[Xavier’s POV] She had been sleeping for about five hours now and once in a while, she stirred in her sleep and muttered just a single word: “Mum". In more ways than one, she reminded me of myself as that was how I used to think about my mum while growing up, believing in my heart that things would have been better for me if she was around. I never even got to know my mother, but at least, she did, but unlike me, she had had to suffer for this long simply because she was formed out of adultery. Hearing the sound of footsteps, I stood up, eager to hear the news from the Pack’s doctor, George Harvey who was Jeffrey’s dad as well. “Are you done with conducting the tests? Is she going to be all right?” I inquired. “Yes, she will be. Her blood and sugar level are just low, and she has been experiencing several levels of pain and fatigue in the last few days. She will be fine once she takes the potion I made and it would be good if she eats and rests well for the next one week, so as to
[Layla’s POV] I walked behind Jeffrey, Xavier’s friend, who had brought me back to the Palace from the clinic. A lot of things had been happening around me, but I paid no attention to anything other than the fact that I was indeed mated to Xavier. “What kind of trickery is this?” I muttered. “Are you okay?” Jeffrey asked, jarring me from my thoughts. I gave a nervous chuckle. “Of course, I am. I was just thinking about something,” I responded. “May I ask what it is that you are thinking of?” he inquired. “It’s nothing,” I replied. He knocked on the gate and upon confirming his identity, the gate was opened and we both went inside. “Can’t believe I have to return back to the prison,” I said, heaving a sigh. “Trust me, things will get better. Just hang in there,” he said. I smiled. “Thanks. You’re not a bad person,” I noted. “You got that right. Before I take you back to your cell, I wanted to ask if you feel much better now,” he said. I nodded my head in the affirmative. “I
[Xavier’s POV] The atmosphere felt awkward. I had sent for Jeffrey and although he had shown up, neither of us had the humility to speak to the other first. We just sat separately in the living room, each on different sofas without saying a word. I knew he was mad at me and he had every reason to, but I had so much ego and I couldn’t just swallow my pride and tell him how sorry I was. “Your lunch is here,” a guard announced, finally breaking the silence. I nodded my head, gesturing for the food to be brought in. Two young Palace maids served the food on the dining table, and the Royal taster tasted the food before they finally left. I stood up and went to the dining table, then drew out my chair after which I sat down. “Aren’t you going to eat?” I asked, speaking to him for the first time since that day. He flashed me a cold glance. “I’m not hungry,” he retorted, but his stomach rumbled just in that moment. I chuckled. “Nature sure has a way of exposing you. I know you’re mad a
[Layla’s POV] I knew when he had come in, and it had surprised me to see him in a cell as filthy as this one. Before, I would have been excited to see him, but the memories of what happened yesterday evening kept flashing through my mind, which kept making me angry and overshadowed the other emotions I felt for him. He had been standing and looking over the cell with a disgusted look on his face for a while. If he hated it so much, why then had he come? I was so angry today and I couldn’t hold it in for much longer. “What are you doing here?” I asked, after standing up and staying right behind him with my arms crossed. He turned around to look at me, and I could see a look of surprise written on his face as he observed me for a while. “Why do you seem so annoyed? Who did something to offend you?” he asked, after several seconds of silence. I scoffed. “Funny that you’d ask a question like that when you know very well that the person who offended me is standing right in front of me
[Xavier’s POV] I was mad at myself for showing even the littlest affection for Layla even though two days had already passed. She had made me feel stupid and I was glad that I had made the right decision about what to do with her at the end of it all, but was it really her fault though? Only one person was to be blamed for all these, and that was no other person than the Moon Goddess, who for some reason, had thought it wise to mate me with a family member of the same people who had murdered my father in cold blood. Because of that sudden realisation, I had felt weak for a while and had let myself show care for someone I should hate. Everyday since I found out about Layla being the mate I hadn’t found for two years, seeing as I had turned eighteen two years ago, I always muttered curses at the goddess for being so selfish, manipulative and unreasonable. It was as though she just did whatever she pleased sometimes because she had control over our lives, not minding whether it would a
[Layla’s POV] I couldn’t believe that he had played me, and like a fool, I had gone ahead to reveal what I knew about Oakwood without even pausing to think for a moment why he had been asking me numerous questions about that place. “What do you mean?” he asked me when I blurted out just how I was feeling at the moment. “I have an annoying stepbrother who shares the same age as me, and a younger one who I’m older than with a few years. I bet they are also as innocent as I am, but yet, you want to kill them all on sight. Does it even make sense to you? You’re not going to hold a trial and how are you even sure they’re responsible for the death of the late Alpha? What proof do you have other than the words of your guards? Is there anyone who saw them killing the late Alpha? I’m curious, how did it even come to be that my family was suddenly accused of murdering your father? How?” I asked, quizzically. He didn’t say anything for a while. All he did was throw a menacing look my way, and
