DeneraI stared at my reflection in the mirror and I couldn't help the smile on my face."You look absolutely stunning," Rachel mused from behind me as two other maids helped in adjust my dress and hair into its proper position."Thanks to all of you," I breathed out heavily, finding it slightly difficult to hold back tears.The maid on my left paused for a moment, then leaned in with a conspiratorial whisper. "You know, we had to use an extra bolt of fabric to get this dress to fit your...generous figure." She punctuated the comment with a playful wink.Rachel burst out laughing, quickly covering her mouth to stifle the sound. "Hush, you!" she chided the maid, though her eyes were twinkling with mirth.I couldn't help but join in the laughter, the tension of the moment melting away. "Well, I suppose I should be grateful you didn't have to resort to sewing me into it!" I quipped, earning a round of giggles from the maids.The light-hearted exchange helped ease my nerves, and I felt th
DeneraAs Rockan and I entered the grand hall, I felt a surge of anxiety wash over me. The room was filled with dozens of unfamiliar faces - all of them seeming very important and powerful, which left me feeling deeply out of place. And the way they kept staring at us as we made our way to our seats only added to my unease.I couldn't help but start fidgeting nervously, my fingers twisting the delicate fabric of my dress as Rockan guided me through the crowded room toward our seats. I glanced around, my eyes darting from one influential person to the next, each one appearing more imposing than the last.Sensing my unease, Rockan gently reached over and took my hands in his, giving them a reassuring squeeze. "Denera," he murmured, leaning in close so only I could hear. "Relax, little mate. You've got this."I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "I...I don't know any of these people, Rockan," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "They all look so important and
RockanI gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles almost turning white as the memories of Adriana came flooding back. "Adriana is my ex," I finally admitted, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.Denera shifted in the passenger seat, turning to face me with a puzzled expression. "Your ex?" she echoed, her brow furrowing.I took a deep breath, knowing I owed her the truth. "Yes, Denera. Adriana and I... we have a history," I explained, my gaze fixed on the road ahead.Denera remained silent, waiting patiently for me to continue. I knew she deserved to know the whole story."You see, Adriana was supposed to be the next Luna many years ago," I began, my voice low and heavy with regret. "But before she could take on that role, I discovered that she had been lying to me – about her intentions, her feelings, everything."I paused, swallowing hard as the emotions threatened to overwhelm me. "She didn't want me, Denera," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "She just
Denera As soon as we pulled into the pack, I hurriedly jumped out of the car, barely waiting for Rockan to put it in the park. My mind was racing, laser-focused on one objective - getting that piece of clothing I had gotten from my attacker. I practically ran through the grand entryway, ignoring the curious stares of the pack members milling about. “Denera!” Rockan called out behind me, but I couldn't be bothered to slow down or respond. I had to get to my room, to that evidence.Finally, I burst through the doors of the room, going straight to the small chest at the foot of the bed. Trembling, I threw open the lid and reached inside, pulling out the tattered scrap of fabric I had hidden there. Holding it up to my nose, I breathed in deeply, reveling in the familiar scent."I knew it!" I exclaimed, a triumphant grin spreading across my face. Rockan came rushing in, his brow furrowed with concern. "Denera, what's going on? Tell me what's happening."I turned to face him, gripping t
Denera I sat in stunned silence as my revelation about the attacker caused an uproar in the council meeting. The air was thick with tension as the elders all began to voice their opinions, each one more impassioned than the last. It was easy to learn their names because of how their tables had engraved tabs of who they were. All these people were old enough to be my parents and grandparents. I could not possibly even speak up even if my life depended on it. Rockan stood at the head of the table, his eyes burning with a ferocity I had rarely seen. "The Blue Moon pack has crossed a line," he growled, slamming his fist down on the table. "They attacked one of our own, and we cannot let that stand. We must retaliate with the full might of our pack."Elder Tharivol, an old wolf who looked like a lifetime of experience, shook his head gravely. "Violence will only beget more violence, alpha Rockan. We must consider a diplomatic solution, one that does not involve bloodshed. There may be a
Denera I emerged from the shower, the steam curling around me like a protective blanket. The day was long and gruelling. We had spent hours addressing the attack issues and pack concerns, and the subsequent party was a blur of faces and voices. The council concluded that the decision to send a messenger to inform Blue Moon about the attack was a step towards transparency, but it left a lingering tension in the air.I wrapped a towel around myself and stepped into the room, expecting to find it empty. Instead, I was stunned to see Rockan standing by the window, his silhouette bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. Rachel must have already left, leaving us alone."Rockan," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.He turned, his eyes softening as they met mine. "Denera," he said, his tone warm. "You did well today. Standing up for yourself and the pack."I felt a flush of pride at his words. "Thank you," I replied. "I didn’t have much of a choice."He nodded, a faint smile playing o
Denera “Good morning,” I muttered as we both started to have a hot cup of coffee. Almost a perfect fairytale. It was all calm and peaceful for a while until my eyes snapped open from the sudden commotion. The castle was in a state of frenzied activity, maids and workers scurrying about, the air thick with an anxious energy. Rockan and I exchanged a puzzled glance, unsure of what was really happening until a sudden realization dawned on him as his eyes grew wider. "Shit, shit, shit!" he exclaimed, abruptly rising from his seat in the kitchen and grasping my hand, pulling me along. “I totally forgot!”I stumbled after him, confusion and worry etching across my features. "What is going on? Are we under attack?" I asked, my voice laced with nervous curiosity.Rockan seemed laser-focused, his pace quickening as he led me back to our room. Rachel, the ever-faithful maid, trailed behind us, her expression, one of understanding. She too knew what was happening. "Get her dressed. It must b
DeneraWho was Lena and why did this woman believe I looked like her? The question repeatedly tugged my mind. Rockan and his grandfather had disregarded her speculations, concluding that I looked nothing like the woman I was referring to. So with this, I chose to shrug the thought out of mind. It had been over thirty minutes since they arrived and we were finally at the dining room, ready for our meal. Being the traditional woman I assumed she’d be, Granny Yeneva blessed the meal. “Pause,” she blurted out before we could dig in. “I almost forgot. Where is my other grandson?”I froze in my spot, realizing that they probably had no idea of the dilemma going on within the castle walls. “I don’t know. He chose to be absent these few days,” Rockan shrugged nonchalantly but I noticed he didn’t dare put the food in his mouth after Granny Yeneva’s decree. “What?” Both grandparents chorused, I could see the anger begin to arouse from their expression and reaction to the answer Rockan gave.