Elena’s POV“Princess, are you alright?”I jolted from my deep thoughts upon hearing Zara’s voice. Blinking back to reality, I met her worried eyes before dazily nodding my head.Sighing, she poured me a glass of orange juice and showed me a small smile. “Just call me if you need me.”Lost in time, I grabbed the glass and took a slow sip while looking far ahead and feeling the wind blow my hair back.After Jude left, I was left in a trance, wondering what I should do to escape the marriage decree King Desmond announced. However, I’ve been here in the backyard of the packhouse, staring at the forest ahead and still out of any possible solution.“Damn, girl. I know you’re hot, but not this hot!” Saige’s voice made me jump from my seat, and her words caused me to spit my drink out in shock.Hurriedly, I grabbed tissues from the box on the table and wiped my mouth dry.Shifting my gaze behind me, I saw Saige and Maige side-by-side approaching me.“What are you guys doing here?” I asked in
Bryson’s POVAs if Glenda’s scandal wasn’t enough humiliation, my mother decided that barging in at the kingdom’s party and running her mouth wild would be a cherry on top of everything I was facing now.Frustrated, I left the kingdom and went back to the pack with her following behind me, still as frustrated as she first came to me.The irritation I was feeling was intensifying every second I heard her voice. I just got back from the war, and she wasn’t even asking how I was doing or what really happened. No… instead, her sole worry was that she had nothing to use to boast out.As soon as we got back to the pack house, she threw her bag on the couch and turned to look at Julie and me, disdainfully saying, “Where the hell is Glenda?”She raised her hand and pointed nowhere specifically, continuing, “That woman brought nothing but shame to this family!”She gritted with anger and shook her head with utmost disappointment. “After everything you’ve done and sacrificed, son… we gained no
Bryson’s POVElena… Regret? Seeing what Glenda had come to be, regret was an understatement of what I feel for losing her. And by the look of it, as much as everyone was silent, everyone in the pack felt the impact of losing her.Nodding her head with sarcasticness, Glenda continued, “Well, good luck with that! Just so you know, none of this is my fault. You’re simply choking on the consequences of the choices you’ve made!”My mother’s breathing escalated, and she clenched her chest. She looked at Glenda with wide eyes and pursed lips.“Watch your mouth!” I scolded in a low but dangerous voice as my patience finally snapped.“What? All I said is true–”Before Glenda could continue, I stood between her and my mom and, without hesitation, slapped her face hard.From the impact of my slap, her head turned to the side. She slowly turned her head to look at me with shock as the red handprint on her cheek slowly faded away.Slowly, her shock turned enraged. Her eyes turned a combination of
Elena’s POV“That was fun! I will miss this!” Saige exclaimed as soon as she flopped herself down on the couch of the living room after putting down a couple of bags on the coffee table.Maise, on the other hand, was busy admiring her newly bought set of daggers and other weapon-related accessories with a huge smile on her face. “Shut up. Do you hear that?”“Hear what?” I asked after I handed the things I bought from the mall to Zara.I went near to Maise to listen more carefully as did Saige, but we heard nothing.Maise looked up with a grin on her face and showed us one of her daggers. “The sound of this beautiful baby as my fingertips glided on its sharp edge.”Siage and I looked at each other before shaking our heads and sitting back down in our own seats. What did we even expect?I settled on my seat, drinking a glass of juice Zara served as soon as we arrived. I watched both of my friends as they enjoyed the fruit of our shopping spree, both joy and sadness rushing through my ve
Elena’s POVZara, without hesitation, slapped Courtney’s hand, which was pointing, and firmly said, “With all due respect, Luna Courtney, but you have no shame!”The jaws of everyone around them dropped in shock at Zara’s words while Courtney gasped in rage.Courtney was just about to open her lips to scold her, but Zara wasn’t done. “After everything that happened, how can you have the guts to stand here and accuse Princess Elena? Did you forget that she’s the one who had to endure your son’s betrayal? Not to mention all of your bullying?”“Damn, your Omega doesn’t really hold back,” Saige commented with pride in her voice.Completely enraged, Courtney stepped in and raised her hand, ready to throw a slap on Zara’s way. “You low-life, Omega! How dare you speak to me–”“Don’t forget where you are, Luna Courtney. This is not your pack,” Jayson stepped in and blocked Croutney’s hand while pushing Zara behind him.Jayden’s beta demeanour radiated all over him as he looked at Courtney wit
Deacon’s POVSeating at my desk , surrounded with a mountain pile of papers, the weight of the day’s reports started pressing down on me.Days like here were the reason why I preferred being on the battlefield and a general, than being on the palace working through paperworks. Not only did I had to work on reports about happening in the kingdom as a prince, but I also had to review the strategies, supplies, and safety protocols aroudn the entire kingdom as a general.I knew it’s a bit ironic to wish to be in a war, considering the lives taken from it…Thinking about that, I sighed and went back to focusing on the reports, knowing that enduring reading through these files of words and working my hands out for signatures were much better than attending a warrior’s wake.I was in the middle of reviewing the safety protocols at the border when a knock came in, which brought a control smile on my lips.“That means break,” I thought to myself.“Come in,” I ordered as I leaned back on my sea
