- Franklin -I stayed at Giselle's bedside all through the night without blinking an eyelid in sleep, worried about her. At dawn, my men came to see me."Alpha, we did not find anything," they told me and I frowned deeply."How can that be?" I said. "Somebody definitely came into the palace and to my wife's room at night. Her window was left open. Even my sister was attacked. You can't tell me there was no one. My wife's sustained an injury and Cleo as well.""That's true Alpha, but we have searched everywhere. The guards on duty guarding the palace and the borders are always vigilant and I make sure of that. Yet, we can't find anyone.""I am not pleased with this," I told them. "We'd have to be more careful. Increase the number of soldiers and make sure they are well trained."I dismissed them and looked at Giselle sleeping peacefully on the bed. My soldiers were the best trained amongst many packs but I decided I might not have to fully trust them with the safety of my lovely wife a
- Cleopatra -Franklin rushed to her side and held her hand."Sweetheart, are you okay?" He asked softly and helped her up."Yeah," she grunted. "My heart hurts."And that was when my eyes caught the skin on her skin. It was healing just fine and not as deep as the cut just last night.No way...I know how deep that cut ran yesterday. It was just a few hours, and it looked like a small knife cut.Surely, there is more to this lady than I know."What happened?" She asked the most confusing question ever. What happened? She really did not know what happened?"There seems to be an attack. You can't remember anything?" Franklin said disappointedly, probably because he hoped she would know something about whoever attacked her so he could get them."I don't..." She started, then paused to think. "Yes, I remember someone was in my room, but I don't know who she was.""She?" Franklin sounded surprised."Yes, it was a lady if I am not mistaken," she told him."And you cannot recall any other th
- Giselle -I rested my head on Franklin's chest and he held me close."I'm worried," I said quietly."Don't be," he replied. "Nothing's going to happen to you. I am going to protect you with my life.""I was just in my room and I don't know how whoever it was appeared there. I don't even know how I was able to survive it.""Look at me," he adjusted and lifted my chin to his face. "Do you trust me?""I do," I replied sincerely."Then believe when I tell you, I will have to be down before anything happens to you. I love you.""I love you too," I said as he planted a soft kiss on my lips. I rested back on his chest and we remained in silence for a couple of minutes before he spoke again."Your father sent words that he'd be coming," he told me and I looked at him eagerly."Really?" I asked and he nodded."Yeah.""When?""This weekend, most probably. He asked about your well-being, and of course, I told him about what happened lately. He's a bit concerned.""You shouldn't have told him a
- Franklin -I followed after Cleo as she was lamenting to Xavier who was trying to get from her what happened."Don't ask me any questions; just let me leave, please," she was saying."Cleo, can we talk?" I asked."No!" She turned around and snapped. "I don't want to talk to you. You have made it clear to me that I don't belong here so I don't think there is anything to talk about.""You are misunderstanding everything and it's not supposed to be," I said with a sigh."Can someone tell me what is going on here please?" Xavier looked from me to her."Can you believe your father told me to my face that I don't belong here to be competing with that little witch he calls a wife? He told me to go back to my husband's pack, and I was demanding too much attention like a child," she said to Xavier, and he looked shocked."He told you that?" He asked."Cleo," I was saying when he cut me short."You told her that? Dad, how could you?""That was not what happened," I placed two fingers on my no
- Kira -I stood in Cleopatra's room as I pondered what exactly to tell her when I faced her. But there was no turning point because this was eating me up and I had to set it right.I knocked on the door and there was no response so I had to knock again."Come in," she answered from inside. "The door is not locked."I walked in and found her making notes and even though I did not know what they were, I could tell she was making a serious plan on it with the concentration on her face."This you," she said dryly without looking at me. These are the kinds of things that make me wonder what she thinks of me. I have the gnawing feeling that after all this is done with, she might not want me to remain with her son after all if she does not think highly of me."Yes ma'am," I replied with a slight bow. "I wanted to talk to you about..."I paused when she stopped what she was doing to glare at me, wondering what I did wrong to deserve that look."I told you to call me by name," she said. "It's
- Kira -Xavier sounded shocked when he asked that and I had to look up. My eyes caught my reflection in the mirror and a light gasp escaped my lips.There were red lines of scars from Cleopatra's claws on my skin. I had not realised her grip made that much impact on me though I was feeling the pain."What happened?" Xavier asked as he walked towards me. My chest heaved up and down as I breathed angrily. How could she do this to me? Xavier stood behind me and tried to touch me."Get away from me," I half yelled, pushing him away. He looked stunned."What the hell is wrong with you?" He asked. "Why are you acting like a bitch.""Oh, you think I'm acting like a bitch now? You're mother did this to me," I yelled, pointing to the wound."What?" He sounded as if he could not believe it. "She did that to you? Why? Why will you get into a fight with my mother in the first place?"I shook my head as tears filled my eyes. I just fucking told him what his mother did to me and the next thing tha
