{Sorry I didn’t upload yesterday, choked up again. But here’s a pre-action chapter!! Lol.} It’s about to get bloody, but then there’s a twist. The enemies Isla is about to fight are actually the Trencher villagers and warriors… jinx. On the other hand, Kayla is tearing the Reigns apart. And simultaneously the Lycan King is preparing another attack! So many things happening! Can Isla meet up¿ Well, we’ll see. See yA!
{Isla’s POV}Natgy was recruiting warriors for that Wretch, the Lycan King.They both knew that I was no longer the one seated on the Iron Throne and wanted to take advantage of that, especially since Kayla didn’t seem to know what she was doing— no surprise there. But first, they needed an army. They needed more warriors to add to what was left of their Lycan army, hence why Natgy had deceived Kata’s men into taking her virulent potion which has now turned some of them into Praised Brothers— puppets for her manipulation. Cayden got to me and helped me stand up from the ground. That Praised brother had slammed hard into me so I felt a very strong ache in my jaw area. I stroked it gently and turned to Cayden.“Did you kill him?” I asked Cayden, referring to the Priased Brother he had flung away. “Almost.” Cayden said. Huh?“Almost? What do you mean by that?! Don’t tell me you—”“I didn’t kill him, Isla.” Cayden said and I sighed in relief and turned to face Natgy.That warrior had
{Isla’s POV} There were wailing sounds in the air.There were three dead bodies littering the ground.And there was blood all over my body.I was on my knees before a mutilated and maimed body and I was panting hard. I glared at the fleshy pieces and slabs, wishing I could tear them up even more and break the surrounding bones even more. But I couldn’t.I was exhausted.There was no more Natgy, but I wasn’t satisfied. I was still raging. I wanted to kill her over and over again. I didn’t even get to hear her scream and cry much because one of the first things I did was to rip her heart straight out of her chest.So I wasn’t satisfied but what could I do?I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder and I turned around to see my mum standing behind me. She smiled weakly at me and I knew she was trying to encourage me to let all the hate go.Natgy should have suffered greatly before she died but I was too enraged to give her that benefit or punishment so I murdered her quickly and suffered her
{Isla’s POV} I walked hastily through the Village like someone was chasing me. I took the path that led to the Lake.But then no one was chasing me.I was uneasy and it was because Cayden’s words had made me feel that way. But then I was acting stupid. I realized this and stopped my rush and began to walk normally. Cayden shouldn’t have this effect on me. I’ll be giving him too much power if he does. “Good day, Your Highness.” A high-pitched voice said and called me out of my thoughts. I turned to see that it was a villager, a very young boy.“Hey.” I said back as he bowed to greet me.“You’re really the Queen?” He said interestingly, but I couldn’t tell if he was asking me or admiring that fact. But then his next words made me understand his perspective.“I still can’t believe the Alpha Queen is here! … In my village!” He exclaimed.I smiled a bit. “What is your name?” I asked, expecting a weird name since all the names I’ve been hearing so far in this village have been sounding o
{Isla’s POV} I was panting hard. I hadn’t done any straining activity but my breath felt weighty. I was panting due to the effort it took me to say those words.“Because I’m scared I’ll fall in love with you again.” I had told him.And now, we both were quiet. I was panting and frowning at Cayden, while Cayden was staring at me like he had lost the ability to talk.But it was the opposite for me. Now that I had said those words to him, I had opened up ground for me to say more… as I still had more to say. “When you’re around me, I don’t feel at rest.” I started to say. “And when you’re far away from me, I still don’t like it. I don’t want that, Cayden!” I told him, my volume still up.“I seem to lose control of my own eyes as I find myself looking at you at random moments of the day, and I don’t want that too! You’re messing with me, Cayden. Stop!” I voiced and gripped my chest“Your plan is to pull me in and make me fall for you so that you can bruise my heart again.” I said, my vo
{Isla’s POV} I’ve never seen him smile so brightly.After I had said those words, Cayden looked like I had given him a second life.He rose to his feet now and took my hands in his like my hands were the most fragile things ever. His smile was contagious so I couldn't help but smile gently back.“I won’t fail you, Isla. I’m done being an Asshole.” He said and shifted close to me. “I’m yours now, and I’ll make you remain mine.”I smiled. “Can I kiss you?” He asked me now, his voice coming out deep and soft. His eyes were still so clear— and since we were giving him a chance now, I didn’t stop myself from being lost in them.I’ve always stopped myself, but today I let myself dwell in their empyrean blueness. With his question, I felt my cheeks heat up and I smiled even more. He didn’t sound like he wanted to kiss me because it would complement the moment. He sounded like he wanted to kiss me like it was something he needed to survive. I could see the thrill clothing every stretch of h
{Isla’s POV} We were back at the Cabin and we were at the table eating dinner.My Mum was at the table, Andrea was there, Daniel was there, Dehi- the little girl who lost her father was there, and Cayden was there.I don’t know why talking about him felt really significant now.Not only that. Eye contact now seems whimsical. Anytime Cayden and I made eye contact, anytime his piercing blue eyes poured in my direction, I felt an oddly pleasing weight deep inside my belly.I don’t want to call it butterflies— I don’t think I have space for those in me.The room was quiet— too quiet, and I could only understand why.The expression on Andrea’s face was an expression I so desperately wanted to wipe off. But then I couldn’t because we were having a normal dinner. At least, that was what my mum thought.There was nothing normal about this dinner. I had all the evidence I needed to know that Daniel and Andrea were literally fighting to stop themselves from blurting something out. Me and Cay
{Isla’s POV} There was tense silence now.I hadn’t been expecting those words out of Cayden’s mouth and my Mum definitely hadn’t been expecting them. It was heavier on her.Daniel and Andrea weren’t exempted from the shock wave either. They had been wanting to tell everyone about Cayden and me but then they couldn’t because they understood that I didn’t want them to. But hearing Cayden say those words had its effects on them. And so, everyone at the table had on a dazed expression. — everyone except CaydenHe looked a bit uneasy as he faced my mum but he also looked keen. He had made up his mind to do this.“I.. I know I don’t deserve her.” He continued to speak. “I know I’m the worst person that you would want your daughter to be with. But…” He took in a deep breath and trailed off. I was suddenly tense hearing him speak. I was now edgy on his behalf. “I…” He sent his index finger and thumb to his eyes and stroked them gently before opening them back up. “I promise you I’m a dif
{Isla’s POV} Last night was romantic in ways that weren’t aggressive and sexual.Liam and I slept in the same room and slept together, but we didn’t have sex. Instead, we slept, wrapped in each other’s embrace, buried in each other’s warmth. The Cabin Kata had built for us had three rooms inside and my Mum had taken one for herself while the rest of us randomly switched the remaining two rooms every night. But last night— Last night, we had created a pattern that I knew we would be maintaining for a long time since Daniel and Andrea had left the room for us to go and occupy the other one.They had left because Cayden had threatened them with us having sex. It was morning time now and I propped myself up to stare. Yeah. I wanted to just stare.Cayden was still sleeping and being awake before him granted me the leisure to stare at that beautiful face of his for as long as I wanted.“Good morning.” I suddenly heard a deep voice say and I had to stop myself from literally jumping awa
{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