As Aliya had mentioned, there was indeed a huge crowd outside the palace of Cessi all because of me. They all wanted to see the Omega that was mated to their beloved crown prince. Alexander walked next to me, holding me by my hand as we headed towards the carriage. There were three carriages aligned next to some of the Cessi palace guards. Aliya was to ride along with Alexander two knights. Julian and his wife had some things to sort out in Cessi so they decided to stay back. As I was about to enter into the carriage with Alexander, I felt a tug by my leg. I stopped walking, so did Alexander. Our attention was drawn to an elderly she-wolf who had managed to breach the guard barricade. Her appearance was striking, dressed in a tattered red gown with silvery, unkempt hair. "Leave my princess," she shouted, laying low on the floor. I wondered how she passed through the guards who had formed a barricade around the crowd. Then I figured she crawled her way through them. Two palace guard
A full week had elapsed since my eventful journey to Cessi, leaving me still awash in the aftermath of the surprising news regarding my ‘mate' bond with Calixto. I also couldn't forget the stare in Chiara-serafina's eyes as I left Cessi with Alexander. Furthermore, a torrent of work emanating from the council had inundated Alexander, focusing on the dissolution of our matrimonial bond. Amidst these whirlwinds of change, a beacon of solace entered my life in the form of Rhea, whom I had affectionately adopted. Remarkably, Amelia, despite the initially unappealing sight of Rhea in her Lynx form, extended a warm embrace, swiftly inviting her into our familial fold. The children, close in age, swiftly forged an unshakable bond. In the mere span of a week from their serendipitous meeting, Amelia seemed attuned to Rhea's every thought, surmising her unexpressed desires without the need for written communication. I promptly enrolled Rhea in a sign language class, and to my astonishment, Amel
As I languished in the echoes of Sophia's profound words, my thoughts were unrelenting, even as I observed Amelia tenderly grooming Rhea's velvety coat. The clock struck midnight, a time far beyond the girls' bedtime, yet our conversation had captivated us to such a degree that the passage of time slipped away unnoticed.Once Amelia was done brushing Rhea's hair, I tucked the girls to sleep. It was my first time tucking them to sleep, and I'd only done so because Amelia requested me to and I didn't have it in me to decline her. "Gentle dreams," I whispered, bestowing delicate pecks upon their drowsy foreheads. Drained from the day's events, their weary countenances morphed into dreamy smiles, signifying imminent slumber. With a final sweep of the room, I put off the lights and departed.I decided to head back to my room and as I passed by Alexander's room, which was next to mine, I noticed his knights weren't by his door. That meant, Alexander himself wasn't home yet. A week had pass
With each passing moment, my heart raced as our connection intensified. The taste of Alexander's lips, a tantalizing blend of spicy peppers and subtle sweetness, set my whole being ablaze. It was a kiss that rendered me temporarily paralyzed, with jelly-like legs that relied solely on his hand around my waist for support. The sensation was nothing short of euphoric, and in that moment, I became addicted to the intoxicating thrill of his touch. Despite the warning signs emanating from my senses, I hesitated to pull away, yearning for an eternal union with him.Inevitably, a desperate moan escaped my lips as the kiss deepened, igniting a dormant fire within me. Alexander's hand gently caressed, starting from my face and gradually descending to my neck, sending shivers down my spine. Driven by instinct, I found myself instinctively wrapping my hands around his neck, pulling him closer in a passionate embrace. I was a living contradiction, allowing myself to succumb to his desires while k
As darkness enveloped my surroundings, I found myself in an unexplainable dilemma, devoid of any recollection of how I arrived there. The disorienting atmosphere felt eerily surreal, accompanied by a tantalizing medley of scents - a subtle fusion of oil, earthy wood, verdant grass, aromatic herbs, and damp moss. Suddenly, a gentle touch laid upon my back, jolting me with a surge of shock, causing me to hastily assume a defensive stance. To my astonishment, it was the older woman, whose presence had appeared before me on the day I left Cessi in Alexander's care. She held a flambeau to her countenance, casting striking illumination upon the obscure space we now occupied. It was then that I realized our location - a basement that transcended all ordinary basements, for it was the mythical dragon dungeon. One I only heard about. "The Devil himself dwells among us and you are well acquainted with his presence!" The woman uttered in a deep voice, fixing her cloudy, cataract-filled gaze up
The council room exuded an icy chill, its atmosphere crisp and penetrating. The room was well lit, the brightness cascading down upon the old souls that filled the room. They were not mere individuals, but rather elders who had graced the earth with their presence for nearly a century. My father, Alpha king Benetton, was seated beside the esteemed sage Bernadette. While I sat in between Alexander and Calixto, trembling with the weight of the moment, and the honey scent emanating from Calixto just made me more uncomfortable.A hushed silence enveloped the room, everyone aware of the importance of the gathering. All eyes were fixed upon sage Bernadette, awaiting for her to say the first words. Her eyes were closed, creating an aura of mystery and contemplation, while her scepter was held against her face. It seemed as though time held its breath, waiting for the sage to break the silence.I glanced over at Alexander. His eyes were set on the old sage, and I noticed the crimson gleam in
