(Ariel's POV)Reed stared at us probably expecting us to back down but he was in for a surprise. Elijah took a step forward and Reed’s eyes raised in surprise. His warriors advance towards us and try to attack.Elijah released his Alpha pressure against everyone. His aura blanketed the room and sent everyone to their knees including me. Reed's legs shook as he tried to resist. He was also an Alpha so he had an advantage but unfortunately for him Elijah was not just an Alpha he was also the king. Royalty came with more power and more advantage.Reed drew blood from my sister before his knee touched the ground amidst his reluctance. I did not pity her. His knees hit the floor in a thud and he looked ashamed.“Ariel,” Elijah called. “Cover your ear, tightly. Use a wrapper or wool.” He commanded.I was confused but I heed his warning, I did the same for Ron. I looked at him and nodded and then he released more pressure. Some of the guards dropped on the floor and passed out, some who trie
(Ariel's POV)Elijah dropped the call after Lucian confirmed he would be joining us soon.I shifted on my toes, the thought of Lucian arriving here made me apprehensive. That man was too dangerous for my health, I hated being in the same space as a man I did not understand.I could read and understand people but Lucian. Lucian was not people, unfortunately. I wiped my palm across my forehead feeling the small sweat beginning to form.“Elijah,” Lucian's voice jolted me out of my thoughts. His firm voice cut across the silence and tension. My head bolted up pretty quickly and I stilled trying to make myself small and invisible, I swallowed a gulp of saliva nervously.“Uncle,” Elijah called back. “You are here. Great! Welcome,” Elijah stuck out his hands and clasped Lucian's tightly in a firm handshake.“What did you say all these about again?” Lucian asked Elijah, his eyes taking in his surroundings, I saw his eyes dart towards Donald and linger a second longer.“Yes, Uncle. It's about
(Ariel's POV)Just as Elijah had wanted, Vincent became the acting Alpha of the precinct B pack. He was the actual Alpha in Elijah's records but he had to be addressed as an acting Alpha due to the people.Murmurings and the dissatisfaction of the park members could be heard when he announced it but nobody dared to oppose the king.Alpha Donald had been executed but the people wanted his son as the alpha to stand in the stead of his father. They believed he understood them better than any other person, especially someone who was not even their park member.Unfortunately, Elijah's mind was made up; even if Vincent was not his candidate, I am sure he still would not have let Donald's son become the alpha. Because that would just be a waste of his efforts.If he let Donald's son become Alpha, he could also decide to continue in his father's footsteps. From running the Colosseum to smuggling weapons and that would be a waste to the death of Donald. Elijah was not taking any chances, he wa
(Ariel's POV)“I have finally received full information for the consort selection.” My brows perked up when Ann told me that.Ann was already in the room when I walked in. I had missed her so much and was happy to see her but what I was happier to hear was the consort selection news.“Quick, tell me, How many people are coming for the selection.” I urged her, my eyes wide with curiosity. I knew I had stunned Ann with my unusual enthusiasm.“Hmmm, why is someone suddenly so interested in the consort selection?” She questioned wiggling her eyebrows, a mischievous smile coated her face.I rolled my eyes, “I will participate in the selection.” I informed her and watched her mouth drop open in a gasp, I cut her off before she could squeal the palace down. “Tell me what information you have.”“Ehh, information.” She shook her head to come back to reality. “Yes, I have just received instructions that a total of 25 candidates will be coming to the royal city in half a month and I have to make
(Ariel's POV)Immediately we got into the room, I swallowed the birth control pills while Elijah went to shower. I already knew what was coming and I was prepared.While Elijah was in the shower I thought of what I wanted to do and why I was doing it. I decided to pry information from Elijah about my father, maybe his side of the story would be totally different. I could only hope.I helped bring out some clothes for Elijah and I quickly discarded my clothes leaving me in my underwear, then I wrapped a towel around myself. I would do anything I could to get information from Elijah.I knew Elijah well enough and I knew he wouldn't just answer my questions because I asked, I needed to do something for him to want to answer. I needed to give him something in return. So I was going to please him as much as I could.Elijah stepped out of the shower, his hair still dripping wet and his lower body wrapped in a towel. I handed him the underwear I chose for
(Ariel's POV)Time flew and before I knew it, it was the d-day for the opening of the selection ceremony. I was giddy with smiles, I was about to go one step.Ann had prepared an exquisite gown for me, she said and I quote, “Go and show those bitches who the real queen is.” I laughed until my cheeks hurt.The gown she prepared was a magnificent blue ball gown, it had crystal beads sewn on it. The cleavage area was made with a pale nude material to showcase a bit of skin. It ran deep down to the top of my breast. The hands of the gown were puffy and stopped around my forearm.I paired the gown with a high-heeled silver shoe, a silver necklace, and a silver earring that dangled close to my jawline which Ann had also prepared for me. To top it off, Ann had pulled my hair into a tight-up bun. She made sure everything slicked back until I looked dazzling. As I looked at myself in the mirror I felt beautiful, I knew I was beautiful.I smiled
