Time passed by quickly, and we were allowed to rest when the sun started setting. I looked around the area, memories of when I was younger playing around my head as my eyes darted towards areas I used to go to.The blacksmith’s stall where Nathan and I used to hang around was still there, and instead of the old and blackened walls it had that I remembered, it was now bigger and well developed. People came in and out of it, unlike before that barely no one goes there.My eyes darted towards the line of houses that led to the small plaza circle we had. It was near our house and the forest. I smiled, remembering how we used to play all the time in that place. It was also there that I became friends with Nate when he was being bullied by some other kids.The huge trees, the farmlands and the colorful flowers were also my favorite part of Eden. Dad used to collect them and create a small garden in our small yard. He said Mom loved it when he planted flowers near our house.I inhaled deepl
“Let’s all take a seat, shall we?”Not one of us took a seat when Nancy said that. Everyone watched Titus at the head of the table, waiting for him to move first, before everyone else followed.I sat, tensed, as I avoided looking at him. My eyes went to Nancy and she still had a polite but huge smile on her face, seemingly excited about the fact that the king was with us, in her home.“I hope you don’t mind all the cuisines we’ve prepared for the night, King Titus. And I apologize we really weren’t able to prepare much.” She started initiating the conversation. “We really didn’t expect you’d be coming since we were told you were too busy to come.”“I understand. You don’t need to bother yourself too much, Mrs. Salvador. It was my decision to come here unannounced,” Titus said, sounding all formal yet calm.I looked his way, but he also turned to me at the same time, making our eyes meet.I quickly avoided his gazes, the image of him holding my cheek and neck while he devoured my li
“Sabrina my dear—oh, Your Majesty!”Our staring at each other stopped when someone suddenly came inside the De Luna’s dining area. And when I saw who it was, bowing at the presence of Titus in the house, I smiled brightly.“Nana Naia,” I breathed.The elderly woman turned to me, and that very familiar huge and warm smile quickly plastered on her face. “Rina, my darling.”I stood up from my seat and walked towards her, getting inside her now wide open arms. “I missed you,” I said against her neck when she wrapped her soft and warm arms around my body. She rubbed my back, reminding me of all the comfortable things in my childhood.“My dear, I missed you more.”I hugged her tighter and then let go. I beamed. Nana held my chin and surveyed my face.“Beautiful, just like your mother.” I held her hand. “Always have been beautiful, with that brave and good heart.”“It’s all because of you,” I said. Naia shook her head and raised a finger at me.“I bet it wasn’t me nor anyone else when you
“Do you wish to go to your house later?”My head turned to Julian, one of the trainees and our squadron leader, who was beside me when he asked that.First day of official training will be just a couple of minutes from now. The sun had just risen and everyone was already up on their feet, all dressed up and ready for the start of our training as a new set of the kingdom’s warriors. The cold wind breezed through us, but instead of making me feel cold, it woke me up and gave me a much calmer feeling.“Yeah,” I smiled a bit. “Later when we finish. I guess we can tour around,” I said casually, despite feeling strongly about going there.I have been really excited to see my home again, but after what happened last night—that last conversation about the kidnapping with Titus, I don’t know why I suddenly feel nervous about going.“I’d like to see the rest of Eden,” Julian said, oblivious of what I was feeling about the subject. “I heard they have great gardens and farmlands.”I nodded. “Th
I sighed, not knowing what was happening to him.We had just smiled for the first time at each other last night, hadn’t we? “That was a bloody fight.”I looked up at Nathan and didn’t make a move. I made myself comfortable on the ground for a while, not wanting to receive his hand for some particular reason. Seeing I wasn’t willing to move just yet, he crossed his arms again, but that strict and Alpha presence was exchanged to a smirk and a teasing glint in his eyes. I groaned when I tried scratching my arm and it hurt. A lot.“Were you all trying to kill us on our first day?” I grimaced and tried standing up. Nathan stretched his hand again, taking mine as he guided me up.“Killing, no. Training your reflexes and instinctual responses, yes.” I just rolled my eyes at him, but I do understand what he’s trying to do.“How was it?” I asked more seriously this time. I want to know how well we did in general. He said first assessment was important for all of them to know which trainin
I sat on the couch, staring at the lampshade that I turned on the moment I came inside the living room a couple of minutes ago.Or hours. I don’t know.The moment I ran away, the first thing that came to mind when I thought of a safe place was our house. My Dad and mine’s house.I intended to come here under different circumstances. Under circumstances that I wasn’t feeling this bad about some other things that have nothing to do with Dad nor my past life.I wanted to come here, dedicating all my mind and heart for whatever I’d feel or experience once I come back after years. But here I am, coming here on a whim. When I stepped inside the house, I thought I was going to be scared, being the first time to get back here after everything. That I’d remember every vivid memory of the last day I was here. But all I remember were the happy memories I had here with my Dad.After all that’s happened, I didn’t even expect I’d think of this house as a ‘safe’ place anymore. But as soon as I cam
Silence filled our space as he just continued cleaning the wound in my fingers.I stared at the dark raven strands that went loose on his forehead, almost covering the thick brows he had framing his gorgeous eyes.He was kneeling on the ground but he was still basically face to face with me with how tall he was when I was sitting on the sofa. His whole attention was just down, on my hands that he was meticulously cleaning.I sighed a deep breath and once again spoke.“Why are you here, Titus?” With the mention of his name, his movements paused for a while.His pair of orbs went to me, and even when I’ve just seen them not a minute ago, I was once again surprised at how they looked in this kind of lighting.He stared at me as I waited for him to speak. And for a moment I thought he was going to ignore me again, but as he leaned down to take the wrapper on the first aid kit, he spoke.“You didn’t clean your wound. I saw you running opposite of the quarters,” he said as he started wrappi
I looked at him, wide-eyed and gaping, not knowing what to say.Silence stretched around us as we both continued staring at each other.Titus’ eyes usually had gold specs when we both talked about our matebond. I recognize that as his wolf taking part of his thinking and his urges about our relationship. But now, it was just him and those drowning dark hazel orbs of his.They were watching me, as if being very careful and observant of what I might react and how he’d deal with it. But all I could do was gape in shock. I don’t even know whether I’ve already took that in. He was putting the blame on himself for what happened to me and to the rest of the people that his forefathers have wronged. He was apologizing for something he wasn’t directly responsible for. He was ignoring me because he was guilty.And he wasn’t supposed to have a mate as a curse to their blood, but he has me. Still not able to say anything, I just blinked up at him. After a short while, Titus’ hand fell from my