Deacon’s POV“What do you mean? What did you get?” I asked with full attention. I even motioned for him to sit down as I thought this would be a long talk.Abiding by my command, he sat down and rested his one arm on the table, looking worried and completely at ease.This time, he wasn’t merely talking as my Beta, but as my best friend. “I think the King’s true intention behind this marriage with Princess Elena isn’t as easy as it seems. I think he wants to use her as leverage against you.”My brows furrowed, and my body stiffened. Gazing at him sharply, I coldly said, “Explain.”He shrugged his shoulders. “I mean, everyone close to you with an eye could see that you got a thing for Pricness Elena. Though no one could probably tell how deep it was, I think the King knows as well. And as you may know, Princess Elena is no ordinary woman.”I leaned back in my seat as I considered his words. What he said actually made sense, especially thinking back on the King’s actions and double-meani
Elena’s POV“You’ve been pacing all morning, Princess Elena.”Zara’s words brought me out from my own thoughts while I paced around. Halting by the window, I crossed my arms after opening it to let the morning breeze and sunlight calm my nerves.Glancing at Zara, who was arranging the flowers on the vase on the living room table, she smirked at me and teasingly noted, “It’s rare for me to see you this anxious. Is it because Prince Deacon is coming?”Trying hard to hide my inner feelings and the turmoil I’m having in my mind, I scoffed and turned away to face outside, pretending to admire the lawn. “Anxious? Hardly.” I let out a fake laugh, which sounded more like a terrible scoff. Clearing my throat to save myself from self-humiliation, I added, “I’m just… curious.”Last night, at a late time, one of his personal messengers came in the pack and informed that he’d be visiting the pack first thing in the morning and asked for my presence. The thing was, he didn’t specify why he was com
Deacon’s POVI stared at my mom, waiting for what more she had to say because her laugh was the last thing I expected from her.But when that laugh turned into sarcasm and into mockery, that’s when I shook my head.What else did I expect from her?She continued, “That’s what it is, isn’t it? You admire her swordsmanship, her rough ways? But can’t you see? A woman like that is exactly the opposite of what should fit as your wife! How can you bring disgrace to our name?”By now, she was beyond hysterical. She waved her hand and called for a servant, who served her another cup. Just that this time, instead of tea, she was served with a glass of wine in which she finished in one gulp, making the servant turn back around to refill her glass before she could even go further.Heaving a sigh, I tried to reason with her. “Mom, if you think I care about such things you and so many people label as disgraceful, then you’ve truly forgotten who I am.”With my legs open, I leaned my elbows on my kne
Deacon’s POVMy mother was a diva. She’s used to living in the elite society, and her being the second wife of my father probably brought the worst in her, making her even more spoiled in the process of my father trying to compensate for the fact that the one he really loved was Queen Liz.Everyone knew about my mother and how she was. It’s not a secret, which was why even my brother was aware of what a headache my mother would be.She’d definitely discriminate and try to push Elena away. Because despite her now being titled as a princess, it wouldn't mask the fact that she wasn’t a royal blood in the first place and that she’s a divorced woman.I expected that I’d be receiving her wrath as soon as I got Desmond's approval for marriage, which was probably way easier than facing my mother. But what I didn’t expect was for it to be a lot harder than I thought it would be.“You must be out of your mind!” My mom’s loud voice, filled with disbelief and wrath, was what greeted me when I cam
Deacon’s POVI was tapping my fingers on a placed down leather partition in the backseat of the car with my eyes looking outside, watching the drifting shadows of the trees and roads we passed by.“That's a nice smile in there,” Tyson pointed out, looking through me with the rear view mirror.My smile got even bigger, but I sent him a glare in between, making him clear his throat and continue focusing on his driving instead.Who wouldn’t be wearing a huge smile as I do when the woman I had always dreamt of marrying just said yes to me? Yes, it might not be in a conventional way or out of love, but knowing she had that part of her ready to be with me made me happy.What brought me more happiness was how she was the one who opened the idea of not having a divorce.But the joy I felt slowly vanished as I got closer back to the palace, closer to where the hard part really lies. The part where I had to ensure I paved the way to this marriage as smoothly as I could.“We’re here,” Tyson said
