CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE.CARL'S POV.The expressions in the council room ranged from shock to scepticism, and the weight of their gazes bore down on me after Elder Lennox declared the letter fake.'How did he know?' I wondered.I knew I forged the paper. I mean, how else would a letter come in from Jacqueline, who was lying sick in bed, if not through me?I knew I had to do something that would cause everyone to believe the words I was speaking, and earlier, I had written the letter.Forging Jacqueline's writing was like a piece of cake for me.I had worked and walked with him for a long time, and everything about him was known to me. I had also written a letter for some people before in Jacqueline's name, so I knew everything about his writings.Also, I just realised I fucked up.Using the royal seal was a mistake I never really thought of. The royal seal was too sacred to be carried about all around. It had to be in the sacred place in the castle, and that was the mistake I made.Jacqueli
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO.CARL'S POV.I didn't regret shouting them all off, instead, I continued to bash at them."The alpha entrusted me with this pack in his absence, and no one has any right to question my authority,” I said firmly. “Until he returns, I am acting in his stead. If you cannot respect that, then perhaps you should reconsider your position on this council, and I mean it."Who cares if the letter was forged or not? Who gives a flying fuck? Not me. If the alpha himself writes to you, and in your irresponsibility, you wanted to shake it off and tag it upon other responsibilities and tag it as forge, then so be it. "But I think I've taken enough shit than to stand before you and listen to your flimsy excuses. What do you take me for? One who doesn't know his right from his wrong? You've got to be kidding me. Even if I lied to all of you, which, of course, is not true, I have a right to do so."I took a deep breath to continue."Also, We have laws guiding our principles here, an
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE.ROSALIE'S POV.I was in Jacqueline's hidden room which had also been my room for the past weeks.I sat by his bedside, my fingers were idly tracing the edge of the blanket that covered him with the rhythmic sound of his breathing filling the room whole, a sound that should have brought me comfort but only deepened my unease. Jacqueline's injuries had completely healed, every scar and bruise gone as though they had never existed, and he had resumed breathing normally. Yet, he remained motionless, his eyes closed, lost in a slumber that seemed unending.“Why?” I whispered to him. My voice trembled. “Why aren’t you waking up?”My mind swirled with unanswered questions. Jacqueline was a fighter, of which I know. He was someone who defied odds and rose above challenges, and seeing him like this, so still and lifeless, was a cruel sight I couldn’t understand. I had sat here every day, refusing to leave his side, hoping and praying that he would open his eyes every da
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR.ROSALIE'S POV.I turned away from Susan and tried to take my mind off her betrayal but I couldn't. I sat in the room with my eyes on Jacqueline, and I couldn't help but question him. "What do you want me to do to save you? Don't you think you've slept enough? Don't you see everything that is happening? If you don't see it, why can't you hear it?"Everything here is abnormal without you, and now, my wolf is back to me, all thanks to you. Then I realised that you're my mate, sweet right? Don't you want to see me cause I miss you?" I smiled, "Can you please wake up? I miss you."“Rosalie." I heard the call of my name again and I turned to see Susan still in the room.I frowned, "I thought I told you to leave, Susan."She rose her gaze to meet mine, and in an instant, her composure crumbled. She fell to her knees, her hands clasped together as tears streamed down her face. “Rosalie, I’m so sorry,” she choked out. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I swear I di
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE.ROSALIE'S POV.It was a bright morning, and I was pacing the length of the sitting room in the chamber where Jacqueline was kept, waiting for Carl to show up.Last night, after the heartfelt moment with Jacqueline, we had concluded that we would change Jacqueline's room since the present one had been discovered by Brianna.This time, I had decided not to include anyone in our plan. Not the driver. Not Susan nor any other guards. Just Carl and I, for Jacqueline's safety.Throughout the night, we couldn't sleep. We had to keep on checking for the hidden rooms on the castle's map to know which one we would choose to keep Jacqueline safe.All the unnoticed rooms in the castle were in the open, so we couldn't take Jacqueline there.But we noticed that this present room, which we took him to, was not drawn on the map, so we concluded the fact, 'Not all the rooms in the castle were on the castle's map.'We got what we wanted about the unknown room, so we had to search for
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX.AUTHOR'S POV.In a place so dark that nothing could be seen than thick darkness and the air around was of a calm one which left out a little whisper when it became a little too harsh.Jacqueline was lying on the floor, looking dead and invisible in the dark.When voices disturbed him, his eyes snapped open, and the redness in them showed around the place.He was blinded by the darkness which welcomed him, so he shut his eyes back and groaned on the floor, twisting, "Where am I?" He whispered the question to himself and turned to his side to sit up with great difficulties.He couldn't.He tried to move again, but his ears caught a rushing sound. He stopped trying and took his burning eyes to where the sound was coming from. He strained his eyes, trying to see through the darkness like he should since he was a werewolf and his sight was better at night than the day. However, he couldn't see a thing, no matter his trials.What was hitting his eyes at that moment was p
