I woke up hearing weird noises.I slowly opened my eyes, feeling my bed shake slightly. I turned my head to the side, and immediately knew where the movements and noise was coming from.“Titus?” I called. He shook his head and mumbled something in his sleep.“Hey,” I touched his arm, but he continued mumbling incomprehensible words.I looked at my window and saw that the sun had already peeked through the horizons of the sky. The sky was starting to become light blue but the breeze of the wind remained cold.I looked at my mate again and saw how sweat was trickling down his forehead as he continued flinching and moving around the bed, as if he was battling with something in his dream.“Titus, hey.” I shook him again.“N-No… don’t.” He mumbled, more comprehensive now.I touched his cheek and tapped him slightly. “Titus, you’re dreaming. Wake up.”I shook him once again, but he suddenly gripped my hand, holding it so tightly.“D-Don’t go, Mom.” My heart raced when his voice cracked, an
I inhaled the cool breeze of the wind as I stood beside the huge tree in front of the Omega House.I woke up with the sun already on my face, and with a note on my lamp that said: ‘Good morning, my love. I’ll be missing you again for the entire day. I have to go to work. I don’t want to disturb your sleep so I just wrote this note. I’ll see you this afternoon. Let’s have lunch together. See you.’My heart was still thumping real fast when a knock suddenly came on my door. Before I could open it, Maddie came in with a bright greeting. She noticed I was reading something, and my heart thumped for an entirely different reason that time. I immediately created an alibi and acted as if it was nothing.The situation made my mind go back to my thoughts last night. When can I talk about Titus and I freely? I’m not his secret, am I?I leaned away from the tree and put the broomstick I was holding earlier. I had just finished sweeping the yard. I insisted on doing that when the Head Matron d
“Hi.” I almost flinched when I was pecked with a kiss on my lips as I sat in the middle of the lunch hall. It wasn’t my first time coming here, but it’s probably my first time eating in this place. Most probably eating with Titus in public, alone. “H-hey,” I greeted back when he rounded towards the chair in front of me. I looked around consciously, my mind still in a haze after what happened in the clinic. “Are you okay?” He asked, seeing me look around. “Are… you sure you want to eat lunch here?” I asked when people were also starting to arrive. I couldn’t help thinking about what Ben said. “Yeah,” Titus nodded casually, already looking at the menu in front of the counter while we sat. “Why not?” I just stared at him. All the things I heard were blocked. An epiphany came in my head. Had I just been overthinking about his thoughts about keeping me a secret? About us? About all of these? Am I just getting in too much in my head? Why would I suspect Ben of something? He
“Happy birthday, Your Majesty. Enjoy your meal.” “Thank you,” Titus replied as soon as the chef walked away from our table that had the nicest smelling food I’ve ever smelled. “I can’t believe you managed to sneak this one out on me.” Titus shook his head in amusement. Sebastian, who was in front of him around this long table, grinned. “Well, am I not an awesome wingman?” He held the wine glass beside his porcelain plate. “Cheers to another year for our King, to Vamos, to defeating those stupid rogues, and to me. Cheers!” Shake to the head and chuckles came in before the clanging of the wine glasses came at Sebastian’s toast. “To Sebastian,” Titus added, smiling, before he sipped on his wine. I smiled at the both of them grinning at each other. It was so nice of Sebastian to prepare a celebration for his bestfriend’s birthday. And it was so nice seeing how genuine their relationship is. Sebastian led us to the Andreyev mansion. I have been to this place once, and I have din
The cold wind breezed through us, but ironically, it felt like warm caresses for us in the midst of the cold memories the day brought.I looked at Titus who was beside me as we trekked along the other side of the woods of Vamos. On the other side of the cliff I once discovered was a grassy slope. And that was what he said where his mom was.“She used to bring me here all the time,” Titus said, breaking the silence between us as he held my hand while walking.He turned to me. “This was where most of my happy memories with her happened.” I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to say since he told me his birthday was the same day his mother died.I just walked closer towards him and hugged his arm.“I know you want to ask many things.” He wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed the side of my head.“So ask away.”I sighed to myself.We all finished with our lunch celebration with huge smiles and talks of doing it again soon. It may have been our first time hanging out, but it
“There was an attack in the pack that night. Mother and Father were fighting prior to that, because of me. She wanted to celebrate my birthday with him, but he never showed up until Mom decided to clean up the food she prepared for us. He eventually arrived later, smelling like alcohol. He was drunk, he could barely walk straight.”“My mother tucked me to bed that night, and that was the first time I saw her crying in front of me. She apologized to me over and over again for failing to have a nice birthday celebration. It was also the first time I saw them fight. It was always just them and I could hear them from afar. But that day, they talked back and forth, and that’s when I knew about their issue. That Father held on to Grandfather’s words about their matebond being a curse, and that Mom was sick of him not trusting their connection when it has already been years since they found out they were mates.”He paused for a while again and arranged the flowers he must have brought with h
