I could have sworn the moon goddess was mocking me. Because an hour earlier, my biggest worry had been finishing my chores before the ceremony. Funny how fate loves to play with the hearts of the innocent."Giselle!" Kira yanked me up from the floor. "You have to see this! The crown prince is choosing his Luna today!"Her eyes sparkled with the same warmth they had when she'd first found me crying in the garden five years ago. She'd been my protector ever since, the crown princess who treated a lowly maid like a sister."Kira, no." I tried to pull away. "You know omegas aren't allowed at royal gatherings."She rolled her eyes, "You're with me. No one will dare say anything to the crown princess of the witch realm.""But I’m an orphan and …. ""Just stay close to me!" She dragged me deeper into the crowd, pushing past other nobles."Kira, please," I whispered. "I shouldn't be here."She wasn't listening, she dragged me further, making me miss my steps , and I lost my grip on her hand.
My whole world stopped at those words. Pregnant."Are you sure?" My voice came out as a whisper.The doctor nodded. "About two weeks along."I wrapped my arms around my stomach in fear. What was I going to do? An unmarried, omega, pregnant for the Prince. I'd be thrown out of the palace."I need some air," I said, pushing myself up from the bed."Giselle, wait!" Martha caught my arm. "You're still weak."But I couldn't wait. I had to tell Xavier. Maybe when I tell him about the baby, he'd remember what we shared and take responsibility.Though I was scared but I needed to do this. After several attempts of trying to speak with him privately. I finally found him in the training grounds. My hands shook as I approached."Your Highness," I called softly. "Please I want to speak with you privately?"He didn't even look at me. "Whatever you want to say, say it here."I swallowed hard. "Please, it's important."He finally turned, his eyes cold. "Make it quick. I have matters to attend to.
"Princess! Wake up!"My eyes snapped open. Sunlight streamed through silk curtains, and I was lying in... a massive bed?"Princess, you'll be late for breakfast. Your father is waiting."Father? I sat up slowly, my head spinning. The last thing I remembered was Xavier's sword, the burning pain, and then... darkness.But I wasn't dead. And this wasn't the servants' quarters.I looked around the luxurious chamber, my hands trembling as I touched the silk nightgown I was wearing. A large mirror across the room showed my reflection - the same red hair, violet eyes, and porcelain skin. But instead of a maid's uniform, I was dressed like... royalty?"Princess?" I turned toward the voice and nearly fell off the bed. There, wearing a maid's uniform and looking concerned, was Kira."Are you alright, Your Highness?" She asked, bowing slightly. "You look pale."I couldn't breathe. Kira, the woman who had helped murder me , was now my maid? What kind of twisted game was this?"I'm... fine," I ma
"I don't want to talk about it," I said, turning away from Franklin's questioning gaze."As you wish." His voice was gentle. "But remember, Princess, not everything is as it seems in this palace."I couldn't sleep that night, his words echoing in my head. The next morning, Kira came in to do her morning duty, I watched her closely. Every time she bowed or called me "Princess," my skin crawled."Kira," I called out as she was making my bed. "I need you to clean all the curtains in my wing. Today.""But Princess, that would take—""Did I ask for your opinion?"She flinched at my tone. "No, Your Highness."Day after day, I gave her more impossible tasks. Clean every window in the east wing. Polish all the silver. Reorganize the entire library."Princess," she finally broke like I expected , "have I offended you somehow?"I smiled coldly. "Why would you think that?" She bowed and continued what I instructed her to do.After about an hour, i was on my way to check if Kira had finished her
- Giselle -I paused in shock; a light gasp would have escaped my lips if it had not gotten stuck in my throat.Is Franklin, the father of my mate in the past now my mate? Now I am sure the Moon goddess is definitely playing games with me.This cannot be happening. I held Franklin's gaze, too shaken to look around the shocked faces of the people around to the reveal of my mate bond.I wanted to be away from here, and not behold their stares. I wished I could freeze them all so I could run away. Just as I thought of that, the word escaped my lips, and everyone froze.I blinked my eyes rapidly and looked around. Did everyone really freeze? Did I...?No time to ask questions. I quickly walked away. But whatever power it was, and whoever it came from, must not have lasted long because I heard their murmurings not long after I left the gathering.I walked faster. Somebody was coming after me."Giselle," I heard the unmistakable voice of Franklin behind me. Why the hell wouldn't he let me a
- Gissele -I walked slowly into the building, taking details of the structures while I tried to take my mind off certain things. Like Franklin walking straight into my dreams. Those eyes bore into my skin knowingly."Princess," Someone called and I frowned immediately, recognising the voice. Xaxier walked up to me with a straight look and strong resolve on his face."Good morning to you," he said."Morning," I managed to answer. There was nothing good about him, nor in the morning he speaks of. Coming from such a despicable man, I will not take it."I realised we have not had a moment to ourselves ever since I have been here," he said and I couldn't help but scoff."What will you possibly need a moment for?" I wanted to know. He chuckled, tugging on his shirt with a feeling of importance and puffed up with pride."It might have escaped you, but you are betrothed to me," he announced as if I was just knowing for the first time. My eyes dilated in mock shock."Oh really? Yet you have a
