His horse was reaching it's limit. He could feel it's heart thrumming against his calves like a trapped drum-it's mouth agape and frothing. The beast wheezed, and he worried it would collapse from under him. But he couldn't stop to let it rest. There wasn't any time. He forced it through tough thickets of thorns, over fallen trees and around obstacles so quickly that he feared he'd break his own neck. His legs were sore and his hands were running themselves raw with all of the yanking and jerking of the reigns. And his pursuers were closing in fast. When Nolan had devised this route, he had figured that no one would pursue him through the Forbidden Forest because it was labeled "forbidden" for a reason. He was certain the only forces he'd have to tackle through it would have been the occasional wild dog or angry bird. What he hadn't expected was the caravan of bandits waiting just within the brush, and for them to be so well concealed that he wouldn't notice them until they were on
Chapter ThreeThe night was unusually long for Aliyah as having to sleep evaded her essence. The moment she close her eyes to attempt sleep, the horrors of her pack always tends to hunt Aliayh. She couldn't imagine herself going through the trauma, as it would most definitely hunt her for more years to come, that she was so certain about.The sun was already out; an indication that it was going to be most likely hot during the day. The chirps of the birds could be heard and the morning dew had never gotten even far better than it was at the moment. Aliyah stared out the window, soaking in the innocence of the air, as she looked around the pack houses.Suddenly her ears picked up footsteps which seemed to be heading her way. She closed the window and move back to the bed, anticipating the door to be opened soon. A slight knock came through and after voicing out her approval, the anonymous person stepped into the room and it turned out it was the Alpha."Greetings Aliyah. I see you had a
Chapter FiveStaring at the door, Raphael was conflicted. He knew that his father was a very strict leader and being one of the top leaders of the Elite Pack, everyone respected him. Once he summoned the much courage he needed, Raphael pulled the door open, revealing a dimly lit room. Alpha Norrignton was fond of the dark and Raphael was fully aware of this trait, which he found absolutely absurd."What is the problem son?" His father's voice pulled his attention towards the king size bed, where his father was looking throuy several documents."Father, I uhm.. well I came to discuss something very important with you and I would be glad if you spare me the time to speak." Alpha Norrignton pulled his documents aware and for a moment, he studied his son's countenance. He looked uneased and this increased his curiosity.Raphael approached the bed, pulling out a chair attached to the reading table, his father seemingly had picked the documents from."I finally found my mate." Hid reaction w
Chapter SevenMorning came quite swift than Aliyah had expected. She rose from the bed and the first thought that flew to her mind was how she would be able to go back to school. While she was still in water wave pack, she could remember the lessons made by her father about the importance of school. She had fully come to terms with the fact that she would be staying with Raphael, who is her mate for most probably the rest of her life, that doesn't changed the fact that she still didn't need to go to school. After thinking about it for a couple of minutes, Aliyah stepped down from her king size bed and head out the room. The door hadn't been fixed by Raphael and it left her wondering what sort pyscho she would be living with.Raphael was going through his phone, while eating his breakfast. He had woken up quite late and it was due to the fact that he had been working all night long. He suddenly felt a presence and when he looked up, Aliyah stood in her night gown staring down at her fee
Chapter NineThe next day, Aliyah filed with confidence stepped out of the limousine and this time the personal body guard was by her side, observing her every movement, while she stepped into the hallway. As a custom, all eyes were on her and as she had been thought by Daisy, she wasn't going to give a damn about the situation.While pulling her biology textbook from her locker, she felt presence behind her and when she turned around, Imade and her minions were staring at her. Aliyah looked around and there was no sign of the guard attached to her. "So you made it out of Romeo's grasp. Quite fascinating." Imade grabbed her by the collar and pushed her to the wall, forcing Aliyah to smack her head by the locker. "Listen very well Aliyah, I am the center of attention of this school and it is slowly becoming obvious you want to steal my spotlight. I am not going to allow that happen." While Imade made an attempt to throw a punch, she felt something or someone withholding her hand from la
Chapter Eleven"And that's how things came to be between both Raphael and myself." Pearl said. Apparently, they were having dinner together he had given her a warm welcome. Pearl decided to explain the bad blood that existed between Raphael and himself to Aliyah and this made Aliyah completely shock. A family war wasn't one that usually end well and being in the mix was slowly going to spell trouble."So what happens..." Aliyah couldn't complete her statement as she felt something wrong with her belly and immediately stood up and rushed over to the basin and puked out completely. "Are you alright?" Pearl asked rushing over to her side. Aliyah was feeling completely dizzy and Pearl noticed it. He quickly helped her to her room and placed a call to the doctor.After a couple of hours, the doctor arrived and ran series of test on Aliyah, who was fast asleep. "Such a pleasant surprise Mr. Pearl. Turns out this young lady here is pregnant." Pearl gasped as he heard those words from the doct