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN.ROSALIE'S POV.The cold floor of the hallway pressed against my footwear as I stumbled forward with Carl and was led forward by the guards who were surrounding us. Lennox was present too, and I had been seeing the demonic smirk he plastered on his face since we left the room.I stared at my hands, which had been bound in front of me to keep me from thinking of running or escaping successfully, which I was so thinking. Beside me, Carl walked with his head held high, his expression defiant despite the bruises forming on his cheek and jaw. He had been hit severally, as per Lennox's order to keep him shut and submissive.Though they didn't succeed in keeping him submissive, they were able to keep his mouth shut.I knew that he would be in a biting pain right now and he was healing ever slowly. He was beaten with silver, for he was just too stubborn, just like Jacqueline.The guards on either side of us shoved us forward disrespectfully when our pace faltered, and th
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT.ROSALIE'S POV.Carl and I followed Scott out of the pack, and when we got outside, we halted before three sleek black cars, which were parked right there with his guards sweeping all around them like ants do to sugar.A door was opened for us, "Enter in." We were commanded.I had lost the zeal to go with Scott. I never knew that he was planning to take us out of the pack. If he does, how then do we take care of Jacqueline?Carl peaked unto my face, "Why are we stopping? Aren't we following him anymore?""I thought going with him was a better idea. I'm sorry."Scott cut into our words and said, "Too late to apologise!"We were pushed into the car, and it zoomed off immediately, with the others coming behind us.'Why am I not thoughtful enough?' I beat myself up, 'I'm stupid! Stupid.'"Hey, hey, stop it. I'll just tell Susan about Jacqueline's location and she will take care of him for the time we will be away." Carl said to me."What if she snitch on us again?""Do
EPILOGUE.A month later.....Everything in the pack house had been normal, and for the past weeks, the other enemies of Jacqueline's pack had gone into extinction since the phoenix king and Scott were conquered. They feared Jacqueline and stayed clear away from his property.Michael had been visited and rewarded by Jacqueline, and he did well by apologising to him for stealing back his wife from Michael. They were friends til they met again.The pups had been sat down and made to understand who they were and they had been coping with the help of the parents and new uncle, Carl. Carl had become their first choice after their parentsAlso, Rosalie had been marked and coronated. She was already the pack's Luna, and that was all that...__________It was a cool evening in the pack house, and everywhere was filled with life. Jacqueline was sitting on his throne, exuding his Alphaship aura. Beside him, sat Rosalie gracefully on her Luna’s throne, her presence radiating strength and love.Sh
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO.AUTHOR'S POV.In the wolf's world...The battle with the Phoenix king was over. The Phoenix King and his army lay slain, their flames extinguished, their threat vanquished, and they lay rotten on the floor and were vanishing into thin air. Jacqueline returned to the pack house in victory, leaving Carl and the guards in the territory to clear everywhere.His body was aching, and his mind was acting up. That was why he left the territory to the castle to see Rosalie. He didn't know what he was feeling until he saw the guards he had appointed to watch over Rosalie. Their nervous expressions immediately set him on edge.He narrowed his eyes at them. "What happened? Where is Rosalie?" His voice was sharp, demanding immediate answers.One of the guards swallowed hard before speaking. "She ran off to the human world, Alpha. She… she found out her pups were in danger. She left without waiting for further words."Jacqueline’s heart stopped for a moment before it picked ba
CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE.AUTHOR'S POV.In the human world...It was the weekend, and Michael, Rosalie's boyfriend, had woken up in the morning and had decided to take the children, Ricardo, Raymond, and Rowland, to the park for some fun. "Who will love to crush the weekend in the park?" He questioned the children cheerfully, and he had everything planned out.He had booked their tickets to enter, write down some fun places to visit, some new games to try, and another ticket for karaoke that would take place in the park at night.He had the day fully packaged with fun."Me!""Me!""Me!" The three children answered him joyfully, jumping gracefully returning his enthusiasm."Then, let's get our butts down there. There's one which just opened by the downtown, we should get there quickly if I step on the acceleration." He joked."Yay! I can't wait!" They chorused and hopped happily.The boys were at their happiest peak, and when Michael was leading them to where his car was parked, they were h
