"I think my arm is broken." The emo girl said with a curse, and though I do understand she was in pain, better her hand than her foot. Thank the goddess I followed her. Being fifteen, my mother advised stopping the wolfsbane I had been taking so I could claim to shift with the rest when I turned sixteen, and while I no longer saw her death, I saw Violet’s instead. Dreams are just dreams, I uttered to myself before following the emo girl home, only to witness her getting chased by bullies, just like in my dream. Her death would have occurred if they had pushed her down the stairs, but I broke her fall, maybe sprained something, or it is that I did not stretch before running to her and pulled a muscle; either way, my dream happened. So, did that mean the dreams of my mother’s death would also occur? "I called the prince; he’ll be here soon." I say through panted breaths, still exhausted from the bullies we escaped, who chased us down for some reason as if they were committed to
Marko’s gaze raked the room before falling on mine.Like in the dream, I correct my posture, but this time not because of his effect on me but because I will die before I let him witness me flustered.“Good evening”He begins, and like in the dream, his gaze leaves mine the instant we hold each other’s, but not before his pupils shift between Ace’s and his; not many can notice, but the shades of silver differ.He begins his introduction with an anecdote before peppering in a few jokes about going easy on the liquor.How he can do that when anxiety fills me to the point of no conversational interest is beyond me; then again, he has been good at holding in his emotions since youth; either that, or I assume I matter more than I do to him. Finally, he ends his introduction with a soft gaze at the woman beside him, Magnolia Grace.After this, he throws empty honours to me, mentioning how proud he was of me as his stepsister before turning to face Magnolia again.I do not know why I count
"I'm pregnant! Alba, you'll have a little brother or sister. Aren't you happy?"The sink of my stomach was too visceral to ignore.How was she overjoyed when I felt close enough to throw up my heart?"But...you aren't allowed to have children with the King?"I asked with a shaky smile on my face.Her heightened sensitivity terrified me. So, I grew accustomed to making my gestures as friendly as possible; otherwise, she would overread them and take offence from them.How could she utter such news as if it were good?The only reason they permitted her to be his second wife was on the basis that she wouldn't disturb the succession by having a child with the king.A child between his majesty and his mate might create a division in the council, and worse, what if Marko refuses to associate with me? Then...what of our promise?"His majesty said he'd handle it. He was happy about it; you know.”She said as she placed my brush with strands of her hair on my vanity table.She behaved as if we
"You...came? You came! "Beatrice's hand flew to her mouth in joyful shock as we exited the vehicle we came in; it was as if I had saved her from something.The cars out front and her expensive-looking peach bouffant gown hinted at a party—a party we were not invited to.The alpha and I remained dressed in travel sweats, at this rate is it not safe to assume I was preferred underdressed?“Are we interrupting something?”Alpha Rhett asks, taking the words from my mouth.A shadow of guilt crosses her face before she looks away.“I- am sorry. Can I explain later?”The alpha turns to me, and I shrug, giving him the right to the final decision.We cannot go back; rather, I do not wish to go back, so the other alternative would be getting a hotel room where we risk media attention; in other words, we are stuck here.The alpha nods in understanding and then takes my hand as if I am a child, this warrants a look from Beatrice, but she says nothing.“Let me guide you to the event.”She offers
“Leave? You are leaving Ketria?” I ask, trying my best to understand the magnitude of her situation. “Yes, father keeps sending men to harass George. Our love cannot survive here, so we leave at midnight to begin anew amongst humans; this was father’s last chance.” Does she realise she is abandoning everything for some fleeting and stupid bond that can be broken should they try? “I had communicated with a reporter friend of mine to camp at Midland and await a miracle, but that you came before I even left is…such a relief.” Her face scrunches as a tear trickles down her cheek. “Now I can beg you, on my knees if you would like, and offer any compensation you desire for dragging you into this.” She finishes, and her entire body remains trembling as if her desperation is something only I can resolve. Her father was careless with his words in using the phrase ‘miracle as dowery’ because this will give her case a chance when her father eventually drags her back to the council for the
Marko ‘…You still have them, do you not? Have you tasted them in my absence? Perhaps pressed them to your nose to see if my trace remains on the ones you used on me.’Alba’s words still rang in his mind despite her already having ended the call.That he had smelled every one of the devices made it harder to keep his composure. Even with the gala’s chatter, all he longed to do was dash to her room and press his nose to her sheets, like he had the instant he heard of her departure; none of the toys held as much of her scent as her beddings.'Your majesty'He recalled her address of him, and a frown found his lips; he hated the title upon her lips; he would rather hear her say his name, moan it in the breathy ways she did as the flush of her skin screamed her arousal.But he no longer held the right to witness such a godly sight.“There you are.”Magnolia’s voice found him on the balcony; her gaze travelled down his pants, and a smile crossed her face.“Are you…”She teased as she trace
‘I do not know how I will repay you, Alba. I pray you find love and good fortune.’Beatrice had uttered those words and then slipped her address between my fingers before she left with her mate.‘Love’Again, that word haunts me today; while I understand its warmth and softness, I cannot envision it offered to me romantically by anyone.I wonder what such security in one resembles that they can utter the words ‘I love you’ to another. If I speak those words to Marko and mean them, I am confident he will kill me with that ‘love’.Not that I feel that way towards him; I hold my heart too close to let it stray to that degree. If not for the bond, I probably would not stomach being in the same room as him.But now that it is there, I yearn for his touch even when he disappoints me.Still, all that is about to end now: I should be overjoyed, yet…my heart does not move."I told you what would happen, Alba, but you-"Alpha Rhett grumbles, then sighs into his hands before continuing to nag.I
“I feel like I ask you this each time I lay my eyes on you, but have you lost your mind?” Marko’s voice booms at the entrance as soon as I arrive. I am certain he would not have yelled if I had walked in with his father, but the old Lycan went to city hall on account of my request. “Is that how you welcome one from a long trip?” I ask as I try my best to hide the anger clawing at me, it will do us both no good if we charge at each other this publicly. “We have to attend a press conference in your name tomorrow, again, Alba. Again, I must compensate for your carelessness.” He growls the latter portion of his statement as he nears me. His hands reach for my shoulder, but he balls them into fists before he touches me, aware that it would lead to more, more he could no longer afford. After a moment of visible hesitation, he clears his throat and waits for my response. “Then, I will see you tomorrow, right?” I ask, and his confused frown meets my gaze. It is not the response he e