CHAPTER ThirteenEveryone at the round table gasped upon hearing that one single word. Raphael bowed his head in shame as he looked on to his father who was already staring at him. He thought Aliyah was going to keep up with the lie but her sudden revelation would mean his father taking him off the position as the leader of the Alpha squad."Can you explain in details what you mean by the phrase NO" Norrignton asked her in a low tone still trying to recover from the shock."When Raphael approached me, he offered my uncle a contract that I be his wife for a period of time. All through those months, I stay faithful as a wife would, obeyed his instruction and before the time could elapse, I kinda started having feelings for him" Aliyah was rudely interrupted by Priscilla"Leader of the round table, Norrignton, I hail you, this woman here is a con artist and I had been right all along; she was never worthy of being part of the round table" Priscilla looked on to everyone seated and watched
Micah took a seat within the sitting room, and presented to the King and his son the face of the little bundle he carried. One very tiny, very pink, little girl. "Is she not the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?" Micah asked, running an index finger over her tiny button nose. "Look at her, all calmness, like her mother." "I bet there's some crazy in her somewhere," said King Nolan with a smile. "We may just have to wait a little while before she can use it." "Is that a baby?" Prince Varian asked, coming up to see. He peered down at the little girl and the wonder began. "Where'd she come from?" "A stork," said the King, for little anything else to be said. Micah snorted at this, and while rocking his child, chastised the King. "You can tell him the truth Nolan, he's a big boy." Nolan narrowed his eyes at the Merchant. "I will do no such thing. He is four-" "Four and a half-" Varian interrupted. The King corrected himself. "Right, four and a half, and is still not ready for
CHAPTER Forty NineIt was a bright day, Raphael had taken Imade to the mall so they could do shopping for her bastard son. Raphael had come to terms with having to take care of the baby. Imade had informed him that she never knew of the father and had sex while she was intoxicated in her mini confession to him.When they arrived at the mall, so many sea of heads were also gathered as everyone went about their shopping. While going through some new clothing brand himself, Raphael heard little commotion and decided to go check the situation. He was shocked to see Imade shouting at someone. Her body was shielding him from seeing the person she was raining abuses on."Imade what is the meaning of......" He halted in his tracks as he came face to face with Aliyah who looked on at him in surprise."This bitch here deserves the public embarrassment she gave you" Imade explained."Raphael, I will suggest you take your retarded Mate away from here" Imade wasted no time in administering a loud s
CHAPTER Forty SevenAll eyes looked on at Pearl at the table as he was thinking of how to reply to the situation. The major factor he was curious to understand was how Raphael got to know about the missing file."Norrignton Pearl, I ask once more, where is the Lexicon file?" Raphael was full of smiling, knowing he had him where he wanted, in a dilemma."About the Lexicon file.....""Actually, the Lexicon file happens to be in my possession" All eyes turned to look at Brown who approached the table."It was given to me by Mr. Pearl here to be kept safe as he said and i quote 'it is the family's heritage'" Brown explained smiling at Pearl.Pearl was surprised; how did he laid his hands on the file? He had never thought Brown would discover the file but he did."Impossible! The file is fake" Raphael commented in disbelief."Enough of all this trash talking Raphael, I suggest you leave this table at once!" Xavier ordered with anger."But we need to verify the authenticity of the file" Raph
CHAPTER Forty FiveIt was another day in school and Romeo intended meeting up with Aliyah to know why he had acted in such a harsh way towards Raphael. However as time went on, he couldn't locate her, causing him to get worried about her safety. Knowing the tyoe of person Raphael was, he could do anything which would intend to hurt her."Hey" He was brought out of his thoughts by Doris' who had a kind of gloomy face."Hey" He replied."Seen Aliyah?" She asked trying to clean up a tear dropping out of her eye."Nope. What seems to be the issue" He asked feeling empathy for her."Nothing. I will uhmmm be heading home now. See you around" Before he could stop her, she was already off. He sighed and went back to the cafeteria to get something to drink.While drinking, he had a thought; Doris would probably open up to whatever that was causing her go emotional in a private space. The only problem was thaf he didn't know where she was staying. He picked up his phone and ringed Aliyah up and
