[Layla’s POV]As soon as he placed his fingers on the zip of my dress, I held his hand to stop him from moving forward.“What’s wrong?” he asked in a drowsy tone that sounded like music to my ears.“Nothing. I’m just shy, I guess,” I said, unable to meet his eyes.I heard him chuckle lightly, then he slowly brushed his index finger across my cheek, nuzzling his nose against mine.“You don’t have to be shy around me. I won’t hurt you,” he said.“You won’t?” I asked, slowly looking up to meet his eyes.“I won’t. I promise. Besides, it’s not like it’s the first time we’ll be making love. I’m sure you’ve not forgotten our time in the woods,” he said, bringing back passionate memories I tried to always keep behind me.I chuckled, then slowly reached out to him, running my fingers along his carved beards, wondering how a man could be so beautifully created. He lifted his finger from my cheeks and trailed it along my heart-shaped lips.I knew he wanted to kiss me again, but he was hesitant.
[Xavier’s POV] The elders were gathered in the throne room and I sat on the throne, overseeing the meeting. It was like everyday since I had become the Alpha of the Pack about two months ago, we usually held meetings and I had no idea why because there was nothing for us to even discuss at times. Was it that they just liked seeing my face or what? I knew they were having a conversation, but it was unimportant and mostly dad jokes which no one except their generation found funny. I let my mind wander away from their conversation, and let it settle on the one thing that was troubling me. Why had Layla just requested to move out of my chambers just like that? I knew when something was wrong with her, and I could tell that something was definitely going on. How was it possible for us to spend such a passionate night together only for her to wake up in the morning and say she didn’t want to be around me anymore? I know that wasn’t what she said, but it felt like what she had meant. Had
[Layla’s POV]I was making an embroidery on a red silk napkin I had just finished sewing. The design was done with gold yarn and I hummed a song while working on it. I was almost done with it, and I was hoping to give it to Xavier whenever he came back.Earlier today, Xavier had sent some maids with yarns, threads, fabrics, needle, knitting pin and some interesting romance novels to me. It was really heart-warming, but I knew why he was doing that.He wanted to keep caging me here and he probably thought he could do that if he sent me what I had requested for, but it wasn’t going to work. I wanted to find out the entire truth which I knew he was never going to tell me, and no amount of gifts could make me back off, but why was I here smiling sheepishly as I made something special for him?“Layla, can we come in?” I heard Elsa’s tiny voice ask in a loud voice from outside.We? Why was she standing outside in the first place, and who exactly was she with? I hadn’t even be able to detect
[Xavier’s POV]The meeting was done and over with, and I had finished all that I had to do for today. All that was on my mind was just to head to my chambers and have a conversation with Layla, so that we could talk about what she had been talking about earlier in the morning.The guards paid homage by greeting me when I approached the door, then opened it for me. The smile on my face dried up on getting inside the room and seeing no trace of Layla in the bedroom.“Layla,” I called, opening the bathroom door.No, she wasn’t there.“Layla,” I called again, going into the closet, but no one was there. None of her belongings were even in sight, and I became really worried.Where had she ran off to? I opened the door immediately, and faced the guards stationed at her door in order to find out why she wasn’t in my chambers.“Where is Layla?” I asked in a furious tone.“I thought it was your order, Alpha Xavier. She suddenly left with her belongings,” one of them responded.“Left to where?”
[Xavier’s POV]A few days had passed without being able to locate the rare artefacts and precious stones that had gone missing all of a sudden. The guards had all been searching for them, but it was obvious that someone had stolen them, and we didn’t know who.“Alpha Xavier, are you listening?” Roman asked, bringing me back to reality.“I’m sorry, what did you say?” I inquired, feeling lost and confused.Ever since the artefacts went missing, we had been holding meetings every single day and I was too stressed out to even do other things. Never in the history since the existence of the Shadow Pack had artefacts or precious stones gone missing. Why did all this trouble have to happen during my own reign? I must have committed several crimes in my past life, I guessed.“We, the elders have tried enough. Today is the fourth day since the artefacts were first discovered missing, and if you aren’t able to trace them before the end of this week, we have unanimously agreed that you would ste
[Xavier’s POV]“Listen up, I heard that you would do anything for money. If you ask around, people will tell you that I am a very lenient and merciful King. If you tell me the name of the person who sent you, as well as where the rest of these artefacts and precious stones are, not only would I let you go scot-free, I will also give you enough money to live a better life,” I told him.“Alpha Xavier, what are you saying?” an elder roared angrily.“When I said he isn’t fit to be the Alpha, I wasn’t wrong,” Beta Emmet said.I ignored their comments, and focused solely on the shabby man, who seemed eager to accept my offer and looked like he believed me.“It’s okay. You can speak freely to me, and I will let you go. I am a man of my word,” I said.“I will tell you the whole truth,” he quickly said.A smirk played around my lips, and I gave him the go-ahead to start speaking.“The truth is that these are all the items I was given, and I was stealing a boat at the seaport because I wanted t
[Layla’s POV]The sweater I had been making for Elsa had just gotten completed. I yawned tiredly as I folded it and placed it on my dressing table, massaging my hands which were sore from knitting for four whole days, coupled with helping Xavier out with his cases.I hadn’t seen him in the last four days ever since we had an argument. Deep down, I felt like I was kind of in the wrong, but I wasn’t ready to admit that yet. I had gotten so angry and emotional and had ended up saying things I didn’t even mean to him, but he didn’t look like he had taken things to heart, so, why hadn’t he come to see me all this while?“Well, he must have a lot on his plate,” I muttered to myself. “Still, how couldn’t he come to see me even once?” I shouted aloud, feeling annoyed.A guard quickly opened the door and looked inside.“Can’t you knock?” I asked in a harsh tone of voice.“I’m sorry, I heard you scream and I was trying to make sure everything was okay,” he explained.“Yeah, it’s not a problem.
[Xavier’s POV]I hadn’t been able to sleep all day, owing to the anxiety I had. No one had seen Jeffrey yet, and he hadn’t showed up either. It was as if he was aware that we were searching everywhere for him, and he had already escaped.I really wanted the rogue’s confession to be all a lie, I really wanted to keep having trust in my best friend, I really wanted to make sure he wasn’t hurt in any way, but the circumstances made it way too difficult for me to have any kind of faith in him.His father had been devastated after his house was searched and the rest of the artefacts were found there, along with a lot of money which he didn’t know his son had been hiding. He pleaded with me to spare his life and to give him a chance to explain himself, but how could I give him a chance and believe him when he was on the run instead of succumbing to being arrested?It was with pains that I had disclosed where Evan and Koss were being held hostage to Roman, but Jeffrey hadn’t been found there
[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