”I'm sorry if I couldn’t tell you much about my life before.”I hugged his arm. ”It’s alright. I understand.”Titus smiled and held my hand tighter. We had just gotten down from the hill after staying there for a couple of hours. We talked more and shared more about our lives before we met each other. I told him about my Mom, how she was also gone early; and my Dad, who was nothing but good and loving. He once again apologized for all the consequences his predecessors have caused that damaged lives–for taking away my Dad from me. But I told him it wasn’t his fault. It was never his fault. And my anger at him when we first met was misplaced.I also told him more about my life when I lost my Dad. My life with Nathan and the De Lunas, and the life I had when I was taken into the House and met Maddie. Our conversation went on from our backgrounds until the moment we met. It was funny looking back now, how we kind of held so much back and just basically showed anger to each other. Whe
“... woken up yet. Run another one on that boy and we’ll start with this subject.”I shifted on my side, feeling so heavy and nauseous.“This boy is not going to survive another one. It’s clear he isn’t the right subject for this. We’re going to throw away some mixtures on him.””Just do it!” I flinched when someone screamed.My eyes were still closed, but my lids pushed further down when his voice echoed around the room. It rang loudly in my eyes.”I don’t care if he dies! We will not touch her until the master says so.””As you wish.”The voices around stopped, but the ringing in my head continued. I groaned, feeling so heavy--exhausted. I could barely move myself.“Primary subject has woken up.”I attempted opening my eyes. But it feels like I’m lifting a heavy weight metal and I was being pulled back to unconsciousness. I couldn’t seem to do it.”That’s good. That indicates she is indeed perfect for this. Almost everyone died with that mixture.”Mixture? Died at what?Confused, I
“Make sure you’re right about this…” Nate exhaled loudly and mumbled, “the king is gonna kill me.” I sighed and nodded. “I’m sorry.” I looked at the empty entrance way of the dungeon. “And thank you for allowing me to be here. I swear I won’t be long.”Nate just nodded. Since I told him I wanted to see Lana and told him my reason, something changed in his demeanor and in his eyes. There was a bit of hope and something I couldn’t quite decipher that flashed through them but immediately went away. “I’ll look for you in the mansion after 15 minutes. If you’re not there, I’ll come back here and get you out.” I nodded. I know he’s just being careful.”Okay.” Nate once again nodded at me before he urged me to go. I turned my back on him and started walking inside the cold dungeon. The last time I was here, I was terrified. I saw probably the worst state any wolf could be in. Samuel. The last news I heard about him was he was taken to a facility to get checked. I don’t know his whereabout
“What are you thinking?”My hand that was immobile on his toned stomach flinched when he suddenly broke the peaceful silence around us. Titus looked down on me as I laid on his arm. He looked magnificent as his dark eyes reflected the sliver of sunlight that went through the glass window. It was still afternoon and the bright sun had finally braved its way through the thick clouds that had been darkening the skies of Vamos these past few days.“Hmm,” I exhaled a breath and looked down on his bare chest. My hand traced its toned skin. He caught my hand and intertwined our fingers. “Tell me,” he urged, knowing I was holding something back. The buzzing in my head never stopped since my headaches came. I realized that this also happened to me inside the laboratory just when I was starting to hear some other wolves. My head was still hurting a little, but I know now they were effects of hearing somebody else’s wolf.And I feel like there is a certain connection to that to what has been
”She was mad that all their plans were not followed. They said that Lady Lana dropped everything she had before she was betrothed to the king, even leaving her mate, but then you suddenly came into the picture… and that was the reason why she decided to betray the king… all of us.”I just listened silently at Maddie as she explained to me why Lana was arrested after seeing her the day I was abducted. I just continued staring at the large clearing of the pack before I faced Maddie who looked quite a bit down as she narrated to me what happened during the arrest.”Do you believe it?” Her light green eyes went to me. “Do you believe that she is the traitor?”Hesitation immediately flashed in those kind, green eyes before they looked down again. “I… I am in no position to disagree with the king and the Council’s judgment.”I stared at my best friend as she basically did not answer my question. “Tell me the truth, Maddie. Do you believe the accusations against Lana Wintour?” I asked agai