- Xavier -I cannot understand why my father will act out of will where I am concerned. This is my life and I should be allowed to make a decision for myself. Princess or not, Kira was who I wanted. He had no right to dictate for me, and I told him so.He barely looked at me above his nose from his study table."Father, you are not saying anything," I said after waiting for a moment, and he still did not say anything."You are an ingrate," will be his words when he finally spoke. My mouth fell lightly."Why will you say such words to me?" I asked him, slightly annoyed."You think you are something because you are the crowned prince but you forget that I am first your father, the Alpha King. I have built up the pack to where it is today with all the power and authority we have, not you. So every respect and honour you get is because of me. But what did you do? Slap me in the face by choosing that lowly maid over the prestigious princess you are betrothed to. Have you thought for a seco
- Marcus -"King Marcus," Franklin called in his usual deep and calm voice. "You said you wanted to discuss something very important with me.""So did I," I affirmed, adjusting on my seat and he looked at me, his face serious and expectant. "It's about my daughter and your son. I know you don't need anyone to tell you what's happened between the two.""Of course, and once again, I apologise for that," he said and I waved it away."That's fine. Although your son did act out of place but considering my daughter's feelings, I still feel the marriage can work."I noticed Franklin's face fell when I said that but the expression did not last long on his face."May I ask why?" He asked. "Did...did the princess tell you that?"I observed him closely, wondering why he seemed unhappy that I wanted Giselle to get back with his son."My daughter doesn't have to tell me," I told him. "I know her well and even though she tries to act as if all is well, I know deep down she is sad. You will agree wi
- Franklin -"Where is my wife?" I asked the question I dreaded."Oh, she is fine," the doctor said. "She and the babies are fine.""Thank goodne..." I let out a deep breath and sucked it back in almost immediately as his words registered in my head. "What did you just say?"He smiled."She had twins," he told me. "A boy and a girl."I couldn't believe my ears and did not know how to react to the news either."You mean, I'm having two babies at once?" I asked, holding out two fingers.I don't know why that sounded funny to the doctor but he chuckled and nodded."In fact, you already have them," he said. I brushed him out of the way into the room and found them. My two gems and lovely wife are on the bed.Words failed me. And for the first time in a very long while, tears gathered in my eyes."Oh my goodness, oh my goodness," I muttered as I moved slowly towards them. Giselle was awake but looked weak. In spite of that, she managed a small smile.I held her hand hands gently and kissed
- Cleopatra -I turned round abruptly, surprised to see him."Franklin?" I called as if I was not sure of his existence in flesh and blood. "What are you doing here? I thought we agreed you were going to wait in your chambers so the doctors can work this out?""I changed my mind," he said. "I will stay here till the end of it.""No you will not," I said hastily before I could stop myself then sighed. "I mean, you shouldn't. We've discussed this already. It's not nice for you to go through this. I will stand in for you. You will only be agitated waiting here.""Don't worry about that, sister," he said with a straight face. "I am strong enough to wait. It is cowardice to leave my wife in this condition and stay in my room. Let me worry about her. That might not even be the problem. I am staying strong where her strength fails her.""But it's not even the issue of staying strong or not," I chuckled. "It's making an environment where these guys can work freely and save her. If you stand o
- Franklin -There was a strange look on the doctor's face, not exactly strange because I could already tell what he was going to tell me was not a good news."Her pregnancy was induced," he told me. "We'd have to take out the baby to save her life.""Her life?" I was able to pick. "And what of the child?"The doctor went mute and looked away. I held his shoulder and shook him."Tell me," I half yelled."I'm afraid we might lose it," he said slowly. I let him go, my heart shredding to pieces. I cannot lose my child. No. Not after all these years. Not again."And my wife? What is the probability of her being saved?" I asked, and again, I feared his response."If I'm to be sincere with you, it's a fifty," he said. "But, I will assure you that we will do our best."I ran my hand through my hair and took deep breaths in a bit to calm myself. I was not thinking straight and I felt extremely cold.King Markus was there with me, looking and watching. There wasn't one amongst us who could com