The council didn't seem pleased with Alexander's choice of words, it was obvious with the way they tried to rally him. I, on the other hand, had my jaw on the floor. I couldn't stop thinking about what he said. My eyes remained fixated on Alexander as he acted very unbothered. He wanted to fuck my brains out? His choice of words never ceased to amaze me, and I wondered if he really meant what he said. We were just getting to know each other over again, starting off on the right footing, and learning to be affectionate towards one another. . .but sex?It wasn't that I didn't desire intimacy with Alexander; I simply believed that I wasn't quite ready for sex yet. Also, I didn't think the weapon dangling in-between Alexander's leg could fit into me. Just the thought of that ‘bazooka’ in me was enough to send chills down my spine. My father's laughter reverberated through the room, momentarily silencing everyone. The council had their eyes on him, including sage Bernadette who was now spo
Due to my father's request, Alexander and I were now seated across a desk in his chamber while he sat across us. The doors to my father's chambers were closed, even the windows were tightly closed, restricting any form of ventilation. Although, I could see the sun beginning to set through the window. After an intense conversation between Calixto, Alexander, and I, we ended up leaving the council room. Calixto retreated to the quarters in the palace, one he planned on staying for the next one month, until the duel between him and Alexander. And regarding my question to Alexander, he promised to tell me everything I needed to know about him when we were back at the white pack. I didn't question him any further, deciding to put my trust in his words.I felt my heart constrict against its cage, and I released a low moan. "Are you okay?" Alexander asked, staring at me with eyes filled with concern. My father's worried gaze was on me also. Nodding my head, I assured them. "Yes, I am.""Bu
I continued to scream as the two guards entered into the room with panic written across their faces. The pain I was feeling in my belly felt like a strong menstrual cramp that got progressively more and more intense as time went on. One of the guard helped me steady my movement as I spoke through my pain. "I need a physician. The baby. . .I think it's coming already." "Lord Dhruv needs to be aware of this," one of the guards, the brawny one, told the skinny looking one. "I'll be back," the skinny guard left while the brawny one helped me lay on the bed. He was still panic-stricken as he watched me whirl around in pain on the bed. A loud moan came out of my mouth as I felt my abdomen contract. It wasn't even up to a minute that the skinny guard left, but he soon returned along with Aliya, the physician and for the first time in months I saw Dhruv, standing with a dangerous aura outside the dungeon as he watched me swirl around in pain on the bed. The physician wasn't alone this
PRESENT TIME — ANNALISA POV."A war is coming, Annalisa. It's only you that can help win that war if only you open your heart. Embrace the red apple and pluck out the golden one. I promise, more fruits will grow on your tree." It was that same old woman again, the one I'd met back in Cessi. She was dressed in a tattered red gown with silvery, unkempt hair. She was blind, staring down at me with cataract eyes. "Pluck out the golden Apple, Annalisa. You have to. If you don't, the devil will win." I was trapped in a dark place, with the only light in the room illuminated on the older woman before me. My heart was beating fast out of fear as I tried backing away from the woman, but I couldn't, I was held down on a spot with an iron grip. The older woman's grip was strong. For a fragile adult she had a titanium grip."Guard your heart against the Devil, Annalisa," she admonished, her grip on me tightening.I winced."The Devil himself dwells among us and you are well acquainted with his p
Thirty whole days had passed since the last night I'd seen Alexander. He had promised to come back to the palace with Alphonse to help terminate the pregnancy, yet, he was nowhere to be seen. My mind was in a turbulence as I tried to think of how to get rid of the growing life inside of me. With each day the child lived in me, I dreaded the emotions that would want me to keep it. The palace was in a disarray. Some palace knights had refused to take orders from my father anymore. The prophecy shared by lady Bernadette had traveled across the Kingdom. The people of Trinigad were beginning to call for my father to abdicate his position as Alpha king.There was a whisper in the air as I looked towards my window. The curtains were flapping with the wind. I noticed the once beautiful postcard-perfect night had now become a dome of dark nimbostratus clouds, domineering over the full moon that hung in the night sky as a mandela. It was obvious what was to come, a heavy rain accompanied by th