[Xavier’s POV] After yesterday’s incident, I had been left in a thoughtful stage. Several thoughts kept running through my mind, and I was wondering if I was sure that I wasn’t making a mistake. Neither of Layla’s family members had been judged unfairly in the past which was a motive for them to kill my father, and the letters we found stashed in my father’s pockets confirmed exchange of correspondence between two people who were plotting to have my father killed. I had never really taken it into consideration, but it was highly likely that Layla’s family hadn’t planned the whole thing on their own. As it was stated in the diary, someone her brother worked for had asked him to do something that wasn’t in line with his work, and even though he had initially refused, he had ended up accepting the offer in order to foot the bills of his pregnant wife. If that was truly the case, I needed to find out whoever must have contacted him as that person was also guilty of treason, and I was als
[Layla’s POV] The night was fast approaching, and yet again, he had refused to show up even though four days had passed since we last saw each other. I heaved a sigh, staring even further out of the prison bars, wondering what was going on in the outside world. Apparently, my family members hadn’t been caught yet. If they had, the guards would have used it as a means to ridicule me. Everyday, my heart ached with fear that they might be found and a bullet might be fired through their heads. I was terribly scared and worried for them. Irrespective of how mean and wicked they had been to me, they were still the same people I had known all my life and I didn’t wish anything bad to befall them. That was the same reason I had been trying so hard to unravel the mystery. What made my brother get entangled in the Alpha's murder? Who was the mastermind behind it all? I could hardly recall the puzzle, and I had been racking my brain in order to solve it since the last four days, but my efforts
[Author’s POV]After unlocking the door, Alpha Xavier stepped into the chamber. It was his father’s, and since he died, he had not for once entered inside for any reason whatsoever, mostly because he was ashamed to face him after being unable to find out the person who had caused his untimely death.Everything looked the same, except that dust now made it almost impossible to breathe while in there. He reminisced about a whole lot of things as he ran his eyes over all his possessions which still remained in the chamber. He should have moved in there, but he hadn’t had the heart to.Alpha Xavier took a long look at the picture frame hanging on the wall. It was of him and his father the very day he had transformed for the first time. His father looked so proud of him, and he had been extremely happy because he made his father proud.He drew out the seat next to the table, and sat there staring into the mirror and seeing his father’s reflection staring back at him. His bows and arrows hu
“Almost a year ago, I overheard a conversation between my late uncle and the former Beta here. My uncle had found out that he had been stealing and coveting the people’s wealth, precious stones and our natural resources. Before his trip to the Dark Moon Pack, he said that if the Beta doesn’t relinquish all that he had stolen and make a public apology, as well as step down from his position, he was going to expose him in the most disgraceful manner when he came back, unknown to me that the Beta was aware that I had been eavesdropping on their conversation.“He then called me privately and twisted my mind by telling me he would make me the next Alpha King if only I kept quiet. I was stupid and greedy, so I agreed, not knowing that the price for my silence was my uncle’s life. When he died, I confronted him but he manipulated me into keeping quiet and doing all other dirty jobs for him. I stand here today to apologise for all that I did, ranging from not exposing the truth earlier on, bu
[Xavier’s POV]“Your... your highness, it is not what you think,” Veronica said, falling on her knees as she shook her head in negativity.The whole world had seen her shame.“It is exactly what I think it is, you good-for-nothing deceiver. I should have known better than to trust you. You were never pregnant after all,” I roared at her angrily.“I’m sorry. I never meant to do something like this. It was my father that...”“May the goddess strike you down if my name comes out of your miserable mouth again,” her father said, as he stood up and marched to where we were, which brought about more surprised looks from the audience.“Dad!” she exclaimed, as though she had been betrayed.“Veronica!” he yelled back. “All this is your fault, and you know it. If only you had slept with him like I commanded you to, you would have truly gotten pregnant for him since you were in your fertility period, but instead, you chickened out and I had to come up with another solution,” he revealed.“Wait. H