Each contestant was assigned a room and to our shock, the first round was also going to be held immediately.We were ushered to the backstage without the cameras, the cameras focused on Elijah instead.I watched the 24 female wolves huddle close and try to get to know each other, I did not bother joining them. I wasn't a wolf and I was also not their friend.As if on cue, Emily stepped forward and took the opportunity to ridicule me. Insults spewed from her mouth against me and she tried to pitch every other person against me.“This human here is so delusional, she thinks she is the king's mate.” Her irritating voice rang out.“Luckily the king is wiser and has decided to choose full-blooded wolves who can give him a strong offspring and not this weakling.” She mocked.“You are better than her, don't let her stand in your way. She is trash and you are above her.” She rolled her eyes rapidly, I almost thought it would fall off.I watched her plans work as the majority of the other cont
(Ariel's POV)I shared glances with Raven, our amusement danced in the air and laughter threatened to spill out of our throats. Raven’s face looked bloated with all the laughter she was holding in. I could not hold it in so I covered my face with my elbow and fake-coughed into it. Raven looked amused at my antics.Emily walked off the stage after her very humiliating performance, her face was red with anger and embarrassment. She stared at me and Raven through clenched teeth.She looked so scary, her eyes shot daggers at me. I felt like she would gladly shoot me in the face if her eyes could. I was more pained that I had not witnessed her entire performance than I was scared of her malicious eyes. She was a kitten with no teeth and even if she could bite, I was not ready to back down for her. This was my life on the line here.The next contestant was called up as the rest of the ladies jeered Emily. If her face turned any more red with anger, she could as well identify as a tomato, I
(Ariel's POV)I hummed a tune as I got dressed for the day. I was excited to show my marksmanship, especially to the people who had not seen me in action ever but underestimated me. The look of shock and awe on their faces would make my day.I whistled and moved my hips to the tune I was humming while I brushed looking at myself in the mirror. I felt giddy.I spat out the spittle in my mouth and gazed at myself in the mirror. “You are amazing,” I hailed myself.“You are beautiful. You are smart. You are the brightest. See the adoration in their eyes because of your awesome talent. You are powerful.” I continued to hail myself looking directly at myself through the mirror.My cheeks high, my head straight, my face stoic, and my words firm.Truly, I felt powerful. Today was my day, it felt good to do something you excelled effortlessly at. I was looking forward to the shooting round. I may not know a lot of things but I understood weapons.I knew each gun just by looking at them, I iden
(Ariel's POV)I woke up to Elijah cleaning me up tenderly, my hands were no longer bound. He was drawing soothing lines over the rope mark, washing it with soap, and willing the marks to disappear.I sighed contentedly and leaned into him as he washed me. His hands massaged my shoulders gently, I was really sore and I let out a moan.“If you keep moaning like that, I would be tempted to take you here and now,” Elijah's husky voice whispered in my ear.I stiffened, I had enjoyed the sex, allowing myself to indulge in the passion and enjoy it but I was not ready for another one. I was too sore. So I tried to contain the moan that threatened to break out of my lips. Elijah was too gentle in washing me and it was making me feel so good.I relaxed and enjoyed his care. I felt helpless against Elijah’s childish attitude towards anger. The moment he was jealous or angry he showed it by trying to mark me and dominate me with sex. I was helpless against his behavior.But I wouldn't deny that t
(Elijah's POV)It's been a few weeks since I saw Ariel. I missed her so much. Dealing with the whole assassination thing was taking up my time. Each day I had lots of work on my desk and I hadn't been able to go see her.I missed her smile, I missed her body, I missed sex with her. I was craving her touch. Tomorrow was the day of her match but I needed to see her today.So I cleared up my desk early, pushing aside the rest of the work. The Moonstone file glared at me, calling for me to attend to it but I closed it right back and left to go see her.Thoughts of her riddled me as I walked down the hallway, my wolf was excited to see her, he whistled a happy tune in my head, and my body was excited to finally see her and have a proper conversation with her. Well, I hoped I would have a proper conversation with her.Every time we attempted to have a decent conversation, we always ended up with one of us angry. I knew it was bound to happen but I hoped it would be different. A man can hope
