VALERIE'S POV★“What the..?” I watched him walk away with his face red in anger but no, I wasn't going to back down that easily. I followed him.His steps echoed in the vast hall as everyone scrambled out of his way. That's what happened whenever he was upset: everyone always avoided him as he stormed out.“Grey!” I called but all my calls fell on deaf ears.I didn't care if he liked it or not but I would give him a piece of my mind today. I was that determined.“Val, I don't think it is a great idea to follow him!” I heard Skylar's tiny voice trying to stop me.When did she get here? I wondered but just ignored her. I was tired of Grey's nonsense acts. He was walking so fast, and I still tried to keep at his pace.He was seething in rage, clenching his fist tight at his sides. As he walked past the corridor, the maidens exchanged glances. Whilst the soldiers went out of their way. No one was trying to stop him, not even a single person. And his brothers were not even in sight.No on
ValerieThe dense canopy of the ancient forest protected me from the harshness of the afternoon sun. The air was thick with the earthy scent of the trees and moss.I had no idea when I had gotten to the forest. My legs just took me here as I wanted to create enough distance between Greg and myself. He was really messing with my head.I heard the sounds of flowing water ahead of me. I felt a bit excited to try it out.I didn't know why but I just loved water.I approached the babbling cool stream and I felt my race as I stepped closer to the water's edge feeling its coolness in the air. The stream was not that wide and its surface reflected the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. Without hesitation, I plunged into the cool embrace of the stream.I swam against the gentle current and soon, I reached the edge of the water. I pulled my hair off my face as I rested on the rock. I could not understand what was the problem with Kaden and Grey.Kaden and Grey. Most especially, Grey
Valerie's POV★"How dare you talk to me that way? You worthless being!" Fiona spat angrily. She was about to slap me but I grabbed her arm just in time and retaliated with a punch to her cheek.She stumbled backward in shock. I'm sure that she was not expecting that. Usually, I would stand there as she and her goons taunted and slapped me. But today that would end. Fiona held her stinging reddening cheek and groaned in pain."Oh my goddess, Valerie!" Skylar exclaimed."How dare you lay your hands on me? You will pay for this." Fiona rushed back to me, her hand rising in the air.I swiftly dodged the attack and landed a punch on Fiona's face. She screamed out loud in pain as she fell to the ground. Blood pooled out of her nostrils.I felt some kind of dominant power overtake me. I wanted to see more blood. I wanted Fiona to suffer how I had for the past years I had suffered in her hands. This was too little for her. She needed to bleed even more.At that moment, I wished I was good at
Valerie's POV★I could not believe this. Only Ansel's mother was able to read the inscription on the dagger? How was that possible? Was there some kind of connection between this dagger and me?I looked at Ansel as if I heard him saying some jargon.But after a moment of contemplation, he offered a rare smile, "Perhaps, it was meant to be." He declared, his eyes reflecting a profound sense of trust. "You were chosen to understand its meaning. Carry it with you, let its strength be yours."What was he saying? It seemed like he was talking in parables."I doubt I'm the chosen one for this dagger." I made an airy laugh, "I can't even deliver a punch well." I stated nervously.Now, that was getting a little bit weird.Ansel and I shared a burst of heartfelt laughter. Kind of, Hilarious."But that does not change the fact that it belongs to you," He smiled as he walked towards the wardrobe. He opened it and rummaged inside of it like he was searching for something."Oh, I found it." I hea
VALERIE'S POV★I sat on the bench of the training arena as I took deep breaths and relaxed from the hectic and tired training I had undergone. Sweat dripped down my face and my heart raced so fast. I was literally trembling as my hands shook.I couldn't even stand up or balance myself as my head was bent and sweat dropped on the tiles of the arena.Thank the Moon Goddess I was alone. I wouldn't appreciate anyone seeing me that way looking like a dead fish.And yes, I agree that my thoughts diverted to Kaden and that beautiful woman every now and then which made it hard to concentrate and then caused me to mess up what I learned.I groaned and tilted my head back as I looked around the arena. I soaked in the silent and chilly breeze.It was stupid of me to take up the duel. I knew Grey’s plan was to publicly humiliate me and I just fell right into his trap.How stupid could I be? He beat Bruno with one hand and I could only imagine how he would mercilessly humiliate me. I just needed
