Chapter Seventy-FourLucan Trinigad. The dining hall buzzed with activity, filled with the cheerful chatter of pack members and the playful laughter of Caden's lively children. The atmosphere was brimming with a warmth and vitality that I had rarely experienced in my own home.Seated at a sturdy, long wooden table, Alexander and I indulged in a hearty meal while the vibrant conversations of the pack members around us buzzed like an orchestra of curiosity. The topic of mates and relationships was the focal point, and it seemed everyone had a question or a story to share.A middle-aged woman with a warm, inviting smile approached us, her eyes gleaming with friendly intrigue. "Alexander," she began, "have you been fortunate enough to find your mate?"Alexander paused for a moment, a playful glint in his eyes. "Not yet," he replied, his tone light. "Still keeping my eyes open for the one, hopefully I see the person on time."The middle-aged woman beamed at Alexander, her eyes dancing wit
Lucan Trinigad. It was a new day and I found solace in the heart of the forest, the lush greenery serving as a soothing backdrop to my racing thoughts. My body moved methodically, muscles contracting and releasing as I engaged in a rigorous workout. Yet, I couldn't escape the lingering remnants of yesterday's dream, like a stubborn stain refusing to be scrubbed away.The dream was a reminder of my own shortcomings, the disappointment that always coursed through me whenever I was caught in the act. I couldn't deny it any longer; the emotions I harbored for Alexander ran far deeper than mere care and concern. I was in love with him.As I continued my exercises, my mind drifted back to a conversation I had in the dream this morning again, one that had left my heart aching. I recalled the sincerity in his eyes as he spoke, his voice carrying the weight of his own doubts."Lucan," he had said, his voice soft but filled with uncertainty, "I don't know if I'm ready for this... for us."I ha
Two months later, when I thought my feelings for Alexander would only diminish the more I got to know him and see him as just a male werewolf, I had been fooling myself. However, I couldn't fool my heart. It still thugged whenever I was in his presence. His mere presence was enough to evoke a reaction within me, and recently I had started seeing him more often in my dreams.What bothered me the most was the fact that my dreams weren't normal or what society would deem as acceptable. Wet dreams involving two people of different sex was deemed normal, but between two men? I could tell something was definitely wrong with me. I felt Sophia's hand on my shoulder, snapping me out of my daze. I had been in my garden immediately after breakfast. I had no work to attend to so I decided to while away my time tending to the flowers in my garden. Besides, I had woken up ashamed of myself because of a wet dream I had about Alexander Kuiper."I was in your room, but I didn't see you there. I only
Alexander sent me a white envelope through Barton, one of the guards in the palace, and I had received the envelope with a joyous heart. I opened the envelope within the confines of my room, and read the lengthy letter thrice because I almost couldn't believe what had been written in it. He was personally inviting me to Sophia's wedding as his esteemed guest. I placed the letter on the bed next to me as I thought about the content. Of course, I planned on going to Sophia's wedding even without Alexander's invitation. After all, Sophia was my best friend and I ought to be there on her wedding day. Yet, the fact that Alexander had written a letter with his hands just to invite me to my best friend's wedding personally fueled some sort of hope within me. Was he trying to invite me for a date? I wondered. I wished I could talk to someone about all what I was feeling, but I had no one to talk to or ask for advice from. Sophia and I hadn't even seen each other since yesterday morning af
Alexander sent me a white envelope through Barton, one of the guards in the palace, and I had received the envelope with a joyous heart. I opened the envelope within the confines of my room, and read the lengthy letter thrice because I almost couldn't believe what had been written in it. He was personally inviting me to Sophia's wedding as his esteemed guest. I placed the letter on the bed next to me as I thought about the content. Of course, I planned on going to Sophia's wedding even without Alexander's invitation. After all, Sophia was my best friend and I ought to be there on her wedding day. Yet, the fact that Alexander had written a letter with his hands just to invite me to my best friend's wedding personally fueled some sort of hope within me. Was he trying to invite me for a date? I wondered. I wished I could talk to someone about all what I was feeling, but I had no one to talk to or ask for advice from. Sophia and I hadn't even seen each other since yesterday morning af
The stars were out to play with the moon as Alexander led me outside the hall, taking me to wherever I didn't know, and in all honesty I didn't care as long as I got to be with him. He excited me in ways I couldn't really explain.Once he left my hand, I felt a bit frustrated because I wanted to continue feeling the warmth of his palm against mine. We were in a field, one close to a paddock and there was a vast land before us. Alexander sat on the grass, looked back at me as he tapped on the empty space beside him. "Come sit next to me," he said.I didn't argue, nor did I waste anytime in falling next to his side. I sat down quietly, enjoying the opportunity of getting to sit next to someone I loved. He said nothing as he stared at the stars in the sky, while I quietly enjoyed the view that was him. The way the wind blew against his hair made him look like an ethereal being that was out of this world.However, I couldn't help but wonder why he had taken me out of the wedding hall whe
"Is this truly your real appearance?" I turned the page towards Alexander, my eyes wide with disbelief.He deliberated for a moment before affirming, nodding gracefully. "Yes, it is indeed my true being."On the third page of the first ever version of the enchiridion was a daunting portrait of a deity which greeted my eyes. It was an image of Dhruv. The god possessed a monstrous horn at the center of his head, fiery red eyes that burned with an intensity unmatched, and a velvety long midnight blue hair cascading down to the ground. His ethereal skin as white as freshly fallen snow. Dhruv, in his majestic Lycan form, emanated an intriguing air of allure, mingling danger with mischief. A smattering of blood marred his midnight blue fur, evoking both the primal beast and the insatiable thirst for blood. This was the true appearance of Alexander, a god-like being that defied my wildest imagination. I had envisioned his true form to be pure, innocent, and resplendent, far from the daunting
Even as I tended to the flowers in my garden, I couldn't stop thinking about the kiss. It still felt like a dream. The kiss Alexander and I shared felt surreal. His lips on mine was the most beautiful thing I had ever felt. He was gentle, nibbling carefully on my lower lips. I had always imagined Alexander returning my feelings and confessing them to me, but never did I think it would become a dream come true. Seven days had gone by since our first kiss, and I couldn't get the feel of his lips away from mine. Every night I dreamt about the kiss. Even in the presence of my father, my mind replayed moments from the kiss. It had also been seven days since I heard from him last. I was so flustered by the kiss that I could barely hold eye contact. I had pushed Alexander away, ran off the field back into the hall and out again into the carriage that brought me back to the palace. I didn't even get to see Sophia, nor did I even tell Sharon that I was leaving the party — she still holds a gr
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