Within the palace, there was a heavy turmoil, one that left my father restless and snappy. The whole council was against us, and our rulership, especially after the prophecy given by sage Bernadette. The knights were slowly turning their loyalty to my father's beta — Benetton. I knew, without a doubt, that it was only a matter of time before a coup broke out.I laid still on my bed as the moonlight shone through my window, the wind gently flapping the curtains. It was almost the rainy season, the moisture in the air gave that away. As a Lycan, I hated the rain. The rain, rather than a blessing from the moon goddess, was a shackle to we Lycans. We tend to lose two thirds of our power whenever it rains. I held on to a document in my hand, glancing through it with a scowl on my face. The document was a photocopy of the council letter to my father, requesting my father to renounce his position as Alpha king. My father had ceased to say anything regarding the matter. Instead, he had locked
Three months had passed since Alexander and I became couples. Three months since the first time Alexander and I slept together. Ever since then, sleeping together had become a thing of norm between us, albeit we had to keep our relationship a secret. I couldn't even tell Sophia.Although people raised an eye after Alexander mate appointment because he didn't pick a mate. He was quick to address the situation, telling the masses that he was in no hurry to pick a mate, and he was awaiting the moon goddess fated mate. His parents said nothing about that, but Alexander did tell me they were furious.A sigh left my lips as I applied an ointment on the exterior of my anus. I winced as the cold cream came in contact with my skin. My ass had been hurting since the last time Alexander and I had sex, which was almost a week ago. Alexander was gentle with me, but his thrust was rough and that could be accounted for why my backside was hurting. The pain was unbearable, and I had first assumed I h
It was only when I felt Alexander wet kisses on my collar bone did I realize that he had unbuttoned my shirt. I tensed a bit, feeling insecure as his eyes met the full moon birthmark on my chest. There was an unreadable expression in his eyes, one that hiked up my concerns about my status as an omega. I wondered if he was repulsed by me, but my concerns were wiped away once his lips fell on my chest.His tongue traced the birthmark, leaving behind a trail of spit. My heartbeat kept on running at a fast pace, akin to the heartbeat of one running a marathon.Alexander took off my shirt completely, leaving me half naked on the grass. I had barely been able to comprehend everything that was happening when his lips captured my nipples. Even though I was an omega, my physique was like that of a man. I had no breasts, but it seemed like Alexander didn't mind as he concentrated solely on my chest, biting, suckling, and teasing my nipples. I moaned, unashamedly, as he assaulted my nipples. "I
I didn't know where I planned on going, but I followed my intuition and kept on walking deep into the woods until I luckily stumbled upon a pathway. I was angry at my sister. More like, I was angry at myself. Angry at the stupid feelings growing in my heart towards Alexander. I was even angrier that I couldn't do anything to stop those feelings. However, amidst the anger in my heart, there was one other emotion that remained prominent; and that was confusion. Alexander had kissed me. He had declared his love towards me. Yet, that same man was currently searching for his mate. What happened to. . .to us? The kiss we shared? The heart to heart conversations? Was it all just a ploy to play with my feelings? Was he not being genuine towards me? As I kept on running on the pathway, I eventually reached a dead end. I stopped running, standing akimbo style as I panted, taking my gaze around to observe my surroundings. I knew I was already in the white pack territory, but everywhere was mos
I whistled as the carriage began to move. It was finally the day of Alexander's mate appointment, and sitting next to Sharon made me feel nervous for a lot of reasons. I also couldn't stop thinking about what my mother had said about Sharon wanting to pick Alexander as her erasthai. It bothered me to know that my sister was also in love with the man my heart was after, but what hurt me the most was Alexander's betrayal. . .could I really call it a betrayal when we weren't even official? But he confessed to me. He told me he loved me, but. . .it was. . .it was all a lie. "Stop whistling, it's annoying," Sharon complained from where she sat next to me. I turned my gaze to her and saw her with a scowl on her face as she stared at me, fanning herself. "Your whistling is driving me to sleep."I didn't give her any response as I wondered why she was even riding the same carriage with me. She had the option of taking another carriage, yet she decided to ride with me. I knew whatever the re
I stood on my feet, holding the book close to my chest as I heard Alexander say those words. "And then you chose me?" My words came out as a question. "Why me?"He cupped my cheeks. "Only an Omega, the embodiment of the moon goddess, can successfully bear the child of a god," he explained, and I was finally coming to terms with everything. I felt like I could finally understand Alexander. "I do admit we started off on the wrong foot, and that's because I find it difficult to express love.""But you did mention that our marriage was of convenience, and that your heart already belonged elsewhere," I reminded him, feeling a pang of jealousy. An intense spark ignited in his eyes as he looked at me, causing my body to tingle. Suddenly, he chuckled and retrieved something from his pocket, passing it to me. It was a necklace adorned with a portrait of Amelia. "This is your sister."With a nod, he continued, "I once believed it was impossible to love more than one person simultaneously, so I