HERAAs I paced back and forth in my room, a smug smile played across my lips. The anticipation of what could possibly be happening to Serafina at the hands of the council members was almost too much for me to bear. I essentially wanted to watch the council members break her spirit and witness her downfall with my own eyes. However, I wasn't allowed to witness. My mind raced with a myriad of possible scenarios that could have occurred during the council session. Had they subjected Serafina to mental, physical, or emotional abuse? Had they humiliated her in front of the court and made her feel utterly powerless? I couldn't help but revel in the excitement of the unknown.The satisfaction of seeing the princess suffer would be almost too sweet to bear, too bad I was denied to see the end–product of my plan manifest. Maybe the council members had even gone as far as taking her as a hostage to hold over King Zahir's head, for killing Timothee's son. Or maybe King Zahir himself would thr
HERANervous anticipation bubbled within me as I approached the grand entrance to King Zahir's chambers. With a deep breath, I raised my hand and knocked on the door, the sound ringing out and echoing down the long corridor."Your Majesty," I called out, my voice wavering only slightly as I waited for a response. "It is I, Hera. May I humbly request an audience with you?"A thick, daunting silence hung in the air as I waited, my heart pounding against my chest like a drum. The weight of the moment was intense, and I fought to steady my nerves as I heard heavy footsteps approaching the door. After a tense moment, the door creaked open slowly, revealing a towering guard on the other side. His armor jingled slightly as he bowed his head respectfully, allowing me entry into the chambers. "My lady," he intoned, his voice deep and solemn. "The King has granted your request. Please enter."With a determined breath, I stepped forward, walking past the guard and entering into the chambers. K
CHAPTER THIRTY–FOURHERA As I opened my wardrobe to grab a cloth, I debated for a second about whether or not I should even go through with this plan with Pam. Would she be caught? She was just a slave girl after all and was practically brainless; though this was a simple task, these girls have a way of messing things up. After deliberating for a moment though, I decided to give it a try and grabbed the cloth.I carefully laid it out over my bed, making sure it was spread out evenly with no creases. There was no way I was going to let this dirty slave girl sleep directly on my bed and ruin them with her stench"Lay on it," I ordered, pointing to the cloth. Pam wordlessly climbed onto the bed. I watched as she climbed onto the makeshift bed, making sure to properly position herself on the cloth. I made my way over to my linen closet and sifted through my bedding until I found a spare blanket sheet. I didn't want her touching any of my pillows or blankets. So with precision, I wrappe
CHAPTER THIRTY–FIVESERAFINAThe traumatic experience I had earlier that day plagued me throughout the night, leaving me in tears and unable to shake off the memory of what had happened. My mind replayed the scenes where Zahir had stripped me naked in front of the council of jeering men and forced me to dance for their amusement. The worst part was when he then made me pleasure him, treating me like a mere object for sexual relief. I felt violated and powerless, lost in the despair of the moment. It was as if my body was no longer my own, but something to be used and abused by others. The light from the moon shone brightly in our dimly lit quarters, casting shadows on the cold, hard floors where I lay. The silence of the room only made my sobs louder, the only sound inhabiting the space where we slept. The stillness of the night amplified my agony as I struggled with my inner demons. I grappled with the constant barrage of self-blame, wondering if I should have agreed to be
ZAHIRI woke up the next day feeling an intense sense of bitterness and agitation. The previous day's meeting with the council had left an incredibly sour taste in my mouth that stubbornly refused to dissipate. As I sat at the edge of my bed, my mind was consumed with a whirlwind of emotions - frustration, anger, and betrayal all churning within me.I couldn't shake the feeling that those wolves, particularly Lord Timothee, had no respect for me or my position as their king. It was true that I had done so much to improve their lives - from liberating them from the tyranny of the humans to ensuring their safety and wellbeing at every turn. But despite all of that, they seemed unwilling to acknowledge the respect that was due to me.For a moment, my thoughts turned to the possibility of a coup—that perhaps these wolves were plotting behind my back, eager to overthrow me and seize control of the throne. The only thing that held them back was likely the fact that they knew I had been the
SERAFINA As I labored in the scorching sun on the slave fields, I couldn't help but replay the events of yesterday's council meeting over and over again in my head.My encounter with Zahir and the council members had continued to fill me with utter humiliation and degradation. Each time the memory resurfaced, it cut into me like a sharpened blade, immersing me in a whirlpool of emotions that I couldn't escape.The soil felt gritty and dry as I dug my hands into the earth, wrestling with the stubborn weeds that refused to budge. The beads of sweat that trickled down my back and forehead only added to the discomfort. But as challenging as the physical labor was, it paled in comparison to the mental anguish I was experiencing.As I became lost in my own thoughts, a group of slave girls passed by, their giggles and chatter audible from a distance. I longed to join them, but the intensity of my inner turmoil had rendered me unable to interact with anyone. My sense of alienation deepened
