VALERIE “Walk faster!” I glanced back at my mother’s pale face as my stepfather dragged me roughly to the car parked in the driveway. I wanted to part my parched lips and inquire from him where we were going with my bags but the fear that tightened my heart didn’t let me speak a word. Instead, I followed him sheepishly like a sheep being led to the slaughterhouse. Ever since my father died and my mother remarried, my life has turned upside-down. I turned into a servant overnight at his arrival, and my helpless mother did nothing but watch me do his bidding. Every day, I wished and hoped that I would finally get out of the house and find a life for myself, the life that I was destined for. And sometimes, when I understand how helpless my mother is, I refrain from the thought of running away. But what can one do? I am confused, helpless, and stuck with a monster my mother brought into our lives. My stepfather shoved me into the passenger's seat and slammed the door
VALERIE I stepped back, gasping loudly in dismay. My eyes gapped at him in fright and disbelief. "What did you just say?" I blurted out. He tilted his head sideways, ignoring my question as he twitched his lips in disgust. Before I could part my lips to say another word, two young men trudged into the room and gripped my arm, pulling me out of the large room roughly. "Stop it! Stop it!" I screamed, trying to break free from their grip which proved futile in the end. "Tell Margaret to get her ready for tonight!" I heard him snap at the guards before spinning around and heading up the stairs. "No, please, hear me out, please!" I screamed for mercy to no avail. The men got to a door and paused; one of them pushed the door open while the other flung me into the damp, cold room. "Wait!" I bellowed and staggered up to my feet, racing for the door. But it was slammed shut before I could touch it. I crouched down to the ground and buried my face in it, sobbing bitterly.
VALERIEMy breath hitched when we got to the large oak doors, madam Margaret stepped back and jerked her head towards the door. “Go in,” she muttered and my heart shrank. My feet froze as I struggled to move closer and push the door open. “Valerie?” Margaret snapped impatiently. “The Alpha doesn't like to be kept waiting,” she added, but no matter how hard I tried, my paralyzed feet wouldn't budge from the spot. I gasped out, my heart thumping loudly in my chest. “Go in!” Margaret repeated, her voice louder than before. I gulped hard and bit my lips before pushing my feet forward. I reached out to open the door, but it pulled open, and Alpha Jonas's face popped out, to my dismay. Anger flickered across his sharp brown eyes as he ran his eyes around my trembling body. “Why is she late?” He sneered in a voice that made me cringe. “Forgive me, Alpha. She is a naive girl,” I heard Margaret reply behind me. “Naive?” He scoffed with disdain laced in his voice. He snapped his
VALERIEMy racing heart only stilled with Alpha Jonas dropped to the ground, unhurt. “Follow me!” He snapped in a hoarse voice, briskly walking into a dark tunnel. Why does he want me to come with him? Why doesn't he let me go and save himself instead? Does he… does he value me? I shook my head at the absurd thought. Not after what he did to me in his room. “Walk faster!” His snap jolted me out of my thoughts. I increased my pace, running at some point to catch up with his fast strides. The body was lying on the floor, and the shadows stuck to my mind, haunting me. The man's face has a striking resemblance to someone that I've come across, but I can't seem to place where I have seen it or who it was. But one thing is certain, he's dead. We kept walking through the dark tunnel till we stopped in front of a door. I stared in astonishment as he dug out a bunch of keys and slipped an old rusting key into the almost invincible keyhole on the door. The door clicked open and h
VALERIE “Have you heard of the Lycan kings?” His voice came out hoarse yet pleasing to my ears. “Huh?” I stuttered and the beat of my heart accelerated. He glanced over at the other man and twitched his lips, leaning closer till our lips were just a hair's breadth away. My body began heating up slowly and my pulse raced. I wanted to move back but the other man was right behind me, compelling me to remain stuck at that spot. I was trapped between these two devilishly handsome and dangerous-looking men. “Who are you two?” My voice quivered as I spoke with a heart gripped with fear. “We just told you, sweetheart,” the one behind me said in a soft singsong voice which strangely sounded appealing to my hearing. “You are his Luna, aren't you, honey?” He muttered in a sultry tone that made my belly knot. Luna? Whose Luna? Alpha Jonas's Luna? No, they're wrong, I'm not his Luna. I shook my head and parted my lips to spill out the truth but a loud thud behind me made m
VALERIE My lips parted yet no words came forth. I was short of words, I was confused. I wanted to speak up for my defense, but I couldn't; it felt like Alpha Jonas's words had paralyzed me. “So, you are his Luna, after all,” Killian said, a mischievous smirk dancing at the corner of his little plump lips. Lucian remained unmoved as he glared coldly at me. “Why did you say you weren't?” He muttered in the iciest voice that I've ever heard. The hoarseness was somehow gone, its absence added fear instead of relief to my soul. “I… I,…” I stammered and glared at Alpha Jonas, hoping he would have a change of heart and tell them who his real Luna was. But the useless devil did nothing of such, instead he pursed his lips in anger and shook his finger accusingly at me. “You lied to them? You told them you weren't the Luna. How shameless can you be, Valerie?” He snapped, calling me by my name.My eyes batted in shock, I was petrified in wonder that I was dumbstruck.The two men stared
