NEILLA'S POVBefore she gave a reply, a very flustered looking Stella stormed in. She was vibrating from the tips of her hair down to her brown heeled boots. Her action had us springing up from our seats in shock. One look in her eyes and I concluded that all was not well."Neilla! You should see this."Without thinking, I made my way with haste out of the room, Mirald on my heels. A small circle had gathered in the centre of one of the rooms. That's when I noticed how quiet this part of the building had gone. Like a shush fell over the room.Even the younger pups had fear in their eyes, evident in the glossy shimmer on their lower eyelids. They were terrified of whatever had befallen the victim. I pushed myself into the middle of the circle to witness for myself.True to my fear, it was one of the pups I'd grown to develop a mother-son relationship with and loved to death. It was Ethel. I flew into panic mode, my heart nearly having a heart attack when I realized he was no longer br
RYLAN'S POVI walked out of yet another unsuccessful meeting with the council members whose disagreeable nature had began to tick me off in the wrong way. This time, it was just me in attendance which ended in a total flop. As always, I lost my temper, there by losing my control and the beast within snatched the chance of my slipup to grab one of the elderly men by his neck.It resulted in a query from them. Old suckers!Whoever brought up the notion that elders were the epitome of wisdom had to have been blind drunk and stark stupid at the time to suggest that.The thudding sounds of my combat boot bounced off the walls of the long hallway in a resounding echo. I took a fleeting look at the spot where Neilla and I had shared that fleeting intimate moment which lasted at barely two minutes. All that came to mind was the feel of her body pressed into mine, nothing but proof that her rightful place was in my arms."And right beside you to rule as Luna." My wolf interjected. Ever since t
RYLAN'S POVThere had been a caught of one of those dreadful vermin that terrified the pack. The entire process of the capture supervised by Zadik and Andros. They usually never got along well because Andros talked more than his hands could get busy while Zadik was more of the complete opposite.Perhaps I did it on purpose to spite Zadik who'd been acting more reserved than usual. Especially around me, deliberately using the term 'your majesty' simply to spite me. Indeed, in my perspective, he deserved to be paired with Andros.The information which Venn shared with me turned out to be authentic after all, coupled with strictly adhering to the instructions given and throwing tactics in the mix. Not to mention those demons were downright deceitful, having the habit of shape shifting into their last victim just to lure an unsuspecting one in.Currently, we were in the underground laboratory keeping close watch on the animal and to our surprise it has done over five different shape shif
RYLAN'S POVThe end of the hallway had never stretched further than this minute. It was like a never ending tunnel, narrow and cold stretching into eternity.Okay, maybe that was exaggeration but still."How did it happen? Sheila ought to be here as planned, isn't she?" I queried, my voice deepening by several tones attempting to betray me. Since my mother's death, I lost the ability to feel the pain of anything else. Hell, I even forgot how to feel love.That would change after now.The soldier moved ahead, not stopping for once to look but replied quickly. "She is. She has taken her position right beside the alpha's sickbed, your Majesty."His reply did not pacify me completely, still it managed to take a little weight off my chest to know that he was at least in capable hands. "Good."No words were exchanged as we continued on our way briskly to my father's quarters. It bothered me to know that despite our almost altercation, Zadik still followed right behind me. A small feeling of
NEILLA'S POVOne month after...The news of the Alpha's passing had of course taken everyone by surprise. Although his death was inevitable, it came as a staggering blow to us having to lose another selfless leader. Now it was up to Rylan to make the pack proud or cause members of the pack to renounce it.Still, the late Alpha's presence would be greatly missed. Rylan was doing a terrific job at curtailing the rate of massacre forcing the wolves into relocation. I wasn't going to pretend that he wasn't doing his best despite how he'd hurt me.The goddess only gave options for compatibility there by making it our choice if we accepted the bond or declined. I was forced to resign to fate. After all, Venn was doing a far better job as Luna than I would have."Stop talking down on yourself, Reneilla. You haven't fully embraced me and the possibly of what we can achieve if we reach our full potential together." My wolf protested in my head. Somehow, we'd gotten over our differences and she
NEILLA'S POV Incredulity crossed her features as she gaped at me. She was having so much trouble trying to believe it. Hell, I didn't even believe it until days after I realized he was serious about his decision."Oh my goddess, that's terrible. I thought you and the Alpha were mates. Nancy never forgot to talk our ears off whenever she got the chance to gossip."I rolled my eyes. Trust Nancy to be the one to sound my trumpet. I set the plate containing one last uneaten cookie, losing all appetite. My stomach churned again and the discomfort I was feeling must have reflected in my face for Stella to scoot closer to me."Are-- are you alright?" Her hand was placed on my lower back as I bent over."I'm fine. I'm just-- it's the pups acting up, I guess." I gasped out, forcing myself to concentrate on my breathing patterns in order to ease the storm of negative emotions rushing through me."No you're not. You look quite the opposite. Come, get up." She rose from her seat, grabbing my ar
