Annabel sat at her desk, flipping through the pages of an old history book. The room was silent except for the occasional rustle of paper and the faint ticking of the clock on the wall. The grand estate felt more like a gilded prison than a home, but she moved through each day with quiet composure, never betraying the frustration boiling within her.She had learned long ago that outward defiance only led to harsher punishment. So, she played the part of the obedient daughter just like her father wanted. During lessons, she was respectful, answering every question with precision and completing her assignments diligently. Her tutors praised her focus, oblivious to the storm she was carrying under the unbothered and calm outward appearance.“Let me know if you need anything in preparations for your final exams. It’s in just a few weeks so we need to cover everywhere you haven’t or have any difficulty understanding,” Mrs. Son, her tutor, said as they wrapped up the day’s lesson.She only
Bernard walked into the school courtyard the next morning, his usual confident stride replaced by a slower and heavier one. His uniform was crisp and neatly pressed as always but it did little to hide the bruises peeking out from his collar and the cut along his lower lip. He had tried to conceal it, but there was only so much he could do.“Did something happen? You are a little bit quiet today,” one of his lackeys came to sit with him during the break session but he just shook his head in return“Do you think Annabel will come back? Her father is bent on locking her in the house till exam period,” the lackey continued and he was met with another silence.Taking the hint that Bernard was not in the mood to discuss anything, he stood up with a final word. “Seeing your state, you must have really let her go. I hope you’ve treated yourself and you can claim your freedom from now on.”Bernard only sighed as he watched him leave. He was right after all, because if it were before, he would
The dimly lit safe house was filled with the scent of burning wood slowly melting the cold. Lucas leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as he studied the list in front of him. Each name was carefully selected. They were the elders who harbored resentment toward Oliver, those who had never truly accepted him as the rightful heir, and would do anything to stop. Lisa sat across from him with her gaze fixed on the fire crackling in the stone fireplace."We've made significant progress," Lucas murmured, tapping his fingers against the wooden table. "Most of the elders on this list have voiced their discontent with Oliver before. Now, with a little push, they'll officially stand against him."Lisa picked up the list and scanned the names, her lips pressing into a thin line. "How many have pledged loyalty? Do you think we have a chance? The Alpha had lived all years creating a safe space and clearing the way for Oliver.""Enough to tip the scales," Lucas replied smoothly. "But not a
The cafes buzzed with laughter and conversation as members of the pack gathered for their usual evening relaxation. Lisa strode in confidently, expecting to be greeted as usual, but the atmosphere became tensed the moment she stepped inside.Hushed whispers were flying around and several people took their eyes off her as she walked deeper into the café. The air around everyone was stiff as they all tried to run out of her way or avoid her glances.She had expected such reactions and although she felt bad at first, her ambition was greater than their reactions so she had no reason to bow to their scorn. With a perfect frown, she approached the table where her closest friends were.Frowning, she approached her usual table where her closest friends Carly, Amara, Jacob, and Flora sat with their drinks. It was their usual table so she had no trouble finding them. As she approached, they all exchanged glances, and their body language turned cold.“Hey buddies!” her voice pierced through the
Annabel stepped through the school gates, her bag slung over one shoulder, her head held high. Whispers went on behind her as students turned to steal glances. She ignored them all like she had always done. It had been weeks since anyone had seen her, and the curiosity in their eyes was glaring, to the point of popping out. However, she didn’t care and she wasn’t here to satisfy their gossip.Oliver was already waiting by her locker when she arrived. His eyes glued on hers with a mix of relief and frustration flashing across his face.“You’re finally back,” he said, stepping closer. “Are you okay?”Annabel took a breath. She knew this conversation was coming. She had been preparing for it since she first learned she would be returning to school. “I’m fine.”Oliver frowned. “Are you sure? Because being locked up in that house for weeks doesn’t sound like ‘fine’ to me.”Annabel opened her locker, placing her books inside. “I’m dealing with it. That’s not too much to handle. It’s not the
Everything remained the same as the days rolled by. None of them changed or made any effort to do anything since Annabel had been bent on her own ways and rules. Even her friends bore the brunt of her decisions. She had been heartless and ruthless towards everybody. She couldn’t get the brutal stabs of both her past self and her mother off her mind.Every time she looked at Oliver, the hatred multiplied, and even though she had been trying to convince herself that it was never his fault, she still couldn’t see him in a different light.“Did you know that Oliver threatened the school principal before your father released you? You didn’t know that, right?” Dela suddenly spat at her as she sat down under a shade in the deep part of the school, trying to clear her headHer eyes opened slowly at the revelation and she turned to look at her and Courtney standing in front of her. They had given her the space she requested ever since she resumed but they couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t b