- Jason -I instinctively placed a hand on my stomach, waiting to feel any slight pain."Did you poison me?" I asked him. The seriousness dropped off his face, and he laughed. Morgan laughed long and hard, doubling over. He hit his fist on the table while he laughed, and I watched him, dumbfounded.He finally struggled to control the laughter with a wheezing sound, tears in his eyes."Gosh, you need to see the look on your face," he said. "I did not poison you, silly."I let out a deep breath I had not realized that I was holding."Now, why will I want to kill you and choose to do it by poisoning your food?" He asked, taking a cup of water from the table. He gulped it down and shook his head at me. "You looked so shaken. Are you that scared of death? For someone like you, poisoning is a disgraceful way to die, for even if I wanted to kill you, not that way."He laughed again."Morgan, that was not funny," I had to say."You think? You looked like a wrung chicken. You looked like your
- Jason -I had just finished speaking with Alpha Sheka about very important matters of the pack and was about to leave when he called me back."That reminds me," he said. "I need to invite you to a banquet tonight. I was going to tell you earlier but I skipped. Also because of the matters at hand you know.""I understand alpha," I replied empathetically. "Where'd we get the invitation from now?""Oh it's not far," he said with a suspicious movement of his lips that could pass for a smile. "It's from my son.""Oh, that's interest...what!?" I was saying before my brain registered what I heard."Yes, my son, Morgan. He arranged the banquet specially made for me and you," he repeated and I still could not believe my ears."Did he say he wanted me at the banquet?" I still asked because I could not make sense out of it yet."He made a special request for you to be there. You are surprised, aren't you? Well, I am too. I hope you don't mind the banquet. I've always thought you two were...uh,
- Jason -It took me a few seconds after I returned to my room, to notice someone was there. I turned around with a displeased frown on my face."What are you doing here, Morgan?" I asked him."It's Prince Morgan but yeah, I think I can let that slide since it's you and also seeing that you'd always stress me with having to correct you all the time," he said with a grimace."What are you doing in my room?" I sighed."I'm here to talk," he replied with a shrug. "Can't I talk to you?""What are we talking about and why in my room? Official meetings are not held in the bedroom.""That's it," he snapped his fingers. "Because this is not an official business.""I cannot tell when we began to have an unofficial relationship," I stated and he laughed."Maybe if you were paying attention more, you'd remember that I did mention it.""I don't want to be acquainted with you, Morgan," I said to his face. "I am fine the way we are.""Come on Jason, don't make this hard," he said, relaxing his back
- Cleopatra -I eyed the greedy man and scoffed."What do you mean by this is not enough? Do you want four generations' wealth before you're okay?" I scowled at him."My lady, you know what it caused us to be able to cover up for you. And I have other people to settle and keep their mouths shut. You will have to remit more."I sighed tiredly."Okay fine. I am going to give you some more but that will be it. You must not complain nor ask me for anything after that. And you must not try to contact me because we can never be seen together. Do you understand?""Clearly," he replied."Good."I was able to handle him without anyone finding out about it, and I hoped it remained that way. Anna has promised to keep her mouth shut and only say what was agreed on if Giselle finds her, but I couldn't trust her.How could I hold her to her words? I looked into her eyes and saw the fear. Such a person can be easily l
- Giselle -I was very eager for the reports, but I was disappointed."There were no prints," the experts told me. "The old lady poisoned herself to death.""You're trying to tell me she took her own life?" I asked for clarity even though I heard them. I felt like asking them why, but knew they wouldn't have an answer to that.The midwife was well, according to the reports given to me hours before I went to see her, and then she poisoned herself?This doesn't make any sense to me."There has to be a reason why this happened," I said thoughtfully as I paced around the room. "Why did she take her life? What made her do it?"I lifted my head, and Franklin was barely paying any attention to me."What do you think about this?" I asked, and he looked at me."I don't know," he said with a shrug."You don't think she'd take her life for no reason, right? What must have made her do it? Did someone threa
- Giselle -"What?" I asked, my eyes following the direction of his hand. There was something at the edge of the bed, and I walked towards it.An old woman, obviously the midwife, was lying dead on the ground in the corner."Oh gracious heavens," I muttered, placing a hand on my chest. One of the guards moved close and picked up a bottle lying beside her."Looks like a poison," he said, lifting the bottle to his face and observing it. She had foam all over her mouth, and her body looked fresh like she could have died just a few minutes before we arrived.How did we not even notice all this while? And I looked all over the room. There were no signs of death anywhere.Gosh, I was this close to getting her, I lamented."Looks like murder," Another commented, what was going through my mind."What do we do now?" They asked me after moments of staring at the cold body beneath.