VALERIE'S POV★It dawns as bright and fresh as any perfect early spring day, the remaining dried leaves on the ground glittering like diamonds in the bright morning sun. The air crackled with my nervous energy as I follow the road to the Village Square, where the duel will take place. Every single year I’ve come to watch others fight and train, it was unbelievable that I got to have a duel with Greg. I felt the lingering gaze even when I was not participating. This day is something I’ve dreaded for along time. Everyone in the pack is out and on their way to watch, buzzing with excitement as they chatter amongst themselves. They are excited, and a small part of me that still has hope should be too, but I’ve got more chance of a thousand flying unicorns filling the sky than this day turning out good for me. The girls from all over the pack steal nervous glances at the males, as if we’re on our way to a school dance instead of arguably the most important event in our lives. I met Gre
VALERIE'S POV★It was the day of the coronation, Skylar was finally getting crowned as the Alpha of her pack whilst her beta was too.I lay in my room to keep myself busy with my phone when Skylar walked in, “Are you not planning to join us? It's my coronation day today." She said, frowning as she sat beside me. I turned to her, then sighed, “I would have loved to come but your cousins would be there.” I added with an eye roll, "They are all avoiding me if that's the word to use."“Really?" She snorted, "do you think they'll let you be here all by yourself then?” She asked while I burst into a small pearl of laughter.“I wouldn't want their trouble so it's best if I don't go at all. I'm sorry."I added and Skylar sighed.She knew the rift I had with her cousins. I stood up from the bed to admire her outfit.“You look ready and sweet."“I do?” She twirled around as the beautiful robe beautifully swayed the ground with a smile.Kaden walked in, seeing me looking so casual: no sign that
16VALERIE'S POV★For the tenth time, I tossed around the bed, turning to the length and breadth of the large bed but no sleep was coming.As I turned, I tangled myself with my covers. I shit my eyes one last time, waiting for sleep to hover over me but it was delayed. I lay there sprawled like a chicken on the bed as I glanced at the ceiling.My mind was swirling through my head like a breeze. “So now to sleep now it's a problem?” I worried about something if not a lot of things, and Greg was one of my issues.As the sleep failed to come, I slowly got up, heading to the window to have a perfect view of Skylar's pack.It was a Serene environment, with the moonlight buzzing in the skin after the sun had successfully gone down. Just as I was about to walk back to my bed, I heard a knock on the door,“ Who could that be?” I asked myself but I opened it before I knew it, right?I walked lazily to the door, dragging my feet with me, I looked through the door to see nobody.“That's stran
CoralBeing in control felt so good and I was enjoying every bit of my newly acquired power. The smell of blood wafted mixed with the smell of the fire and wood wafted though the air. Everyone present was silent after they had watched Grey surrender and proclaimed himself as Ramona’s slave. Not like they could say anything anyways, they were under my- our control Valerie was curled up like a dog by my feet and I smiled at myself, proudly. Not only had we taken Valerie’s powers, we had always stripped the Alphas of any remaining pride they had. My legs were crossed and I watched as Kaden struggled to regain himself while the vein on Ansel forehead popped as he struggled to break free from the guards that were holding him back. I was bored of it and I wanted them out of my sight as fast as possible. “Take them away,” I ordered, looking at the guards that were standing around them. “Both Kaden and Ansel. To the dungeon.”One of the guards made to move closer to Kaden but Ansel let o
Grey“Come,” Ramona said, beckoning for me to come closer to her. I was standing with my hands twisted behind my back. My body was aching, my muscles were tense from the beating and struggles I had suffered against my brothers when we had been ordered to fight. The crowd looked at us with empty eyes and the light that had been set on for to illuminate the field casted eerie shadows all around us. I had agreed to being Ramona’s slave all because of Valerie. They had found a way to always made sure we bent and danced to their tune using the one person we cared about. She was unmoving, a cut on skin from Ramona’s dagger as he stared into space. She was empty and soulless, and it was all because of me. I wanted to ruin everything, kill everyone and behead whoever came in my way but I knew I was powerless against them. Kaden and Ansel were forced to be on their knees beside me, their faces were battered and bloodied. Ansel’s was worse because he had offered himself as the one to die t
