Long Chapter here! And a Cautionary Tale indeed!! One of the deepest chapters I’ve written. And hey, I’m sorry about the length of the chapter, if it’s not financially convenient. I got carried away writing and I needed everything to be in this one chapter. But hey, we have a new friendly company. There’s hope now. Or is there? Haha… We’ll see… See yA!
{Isla’s POV}We were making our way out into the jungle, the thick and heavy paperwork they call the forest.Emkay was right. I had made a critical mistake. I should have gone back to check for survivors. I should have gone to save my wounded soldiers. But I didn’t.And Emkay and so many others here were the hurtful evidence of my mistake. I had hurt a lot of people with my obliviousness or ignorance— I don’t know which to call it. But I know I’m going to do my best to save them. Each and every one of them. Although I’m not sure how we can turn a Praised brother back into a normal Werewolf. But we’ll figure something out. Right now, we just had to escape being turned into a Praised Brother ourselves. We also had to catch some Boars.“What do they call it again?”“Addax’s blood?”“And what is that?” Andrea asked Emkay, stealing the question right off my lips.“Addax is an autumn animal whose blood is used to stain for stench.” Emkay started to explain. “The Lycans basically pour it on
{Isla’s POV}“Wait. So let me get this straight.” I turned to face Emkay who was apparently standing in her battle position with her claws out against the three threatening Rogues. I ignored everything and asked her. “We were sent out here to hunt Wild Boars and kill one another?”“My Queen, we don’t have time for this.” Emkay rushed her words as a Real Rogue rushed towards her.At this point, it’s better we differentiate. We were Werewolves here under disguise and acting, so we were fake Rogues. While the rest of the Oust Resistance population were the real Rogues.But no one other than us knew this. So in the eyes of the Lycans, we were all Rogues.But that’s not the issue now. The issue now is not being killed by our fellow Rogues and not losing our Wild Boar.I turned to my side and Emkay was busy trying to fight off a Rogue. The Rogue was a female and two of them seemed to be matched in terms of strength and skill. I was still confused so I yelled.“Stop!”They stopped. All the
{Isla’s POV}I was hungry but I ignored the meat all around me. This was no time for feasting. Emkay had sent word earlier for the fake Rogues amongst us to gather themselves at a corner. So while the entire Hold was rejoicing, we were planning a meeting.Emkay led us to a corner in the Hold where the tents were fewer and the grasses were taller.“That’s them.” She pointed to a small group ahead of us and I gulped at the sight.I hope they like me.We got to them and they all settled down on the small stones and bricks that were on the ground. There were whispers amongst them but none of them were looking my way.My disguise was good. None of them had attacked me yet.I sat down too, Andrea on my right and Emkay on my left and then I noticed almost everyone was suddenly looking at meOkay, I take my words back. My disguise isn’t that good.The crowd on the other side of the Hold was loud and gleeful and their noise was going to overshadow anything we were about to discuss but we still
{Isla’s POV}Okay, I might have forfeited the word, “Please.”“Please Kill Silently.” Three words.This morning came with a blast of hope and renewal. But last night?— Last night might have been the end. The end of everything.We had chosen a radius for our killing and some specific tents, but during that attempt, one of our Werewolves didn’t kill silently. He did the opposite of that.He had been so angry with the Lycans that he had been growling quite loudly while clawing the sleeping Lycan in the throat. As a result, the two tents neighboring the tent in question had been alerted and four Lycans from those two tents had jumped out in their alarm.Thankfully someone like Cayden and Daniel had been there to quietly dismiss them before the whole Hold would be awoken.That was last night’s journey.This morning?Rampage.The Dwarf commander was out of his Shelter and roaring into the air like a mad dog.None of the entities in that sentence complied, but that’s what the Dwarf command
{Isla’s POV}The journey to GreyHill was a confusing one. Confusing because, from the Lycan Hold to GreyHill, the trails were clashing and it made it difficult to locate your position and destination.— which was exactly why I had chosen GreyHill. If the Reignile Werewolves were confused about the trail, that means the Lycans would be even more disoriented. We all raced through the evening and through the woods. A large number of real Rogues were going with us to GreyHill and as much as that was good news, there was a difficult twist to it.Once we gather at GreyHill, I would reveal my identity and would need to convince the Rogues that I, the Queen, isn't against them. I would need to make them believe that all Werewolves can be one once again, both Rogue and Civil alike.It will be a tough feat to achieve but I’ll have to try. “I’m tired.” I heard Andrea call behind me. “You’re a lazy ass, Andrea.” I said.“What? Do you know how long we’ve been running?”“I know it’s not been long
