I know this chapter is a lot! And there isn't much of Cayden and Isla, but it's an important chapter in the development of the story’s plot. I hope you all understand Isla’s curse, and how and why it happens. The following chapters will contain more Isla and Cayden!!!
{Isla’s POV} So I might have chatted with a Witch for a whole evening. But since we had been in a Meeting Hall, I might as well call it a meeting. In fact, it should be called a meeting, with or without a meeting hall, because the contents of our dialogue were weighty enough to be tagged ‘important’. Finally, I understood the severity of the situation I had gotten myself into. You would think that being Cursed is the worst that can happen to you until you’re told that your deliverer was the same person that caused you to be cursed in the first place. Fate is really playing games with me. I know I had once played a similar game, but I’m done. I don’t want to play reckless games anymore. The Ugly Old Witch had said getting with Cayden would fix everything and I had replied to her with 15 words. “I would prefer to die of this torment than to get back with that Monster.” Count it. It’s fifteen words, and I meant every single one of them. Getting back with Cayden would be a to
{Isla’s POV} I took my time turning around to meet him. I already knew who I was expected to see. “What did you say?” I asked as my eyes met his. He didn’t spare a second of silence. “I said, I think it would be better if we took the North paths. We can catch up to the Rogues faster.” He said, his tone cold. He wasn’t scared of me and he wanted me to know it. Well, I didn’t want him to fear me. I just wanted him to stay the fuck away from me, but it seems that hope is already tarnished. Sigh. “General Cayden. I believe I didn’t ask you for your suggestion or contribution to the mapping schemes for this mission. So I’ll advise you, for future sake, to keep your mouth shut and focus on following my orders.” I dumbed the words on him and continued to the supplies table, leaving him there standing. I didn’t want to get too angry. Intense emotions, the Witch had warned, could get my tantrums fired up. I hissed at his guts as I packed up my bag. There were chips and cracker snacks
{Isla’s POV} Would I be required to sleep next to him too? No. Hell, no! The Witch lady had only said he should lay a touch on me anytime I was about to create chaos. Which happens anytime I think too intensely about the Mating moon night or feel any strong emotion. Which can’t practically happen while I’m asleep. So… I don’t need to be near Cayden to sleep. Phew. That realization gave me a breather. I’d rather end my own life than sleep near that Wretch. I’ll never be— Okay, this is no time for loathsome confessions. I need to sleep. I took out, unfolded, and spread my sleeping bag on the buffalo grass beneath my feet. The atmosphere was cold and windy now but some Warriors had set a campfire near my axis so that it took the temperature to equilibrium. Cozy equilibrium. I looked around. It was dark now but there were two other Campfires at some other strategic points and I was at the heart of everything. The warriors had naturally set up camp around me. It was their
{Isla’s POV} The Wind was taunting but the air was tense. Everyone was on high alert, staring in the direction of the rustling, ready to scrag anything or anyone that would stumble out. Yes, we might have just been set up for an ambush but it didn’t mean we would let fear consume us. But fear was consuming me in a way. This was my first mission and It couldn’t go badly. I needed to prove to my Dad that I could lead my people to victory and yet, here we are. We took our battle stance boldly and awaited the doom or victory that was about to come. The bushes rustled roughly again and whether I liked it or not, whether I was scared or not, I needed to make the first move. I needed to be the leader I was supposed to be. I paced towards the area and gestured three other Werewolves to inch towards the second area. With the noise, it didn’t seem like our attackers had numbers. Maybe they were spies and this wasn’t an ambush. But there was only one way to find out. My claws were cu
{Isla’s POV} It was tickling and gentle. It took its time to wet my clothes and bathe my hands with its warmth. My Blood! I wasn’t certain of the instance as any pain I was supposed to feel was lost in the shouts of the people around me. It was lost in my confusion. One second, a child was smiling at me and the next second, red. I was sure a part of me had been punctured but it hadn’t fully registered to me. I felt numerous hands tie onto my throat with haste and almost immediately, I was taking from being vertically oriented to being horizontal. I was placed on the ground. Several faces dug into my field of view blocking my perfect view of the sky. I could visibly tell that those faces were screaming out words as their mouths and lips were bouncing roughly up and down, but I couldn’t focus my ears on perceiving. It felt like my ears were covered with bubbles. The faces continued shouting their inaudible words however and they started wrapping my body with clothes— maybe my n
{Isla’s POV} Blood was still spilling from the body whose head I literally just squeezed to a snap and everyone was still staring at me, staring at me and the evidence of my brutality. None of them expected me to be this savage. I didn’t too. I couldn’t understand what had come over me, what had possessed me, ‘cause I knew I wasn’t going to snap off her neck. But I did. Cayden was still standing before me so by default, my eyes were still on him, and slowly I watched his hint of surprise melt into a sharp smirk. Why was he smirking? He answered my mental question. “Looks like you’re not as weak as I thought.” He said, still housing the smirk. He was praising me? For acting beastly? I motioned to reply to him but I reminded myself of the prominent issue at hand. I swiveled to face the warriors. “Everyone, settle and rest for the evening. Our search continues at dawn. All Generals, follow me.” I voiced and started towards a corner where the bushes seemed thicker. Will it be w
{Isla’s POV} So there was Huut, Ezekiel, Damien, James, Jack, Charles, Brian and… What’s the last one again? Fuebol. I’m talking about the Generals. Those are their names, according to General Raand. I finally know all of their names in my head— I’m rocking this princess thing. It’s just ten eight names, Isla. We were on our way to meet the “Praised Brothers”. The Rogues had willingly agreed to take us to their Rogue base, where all the Rogues were. Something about that scares me. But we were prepared nonetheless. Most of our injured warriors had healed and we had only lost three men, so we were still a force to be feared. I hope. We were marching through another route now. The Rogues had taken us off our map course as they led us through a much different path. Their hands were tied with thick ropes and they were made to pace before us. But they weren’t pacing. They were almost jugging and it made it seem like they couldn’t wait for us to meet their people. Like they were
{Isla’s POV} So, three problems! Problems that could put us on the other end of Victory if we weren’t careful. Everyone was waiting for me now. Waiting for me to order the attack on the enemies we so desperately abhorred. I scanned the area. It was more coordinated than I expected a Rogue camp to be. I mean, these guys were lawless malefactors who didn’t fancy societal dictations. Yet, here they were acting civil. Something about everything wasn’t right— I inched my gaze to a side and saw some Rogues smoking in a tent and two others smashing at a corner. Rogue behavior. —Or maybe I’m just overreacting. I gestured for the numbers on my left to make a small arc around the camp and told the ones on my right to do the same. It was time to surprise them. Once we were in position, I instructed that we begin sneaking through the grasses. Everything Combat classes had taught me, everything my Dad had imbibed in me, guided my every action as I led our army into the enemies' keep. The
{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