Phoenix Alaric ends up in the royal palace , saved by the lycan prince. She was supposed to be part of an event called the Fated Banquet where she would she have been taken to be a breeder. She doesn’t believe she is his mate but he is insistent on that. After being betrayed by her boyfriend of five years and best friend, love and men are not in the cards for her but Prince Ezra doesn’t want to understand or give up. He gives her a job in the palace, in a bid to make her stay while he finds a way to uncover the mystery of her wolf not recognizing that she is his fated. When his brother and arranged bride set their sights on Phoenix. Prince Ezra has to work towards protecting his mate while also convincing her they are meant to be. Nothing is as it seems in the palace and Phoenix will soon learn that.
View MorePHOENIX
I stare at the piece gold paper in disbelief, multiple voices in my head telling me what would be the best thing to do. One says to burn it and pretend I never saw it, the other, the more compelling one said to just open it and get it over with. I went with the latter, my curiosity being my worst trait.
I break the seal and pull the paper out, reading the letter with my heart in my throat.
‘Dear Miss Phoenix Alaric, you are receiving this letter because you have been chosen to be one of the contenders at the Fifteenth Fated Banquet event.
Congratulations for being one of the lucky she-wolves deemed worthy to be invited to the most important occasion of the decade, THE FATED BANQUET. As one of the members of the Wolf Community who’s Eighteenth birth anniversary falls on this special month, you are expected to attend, and under no circumstances shall you sit out on this.
You are to arrive with this invitation at your Wolf Community Town Hall, no later than 12 noon, tomorrow. A bus will be there to drive you to the Wolf House Headquarters in Texas, where you will be briefed about your roles. In your week there, you’ll be required to go through a series of essential tests and perform a few tests, to get your final score. Note, your future depends on the final score of your overall tests during your stay. You do not have to worry about clothes and necessities as everything would be provided for you.
You will be sent to your new pack and mate after you have passed all these tests with the required scores, or you will be sent to a place more befitting of your scores outcomes, where you’re expected to start your new life.
To avoid any interference with our tracker teams, you’re expected to abide by the rules. Do not make the mistake of trying to leave or any other act or rebellion and misconduct. Abiding by the rules is in the best of interest of you and your family.
We do wish you a wonderful time and great results. Here is to a brighter future for the Wolf Community and yours. Have a great day.
Best, Wolf Community.’
I fling the paper like it burned me, watching it lie on the floor, mocking me, laughing at me for a fate I know I cannot escape. Tears gather in my eyes, I breathe in to stop them from falling.
Every word of the damned letter made my blood boil, more because they are clearly stating I didn’t have a choice. No one ever did, but I wouldn’t go down that path.
The Wolf House is like the government here in the werewolf community, they make the laws and have the power to punish anyone that doesn’t abide by it. Like the multiple women my mother has told me were never heard of again after they dared to defy them and not attend the Fated Banquet.
It happens every ten years and a lot of she-wolves were happy when it was first established, since it was almost impossible for werewolves to meet their fated mates. The Wolf House thought bringing she-wolves of age at a certain time will increase chances of mating. Since when we are in our packs, it is just us and our pack members.
What started as a good thing soon became the more powerful wolves’ way of getting their fix, and never ending supply of young unmated female wolves. They’ll make the contenders do multiple things that no one apart from the members of the community know, and in the end give a final score. There’s a highest score and the middle and lowest grade. Those with the highest are taken to the lycan’s palace where they serve the lycan prince, those that follow in second are sold to rich shifters, as servants or sex slaves, and those of the lowest grade become breeders.
The thing is, you can never know what category you will fall. Only the judges there know what they rate with.
A painful sound has me gripping my chest, a throb in my heart making my eyes turn. I didn’t want to be part of that, I’ve hated the name ‘fated banquet’ since it happened ten years ago and I asked my mum what was going on out of curiosity.
Every shewolf from all the packs around, who turned eighteen that month or will turn eighteen that month are those required to join. And unfortunately, this is my birthday month. I want to cry, because this cannot be happening. It is like a life sentence—it is a life sentence, they are easily going to decide our fate and future, and we’ll not see our families again.
God, Jake! The thought came like a slap to my face and the tears I’ve been holding since trailed down my cheeks. I have to think of something! I scream internally as I snatch the paper and start to pace around my room.
I know if I get into that hall, I’m not going out, unless I’m in the arms of a rich man, or the palace guards or another batch of guards. That won’t happen. I’m not going to let that happen.
Not paying much thought to my sleeping parents, I run out of my room and down the stairs. I don’t stop running until I’m in front of Jake’s house. The alpha’s mansion. I run inside and head for his room, breathing heavily.
The guards stationed at the door make a move to stop me but I glare at them.
“You can’t go in there, miss.” One of his personal bodyguards says, holding a hand up to stop me. I feel tempted to smack him but I don’t have the time. I have more pressing matters to attend to. And they can’t pretend to not know me, I’m almost here every single day hanging out with Jake.