NEILLA'S POVThen why did it sting much harder than it should, I mused, standing rooted to a spot. For a brief moment, I was stunned into immobility, holding onto Ethel like he was the anchor that could keep me staying afloat in the billowing seas of turmoil I was tossed into.The voices seemed to gain an increasing tempo, accompanied by the sound of shoes crunching the little pebbles on the soil until all sounds ceased altogether. Automatically, I swivelled my head to gaze at the owners of the voices, the bearers of the news that had stopped my brain from carrying out simple tasks like telling my feet to move.I watched all the colors drained from their faces as they stared back at me. They surely wasn't expecting me to be the one they'd bump into after their little rendezvous to make me their topic of discussion.And of course, it'd be Nancy heading the meeting. Her eyes were cast on her shoes in shame? No, Nancy didn't do shame. She gossiped with no remorse to anyone who cared to l
RYLAN'S POVThe journey to the Bloodtrail pack took us more than five hours to arrive the borders and three to get to the city's central where their Alpha, General Vlad, had his throne situated. It took five hours because we made use of the jeeps they sent to ensure smoothness of our movement.There were four other cars going ahead and two right behind us. Vlad insisted he would see to our protection and general welfare to and fro his pack. Of course, that came after several persuasion on his part.Not like we couldn't afford to get us some jeeps, however, it was against the guiding rules which our founding ancestors laid down for us to live by. It was also also the reason why we seemed to keep our distance away from mixing with the human world.Nonetheless, I admit that I had never seen anything compared to the speed of the car. All we had to do was remain seated as it drove itself to it's designated destination. The only hitch we experienced on our way was the occasional stops we ma
NEILLA'S POV "You were saying, sweet uncle?" I smiled sweetly at him, enjoying the look on his face. For the first time ever, he bore an expression other than arrogance and it thrilled me to no end. Setting the book down without taking my hands off it nor my eyes off him, I ripped each page disregarding how it scalded my palms. I would heal eventually so it bothered me less. "No! Anything but that, please." He crumbled to his knees, as he begged. "Anything but that. That is all I have of my mate." "Wrong! She did not ask you to avenge her or go taking packs forcefully." I debated in an anger that led me yanking off more pages in quick succession. "If you have lost a mate, you would understand." That touched a sore spot in me and I paused in the middle of my actions. "Lies!" Nia spat out for the first time since I came back to life. "In that book is all the secrets of his existence as a hybrid alongside all the monsters that do his bidding. Do not fall for his wi
NEILLA'S POV I broke down, in shameful admittance of my failure to her. Everyone spoke of my mother in reverence in awe and when they knew I was her blood, they had exalted expectations of me. Even I had expectations of myself only to be slapped with the wicked truth. I was nothing compared to who my mother was before her death. "That's where you got it wrong, my daughter." My mother cooed, as she framed her face again with her soft hands. "You don't compare to me, I don't compare to you. I let sentiments get me into a trap that cost me my family, that cost me you." "If I had killed Vincent a long time ago, when I should have, you won't be in this mess. But I didn't, because he was family to me. He was my only sibling." She revealed, avoiding my face but laying strict attention to my hair. Was it something about my hair or something about the words she was saying? I wondered, pulling out of her hold. "Vincent was your brother and he killed you?" What kind of blood relation was h
NEILLA'S POV"That's not true!" Nia pulled my arm, trying her best to dissuade me from confronting Vincent by myself. "You can't be the Alpha's daughter, you don't know what you're saying!" We turned to her, a buzz of energy humming around us as we replied her. "It is true. If you hadn't said that lie, we wouldn't have been brought to our fate."We turned our focus back to Vincent who slowly descended the short flight of stairs, hands behind his back and that cynical smile on his face.The model definition of a psychopath. "No, Neilla. Let me handle him. Save the kids." Lykos ordered as he appeared by us in the blink of an instant. "I said this is my fight!" We roared suddenly. Frightened, the triplets scampered to Lenora quickly. "Stay out of my business and go be with them!" We warned with our voice ringing out clear.The vein in his neck ticked, his jaw did the same. He was angry with us but who cared? We wanted to get things done with once and for all. "Now, now." Venn's faux