{Isla’s POV}“My fellow Rogues…”That was the only sentence I had let out so far for the past two minutes. It didn’t have a determinant but it had called their attention.They were all staring at me now, eating meat like animals but staring at me.“What do you have to say, miss?”“Go on. Don’t fret. We’re listening.”Some of them said aloud.My hesitation had won their attention and compassion. They were trying to make me feel less tense but it’s because they think I’m a Sister Rogue— because they don’t know it’s the Queen standing before them.I gulped again in my uneasiness but then I heard a voice beside me.“My Fellow Rogues.” It was a male’s voice.“We all have been mistreated and insulted by the Lycans.”It was Cayden’s voice.Confused, I turned to look at him as he continued speaking. “We devoted all our passion and loyalties to them and they discarded us so easily. We are innocent of their accusations yet they seek to kill us. Do they think we’re scapegoats?” Cayden bawled and
{Isla’s POV}Emkay had told me the most upsetting news ever and every part of my being was already upset by it. With Emkay strolling behind me, I paced toward Andrea, Daniel, and Cayden. I was going to tell them of my plan to return to the Lycan Hold. I had to. There was no way I was leaving a distressed little girl out in the baleful wild full of angry and bloodthirsty Lycans.“Andrea, Daniel,” I called their attention as they were busy watching some of the other Rogues fun-wrestle in an area not too far away. The Rogues were bonding fast.“I’ll be returning to the Lycan Hold.” I said to them, “And I need you two and Emkay to oversee things here while I’m gone.” I instructed. Emkay had told me she wanted to come along but I had strictly refused and was now making her understand that she was more needed here. I couldn’t afford to lose any more persons out there ‘cause as it stands, the Lycans were like a wildfire sweeping through the forest of the Reigns. They were enraged with our
{Isla’s POV}We were prisoners in our own land. The Lycans must really think the Queen is weak and helpless, roaming the Reigns and doing anything they liked— like taking the Queen herself hostage!How fucked up is that?I know how our carelessness got us into this predicament but I don’t know what will save us. How do we escape from a really funny-looking but smart Lycan Commander whom I might just have told I loved serving him?He had said he was throwing an orgy party to celebrate his reunion with his trusted Rogues. So he thinks we’re both his trusted Rogues.That’s both a good thing and a bad thing. Good thing, because it gives us the latitude to conspire against him without being immediately suspected of the crime. But a bad thing because he had just claimed us under his small alliance, which means we won’t be returning to the ‘Rogue Lives Matter’ group anytime soon.And I had told them over at GreyHill to remain there until I return. But as it stands, I don’t think I’ll be mak
{Isla’s POV}I was robed in a very elegant dress, and the dress was beautiful this time because my belly wasn’t 30 centimeters big anymore. It was coming down to its normal size.It was the break of dawn, since I had spent the rest of last night giving birth, and the sunrise was beautiful. I stood now, watching it from my Chamber’s east window, and just then, I felt a hand trail around my waist before I took in the calling scent of my mate and father of my child.His scent and the scent of our Son were my two most familiar scents in the world. I’m still getting used to the latter since he only just arrived a few hours ago— but I’m getting used to it fast.“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I asked Cayden, staring at the overlying colors of red, orange, and blue clothing in the skies as the sun rose.“It sure is.” Cayden responded, his voice sweet and gentle. “But it can never match your beauty, my Queen.” He added and I blushed violet.“Well, I know someone who is more stunning than me and t
{Isla’s POV}I groaned and then I struggled to push my eyelids open. It was weighty but I overcame it and became conscious to a piercing sound ringing near my ears.… and then I realized it sounded like a baby. At once, my eyes stretched wide open and I threw my gaze in the direction of the sound to see Cayden sitting before me, carrying what I suspected in his arms.A Cub. Seeing it, I became aware of the pressure on my finger and I looked to see that the Cub was holding my finger. I promptly looked back at Cayden, wanting to get some sort of clarification from him.He smiled warmly at me and leaned in to kiss me deeply on my forehead. I closed my eyes as he did so.“I was never going to let you leave me.” He said with tears in his eyes as he pulled away and then he gently handed me the baby. “Meet our Son.”A wave of warmth swept over my body as I motioned to carry the baby. I felt very weak all around my body but grabbing hold of the baby seemed to revitalize me. And make me emo
{Cayden’s POV}The rhythmic sound of an infantile cry filled the room and the moment I rested my eyes on our Cub, I froze completely.It was pink, breathing and crying. It was real.The Midwives carried the Cub happily and came close to me. “My King, It’s a boy.” One of them announced as they attempted to hand him over to me but then I was unresponsive. It was hard to move a muscle and I could only just stare.The Midwives proceeded to talk to me but then their voices sounded muffled to my hearing and it felt like the world had faded behind me. It felt like it was now only I, the baby, and Isla that were in the room— the family I had created. And I stared between both of them and tears glossed up my eyes. I was scared.But then I was…I was happy. Very happy.I couldn’t believe that this moment was real.I had a son.I finally had a child… with the woman I loved. I finally started my own family. “Your Majesty!”“My King!” I kept hearing them call me with their seemingly muffled vo