VALERIE I stumbled for the fourth time as I ran far off into the woods. I couldn't tell where I was or how I would get out; only one thing stuck to my mind: this was the perfect escape plan, and I had to stick to it no matter what. As I ran, my mind drifted back to those Lycan kings and I felt my heart skip a beat. They must have noticed my absence by now. The thought of them coming after me made me quicken my pace. The cold air grazed my parched skin, stinging me without mercy as my body shuddered from the cold. I sneezed and clenched my belly as it rumbled yet I couldn't stop to catch a breath. My heart froze when I heard a twig snap behind me. I stopped running and listened cautiously for any rattle of leaves but heard nothing. I wanted to continue running, but my wolf, Jade, urged me to stop and listen longer. My heart thumped loudly and my hands shook as I stood in the dark forest. What if it's a wolf hunter? Or worse, the Lycan kings? ‘Jade, I can't wait anymore, I ha
VALERIE “I am not the Luna."A lump formed in my throat as I tried to sink in her words.“You… you are not the Luna?" I found myself sputtering.She smiled and took a step closer. My heart sank when she fell on her knees and bowed her head to the ground.“Forgive me, Luna; I know you've always hated me because the Alpha claimed me too, but it wasn't my fault. I begged him to have mercy, but he wouldn't listen,” she blabbered, and my eyes widened in shock.I turned around, searching for the person she was talking to.But when I saw no one behind me or close by, it dawned on me that she was referring to me.“What… what are you saying? I am not the Luna!" I snapped.I glanced over at Killian and Lucian. I found their amused eyes staring at me.“I…" I trailed off and glared at her.I understood that she wanted to escape Killian and Lucian's wrath. She wanted to put me in her place and make me suffer in her stead.It finally dawned on me that she didn't love her mate, perhaps, that explai
VALERIE I stared at Lucian's bare back, my hand tightened around the handle of the knife. My heart thumped loudly as I took a few steps towards him, my blood boiling in anger, the desire to sink the knife into his chest grew strongly, completely taking over my mind.I wanted to stare at him till he took his last breath; I wanted to watch his dark blood form a deep pool in the room. I wanted freedom and revenge, I was ready to risk my life to destroy him and his brother.I took a deep breath and raised the knife, ready to bring it down to his back. Before the blade could kiss his skin, he spun around, and the knife slipped out of my hand.I gasped out and took a step back, staring at the knife that managed to give me away.His eyes followed mine and he chuckled while staring at the knife.He bent down and picked up the knife then took a few steps towards me, hitting my face with his hot breath.His face held a smirk as he twirled the knife in his hand.“You want to kill me?" He mut
VALERIE I should have been scared at his arrival, but somehow I wasn't. Instead, I was furious for barging into my room unannounced. “The Luna Queen instructed you to stay away from me!" I snapped. He chuckled, slipping his hands into his pants pocket. “The Luna Queen?" He scoffed, and Arlene frowned but tried not to show it. “Have you forgotten what position I hold in the Pack? I am the strongest and highest member of the Blood Moon Pack, I am the Lycan king of the entire wolf kingdom!" He snapped, pride dancing in his gray eyes. I narrowed my eyes in disgust and scoffed to his surprise. “Is that why you're using your power to abuse those beneath you? That isn't power…" I paused, slammed my eyes shut, and, with a thumping heart, spat out the remaining words. “That is foolishness!" Gasps escaped from Arlene and Bianca and my feet froze as I awaited his reaction. I heard a low chuckle and that compelled me to open my eyes. My brows snapped up in surprise when I saw amuseme
VALERIE I didn't want to believe it. I wished it wasn't what was on my mind. “I will protect you, I will make sure no one stops you from leaving this Pack,” his assuring words sent shivers down his spine. I was afraid that he would get into trouble, I knew Lucian and Killian wouldn't let his action slide just like that. “Damion!" Lucian's growl made the windows in the hall burst open. I shuddered in fear, not for my life but for the safety of Damion. I quickly pushed him away, and an alarm spread across my face. “No, Damion, please let it be," I muttered and Damion only scoffed stubbornly and faced Lucian with a frown on his face. “Let go of her hand!" He snapped. I looked down at my hands and realized that Lucian was still holding my wrist while Damion held the other. “Don't cross your limits, Damion, don't you dare!" Killian snapped and Damion faced him boldly. “Do your worst!" He growled in return. Killian clenched his fist and sprinted towards Damion. “Stop it!" The
