VALERIE "I am disappointed in you, Valerie!" He groused with a glare before turning to help his mother up from the seat. I gulped hard and slowly stood up, dropping my head. "Forgive me—" "Don't say a word!" I shifted back at the harsh tone of Lucian's voice. "Hey, don't yell at her!" The Luna Queen snapped, hitting him on the chest. Lucian sighed in disappointment and threw me a glare before leading his mother to the bed. The maidservant turned and stared at me coldly then moved closer to where I stood. "You should have stopped her, my lady," she muttered. My heart clenched and I gripped the edge of the table, getting overwhelmed with guilt. "I'm sorry. I never meant to let her drink so much," I whispered, avoiding her accusing eyes. She huffed in annoyance and trudged off to attend to the Luna Queen. I sighed in disappointment, muttering curses under my breath. If Lucian hadn't intervened, she would have told me how she killed Renee. I needed to fix the dot
VALERIE My jaws were still dropped in shock as I stood rooted at the spot. "Valerie? Are you okay?" Bianca's words shot into my mind, causing me to raise my head. Her head tilted to the side as she watched me, confusion scribbled across her face. "Why were you acting that way when I mentioned the name of Luna Queen's sister?" She questioned, her eyes filled with suspicion. I released a false laugh and shook my head. "It's nothing. I… I thought I had heard the name somewhere." She narrowed her eyes in disbelief but said nothing concerning my attitude. "Well… mother said that she died some months before her wedding to an alpha prince," she said. My fist clenched and I bit my lips at the discovery. "Was she getting married to Lycan prince Alexander?" I bobbed my head and asked. She threw her head back and narrowed her eyes, letting the silence haunt my curiosityI hoped silently that I was wrong with my guess. "No, it was rumored that the Lycan king Alexander never had any lo
VALERIE Bianca scoffed and narrowed her eyes, glaring haughtily at her. I sighed, aware of what she was talking about. Michelle smirked and didn't wait for my reply before striding fully into the room. I stood up, my heart clenched in fear. Even though I needed to know the cause of my father's death, I knew deep down that I wasn't ready to bear the heartbreak that would come with the truth. "I don't think I want to talk about it yet," I muttered, glancing at everything in the room aside from Bianca and Michelle's faces. "Why?" Michelle's voice bore shock and disappointment. "I have a lot to deal with at the moment. I'm not ready to hear it," I muttered. She huffed and stepped back. I finally looked at her, forcing a smile into my face. She huffed, fuming in anger as she glared at me. "Are you scared of the truth?" She asked, her lips turning up in a mocking smirk. I sighed and tilted my head to the side, staring confidently into her eyes. "Yes, I am scared of the truth."
VALERIE My trembling hands slowly slipped away from the edges of the stone, fear bubbling in me. His cold hand was still wrapped around my wrist as he waited for me to get up and explain the act I was caught in. I couldn't dare imagine the disgusted look that would be on Lucian's face, worse, Killian's. I gulped hard and slowly turned, but the fear tightening in my chest eased up as my terrified eyes fell on the person clenching my wrist. "Damion!" I sighed in relief. His lips turned up in suspicion and his eyes darted to the fake flagstone on the ground before he released my wrist."What are you doing here?" He asked, nodding towards the spot he found me squatting down. "Uhm…" I trailed, fixing my eyes on the flagstones on the ground with the true intention of avoiding his prying eyes. "Are you scared of saying the truth to me?" He questioned. I remained silent, my eyes still fixed on the ground. I shivered slightly as he wrapped his hand around my chin, turning my head to
VALERIE My heart tightened and I gasped in surprise. "What?" I snapped. Bianca nodded and moved closer to me as if I was attempting to do something stupid to myself."Yes, she was killed by rogues while trying to protect master Damion. Even up to today, no one has dared talk about her death for Damion's sake," she muttered Rachel's laughing face flashed before my eyes and a sickening feeling filled the pit of my belly. I staggered back and lost my balance. Bianca caught my wrist before I could touch the ground and pulled me up to my feet, wrapping her hand around me."Calm down, just calm down," she whispered, patting my hair slowly.I broke into tears, sobbing loudly.I couldn't believe that she died that terrible way despite her kindness and good heart."She never deserved that kind of death, Bianca!" I blurted out, unable to subdue the pain within me anymore."I know, but what can one do? It's all in the hands of fate and destiny—""Fuck fate and destiny!" I screamed, pushing
KILLIAN The sound of the lighter clicking on and off filled the dark room, dividing my attention from the courtyard below. "You said you would meet little Val tonight, right?" Lucian muttered, causing me to turn away from the window. I trudged towards the couch he was lying on and slumped down into it, picking up an open pack of cigarettes. "Yes, do you want to join me?" I asked with a smirk laced against my face. He took a long drag at the cigarette and chuckled, puffing out smoke. "I have something important to attend to in town. I'll be leaving in an hour," he muttered. My eyes darkened and my fist clenched as I stared at him. "Doing business without me, huh?" I groused. He sat up and playfully smacked my back, grinning sinisterly. "Get some rest, Killian, get some rest," he replied before taking a drag at the cigarette again. I sighed and grabbed the lighter, but the question from Lucian stopped me from lighting the cigarette trapped between my lips. I looked at Lucian