SERAFINA. As I made my way towards the grand kitchen, the tantalizing aroma of freshly cooked meals wafted through my nostrils. I couldn't help but feel a little intimidated as I approached the large door that led to the bustling kitchen. Nevertheless, I gathered my courage and stepped inside, only to find a group of maids already busy preparing ingredients for the day's feast. As soon as they noticed me, their eyes widened in recognition and warm smiles formed on their faces. I felt a bit relieved as they welcomed me with open arms. "Hello, Serafina," one of them said. "What brings you here to the kitchen today?" I forced a small smile and said, "Just wanted to check if everything was running smoothly, that's all." "Oh, we're doing just fine, thank you," another maid chimed in, carrying a giant pot filled with steaming soup. "But, uh, this is a chef-only zone. Are you sure you're supposed to be here?" I looked down at the basket of harvested vegetables in my hand and then back
SERAFINAAs I slowly made my way into King Zahir's chambers, a sense of fear and anxiety washed over me. My heart pounded loudly in my chest, and I felt as if I was going to collapse at any moment. I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes, knowing that the look in them would make me tremble even more.The tray of food felt heavy and cumbersome in my hands, causing my palms to sweat profusely. As I approached the table, I tried to steady my breathing and focus on the task at hand. However, the piercing stare of the king made me feel exposed, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of vulnerability wash over me.My legs trembled as I stood before him, the weight of the tray feeling heavier with every passing moment. Memories of the humiliation and pain that I had endured at his hands flooded my mind, making me feel like I was going to collapse under the weight of it all."Do I have to tell you to drop the meal before you do so, or will you continue standing there like a daft statue?" Zahir
Yes, the book has come to and end! God, it fills me with so much joy to have finally give. This book a befitting ending☺️ I would like to say a big thank you to my readers for putting up with me and still sticking around to read my book. Special shout outs readers with the names Pab, Debra LeBaron Mixer and Chanlin Davies! Y’all are the real MVPs who also almost made me cry whenever I didn’t update and I read your comments, lol. Although I understand that it all came from a place of love for my book and I am so grateful! Thank you so much for coming on this journey with Zahir and Serafina! Now, I know some commonly asked questions. Will there be bonus chapters? Well, I’m thinking about but chances are…I won’t, lol because it will be a huge spoiler for the next book. Yes, the heard right, the next book!☺️In case you haven’t noticed, our dearest human and Lycan couple are having the first hybrid! You did not also forget the prophecy too, did you? Haha😅Well, writing the next book s
ZAHIR It was still dusk and the first morning light was yet to appear. The silence was deafening and I was sure that if I screamed, my voice was going to ring around the whole of Lycaronia. I was relieved. So relieved that everyone was able to escape. I had watched Serafina leave with King Zach and Dahlia in the carriage, not calming down until I got information that they were out of the boundaries. It was just me. Even Steven had left with the others. I had ridden him with the duty of taking care of everything until my return, if it ever happened. But I knew I had to end this once and for all so I stayed back and waited for the Prince to arrive. He was going to meet the shock of his life. I mounted my horse and rode to the eastern part of the boundary as King Zach instructed. According to him, he was going to be coming in through that direction. So I waited on my horse, rage boiling through me when I heard the sound of heavy hooves beating and drawing close to the b
ZAHIR. Several men were stationed in different parts of the border. In less than an hour, the human army had filled the whole place, coming with horses, chariots and carriages. They all helped in informing people. They went from house to house, warning the people about an impending attack while the others helped in the evacuation. Some families left with their vehicles while some were helped into carriages and transported to different Kingdoms. It was safer that way. This went on for several hours nonstop but this didn't eradicate the panic that filled my soul. I remained restless, making enquiries on how things were going on functional posts. I was assured not to worry by Steven. "Where are they being evacuated to though?" Steven asked when he returned from his inspector to give me details of what was happening. "They would have to stay in the Kingdoms for the main time. It's the only option we have because Aries is probably on his way here. We can't risk him finding