Elena’s POVI laughed it off, thinking he was joking. I simply set my utensils down and finished my water. Leaning back in my seat, I looked at him seriously. “You’re really the one criticising them first?”“You’re being too kind. I’m being serious. They’ll be living with us. For how long, I don’t know. But what I’m sure of is that they could be challenging to handle,” he explained.The gears in my head started moving as I tried to process his words. Seeing the seriousness in his face, I knew he was really worried.But how bad could they really be? I managed to handle Courtney, and I don’t think anyone could suppress her rudeness and greediness.Besides, Deacon’s mother was the Duchess, and his cousin was technically a princess. They were of royalty. With those titles, it’s no surprise if they had some attitude, considering they literally had a crown on their heads.Seeing how down-to-earth and kind Deacon was a real surprising fact.Feeling his worried gaze lingering on my face, I de
Elena’s POVShit! What in the world did I just say?I closed my eyes in embarrassment, hands discreetly pinching the side of my legs at how my reply to him ended up sounding more excited and desperate than what I was intending to show – which was annoyed and frustrated. Without a doubt, his proposal was the best solution so far for this matter regarding marriage. Besides, every time I found a reason to reject him, he always managed to refute it and turn the tables in such a way that everything became favorable to us getting married.If it wasn’t obvious how much devoted he was to that one girl he loved, I would be feeling all over the moon right now. I don’t love him. I’m sure I didn’t.At least, not right now. But the attraction was there. And hopefully, I won’t be biting my own head off for agreeing to this marriage without room for divorce despite knowing I had no room in his heart.The good thing was that we had talked about this marriage like a business matter, making everything
Elena’s POVI thought Deacon would feel dejected from my straight answer, but to my surprise, he leaned back with ease, a smirk forming on his lips. “And that is exactly why you should marry me.”My brows furrowed. Am I too stupid for Deacon’s mind?Seeing my confusion, he chuckled a little. “Do you think Desmond would rather see you marry someone like Bryson if you decided not to marry him?”I stared at him, and disgust immediately rushed through me upon hearing Bryson’s name and remembering my messed up marriage with him.Scoffing, I shook my head with great disdain, exclaiming, “Now, that’s an unearthly terrifying thought!”Deacon shamelessly laughed at my reaction. I watched him in admiration as he freely laughed, unlike the emotionally restricted person he was during the battle.After a few minutes, he finally calmed down. Pointing at me, he smirked as if I had just proven his point, which I might indeed have. “That’s exactly why. No matter what his real intention was, I think De
Elena’s POV“How long do you plan to make him stay there?”Jayden’s voice echoed, pulling me out of my deep thoughts. Sitting on the patio of the graden of the backyard, I put my hands behind me on the pavement and leaned back to look up at Jayden, who had worry pasted all over his face.Sighing, I told him, “I just need to sort my thoughts is all.”He nodded his head in understanding before crouching down to my level and handing me a glass of wine. Winking knowingly, he commented, “I guessed you might need some boost.”Laughing a little, I asked, “Boast of confidence to make rejection?”Standing up, he bobbed his head in laughter and seriously said, “More like confidence, to be honest.”With that, he turned around and left me with my jaws dropped on the ground.I think I’ve given them too much freedom to speak their mind, and they have become too bold. Nonetheless, I always appreciate his and Zara’s honest comments and advice.Staying seated on the step of the porch of the backyard g
Elena’s POVI sat in there, in front of Deacon, utterly dumbfounded and stoned on my seat while looking at him blankly, trying to process what I heard from him as I couldn’t believe my own ears.Did he say what I think he said?He never ceased to surprise me, making me feel all kinds of emotions I never felt before, but this was the first time I actually felt like I was at a complete loss for words.“I… ahh…” I stuttered, not knowing how to reply.In the end, I could only blink a couple of times in disbelief and uttered in pure shock, “What?”With my heart still pounding in my chest and oxygen seemingly being pulled from my lungs, I let out an awkward laugh filled with disbelief.Shaking my head and crossing my arms in a subconscious move to keep my emotions safe from these butterflies he’s giving my stomach, I commented, “You can’t be serious, Deacon. You and I…”Pointing at him and me back and forth, I continued, “We… we barely knew each other before this war.”I admit he brought me
Deacon’s POVShe froze for a second as she was caught off guard by my calm but serious reply, making me hold my breath as I awaited her reaction.After a short pause, she blinked her eyes, unfreezing from her daze and leaned back in her seat. She tilted her head and stared at me, studying me. “That’s… far from many reasons I expected for your visit.”My hands clasped tighter, building up my courage, and I tried to sustain my calmness.Hundreds of battles. Liters of blood. Countless dead bodies had come my way, but I had never felt as nervous as I was now, sitting opposite the woman I’ve always looked forward to marrying while she studied my every movement.Taking deep breaths, I pulled myself together and tried to speak in a calm and gentle tone, not wanting to scare her off.“The Lycan King, my brother, has given you three months to choose a husband.” I stared cautiously, watching her every reaction.When she didn’t say anything and her face remained blank of emotions, I continued, “