CHAPTER EIGHTY.ROSALIE'S POV.Briana's words made me halt. I frowned, searching her face for any hidden meaning but found nothing but her mock, "What are you talking about?" I demanded.Briana’s smile widened. "Oh, come now, Rosalie. Don’t tell me you don’t feel it. Something… out of place. Something… wrong. Simple."My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my expression neutral. I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing she had rattled me. I let her words sink in, trying to decipher their meaning. I glanced around the hallway, searching for anything out of the ordinary. But everything seemed normal. The guards were in position, the prisoners were secured, and the pack house was as it should be. Everywhere was as it was.I sighed, 'She must be bluffing.'"You’re wasting your breath," I said, my tone cold. "Whatever game you’re playing, it won’t work."Briana’s eyes gleamed with a wicked twisting brightness. "Aren’t your children in the human world? Or… don’t tell me you don’
CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE.ROSALIE'S POV.I was in Jacqueline's room, waiting. The walls of his chamber which had always been so comforting to me, now felt like they were closing in on me. My thoughts were a rollercoaster, rolling all around and running to him. 'Is he safe? Is the pack holding its ground? Should I be panicking? Should I check it out?'A lot just kept running in, and every scenario my mind conjured up only made the intestines in my stomach tighten.I tried to sit, to calm myself down at least, and I did, but the moment I sat down and stopped moving, my chest felt like it was being trampled under the weight of my worry.I jolted back up.''He’s out there, facing… who knows what," I muttered to myself, running my fingers through my hair. Rose began to growl at me. *Stay calm. Sit down, I'm trying to rest.*But how could I? How could I sit here, useless, when Jacqueline is out there and might need me?*Just calm down, he will be here in a bit.*Most times, Rose behaved like
CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT.AUTHOR'S POV.Jacqueline and Carl resumed their walk.Carl's mind ran back to the mysterious messenger, and his mind began to race at his words. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Jacqueline? Why would someone capable of causing such chaos on the pack just deliver a message and leave?" Carl mused aloud.Jacqueline’s expression was unreadable, his thoughts carefully guarded. He was just thinking about it too. "It’s not just the message. It’s the power they wield. That sound… it wasn’t meant to warn. It was meant to cripple us. Whoever they are, they wanted us vulnerable or better still, destroyed."Before Carl could respond, Jacqueline stiffened, his senses sharpening as a new presence came into his awareness. "Sh!" He cautioned Carl and listened til he got what he was looking for. "They’re here."A low growl rumbled in his chest as he turned to Carl. "Who?" Carl asked him, his voice dropping to a whisper.Jacqueline didn’t answer immediately. His heightene
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SEVEN.AUTHOR'S POV.The night air carried the faint scent of blood and despair, which flew all around the pack as Jacqueline and Carl walked the path leading to the pack’s territory where all the problems were generated. Where they were ready to catch the intruder red-handed.The tension between them was heightened, it was like a heavy weight that seemed to cling to their skin. Instead of shifting to get to their destination in a go, they had decided to walk some distance just to see what the damage had done to the pack.Jacqueline’s eyes were not fixed on a particular spot, it kept on moving from one person to the other in a bid to take in everything without missing out. Every step he took was calculated, he was cautious not to step on any growling individual, for the pack members had spread out on the floor, growling in pain that even when they scented their alpha passing by, they couldn't acknowledge him. Carl followed Jacqueline closely with jaw tight and fists
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX.AUTHOR'S POV.The sharp, painful sound had torn through the pack's territory, and everyone, the aged and pups, all felt it. It was unlike anything the wolves had ever experienced. It was shrill and piercing, a noise that seemed to bang directly into their skulls and pierced into their ears. It was an unspoken and unexpected pain for them all.For the lower-ranked wolves, especially the Omegas, it was another story entirely for them. All of them clutched their ears in agony, and when their eardrums couldn't hold it all in, it bled. "Ah!""Arg!""Argh!""Alpha!"Different cries of pain echoed across the pack as the weaker members collapsed on the ground, bleeding through their ears. Even some of the mid-ranked wolves struggled to stay upright, their faces pale as they fought to withstand the pain.They all forgot about the moon goddess at that moment, and cried to Jacqueline, "Alpha, help us!"Jacqueline, who was on his way to the throne room when the incident hap
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE.ROSALIE'S POV.The taste of his lips lingered on mine. It was deeply salty from his tears, and bitter from his pain. I pulled closer to him to kiss him even harder, pouring every ounce of my regret, my love, my apology into that kiss. But he didn't return the kiss, and just when I thought he would respond, Jacqueline pulled back.His lips parted from mine with a finality that left my heart beating loudly in its ribcage. He stepped away, his eyes filled with emotions which I could read into and also feel. Anger, betrayal, sorrow and a pain which I knew was deeper than the ocean.Above all those, I could see his love for me somewhere at the deep of his heart, just by a small corner there. I felt it so little but I was glad it was something."Jacqueline…" I whispered, my voice trembling as I tried to reach closer to him.He held up a hand, stopping me in my tracks, he said no word. Just his eyes on me.His silence was louder than any yell, echoing than any accusati