- Kira -My mother arrived early one morning and there was no special welcoming for her. Xavier had gone out despite knowing she was on her way so I was the only one around to bring her in.I rushed her to my room immediately so we'd have a small chat before others came around. She looked prettier and younger than the last time I remembered."Is this the room you live in?" She asked me with her scrunched up in disgust."Uh...for now," I replied uncertainly."Wait, I thought you told me you were getting married to the Alpha's son?" She asked again."Yes, I did," I affirmed."So what now? He's not getting married to you anymore?" She shook her head questioningly."He is..." I sighed. "Mum, give me a while."I put her bags away and gave her a seat."There's a lot of things going on here," I started narrating my ordeal. "You know, Xavier was supposed to get married to Giselle which did not happen because I was carrying his child and somehow, she found out. But then, things took another tu
- Kira -Cleopatra moved from the door and walked fully into the room."No it's fine," she said with a small smile on her face. "You can tell her. She deserves to know, after all, she is my In-law and should know."I did not know what to think of that but better still I knew, this should be a mockery."I'm serious," Cleopatra said, actually looking serious. "You can go ahead and tell her." When I hesitated, she turned to my mother and addressed me."My name is Cleopatra. I am the Alpha's sister like your daughter rightly said but I am also the mother of the prince. Funny right? But that's information only for your ears. You should know at least, because we are going to be partners now.""Christine," Mother said her name and Cleo nodded. She stretched out her hand for a handshake and My mother looked at me."Come on, just want to greet you," Cleo said and my mother took her hand. She pulled her closer for a hug. "Ah, that's much better."I looked on in shock."I did not realize you'd b
- Xavier -She squinted her eyes at me."What do you mean by huh?" She said. "You were not planning to get married to her, were you?""Well..." I dragged."She's not the kind of woman for you, you should know. I have been telling you this and it seems not to get into your head.""Mum, Kira is now a princess," I reminded her."But was once a slave almost all the days of her life. That is already a disqualifier. It would be said of the greatest Alpha that his Luna was once a palace maid. We are not working hard for that kind of report are we?""Anyway," I sighed. "You don't have to beat yourself over it. "I wasn't planning to marry her in the first place. I only needed a woman I would while away time with and she came in handy so...""Good. And very useful now for our plans. I am already making arrangements for the kind of woman I want for you. As for now, you can keep having fun with her. But you will go it differently now and more deliberately because of her status. If she feels she's
- Xavier -I was restless. Restless because things were not going the way I wanted them to go or they were just so slow and worse? Mother was not doing anything about it!"You will have to calm down," she said to me and I glared at her."How can I calm down?" I retorted. "How can I calm down when everything is just moving in some opposite and unpleasant direction? Mother, I want Franklin and Giselle down. And I want it to happen now. I cannot wait any longer. And this was the reason I brought you here so you can help me but it seems you are better off in your husband's house.""Watch your mouth, you ingrate," she shot at me angrily. "It did not pass you that you could not do it all by yourself and had to get me here. Only for you to have the effrontery to say this to my face? Who the hell do you think you are?"I took a deep breath in a bit to calm myself. There was no point getting angry with her too."Mother I am sorry," I had to apologise. "I did not mean to cuss at you.""You bett
- Giselle -"Giselle?" Franklin shook me gently out of my thoughts and I looked at him. "Are you okay? What are you thinking?""Odessa," I muttered under my breath."What?" He looked a bit confused."Odessa, what happened to her?"He was taken aback by the question but braced himself for it."She died in the labor room," he told me sadly. "She lost her life while trying to give life to our child. Sometimes, I feel I was the cause of everything. She did all she could to give me a child because of the pressure of the throne despite the complications. I knew about it, but did not try to prevent her from carrying the pregnancy.""What complications?" I asked him."She was not entirely fit to have a baby. The doctors warned us that there was a fifty-fifty chance of survival if she was going to be put to bed. She did not mind and wanted to have the child which caused her life."No, according to what I just saw now, Odessa did not die naturally during the delivery. She was killed. But I did