CHAPTER Forty ThreeThe world went blank as Raphael heard those words from her; he stared at her in the eyes hoping she was only kidding but though masked, he could make out the seriousness on her tone."This is a joke right? I mean, you are kidding right?" He asked laughing awkwardly at the situation."This isn't a joke Fred and my Mate is demanding for a DNA test""Shit!" He ruffled his hair in frustration. "But aren't you on some birth control pills?" He asked."No, I was never on any birth control pill. We didn't thought to the effect while hitting out*" Aliyah indicated."I am screwed!" He bowed in defeat."No!! I am screwed Fred! There is a lot of shit going on in my life right now that I have to handle; having to deal with pregnancy happens to be a twist in the plot" She tried to make him understand."What do we do?" Raphael asked"Well, I informed the doctor to manipulate the DNA test to indicate that he is the father but he has refused on the ground that it is his profession"
CHAPTER Forty OneOnce Aliyah was done disposing off the contents in her belly, she felt dizzy. What is wrong with me? She wondered holding the toilet's door after she had rinse her mouth appropriately. She heard the door opened and Pearl stepped in looking at her sternly."What seems to be the problem Mate?" He asked looking suspiciously."I don't know, I think am not to well" She said holding her temple with her hands."Or you had enough to drink last night isn't it?" Aliyah looked at Pearl in disbelief. Aside the fact that she had lied about going to a birthday party, she was certain about not having anything to drink prior."You are unbelievable Pearl" She remarked shaking her head in disappointment."Oh! Don't play that stupid mind game of yours on me Aliyah! I know when something is wrong and i can tell that something is certainly wrong with you" He pointed out."Well, if it's enough to prove your doubts, why don't we go to the hospital so they run test on me and find out what se
CHAPTER Thirty Nine"Well, for a start you can call me Marshall Stephanie" Romeo cleared his throat and Aliyah turned to look at him. She noticed he had that grin on his face even though she couldn't see it."Stephanie? That is a good name I gotta admit" He pointed out, smiling at her."You know, I may not make out your features but you look handsome in that mask" It was the first time in a while she was being honest with her compliment to anybody."Why thank you" He replied "I was about to say the same for you. The moment I walked into this hall, my eyes landed on you and I was asking myself, "who is the mystery lady in red?" Aliyah took another shot; it would be her seventh for the night and without a doubt, she was sincerely tipsy."Don't you think you have had enough already?" He asked her showing concern"I am okay. Romeo! Another" Romeo noticed the strange man had reacted in a certain way once he heard his name."But Bia... Stephanie, you have had quite enough" Romeo almost blew
CHAPTER Thirty SevenAliyah didn't dare look at the rare mirror; she thought of those moments where someone would creep on another human being and get decapitated. Her breathings were fast at the moment, and she was sweating profusely."So you haven't stopped chickening out" There was something particular about that voice. Aliyah could bet that she had heard it before and deep down in her instinct, she could feel the voice wasn't one that was friendly in the past."Okay can you stop with all the hysterics and just look around?" Aliyah couldn't dare turn around and look."Please" Slowly and calculatedly, she turned her head after taking a deep breath to see who was speaking."Hello Aliyah" She gasped upon seeing the familiar face smiling at her. "Holy sweet Jesus! Romeo?" She said in disbelief."In flesh and blood" Romeo commented, dusting off imaginary particles off his body."Please don't kidnap me, I beg you" Aliyah suddenly began to plead, reminiscing over their last encounter."If
Henry, Amata, Francesca, and Madron had vanished sometime in the night from the bunker. After a brief rest, now found themselves nestled in the cabin's study around a big wooden desk, organising and planning and tracking. History was going to be their biggest informant as to what to expect in the present and frighteningly near future. They had to look back to see what they were facing if, or more correctly when, Rekker and his army of Shadow Souls successfully broke through the portal into our world. Cooper woke the next morning feeling rested. She had laid in the dark and silence for a long time, willing sleep to claim her but unable to turn off her thoughts. Time ticked by slowly, while visions of the empty mirror, Rekker's cold eyes and bloodied grin, her mother, neck ravaged, all played on horrible repeat in her mind. At some point, Cooper's eyes had closed, her mind gave in, and sleep won out. Then she had slept deeply, too deeply for dreams to find her. The smell of coffe
CHAPTER Thirty ThreeThe day happened to be a free day for Raphael and he had decided to spend it at home watching N*****x for the first time ever; he was a busy person but there were times even he knew that the body needed to rest.Imade entered the room and Raphael tried all he could not to groan at the sight of seeing her. She had become a nuisance to him and he would only hope that he achieved his plans in time before he broke out of character."Hey babe, what are you watching?" Imade slumped to the couch by his side and snuggled close to him. Raphael knew if it was Aliyah, he would have been distracted by her body appeals but with Imade, he felt like a log of wood."Why are you not saying anything though?" Imade enquired."Look Imade, I am watching this interesting movie and I don't want to miss a single scene" he pleaded to her convincingly. There was silence momentarily until Imade decided to spoil his entire mood for the die by making a shocking announcement."Babe, I am pregna