ZAHIR. It had to be a dream of some sorts because I didn't believe it was King Zach standing before us. A bigger dream that Serafina was carrying my child. If anyone told me two surprises couldn't coexist, I could easily debunk their statement with these scenarios happening before me. As soon as he set eyes on Serafina, his lips trembled as tears filled his eyes. He moved towards her, his arms spread out to wrap her in a hug but I stretched out my hand, stopping him as he made a move. "How dare you?" I asked, my voice in a low rumble. "What are you doing here? How did you get into my Kingdom?" My eyes narrowed on him. He raised both of his hands in surrender, his expression giving nothing away. "I mean no harm. I am here with good intentions." "Then state it." I gritted out, ignoring Serafina who stood beside me, moving from one side to the other. "I am here to warn you about something," He continued, then his eyes darted towards Serafina. "I am sure she know
SERAFINA. A gust of wind blew my hair forwards and I forced it back behind my ear before taking in my environment. I was standing on a pier. I recognised this immediately. Turning, I began to walk out of the pier towards the sandy beaches. I was finally back to my mother and this time, I wanted to remain here for good. I wanted to be with my mother. I was done going through all the pain and suffering and didn't want to go back anymore. Being here, right where my mother was, mattered the most to me and I was glad to finally make my way back here. I caught sight of her. She was still dressed in the same clothing. She was gathering sticks to make a fire and when she caught sight of me coming towards her, they dropped to the ground and she straightened. I stopped before her with a teary smile on my face and she pulled me into a hug. We remained in silence until she pulled away and wiped the tears off my cheek. "I want to remain here with you, mother. I don't want to go bac
ZAHIR. For days, I stayed locked up in my room, drinking my life away and inflicting pain on her when I had the chance to. It was equivalent to inflicting pain on myself but I was unable to stop myself, unable to stop this pain in my chest. Hell, I was far more miserable than she was, beating myself up each time I inflicted pain on her. But there was nothing I could do about it. I was long gone. Things had gone awry in a space of a few days since finding her rummaging my things. I had sent her out in anger and so much hurt. Hell, I had expected her to say something to pacify me at least. Something she really meant and not some stupid fucking apology. Then I thought she had escaped from the palace, unable to take more from me. It had put me through so much panic. I knew how I had searched for her while beating myself up for putting her through a lot only for her to coke running back to me herself. My anger had returned, only intensifying when I caught a whiff of an all too famili
HERA. Thunk! Sweat dropped from my brows as I kept cutting wood with a heavy ax. Well, it wasn't so heavy but with how I had moved from a position where maids were at my beck and call, this was a fucking downgrade. But that didn't really matter right now. Not even the splinter that pierced through the other surface of my skin. I pulled it out and continued to split wood, sweat pouring down my back. Once I was done, I gathered the wood in my arm and took it to the furnace where I usually cooked, dropping them all to the floor and looking down at my palm. With every passing day, it was a countdown to the tone Zahir would tire of Serafina and come back to me. Very soon, I was going to be out of this terrible place and in his arms once again. Hours ago, I'd been returning from the river after going to fetch water for my hut. It was really far away and I was so exhausted and had been on the verge of breaking down and bursting into tears. I had cursed Serafina in my mind, wish
SERAFINA. "Remain still and I'll let you go. I mean no harm." A distinct familiar voice said from behind me. I nodded and the hold was released. Turning, it was Prince Aries standing before me. My eyes widened in surprise and I blinked to be sure I wasn't seeing an apparition. I had seen a lot of that recently and I wasn't sure what to believe anymore. He smiled. "Yes, it's me. I know you don't believe but it's me, Sera, it’s Aries." "I know who you are," I blinked, taking a few steps back and wondering if I should be happy about this development or if I should feel uncomfortable. However, I couldn’t hide my shock. It’s the second time Aries has found his way into Lycaronia somehow. “How are you here?” In one move, he was standing before me, his eyes light with cheer. Then he pulled me into a tight hug, wrapping his arms around me and filling me with his warmth. I was just taking all of this in when he pulled slightly away and cupped my cheeks. His lips brushed mine in a so
SERAFINA. In a space of one day, things had fallen apart. So bad that I couldn't even pick up the pieces. I'd be thrown out of his chambers thereby, reducing me from the post of his mistress to a mere slave once again. I had returned to my room in a teary mess, trying not to think of how he had looked at me with utter disdain, like he couldn't stand me. How had he gone from being all over me to barely wanting me to be in his presence? As much as I tried not to think too much about it, I was greatly hurt by it. I couldn't stand the gossip from the maids either. Whenever I passed by a group, all they did was glance at each other, their gazes telling tales I didn't need to hear verbally. A few of them were bold enough to whisper when I passed by. I couldn't even snap at them to stop. That respect had been stripped off like it was never even there. I had lost favor in the sight of the king, they said. He must have gotten tired of me because I couldn't satisfy his needs, all