[Layla’s POV]I clipped the diamond earrings to my ears and stared at my reflection in the mirror. I looked really elegant, dressed in a long white dress which shone with precious stones that had been affixed onto it, with silver heels embracing my feet.I rubbed my wedding band with a smile on my face as I stood up, then began to walk out of the bedroom. Michaela, who had been trying to finish up her fries looked up, and her mouth was instantly agape as soon as she saw me.“You look so beautiful, your highness,” she said, not hiding the admiration she had for me.“Thank you, Michaela. I should look beautiful, don’t you think? Today is the day that all my enemies will be brought to their knees,” I said, then gave a small chuckle.“Yes, your highness. I am so glad this is finally drawing to an end, and you and the Alpha can be happy forever without anyone ruining your joy,” she stated.I gave a small smile. “You’re right. Peace and happiness are the two things I have always desired in
[Layla’s POV]I stepped into the room where Jeffrey was being treated as that was where the guard I had seen positioned at Xavier’s bedroom door said he was.He was sitting on a stool next to Jeffrey’s bed. Jeffrey still hadn’t opened his eyes, and he hadn’t even moved a single finger. Xavier looked deep in thoughts and he hadn’t even noticed my presence yet.“Hey, baby,” I said, giving him a kiss on the cheek, to notify him of my presence.He jolted from his thoughts and looked surprised on seeing me. He yawned tiredly and rubbed his eyes with his fingers.“My love, I didn’t realise you came in,” he said.“I noticed. Tell me, what’s on your mind?” I asked, drawing a seat to sit beside him.“I’m just lost in thoughts. I can’t help but wonder why someone like him would do such a thing,” he said.“Who are you talking about?” I inquired.“It’s not something you should be worried about, my love,” he said, forcing a smile on.“Well, I want to know what it is that has kept you away from me
“What’s that supposed to mean? Answer me, come on, answer me!” I yelled at him.“Easy, dear cousin. Shouting isn’t going to change the fact that what’s done is done. In fact, if you yell at me one more time, I may choose to withhold all the information I have to give,” Roman said, sitting up on the ground which he had just been sprawled on a few minutes ago.“Leave us alone,” I said to the onlookers which consisted of the guards and the other prisoners in Roman’s cell.They all began to leave, including Kyle. “Not you, Kyle,” I said, and he stayed back while the rest left. Apparently, the prison guards were going to keep the inmates in another cell.“Want a little private chitchat with your cousin?” Roman asked, with a wink.I crouched, then taking him by surprise, grabbed him by the neck and began to strangle him while he tried to resist as he almost choked to death.“Listen to me, and listen real good. It will cost me nothing to end your life right here and now. The only one who is
[Xavier’s POV]I placed the box which Layla had given me carefully in the safe which always stayed hidden in my closet and looked like just a mere suitcase. No one would guess that some of my important stuff were actually there, and once I closed the door to my closet, I took out the button which had been in my pocket all day and examined it carefully once again.“Kyle. Kyle is back,” I said to myself, hearing the “welcome” greetings which they were saying to him as he hadn’t been in the Palace for a few weeks due to the special mission I had sent him on.I hurried out of my bedroom immediately and slammed the door behind me. The two guards positioned at the door started to follow me, but I told them to stop immediately.“I have a private matter to attend to. Wait for me here,” I said, and hastily left where they were.I was still walking with long strides when I bumped into Lady Millicent who was coming from the opposite direction.“Greetings, Alpha King Xavier. I’m sorry for bumping
[Layla’s POV]I kissed him back.It was the first time since we had fought, and kissing him now made me realise how much I missed him, how much I loved him... how much I craved his touch.The kiss deepened as his tongue slipped into my mouth, hands gripping me like I was the last piece of oxygen in the world... My body reacted to it before my mind did. His grip tightened on me as I pulled him closer, feeling him grind against me from behind.Our kiss continued until we were both out of breath, panting for more. My hand roamed over his chest, slowly working its way lower. He groaned, leaning down so our foreheads met. He stared into my eyes, his own full of want and need. I moved forward again, my lips brushing against his once, twice, three times before he leaned his head down so our lips met once more, his hand still on my back.This time, it was different. It was soft at first, but quickly turned hard as a moan left his lips when I pressed down further. My lips moved against his, an
[Xavier’s POV]I had been humiliated before everyone, and although I knew I could never feel the pain Layla had felt while losing our child, this was way out of bounds. I was angry, furious and never in my life had I felt so insulted.What exactly had I said that was wrong for her to hit me in the presence of my own people? That had automatically reduced the respect they possibly had for me.“She believes she has you wrapped around her fingers, that’s why she does whatever she likes these days. She knows you love her and you don’t see her wrongs,” Veronica said, while the women and servants present still looked shocked with their eyes and mouths wide open.“Everyone, calm down. Things like this happen. You can all go back to your respective homes and businesses,” I told them, brushing off what Veronica had said.“Yes, your highness,” they chorused.I turned my back around and began to leave hastily to avoid facing further embarrassment, while Veronica hurried after me, trying to pick