KILLIAN I paced around the room with my hand in my disheveled hair, pausing briefly to glance at her pale face. "What happened to her, my lord?" The Pack's doctor asked for the umpteenth time while she examined her. "Are you going to treat her or not?" Lucian growled in indignation. She flinched, her lips trembled as she darted her eyes from Lucian's face to Valerie's pale face. "I would do my best to find out what the cause of her unconsciousness is," she mumbled even though the chance of her finding out the cause was impossible. Lucian sighed and ran his hand through his hair, ignoring the constant calls from his phone. "It doesn't seem to be something ordinary, my lord," the Pack's doctor said as she opened her eyes with her fingers and gazed at the lifeless eyes. I sighed, knowing that it was true. She turned and stared at us suspiciously when our silence lingered in the room. "Is there something I must know, alpha?" She asked. I and Lucian exchanged glances and kept mu
KILLIAN I called her name multiple times with a trembling voice but got no response. "Shit!" I cursed loudly and reached for my phone. I fidgeted as I scrolled through the list of my contacts, trying to put my distorted mind in order and call someone who would help.My mind clicked Michelle's name when her words echoed in my mind. I dialed her number, and her voice boomed out the second ring with mocking laughter. "Need help now?" She mumbled. My eyes dimmed in suspicion and I clenched my fist, fuming in fury. "What did you do to her?" I snapped. "You didn't even let me get close to her," she chuckled. I ran my hand through my hair and sighed in despair. "If I walk into your room, I'll have your head on a stake," I stated and ended the call, throwing the phone onto the couch. I grabbed her cold hand and rubbed it against mine to warm it up while I waited for Michelle. The door opened and my jaw clenched. "What the hell took you…" I paused when I saw the Pack's doctor stan
MICHELLE I stood at the edge of the crowd, forcing a smile as Adriana danced with her sister, Arlene. My heart would always skip a beat every time she turned to look at me with an evil glee in her eyes.I needed no one to tell me that she planned on exposing me, but what I feared was the time she planned to do that.The music stopped playing and the Luna Queen grabbed a glass of wine, hitting a spoon against it.Everyone stopped what they were chattering about and focused on her.The Luna Queen smiled so happily, making my heart bleed. Whenever I saw her on that podium, I would always be reminded of the sadness on my mother's face before she died. That should have been my mother's throne, that should have been her place.If Luna Jasmine hadn't killed my mother back then, perhaps everything would have still been right. I wouldn't have to be intimidated by her mannerless daughter."It is time for the cutting of the cake and the announcement of a new age!" She announced and a loud ovat
VALERIE I walked into the large grand hall alongside Bianca, holding my head up high. A gasp slipped out of my lips the moment I stepped into the hall. It gave a charm that noroom had ever given. The ballroom stretched wide, its polished marble floor gleaming under the light of massive crystal chandeliers. Ornate gold-trimmed walls rose to meet a vaulted ceiling painted with delicate frescoes, while tall arched windows let moonlight spill across the room. Velvet drapes framed the windows, and soft classical music floated through the air, echoing the elegance of the atmosphere."Bianca, why does this place look so lovely?" I whispered, my eyes gleaming.She chuckled and nudged me playfully, a smile on her face."This is the grand hall of the Blood Moon Pack where every royal ceremony and gathering is held. Perhaps in the future, you and the Lycan kings will get married in this hall," she muttered and the smile on my face dropped."What?" I gasped.Her brows raised in confusion and
KILLIAN I walked down the dark hallway, swinging the blade in my hand and a cigarette stuck between my lips. I reached a door and punched in the passcode. The door rolled open and I walked into the room. The lights turned on, and my lips stretched into a smirk when my eyes fell on Alpha Cameron, who was struggling to remove the tapes tied around him. "Alpha Cameron, long time no see!" I laughed loudly, waving the blade in the air. He murmured but his words weren't delivered due to the gag on his mouth. "You want to say something?" I asked, grinning. He nodded his head, his eyes pleading. I chuckled and covered the spaces between us, then tore out the gag. He gasped in relief and sucked in some air, muttering words of gratitude. "A low-ranked alpha like you tried to step up to me? That is crazy!" I said, huffing loudly. He panted, refusing to say a word. I took a long drag at the cigarette and bent down, grabbed his hair."Tell me, who sent you?" I asked. He raised his eyes