NEILLA'S POV"I can't." Nia said, stopping us in our tracks. Before we started to raise our claws, impatient to strike her down and let ourselves out of the cell, she quickly filled in her reasons."If we do so together, Vincent might discover a little too early of my betrayal to him.""Like you haven't betrayed your own people already."Nia all but snapped at us. "We have already established that, Neilla. You don't have to bring it up everytime." She sighed, "As I was saying, you have to be in here for a few minutes while I go up alone. If the coast is clear, I'll send one of my trusted persons to come get you.""Let's hope they don't betray you too." My wolf spat out cynically before retreating back into the backseat of my head as I took rein now.I felt no remorse for my wolf's words. It was the truth anyway.She said nothing else in reply, went out of the room. Lenora proceeded to secure the locks from within and together we sat in the dim light of the lamp, waiting for her arriv
NEILLA'S POV My ears picked up on the sounds of commotion from way above us. Nia must have as well because she paused briefly so she could tilt her head to the side and listen. "What is that?" I asked in alarm. She shook her head, rose from her seat. "I cannot say for sure." She ventured close to the heavy doors. "If my guess is right, then Vincent, or should I say Lonnie, has lost his mind yet again." "Tell me, does this happen frequently?" I quizzed, my eyes following her every move even as I paid attention to the distant commotion. "You don't want to know how many times he loses his mind in a day. Whatever character he might have been displaying to you was a faux." She added, finally coming back to sit. The noise had all but stopped. However, it was reduced. I found that the kids were no longer playing with their toys. They probably heard the commotion too. I thought back to the short time Vincent add I spent in each other's presence. I found it almost impossible to
NEILLA'S POVNia arose from her position to give I and the triplets a moment to ourselves while she stepped to the darker room with the human girl, Lenora. The kids made sure to talk my ear off with half baked stories of their adventures, the friends they made who were just the fake servants that abducted them that day "I told them about our birthday." Jade was saying. She found a spot in the curve of my arm and settled there. "How aunt Nia told us to follow some people so she could have time with us."Her story drew my interest, same time repelled me. Did I really want to know how they were abducted? The truth of how it really happened?I decided against it. "That's enough, Jade. I'm glad you're here with me, alright?" She nodded and as she did so, the tendrils that were peeking from her crown, bounced."When mean uncle said you wouldn't come back to us, it hurt my feelings so much. I yelled at him and told him he was wrong. He was laughing at me." Juno said, his face reflecting t
NEILLA'S POVI hastened my steps, pushing to meet up with Nia who had become interestingly faster than she was some seconds ago. The servants who saw us coming only took a second to observe me, perhaps out of curiosity, before they immediately lowered their heads.I had seen more than ten of them do the same.What were they scared of?Who was Lonnie?"He's not going to do anything to his sister, is he?" I voiced out my thoughts as we hurried along the hallway that didn't seem to have an end.Nia's grip on my wrist tightened further and she inhaled sharply. "Trust me, you do not want to know."We took the very first turn before getting to the end of the endless hallway. It led us down several stairwells. A few servants met us on their way up. I heard their little whispers as soon as they thought we were out of earshot. "She's going to be in trouble." I managed to catch.I was already in trouble, that was a no-brainer. I was just yet to figure out a way to extricate myself and my tri
NEILLA'S POV.Nia recovered from the shock of seeing me. She turned to the siblings with an angry glare. "What is she doing here? I thought you said you were not going to bring her until you have made a bargain? Why didn't you give me a heads-up first?"Venn leaned back in her seat to regard Nia properly. She plucked one seed of grape and bit into it slowly, taking her time. She dropped the other half of it."I see you have forgotten your place. That is not a problem. Might I remind you that you work for me and not with me and you know what that means, right?" Nia rolled her eyes, nodded all the same. "Still, you should have said something."I didn't even let their conversation come to an end before I started to vent. "Nia, how could you?" We might not have been on cordial terms, but this was an outright betrayal of trust. "We trusted you.""Oh, please." She replied with scorn. "That was you being gullible and that's on you, not me."Everything started to make sense to me. Her sudden
NEILLA'S POVThe long walk from the portal brought us to a yard whose environment brought back a feeling of nostalgia to me. The stranger whose name was Lonnie, walked behind me as Venn went up front. She had reverted to her normal self on the way which I had to admit to myself, was more unnerving. The werewolf façade was a misleading representation of the true nature of her being. There was so much innocence in her pretence than in the form she presented to us.I decided instead that I could deal with the veiny, bloodthirsty vampire that she really was. At least, dealing with people in their true elements made all the work easy.We came to what resembled a throne room with vault ceilings, flower ornaments in each corner, an entire floor of polished marble against which the soles of my boots thudded.There were several paintings of one man whom I guessed was probably the Alpha. With a strong and chiseled jawline, a aqualine nose over a mouth that looked like it said little but promi