“Can you please tell us, what happened when you were conscious in that lab, Miss Ringwood?” One Councilor wasted no time and asked. I looked at all of them, seeing how serious everyone was. I have always felt kind of intimidated by this group of men and women, but there was something more somber and sinister in their presence today. The kidnapping and the discovery of what those rogues were up to really changed it for them.”When I…” I paused, feeling my heart in my throat. I don’t even know what I’m so nervous about.”When I became conscious, I was able to speak to one of the leading rogues inside that lab,” I said.”What’s his name? Do we know him?” I shook my head as an answer to another one of the Council people’s questions. “I didn’t get his name. But he was tagged as the leader inside that laboratory. Though, I heard him say they had a master. And I personally recognized him from years ago.” I added, wanting to be very transparent and honest about this. It’s the only way I kno
As soon as we stepped outside the Andreyev mansion, I immediately felt how different the atmosphere was. Vamos has always had this somewhat filled atmosphere around. Hundreds of years of history has already etched itself in this very land, and it housed the greatest lycan kings in history so I understand. Its atmosphere could sometimes be light, most of the time, it could be quite heavy. But this heavy was different. I looked around the wide clearing and saw many Warriors walking around. All in complete uniform and armed. Most were on lines and some were speaking as if meeting for some important mission one last time before they went out and did it. The scarce normal packmates of Vamos were merely passing by and getting back inside their homes. No one was there to walk around leisurely like how most usually do. Everyone was busy. But it wasn’t the typically busy grounds of Vamos. It was buzzing with tension. With an eager force to attack. With men in uniforms occupying the grounds
“I’ll be back before the sun gets down.””Okay,”He leaned in to give me a kiss. But what I thought was going to be a peck became a deep smooch as Titus pulled my neck towards him. I held on to his shirt as he devoured me. And I couldn’t complain as I loved everything he’s been doing to me. “Don’t go out without me, Sebastian or Nathan, okay?”“Okay,” I nodded, knowing he’d need my assurance that I will be safe. I don’t want to defy him with that again. It has been our issue, and something grave has already happened to me. It’s the least I could do to help him and to be safe. “I love you. I’ll see you later.” He once again gave me another kiss before he started walking out of the room. I watched him in his usual black pants and black long-sleeves. He said he was going to have numerous meetings today for all the investigations they’ve been doing after getting some evidence in the rogue lab they got me from.“I love you, too,” I said and waved back at him before he closed the door to
“W-why…” was all I could say as I gaped. Maddie just looked down, sensing how confused and worried I got. I closed my mouth and turned to the window once again. Titus was no longer there. Sebastian was left and he was commanding the now divided troops into who-knows-where. “You’ve basically been in a coma for the last month, Rina. And according to Sir Ben, it was least likely you could recover. We could barely feel you. When the king heard that, the troop mission to annihilate every rogue in our lands intensified. King Titus could no longer be stopped, even when it was already hurting some civilians.”My figure just froze there. Not knowing what to feel about it.The last conversation I had with Titus, he opened up about his worst fears and experiences. He had finally opened up to me and I also did to him. So, I know this must have been very hard for him. I couldn’t imagine what must be going on inside his head as he thought he was going to lose me. It was his worst fear. It was e
“… wait. She will recover. She’s strong.”I stirred, hearing voices around me.”She has too many rogue venom in her. I’m just afraid…”The voice sounded so troubled. Like they were crying. But I couldn’t recognize who’s voice it was.“You did well, Maddie. You were just in time. It’s not your fault.”Sobs echoed around the room as the girl started crying. I couldn’t move myself nor do anything. That went on for how many more minutes until the voices faded away. It’s either they went away, or I just started drifting away again.Sounds came back to my senses when I heard a loud beeping sound. It wasn’t exactly irritating to the ears, but I was bothered by what it was. I started opening my eyes.Bright light immediately greeted my vision. I was looking at a cream ceiling—my vision was still quite blurry. I blinked, adjusting to the light.I slowly looked over my shoulder, following the beeping sound that had me woken up. It was a machine that monitored my breathing and heart rate. I imme
My vision became hazy as exhaustion got to me. Sweat dripped on my forehead. I took huge breaths. I watched everyone outside—seeing Maddie getting taken away by the doctor beside her out of the bed as a fight broke inside. A constant ringing blared on my ears. I could see the people outside fighting with another group. I could make out how messy everything has become. But I couldn’t hear them—I couldn’t hear anything besides the sharp ringing in my ears and the compliant whimpers from other wolves inside my head. What’s happening? ”M-Maddie...¦” I mumbled as I saw her getting hauled up by the doctor who had been constantly beside her. After taking out the last needle in her body, he immediately ran out and took her away. Away from me. Where I couldn’t see what they’d do to her. ”M-Maddie...¦” My voice broke as tears fell hard on my cheeks. Whatever remaining strength was left in me was given to the act of just watching everything unfold. The doctors inside the lab, includ