I push past them, ignoring their sounds of protest as I enter the room and go straight into his bedroom. I stop when I see the always bright room bathed in darkness.
“Jake,” I call, blinking rapidly so my eyes can adjust to the lack of lighting.
“Shit,” I hear his voice and immediately turn in the direction. A bedside lamp comes on. “Phoenix, what are you doing here?” I rush toward him since I’m able to see his large form on the bed. He gets up and walks up to me before I reach him.
“Why is it so dark in here?” I ask, knowing his blinds are never drawn, and it’s early in the morning. I don’t wait for him to answer, my mind running at a mile.
“Jake, I got mail from the Wolf house.” I force the words out. I notice his eyes widen, then he steps back and curses.
“W-what did it say?” his petrified tone makes something break in me.
I hand him the crumpled paper. He snatches it from my hand, his eyes skimming over the perfectly written cursive.
He grips his hair in a tight fist and curses, starting to pace.
“Jake, we have to do something. I don’t want to go.” I whisper brokenly, moving closer to him, needing him to wrap his arms around me and assure me he is right here.
“Phoenix,” his tone suggests I won’t like what he is going to say so I shake my head.
“No. No! We have to find a way out, I can’t leave you, my parents. I need to think of—“
“You can’t defy the wolf council.” he breaks off my rant.
“Well, I have to do something!” I whisper-yell. “I can’t just let them snatch my life away from me,” he shakes his head.
“You need to think logically, we can’t do anything. They’ll punish you and your family, do you really want to risk your family?” I don’t say anything to that, he knows I won’t. I can’t sacrifice my parents for my own needs.
“What if your dad helps me?” I ask, I’m speaking without letting the words register in my head. Jake’s brows pull together and his lips purse.
“How?”
“I don’t know, maybe he can speak to someone. They can find a loophole,” my heart is beating at an alarmingly fast pace, adrenaline pumping through my system.
“I think I’ll ask him to see if he can help us. You leave tomorrow?” he asks.
“Not if I have—“
“Jake, how do I look, baby?” an awfully familiar voice says from behind me. I turn in a flash.
My body almost doubles over at the sight in front of me.
Lila, my best friend, is dressed in nothing but a lingerie set, posing by the door of Jake’s bathroom.
“What’s going on?”
PHOENIX It felt like I had been sleeping for years on end, and when I finally woke up, my entire body felt fatigued. Too heavy for me to lift even a finger. Ezra was beside me, he was wide awake and he was just watching me. I was aware of his presence, even in my unconscious state and that just made me realize how extremely lucky I am to have him in my life. “Hi,” he whispers, moving closer and pulling my body to his. I sigh when I feel his warmth surround me. He felt like peace, like home. “Hey,” my voice was weak from lack of use so I cleared my throat and tried again. it wasn’t any better not that he seemed to mind. “I feel like I have been sleeping for years.” I mutter, stretch and yawn as my bones make satisfactory pops all around. I felt slightly better after that stretch. “Three days,” Ezra says, his voice gentle and calm. I knew something was wrong from the way he sounded. Pushing back the heaviness I was feeling and the voice in my head telling me this was going to b
EZRA We have Alejandro and Hank in custody now, with audio and video proof of them admitting to all the things they had done.Yesterday had taken multiple unexpected turns but it turned out perfectly well if you asked me. I just had one thing to cross off my list before I can finally be at peace.I’m careful as I get out of bed. Phoenix is sleeping beside me. She has been out since last night when we came back with Nate and the cars they brought with them. I refused any medical checkup and instead stayed by my mate's side until she was cleared.The doctor, who thankfully knew what was happening, had stepped in for their actual doctor. They couldn’t deal with her face to face beforehand since they didn’t want their identity to be known, which made it easier for that to happen. A little overhaul and show of power by Nate had the actual doctor spilling, which allowed them to bring our doctor in.I was only able to alert Nate of what was happening but the second they drugged me, our conn
PHOENIX Alejandro is your typical bad guy, who would sit for hours and tell you how he came up with his perfect plans, the steps he followed, the moves you made that made it easy for him to win.I think I fell asleep five times during his anecdote, and each time I woke up, I prayed he would be done but my prayers weren't answered. We were all exhausted. In fact, he was the only one that didn’t seem tired of hearing himself.I started to feel sorry for him, because he clearly had issues. I couldn’t pinpoint where it stemmed from but he was more than due for therapy. And thanks to his torture, we all might too.“Enough.” Alpha Hank growls, getting off the wall he’d been resting on during his brother’s long history lesson.I have to admit, that is the one twist to the story I didn’t see coming. And though it doesn’t seem that significant, something tells me we need to be careful. I still have those dreams I’m not sure I translated well.At least, I feel better knowing Ezra is going to b
