much of a bitch he could be.“The guards found her in the woods today as they went for routine checks in the pack. She tried to escape, but they caught her.She was right under my nose all the
ANNORAI followed Wendeline into the garden, my eyes fixed on her as she wandered through the paths, her cane tapping against the stone floor. But as I watched, I realized that she wasn't using her cane to navigate - she was walking with a confidence that I couldn’t wrap my head around.I trailed behind her, keeping a safe distance to avoid detection. Wendeline seemed lost in thought, her eyes fixed on some point in the distance. And then, she stopped in front of a large stone bench, her head tilted back as she gazed up at the stars.I frowned, my mind racing with questions. How could Wendeline be looking at the stars? She was blind, and couldn't see a thing. And yet, she seemed to be drinking in the sight of the night sky, her face tilted up in rapt attention.I watched, mesmerized, as Wendeline stood there, her eyes fixed on the stars. She seemed so peaceful, so serene. But I knew that I couldn't trust her - not after what I had seen.Just as I was starting to wonder what Wendeline
ANNORA I moaned lowly against his lips. I could feel his length pressing against my stomach. The way our tongues fought for dominance sent a shiver down my spine. I was soaking wet, and all he had done was kiss and caress me. I wanted more. I needed more.I shoved the guilt that was eating at me so far behind. I knew this was wrong. But it felt too good to stop now. The way our bodies melted into each other left no room for guilt.“God, you're delectable,” he growled against my neck after each kiss he placed while his hand caressed my breast. He paused, slowly releasing my nipple and watching my breast bounce in my sweater. “Wait, I need to taste you.” He looked at me, slightly hesitant, so I quickly added, “Please?”“You sure? You don't have to….” Before I could stop him, he snatched a fistful of my hair and pushed me to my knees. My eyes widened slightly, a rush of heat going to my core as I stared up at him. The ache between my legs wasn’t going away; it was just intensifying
AegonIt took all of my willpower not to keep thrusting. Her eyes widened when I pulled out, watching the dread spread across her face.Her plea sent jolts of pleasure up my back. “Aegon,” she squealed with desperation from my continuous teasing. Her skin had been cool, and she immediately let out a breathy sigh. Her fingernails dug into my shoulders.As I continued to rub my cock against her wet entrance, she moaned loudly, and I cupped her breast, rolling and pinching her nipple. I tugged on it at the same time that I nipped at the one in my mouth. Her knees came up on either side of me, her legs crossing behind my ass and pressing me into her.I gave her what she wanted, grinding my erection into the apex of her thighs. The feeling was strong without any layers of fabric. She shoved her hand down between us, stroking my erection. And she gripped it a moment later. “Just fuck me!”It twitched in her hand, and I groaned. I dragged my mouth off her nipple and up her chest, leaving
ANNORAI woke up to an empty bed, my heart skipping a beat as I reached out to feel the cold sheets beside me. Aegon was nowhere to be found. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, wondering if I had dreamed the entire night. But the memories of our passionate kiss, the way he had held me, and the way he had made me feel were still etched vividly in my mind.I threw off the covers and got out of bed, my bare feet padding softly on the cold stone floor. I went to Aegon's office, hoping to find him there, but the room was empty, and the chair behind the desk was vacant. My heart skipped a beat, and I gulped hard, terror setting in waves. What if he had regretted what had happened between us? What if he didn't feel the same way?I didn’t know if I regretted it yet, but I needed him not to regret it. Making my way out, I walked back to the hallway, I noticed the maids whispering among themselves, their eyes darting towards me.A warm flush rose my cheeks as I remembered that I wasn’t
ANNORAIt had been seven days. 168 hours of me relieving those moments, with the sinking hurt in my chest. Though I tried hard not to regret my decision, it seeped in so cruelly— uncontrollably maddening that I couldn’t help but break under the weight of it.Avoiding him had done me good, but I still felt his breath on my face, his steady hands grabbing onto me like I was all he needed to stay alive. I could picture his desperation that night. Hell, I reveled in it.What was I thinking? Physically shook my head like it made the thoughts. At the same time, a knock came to the door. Being the only one at home, I reluctantly answered.Sora had a new hobby now, which was developing into a habit that I pretended not to care about. In her words, we should keep our enemies closer, which was why she was now the Alpha’s latest stalker, updating me on all of his moves. Regardless of whether or not I set eyes on Aegon, Sora always came with a very, and I say, very detailed picture of what he lo
AEGON Her name burst through her lips, and then she contorted her expression as though my name was the wrongest thing she could have ever uttered. I froze, too, my heart pounding in my chest. After that night, I just couldn’t bear it— the guilt of it weighed down on my chest so heavily. Kairel was the only thing on my mind; in his letters, the only thing he had written so severely was for me to take care of her. And I kept doing the wrongest things. I slept with her. And the worst of it? I couldn’t bring myself to regret it. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t regret it. She struck me like a ray of sun, shining ever so brightly in that dress, and I almost couldn’t tear my gaze away. Swallowing hard and trying to put up a brave front, “I said everyone should be inside the hall, not outside of it.” “I was just about to leave,” She answered tersely, looking away from me. Words eluded me. The force that once used to be at the top of my tongue had now vanished, leaving m
AEGON I went about the Pack's business as usual. Yesterday’s meeting had been to tell them to be more careful — since poison was becoming a constant thing in the pack. Since Kairel has not been around, the load of overseeing the Pack has been on none other person's shoulder than me. How much longer before he returns? A deep sigh ran out of my mouth and I let out a whistle. They led me to one of the windows in my room and I looked out, down at the Pack while mopping at the wolves who went about their morning duties. The meeting from many days ago—the one I called for, didn't go like I wanted it to go. Annora, who promised to leave, did not leave. What choice did I leave her with? A sigh ran out of my mouth again, as I thought about the moment at the hall, thinking also about the meal I should have this morning. Since the moment with Annora in my chamber, I hadn't had a good meal. Perhaps it was because I spent most of the day thinking about not just her, but even Emily who I w
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