Lisa sat on the plush couch in Lucas’s study, her fingers tapping against the wooden armrest. Her day had been filled with a series of dramas and she decided to spend some time with him since she had cut her friends off with her choice.She watched him pour himself a drink; his movements were slow and filled with several thoughts; it was looking like he didn’t want to acknowledge her presence or was not in a hurry to address the reason why she was there.“You’re distracted. Are you trying to ignore my presence right now?” Her voice was sharp, accusing bluntly.Lucas smirked but didn’t turn to face her. “I’m always thinking, Lisa. That’s what leaders do. Do you think I got here without thinking everything over and over?”She pushed herself up, crossing the room with measured steps. “You’re thinking about Annabel. You’ve changed ever since the day she proposed that bullshit to you. Do you think I can’t tell that you are considering the offer? Are you going to throw me out now that she’s
A heavy silence filled the entire pack as the strange illness spread like wildfire across all families. Wolves of all ranks were falling sick. Even the strong warriors, elderly council members, down to the young pups were all affected. The healers were overwhelmed, their herbs and treatments barely making a difference. The scent of sickness filled everywhere, mixing with the ever-growing tension that already existed in the pack’s palace due to the ascension issue.The elders gathered in the great hall; their expressions were grim as they waited for the Alpha, who was in another meeting with the healers to get reports about how the treatments were going. Murmurs of discontent rose among them, and their voices were laced with blame from different angles and origins.“This is a sign from the Moon Goddess,” Elder Cedric said, slamming his cane against the wooden floor. “The Alpha has held onto the throne for too long! Tradition demands that the next heir ascend, and yet we wait while the
Oliver walked through the school’s tennis court, the crisp autumn air swirling around him as the golden leaves crunched beneath his boots. The day had been uneventful so far, but he could sense something different. It felt like something would happen before the end of the day but he wasn’t sure what it would be.He had a match session with Ali so they could unwind after hours of reading. They were about to turn to the dorm when the security informed him that he has a visitor. He realized that he had put his phone on silent and didn’t check it even after the match.Lisa had called him multiple times and had to wait for him after confirming that he was in the school’s premises.“Lisa.” He ran to where she was. She sat near the fountain, her long, auburn hair catching the sunlight, making it glow like fire. Her face was softer than he remembered, as if she had shed the weight of resentment she once carried. As he approached, she turned, meeting his gaze with hesitation.Her fingers were
Oliver walked into his quarters with a heavy sigh, running his fingers through his disheveled hair. The tension from the royal court was still going through his system, but as soon as his eyes landed on Ali, standing near the grand window with his mouth agape, a small chuckle escaped him.“A bug will get into your mouth at this rate,” he said as he closed the distance between themAli turned abruptly at the sound, his dark brown eyes wide with fascination. "Dude, this place is insane!" he exclaimed, taking slow steps forward as he turned in a full circle. "I thought werewolf packs lived in ancient castles or wild forests, but this—this looks like a damn elite town!"Oliver smirked. "I told you, we’re not as different as humans think. We adapt, just like you do. You were the one reading meaning into it."Ali’s gaze swept over the towering bookshelves, the sleek leather couches, and the delicately woven tapestries depicting battles and victories from centuries past. The walls were adorn
Lucas settled in his seat and the meeting commenced. The elders whispered amongst themselves for a few minutes before elder Lionel stood to his feet and turned to face the Alpha where he was sitting with the Luna and his two princes.“My Alpha. Given the fact that Prince Oliver is yet to bring home his mate and the pack is going through such a hard time, we decided to have a meeting that lasted all night long and came to a conclusion that will benefit both the pack and the royal house” Everyone paid rapt attention to the elder talking as they anticipated what the conclusion was. Some of the elders sitting were also whispering inaudible things but not loud enough to tamper with the meeting’s focus.The elder cleared his throat and continued. “We need the Alpha to step down as soon as possible due to tradition. Also, he need to take care of his health, he had been on the throne for years and it’s time for him to take the deserved rest. Prince Oliver who should succeed him seems to be h