(Ariel's POV)The postponement of the contest also gave me ample time to recuperate. I had been worried about how I would perform in casts or with limps. It did not help that I had overheard some people talking and they said the next round would be shooting practice.I hoped my leg would be properly healed before the next contest. Shooting was my forte, my knowledge of weapons gave me an advantage and so I was looking forward to this section. I did not want anything to jeopardize my winning chances.25 days later, my leg was fully healed. I could stretch it, walk without limping, run, and put the whole pressure on that foot without wincing or hissing in pain. My leg was completely healed.“I am damn excited that my leg is completely healed now,” I told Raven, flexing my ankle, my cheeks turned up very high in a smile.“I am happy for you, mi lady.” She handed me a branch of the rose flower she had plucked and curtsied while at it, we laughed together.The echoes of our laughter resoun
(Vincent's POV)“I am here to escort Ariel back to her room,” I announced the moment I entered the office. Although my gaze was intent on Ron, I could feel Ariel roll her eyes. Her antics amused me.“Your eyes would soon fall off with the amount of time you roll them,” I told her. She muttered incoherent words under her breath and I chuckled.I did not mind riling her up every once in a while, I did not get the opportunity often.I had rushed here the moment my investigation had clicked that Ron was part of the resistance. He was connected in more ways than one with the resistance.It did not surprise me, I was wary and hesitant when Elijah suggested that he bring him in as Ariel's personal physician. I did not dissuade him but I did share my reluctance with him.But Elijah wanted someone he knew and someone that Ariel could be safe with after the near-assassination experience. I believed that nobody was worth trusting or was even safe to be with at the moment. Everybody was a damn su
“What did you say you are doing here?” I asked Ron again when the initial shock wore off.He sighed. “Elijah arranged for me to be here,” he dropped another bombshell.“Elijah arranged for you to be here?” I asked in confusion, almost shrieking. That thought felt absurd, what was Elijah thinking?“Yes, due to your injury. He said he wanted you to recuperate in a quiet and comfortable environment.” He replied.The wheels of my mind began to turn, so that was why Elijah did not let me stay back in my room or go to the infirmary for this treatment. No wonder he had insisted that I get a new primary care physician.It still did not make sense to me that he chose Ron to be my primary physician. Wasn't he always jealous of Ron? What happened? What changed?Something felt suspicious and not knowing what it was kept me agitated.“Come and sit down, so I can examine the wound.” Ron patted the small bed in his office.I hesitantly climbed the bed with difficulty refusing his help, my movement a
(Ariel's POV)Ten minutes after I'd woken up, I still lay in bed with my eyes open, I was still tired. I allowed my mind wander to the conversation I had with Vincent the night before. My eyes followed every object I could see in the room but I did not sit up.Another ten minutes later and I stretched my body finally ready to step out of the bed. I sat up and looked around, adjusting my body to the new day. I was a little disoriented.My ankle throbbed and I hissed in pain, rubbing soothing circles around it. Gently, I dragged myself off the bed and into the bathroom. I took my bath, making sure water did not touch my wound and then I gently re-dressed my wound. I popped a few pain killers to get rid of the pain I woke up with.When I was done, I headed towards Raven's room to check on her. I had been in severe pain yesterday plus Vincent and Elijah did not leave my room so I was not able to check on her.I felt bad that I had not checked on her and her wound until now so I hastened m
(Ariel's POV)As soon as Vincent walked out with a heavy face, Elijah entered his face wary, glancing between me and Vincent's back curiously.“Am I missing something?” Elijah asked, looking curious.I shook my head, “Nothing.”“Why did he leave with that expression then?”“I don't know. It's nothing.”Elijah stared at me warily and then shrugged, “It did not look like nothing to me.” He muttered very lowly, I almost did not catch on.“We found your assassin's,” Elijah informed me.I perked up, “Really, did you find out who sent them?” I asked genuinely interested in knowing who must have wanted me out of the way. I was certain the killers came for me and Raven was just unfortunate to be with me at that time.Elijah frowned, “No. I was still in the process when they killed themselves,” My face scrunched up in confusion.Elijah stared into space, his face bristled with unleashed anger, “I was interrogating them when they just began to bleed to death. Turns out, they had a pill in their
(Ariel's POV)I sat frozen and unmoving, my hand trembled lightly as I pondered on Vincent's question.“I want to know about your father.”The statement kept running in my mind even in my immobile state. I refused to acknowledge the question, what did he want with my father?I was not expecting the question, what had my near death had to do with my father? I had barely survived from the ruckus earlier and here he was questioning me about a man who had since died.It kept me on edge. Why did he ask about him all of a sudden? I thought about what we had been discussing.‘Yes, we were just discussing his reasons for appearing in the palace today.’ I thought. So how did the conversation include my father?I paid him no attention, my mouth shut, as I looked around the room instead, my eyes falling everywhere but in Vincent. I felt his gaze sharply piercing, waiting for an answer.And when I could not stand it anymore, I bent under his gaze.“What do you want with him?” I managed to ask.“I