- Giselle -I could not take in the excruciating pain I felt despite that I tried to stay strong. I clutched on the side of the bed but it was not helping."I can't..." I shook my head. "I can't do it," I cried."You can, my lady," the midwife said. "Just take a deep breath. Take long deep breaths. It's going to be fine."They have been telling me to take deep breaths but that too was not helping. Right now I am too weak to even lift a limp."Get my husband," I murmured. "Please."My body was drenched in sweat, and there seemed to be an external factor making my condition worse, but I could not tell what it was."You don't need the Alpha," the midwife said. "You are a strong woman and you can do this all by yourself. Come on, this is you giving life to your child. If you don't push, we might lose the baby. Give it all you have. It is worth it. You will make the Alpha and the pack proud by giving us an heir. This is the moment we all have been waiting for."But all of that motivational
- Marcus -Giselle walked in, her eyes square with suspicion as she looked from me to Christine."Hi Dad," she greeted, her eyes still full with query."Hi sweetheart," I smiled at her. "You are not asleep yet?""Not yet but in a few minutes. I wanted to see you briefly before going to bed, but I see," she turned to look at Christine, then continued. "I see that you have company.""Actually I was just about to leave," Christine said with an awkward smile on her face. "I will see you tomorrow. Have a lovely night's rest.She waved at me shortly and walked out."Okay?" Giselle raised a brow at me."What?""I see you were having a good time with the mother of your child," she said with a grin."Mother of my child yes," I agreed. "That is a good way to put it.""Uh-Hun," she smiled teasingly, and I shook my head at her."Don't even start with me now," I said lightly. "We were just talking, nothing more.""Alright, I believe you," she raised her hands in mid-air and dropped them back. Deep
- Marcus -I took a deep breath and closed the door after Christine walked in. I turned to look at her, waiting for her to say something but she remained quiet."Well?" I had to push."Well uh..." She started, entwining her fingers together like a teenager. "It's been a long while, Marcus.""It is," I agreed while I watched to explain why she came here."I know it's been years but I didn't realize a day like this would come where we would be together again. I've missed you greatly and I am very glad to have you and Kira together as a family.""Yeah," I nodded uncertainly. "It is great to be reunited with my daughter.'"I mean, who would have thought you'd want her?""What are you saying?" I frowned with disapproval. "Why wouldn't I want my child? You were the one who insisted you couldn't stay with Meredith and left with my child. You went to the point of getting her out of my reach. I have always wanted my child.""You are making it look like my fault," she said tearfully. "I was jus
- King Marcus -The party went down well and I for the very first time, I sat together with Kira on the royal table. Christine was snuggling in and sat on the next sit, leaving no room for Giselle who did not drag the seat with her.Usually, Giselle would always seat beside me since there was no Luna to take that place but today, Kira and her mother had it to themselves.Kira did not look very comfortable so I allowed the presence of her mother close to her, hoping it would keep her calm which seeemed to help.Cleopatra and Xavier also came to the party. I did not have a say about that though, I mean, I couldn't have asked that they did not come.But this was a family reunion and I would have loved it with just my daughters and Alpha Franklin who is legally my in-law and because he also helped me prepare the party.There was something about Franklin's sister and son that did not settle with me but because I could not tell what it was, I had no right to think otherwise. I had to only t
- King Marcus -I ordered a costly dress for Kira and this would be one of the few things I will do for her starting from this celebration party now that I know she is my child."Thank you so much for hosting this event for me," I told Franklin and he nodded."It's no bother," he said. "You have always hosted me and my visitors as well so it's no bother. Besides, whatever I do for you is just like I am doing for Giselle so that's fine.""This means a lot to me," I said. "I wasn't prepared though because I did not expect to have two lovely daughters, all grown up and amazing. I think myself the lucky one.""I am happy for you."I wasn't sure about what life would be like now but the most important thing is Kira has forgiven me and I can have rights over her now. Right to love and have a relationship.I thought about my late wife, Giselle's mother, and wondered what it would be like if she were here today. Would I have been happily rejoicing upon meeting Kira and taking her in?I could
- Kira -When they walked out, I turned to look at Mother and saw a funny expression on her face."What's that look on your face?" I asked with a raised brow and she smiled it away."I mean, I was just fascinated about the scene I just witnessed," she said."Oh really? Tell me about it," I said with feigned ignorance."Isn't it amazing seeing you get back with your father and how easily you forgave him?" She commented and I could not believe her."You know what? I shouldn't be surprised, knowing fully well your plan was to separate me from him forever," I shot at her, and she frowned."Hey! I did not say anything wrong here. I was just commenting about your little reunion. Nothing harmful."Then her face fell and I stopped."What again?" I asked. She did not answer, looking in a direction so I followed her eyes and turned back to the door to see Cleopatra.How does she always manage to creep up unnoticed?"So there's a little reunion," she said casually and sipped the drink she came i