MICHELLE "Your bath is ready, my lady," my maidservant said as she trudged into the bedroom. I smiled lightly and got off the chair that I was sitting on then shuffled into the bathroom. "Any news?" I asked her as I dipped my body into the warm water. "Did you prepare my gift?" I asked. "Yes, my lady," she responded. I smirked and took the body scrub, lathering my body with it. I would give Adriana a kind of gift that she would never forget. Not just her but everyone that would attend the birthday party that would be held tomorrow evening. "Your dress for the birthday ceremony has been delivered, my lady," the maidservant poked her head in and said. I smiled lightly and hummed in response, dipping my head into the water. Perhaps I could fulfill my mother's wish of finishing what she started and still be with the ones that I had always dreamed of being with. That would be killing two birds with a stone, and that was a method I had always been perfect in, even when I was a ch
ADRIANA My eyes batted in confusion and my lips trembled. "How can I argue with a dead woman? That's crazy!" I blurted out, unable to understand her words. Noah leaned closer, his eyes fixed on Diana. "Look here, Diana, I don't think it's the same woman. The woman behaved like every normal living being, she isn't—" "Hold on!" Diana said and took the phone, zooming the video. "Here, do you see that mole? That woman had that mole," she muttered, pointing at the small mole on the woman's face. "Who is this woman to you?" Noah asked while I replayed the video, searching for clues that would prove Diana either right or wrong. "She was my homeroom teacher in middle school. I attended her funeral with my parents," she muttered. "What killed her?" I asked. "Influenza," she mumbled. I peered closely and finally realized something strange about the woman. "Why is her skin tone different?" I muttered. Noah and Diana stopped talking and swerved their head in my direction. "What?" I
ARIANA Noah sighed and followed me out, laughing mockingly behind me. "Can you stop?" I snapped when I got to the parking lot. "Don't tell me that moron is your boyfriend—" "Was!" I corrected him, "Besides, I was just helping him become relevant." Noah stared at me in silence, his head tilted to the side while I fumed."You are pained, aren't you?" I scoffed and shook my head. "The only feeling I'm having right now is regret. I can't believe I let that leech go after the money I've given him. He'll pay for it all," I snarled, smirking sinisterly. "Now I know why you didn't break his skull in there," he chuckled and lit a cigarette, leaning on the car, beside me. My phone rang and I cursed loudly, bringing it out. I narrowed my eyes when Diana's name flashed across the screen. I accepted the call and placed the phone to my ear. "Are you in town? Let's meet up at our spot," she said. I felt relief wash over my body and I hummed in agreement. "I've had a terrible day, this i
ADRIANA I kept complaining about the blind lady as I marched out of the restaurant, swinging my bag in my hand. "Calm down, Ari, calm down!" Noah groaned as he trailed after me. I huffed and leaned on my car, filled with anger. "I need to go to an apparel store. I need a change," I muttered and slipped into the car. "Should I come along?" Noah asked as he stood by the door. I looked at him and hissed loudly. "Do you want to leave me alone?" He chuckled loudly and threw his hands in the air, strolling over to the other side before getting in. I ignited the car and drove off, still fuming in anger. "That trash had to get in when we were in the middle of something important," I complained, stepping on the acceleration pedal. "Come on, I've told you to let it go—""Don't tell me that shit, Noah!" I snapped. He shrugged lightly and sighed, reaching for his seatbelt. "How's Arlene?" He suddenly asked. I scoffed and twitched up my lips in disgust, feeling a slight pain in my ch
MICHELLE "You?" She gasped and sprang up. Before I could part my lips to defend myself, she slapped me hard on my cheeks. A sharp sting washed through the cheek she slapped and my eyes slammed shut. "You wench!" She spat and grabbed the cup of chocolate, emptying the rest of the chocolate drink on my body. "Adriana, I think that's okay," the young man pleaded, striding towards her. "No, it's not! This dress costs 3000 dollars! I doubt if she has ever earned that much before!" She snapped, glaring at me. I gulped hard and bowed slightly then picked up my face cap. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bump into the waiter," I muttered. People had already gathered around and some were even recording a video. "Sorry? You ruined my dress! How are you going to make up for it?" She snarled curtly. "I'm sorry!" I repeated, unable to come up with another word. "Stop saying the fucking sorry!" She yelled, stomping her feet on the ground. I flinched, staggering back while surreptitiously gl
MICHELLE I paced around my room, biting my nails in fear as Valerie's words kept echoing in my mind. I couldn't sleep all through the night and I had been glued to the window since daybreak, looking out for Adriana. Out of the four of them, Adriana had been the most cunning of them all. She had always had ulterior motives beneath the smiles on her face. Though, the shocking part was that I never expected her to add me to the list of the people she hated. I thought she loved me, I thought she wanted me to be with her brothers. I never knew she hated me and was just looking for the right time to strike. I was sure she wouldn't just dig into my life but also use my words and actions against me. I had to find out what she knew and get rid of anything that would destroy my image before the Luna and the entire Pack. I sighed and walked away from the window then slumped down into the bed, cupping my face. The door opened and my maidservant walked in with a tray of my favorite fruits