PHOENIX“Are you okay?” the doctor asks, looking over her shoulder in fear.“Do I look okay to you?” I mutter drily. I know I sound like a bitch but I couldn’t care less what she thought of me right now.She heaves a sigh and comes to stand in front me, she rethinks and immediately steps back, putting a little space between us. I only rolled my eyes because if I wanted to get to her, I would have since when Alpha Hank and Sibel’s dad were here. I’m not scared of them, even in the slightest bit.I’m biding my time because if I let whatever I’m feeling crackling under my skin take over, then I would rather it be worth it. I have a feeling there will be no going back from there.“You’re right, that is not the right question.” She huffs out a breath.I watched her, trying to look past the anger I’m feeling at her betrayal, to try and give her the benefit of the doubt but it doesn’t work. Maya just wants to tear her apart and it is taking everything I have in me to stop her from acting on
EZRAJax is losing his mind not knowing where Phoenix is or how she is managing.I’m calm for some reason, because I know she is alright. I don’t know how I know it, but I just di=o.‘Calm down, she is fine.’ I reply in a calming way, hoping it would help him relax but he just growls at me too. I sigh and throw my head back then almost immediately regret it when the wood dug into the back of my neck.They could have at least gotten comfortable chairs if they wanted to kidnap me. The chair is the most uncomfortable I have ever sat in.‘How can you be calm at a time like this?!’‘I trust Phoenix, if she was in danger she would have reached out to me by now.’ He just grunts. Not believing what I’m saying, or more accurately it wasn’t enough to make him calm down.‘And how can you be of help? Last I checked, you’re tied up.’‘I have you,’ I say with a small laugh. ‘I’m kidding.’ I immediately add before he does something dumb like try and hit me. Which is impossible but annoyance is a gre
PHOENIX I was tied up. It was the first thing I noticed when I woke up.I panicked immediately and tried to fight against the restraints but it was pointless. I didn’t even think to check to see if the person that has me tied up is still here. I just knew I needed to get out of here, I didn’t know how but I’ll be damned if I stay here for any moment longer.Ezra! The realization makes me stop struggling. I look around the room frantically, trying to see if I can see him but I’m alone.Everywhere is dark, if not for my wolf vision, I wouldn’t have been able to even make out anything.I’m on a wooden chair that is not comfortable in the least and my hands are tied behind me, so tightly that I fear that if I move the wrong way, I will pull them right out of their sockets.I couldn’t believe Jake’s dad was doing this. I didn’t even understand what he meant by the power I had was his. I never wanted it, but now that he so obviously wants it so he could hurt more people. He would have to k
PHOENIXI thought I was hearing things when I heard my old alpha’s voice. Jake’s dad. But when I turned, almost completely confident that I would find a different person, I saw him and my blood immediately went cold.Ezra’s hands tighten around me like he could feel the same negative energy I feel rolling off the man in waves.For the entire time I dated Jake, I wouldn’t say we were particularly close with his dad. I stayed away from him as much as I could because he just had this scary aura I didn’t like. Now, I’m seeing it as a different thing, especially as he bares his teeth in what I assume was supposed to be a smile.“What are you doing here?” I ask, my voice shaking slightly.He looks down at me, literally, and his lips turn down in distaste. He never really liked me but he never openly hated me. He just made it clear that he didn’t care what his son did with me. He looked like he wanted to slit my throat right now.“Shu—”“I would be careful how I finished that sentence if I w
EZRA Multiple times, I almost stopped Phoenix so I could kiss her and many more things. I managed to get my wolf to shut the hell up. This is extremely important for her—for both of us and our life. Our future.“Do you know where you’re going?” I ask her, circling my arm around her waist and pulling her to my side. She stretches and covers her mouth with her hand, yawning loudly.“I think I do,” she rests her head on my shoulder. I kiss the top of her head and hum in response.“I should have let you sleep more,” I murmured, steering her away from a tree root she hadn’t noticed.“I’m fine.” I only hum in response.She is stubborn but I loved her determination. I don’t know how she is doing it but i commend her hard work and efforts.Dealing with uncertainty and not knowing what to do or what is going to happen sucks. I’m unable to focus on anything, my mind is constantly running, thinking of things that could go wrong or another threat toward her.We have gone far from the main buildi
PHOENIX “Are you okay?” Ezra asks, his voice shaky as he holds both my shoulders. He wraps his arms around me, looks over my body, he is touching every part of me like he doesn’t even know where to check or where to stop.I’m not looking at him, instead I’m staring at his back, right at the large imposing building I have never seen before. We are not at the palace, this place looked unfamiliar but I feel like I have been here before. I feel the same feeling of déjà vu and I shake my head.“Phoenix?” I look back at Ezra, his amber eyes are filled with worry and he is panicking. I can read it in his body language.“I’m fine.” I’m surprised by how steady my voice sounds. “What happened?”I move out of his hold, a pained look crosses over his eyes but he doesn’t reach out for me, instead he stood to his feet when I did the same. Still standing at a safe distance, he reaches for my hand which I don’t offer.The way he looked like a scorned child made me feel bad but I don’t let that emoti
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