VALERIE It felt like my whole world crumbled the instant I saw them. “Are you leaving without our permission?" He asked, making chills break out in my body. He frowned deeply at my silence and gripped my chin, digging his fingers into my skin. “Didn't you promise never to step out of this Pack ever again, why are you putting your poor mother in danger?" My heart skipped as his words echoed in my head like a warning. “I… I…" I was too dumbstruck to say a word. He looked up, piercing Bianca with his eyes. Bianca shuddered and cringed back, her eyes filled with fear. “You helped her again, didn't you?" He growled, his eyes fixed on Bianca. Bianca shook her head, her lips trembled in mortification and she staggered back. Lucian let go of me and walked towards her with a clenched fist. I gasped out and gripped his hand, compelling him to stop. “No, she isn't at fault here. I was ordered to leave the Pack!" I screamed out. He craned his head backward and chuckled. “And who
VALERIE My jaws dropped and I stared at the Luna in disbelief.“Huh?" I whispered, wishing she would repeat what she said, but she didn't. Instead, she scowled at me and got up from the throne.As she sauntered towards the doors, she paused but didn't turn around.“You have until tomorrow morning," she said, confirming her previous words.I gasped out and clasped my hand against my mouth. I didn't dare plead with her as she left.“You heard what she said, right? You better leave immediately!" Adriana snarled with a triumphant smirk on her face.“Stop it, Adriana!" Arlene snapped and cast a sympathetic glance at me before dragging her sister off.The pain on my face slowly disappeared and my downcast face lit up. A large grin spread across my face and I chuckled loudly as happiness rippled through my body.The sound of a clap made me spin around. The smile grew wider at the sight of Damion.“You did it," he said, covering the distance between us.My heartbeat increased as I watched hi
VALERIE Her presence made me shudder. I slipped out of Killian's grip and bowed low to the ground.She took a few steps towards us, anger laced against her face.“You…" she paused and swerved her head in another direction.“Isn't that Damion?” She gasped, alarm laced in her voice.The servants surrounding her rushed towards Damion who was unconscious."Take him to the Pack's doctor, hurry!” She growled, waving the servants away.She swerved around and glared at me, shaking her accusing fingers.“What have you done to him?" She growled, burning me alive with her blazing eyes.“It's him," I said, pointing at Killian.Her brows snapped up in disbelief, and she looked at Killian, who grunted and looked away, less concerned.“I tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen, he–”"Be quiet!” The Luna growled, raising her hand in the air.My heart shrank in despair and I bit my lips, looking at Killian with haughty eyes.Killian chuckled and furrowed his brows, narrowing his eyes at me.“Get ou
VALERIE It felt like the world stopped rotating when our lips met. His lips tasted like coffee, and I couldn't help but want to get drowned in it. I clasped my hands around his neck, totally forgetting the reason why I did it. Damion moaned and grabbed my waist, slamming my body against his. My senses returned and I broke the kiss. We stared into the eyes of each other, breathing heavily and reminiscing on what just happened between us.“I… I…" I stuttered, too dumbstruck to say a word.Damion smiled and let go of my waist, helping me stand upright.“I loved it," he said with a grin on his face.I blushed and secretly looked across to the window. My heart skipped when I saw Killian still standing there, staring blankly at me.I wanted to tear my gaze away, but something that I couldn't understand pushed me to maintain awkward eye contact, neither blinking nor filled with fear.He moved away from the window and disappeared into the room, closing the shutter.“Did you do that…" Damion
VALERIE “Be careful," Bianca muttered, her voice filled with concern as she watched me limp towards the bathroom. I got to the door and sighed, letting the tears drop out as much as they wanted. The memories came rushing in, playing with my mind. I parted my lips and broke into cries, dropping to the ground. Not only my pussy was hurt, my heart was hurt as well. I wished that I hadn't listened to Damion, I wished I had brushed his words aside and carried on with committing suicide Perhaps, if I had died, I wouldn't have gone through the hell I went through last night. It seemed like the torture for each night doubled over the other. “This is worse than death," I muttered in a quivering voice as I tried to suppress the pain that throbbed between my legs. Bianca rubbed her palm on my back, whimpering. “This is all my fault–" “No, it's not. I blame the moon goddess for giving me such a terrible fate," I muttered, my throat tightening. I glanced at the wounds they inflicted o
VALERIE My jaws fell open in shock as I glared at him.He smiled in return and looked at the Luna, who was stunned by his response.“I want to dance with her," he repeated, waving his hands towards me.From the corner of my eyes, I watched Lucian approach us. My heart constricted, and I curled my toes into the ground, hoping nothing catastrophic would happen.The Luna sent an intimidating glare at me and forced a smile onto her face.“Fine, you are permitted to dance with her," she said with an unnoticed eye roll.Lucian stopped walking and glared at Damion as he walked towards me and took the tray.“Let's keep this aside for a while, huh?" He beamed.Adriana gasped out when Damion forced the tray into her hand and took mine.With a thumping heart and with the eyes of the royal family and the entire guests on me, Damion led me to the middle of the ballroom.His russet eyes twinkled as he dropped my clammy hand on his shoulder. I shuddered slightly when he wrapped his hand around my w