{Isla’s POV}I felt my blood pressure rise and its volume pushing against my veins as the maids and Midwives surrounded me in their attempt to lead me to my Chambers.But then Cayden offered to carry me and he did but he immediately put me down as I let out another piercing cry. Carrying me made it worse.It felt like my groin was tearing apart.My water broke and tension swept into our midst. But I still preferred to walk.And so, planting my arms on the shoulders of a midwife on my left and Cayden on my right, I painfully started strolling. The entire Hall of Blissful Lovers was dead quiet now as they all stared in my direction and I knew that this occurrence had successfully put, on hold, every after-party or post-celebration that was to happen.I didn’t want that.My mum and the rest of my General family rushed from the crowd to meet me now, and when they got us, they visibly panicked seeing my pain-stricken face. My mum immediately ran to me. “Isla!” She voiced. “Are you—”I gn
{Isla’s POV}The Divine bliss.That unearthly feeling… It poured on the Reigns as the Full moon poked itself through the Reignile Skies into visibility. It was magnificent.It was powerful and I could just feel its empyrean effect throughout the stretch of my body. Wolves started howling as fated mates found one another. I immediately turned to Daniel and Andrea to find out that they hadn’t marked each other yet. They didn’t need to…They were mates— fated mates! Fate had divinely bound them together!The Moon goddess does pay attention. “They are fated to each other!” I screamed and jumped. My mum and Cayden looked at me smiling beautifully too.“Yes, they are.” Cayden said with an obvious elation in his voice.“Which is no surprise. The moon goddess knows the right souls to pair, and Daniel and Andrea look right for each other.” My mother contributed and stroked my back comfortingly.I couldn’t stop smiling and staring at them as they hugged each other now. It was beautiful and t
{Isla’s POV}As I had calculated, there was still time for Andrea to do everything she wanted on my skin and my claws. After having a bout of entertainment— going to the dungeons and killing that Butcher Cunt, sitting in that make-up chair for a few more hours wasn’t so bad. I didn’t feel that bored anymore, and in less time than I expected, Andrea was done.I was in my beautiful Royal maternity dress— which was most importantly comfortable while Andrea was in a purple silk dress— the same one I had worn years ago when I had started this journey of hatred to love and scoff to intimacy. She looked beautiful and I had almost worn my cheeks off smiling at her. We were ready to leave now. It was nighttime and an hour to when the full moon would reveal itself and the moment felt divinely peaceful. But then Cayden arrived and we both had to start acting. — Andrea was not very good at acting or lying so it became an issue when Cayden asked what the two of us had been doing all day asides g
{Isla’s POV}I forced my eyes open and blinked, and then I realized I was in the Royal Clinic.I immediately shot up to a sitting position to look at my belly. It was still huge and there was no blood anywhere. I sighed. “Hey hey.” A deep voice said and Cayden gripped me comfortingly. I turned to him with a look of relief. “It’s okay. You’re okay. You just got dizzy and fainted so we had to bring you here.” He said and he pulled me into his arms and hugged me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.” He apologized.“Mh-hmm.” I wrapped lazy arms around him and hugged him back and then he kissed me on the forehead afterwards. “Your Mum and Andrea…” He started to say but then the people in question stormed into the room just then. “Isla…” My mum rushed towards us and stole me away from Cayden’s clinch. “Are you okay?” She cupped my cheeks and ran her gaze around my body.“Yes, mum. I’m fine.” I said to her and she sighed.“We brought you food.” She said as she placed a plate of some vegetables and
{Isla’s POV}It was now two days to the Night of the Full Mating Moon and preparations were heavily ongoing. This would be one of the biggest celebrations for a full Mating moon night so we had to make a lot of preparations and provisions.During the Last Full Mating Moon, the Reigns was in turmoil and there was bloodshed due to the Lycans’ attack, and so the natural process of being mated had been disrupted, meaning fated mates couldn’t conveniently meet each other and establish their union. So this next Full Moon which was just a few days away now was more like a combined ceremony— a re-celebration for those that had been mated last time and a mating Ceremony for those who were about to be mated this time around.So it was going to be wildly amazing with a huge love-filled crowd, but the best part?My best friend was going to be part of that crowd.I’ve hugged Andrea like a thousand times before now. And it would have been up to a million if Shrilly wasn’t always coming to interrupt
{Isla’s POV}[Several months Later]Over the past few months, life has proved that having Cayden in my life as lover and King would make things better. The first time Cayden replaced me to go and hunt down the Rogue Lycans, we were only halfway into our feast when reports came back that Cayden had caught the Pilfers— yes, I had sent some guards to monitor the process.Not that I didn’t trust Cayden but it had been my first time completely letting go of my responsibilities for another person to handle. So I had been really worried and couldn’t help but pry. But as expected, Cayden had effortlessly trashed and captured the Rogue Lycans and he’s been doing so ever since. We had tried several times to squeeze more information from these captured Rogue Lycans regarding where their other gang settlements were but it had been in vain. They preferred to be tortured and wounded rather than talk, so we had to carry on with our blind hunt for the rest. But then, the amazing part was that I di