“Hey brother!” the girl slid the door with a full smile on her face, only to be met with Ali’s horrified faceShe was puzzled at first and thought she was in the wrong room until Gary signaled to her from the side of the room.“What are you doing here? Was my brother the friend you have here?” she asked, pointing from Ali to Gary, who slowly nodded.“You are his sister?” Ali managed to ask after blinking several times for his brain to get focusedShe nodded slowly, clutching the bag in her hand tightly. The moment was so awkward that none of them knew how to behave. Gary released a cough to ease the tension and Oliver took it up.“Now that you know, we can have a proper introduction. There’s no reason to be shocked for a very long time,” Oliver remarked and Ali made way for her to come in properly, muttering a low “sorry” since he had stood there, preventing her from entering the room.“You know them?” Gary chuckled, grabbing the bag she handed over to him.She had stopped to shop for
Due to some internal issues, the school decided to move the examinations up by three weeks so the students would be able to focus, catch up, and thoroughly prepare for the finals. However, they knew the school’s excuse was not a genuine one; some big parents have called the shot due to the recent dramas that kept happening.“You really had to make me find you. All you had to do was persuade her. I guess it would be difficult too, considering how bitter the bond that ties you is.” The double-colored eyeballs girl came up to Oliver, who was finalizing the study material he wanted to give Gary later in the day.The words were sudden and unclear. Also, prior to that conversation, they didn’t have any form of relationship. Although she had always been an odd one to Oliver. There was something about her that he couldn’t fathom. Her aura was different from others and it felt like she had so much to hide.“I don’t quite follow. What do you mean?” he raised his head and she chuckled as she fol
“You cannot enter. He’s currently sleeping.” The guard stretched his hands to stop her, but she delivered a loud slap on his face.Lisa’s chest rose and heaved as she fumed in anger. “If you don’t want me to break this door down, open it at once,” her voice rang through the hall as she protestedThe frustrated guard stood on his words and insisted that he had received instructions to not allow anyone in, so there was little to what he could do concerning her situation.“Where is there so much noise? Let her in,” the voice commanded from inside and the guard opened the door finallyLisa’s huge strides swallowed the distance between them within seconds. She was pissed up to the point where her sweat was dripping. Throwing her phone on the table, she asked, “What is this? How are you going to explain this?”He only glanced at it from afar, but he knew what the content was. “So, what’s the ruckus about?” his voice unapologeticHer lips parted in shock. “What do you mean by the ruckus? Is
They all ran to the field where Lucas had decorated in advance with the help of the underlings he had there. Everywhere was looking bubbly and beautiful as he waited for her with a bouquet of flowers and ring. The students were oblivious to the fact that he was Oliver’s brother, aside from Bernard and some of his men.“He’s really doing too much. I thought this was a joke. It’s getting a little bit serious,” Bernard remarked, anger turning his face red“I don’t even understand what’s going on anymore. This drama is too much,” one of Bernard’s men sighedThe girls got there around the same time Oliver showed up. He was beside Bernard and was watching what was about to unfold.“Are you not going to stop it?” Bernard asked, glancing at him“Why should I ruin it? There is another perfect place to ruin it better,” he smirkedAt the sight of Annabel, Lucas rushed to where he was and gave her the bouquet. “Happy birthday, my queen” and kissed her foreheadThe other students melted with his g
Oliver made sure to study every day with Gary and Ali as the exams approached. They tried everything from online sessions to the physical meetings and Gary caught up faster since he was an intelligent student.During the weekend, Oliver paid Nyssa a visit at the pack. He was ushered in by the old woman, who has been battling a cold for a while.“I have always known you to be healthy. It’s weird seeing you on the sick bed like this, considering how you have all the cure on your herbal shelf,” he remarked as he saw her on the wooden bedNyssa only chuckled a bit before the cough took over. “No one is above death or sickness. Also, I am only human and not some god.”“Do you feel better or should I arrange for you to be taken to the pack’s hospital?” he proposed and her hand flew up in the air. “Don’t! Even if I’ll die, it will be in this place,” she counteredHe had no choice but to drop it since she wasn’t interested. He settled on the chair he drew out for himself and faced the frail w
For hours, Ali didn’t wake up from his unconsciousness. Gary also fell unconscious when he realized what had happened. He had tried running away in horror but as Oliver ran after him, fear took over and he fainted.Luckily, he had shifted to his human form before the nurse came to the rooftop with other nurses. Rye couldn’t keep his laughter as he watched the drama he had caused unfold.“You think this is funny?” Oliver lashed out at him but he kept snorting“Why? Should I have watched him jump over the rooftop? You hesitate for what I don’t understand. If I didn’t take over, he could have really died. Also, I was able to do that because you allowed it!”“I understand that but why do you keep laughing in such a serious situation? Both of them fainted,” I argued and Rye released another round of laughter“You would have done more than that if it were you. How do you explain a human shifting into something enormous in front of you? Let them have their moment of fear. Don’t worry, they w