Ansel“STOP!” Coral’s voice rang out like a whip, sharp and commanding.Blood was dripping down from my lips to my cheek and all the way to my neck. The taste of my blood was overwhelming and I felt sick but I didn’t let it bother me because, I was confused as to what Coral was up to.I could tel that Kaden and Grey were just as confused as me because we all turned to there both her and Ramona were seated. They had a malicious smile plastered on their face and their eyes glinted with mischief, making me all the more worried. We were bloodied and battered form the fight, me worse than the others because I had chosen to sacrifice myself and had made sure they had hit me hard enough so that they would believe we were really going against each other. I waited with my heart in my stomach, wanting to know what they were going to say next. What they would tel us to do just to save Valerie. Ramona got up, tugging on the leash that was wrapped around Valerie’s neck and making her walk close
AnselThe taste of blood was thick on my tongue.The dirt beneath me was soaked in my sweat and the unbearable pain I was feeling.I staggered, my body screaming in agony as Kaden circled me, his chest heaving, his eyes glassy with unshed tears. The pain of each blow, each strike from Kaden and Grey, dulled into a distant throbbing.We weren’t really fighting. Because if they really were fighting me, I’d have been knocked out. My brothers weren’t fighting me as much as they should, I had even tried saying things they hated, bringing up buried memories and even cutting open healed wounds they still wouldn’t put their all into fighting me. Not the way Coral wanted us to.We were stalling.They fumbled, missing easy openings, our movements sluggish- deliberate. They dodged all of my hits barely gave me any, and even the ones they gave me was weak and had no passion to it. Grey even went as far as to drop his guard completely at one point, barely dodging a swing from Kaden’s blade.It
Ansel“Would faking it really work?” Kaden asked, not sounding convinced by Grey’s plans and truthfully I wasn’t too. “No it wouldn’t,” I replied him before I turned away from them and faced both Ramona and Coral. “I refuse to fight against my brothers.”“I refuse to do so too,” Kaden added. “Me too,” Grey said, his voice a growl. The smile on Coral and Ramona’s faces dropped. “Really?” They asked in unison and we stared at them silently. Her face contorting into one of anger, coral stood up, yanking the chains she was holding and making Valerie stand straight. She walked with Valerie behind her, dragging her roughly to the fire that had been set up earlier. “It’s either you fight or you watch me toast her to death,” she threatened, her voice dangerously low. “You won’t dare,” I growled lowly, my body because tense as I stared at her. The fire burned hot and I could see the flames licking at the air, threatening to devour all that came close to it. Valerie stood there, expressi
KadenAfter coral had made everyone under her control, worshipping both her and Ramona, we had gone further into the pack, heading to the palace and I watched, helpless and angry as Coral and Ramona moved through the palace with an air of entitlement, as if they had always belonged here. They treated everyone like trash, commanding them and pushing them around like they were nothing more than her playthings. The pack tested us like we were the intruders, looking at us maliciously as they kept on worshipping the two witches that had turned our lives upside down.The people- our people- bowed to them like mindless puppets, their eyes empty, their wills stolen. The same warriors who once fought beside us now stood as puppets under Coral’s command, their bodies rigid, their expressions blank.I had never felt so powerless.And it was only going to get worse.Because Valerie-I couldn’t look at her without wanting to rip my own heart out.She was there, standing beside Coral like some kin
KadenI had seen war before.I had fought against rogue armies, traitorous packs, and creatures that lurked in the dark.But this was different.It was a nightmare, it was nothing compared to the wars we had fought. It was different from times that we had been under attack. I had barely regained myself from the amount of memories that was flooding through my mind when I heard Ramona tell Grey that she was going to take everything from us and a chill ran down my spine. No matter how hard I tried to think of a way to go about this and defeat them, I came up with nothing. My stomach twisted into knots and I couldn’t push away the feeling of dread that wrapped around me. I hoped our security measure were enough ensure we won against coral. But, deep down I knew that wasn’t going to be possible, our security measures weren’t enough. They were nothing compared to the power that coral wielded. I had been foolish to think we we could fight this battle alone. I hadn’t anticipated that it w
Grey One minute I was filled with guilt and staring at Valerie’s lifeless body on the floor, watching as coral glowed with an indescribable light around her, the next minute, I felt strong ropes wrapping around my body, tying me, ansel and Kaden together.Patricia- same Patricia that had slipped through our hands, disappeared without a trace was standing in front of Ansel, yelling angrily at him. As I- we fell to the floor, I felt my memories flooding back into my head. I remembered everything. I stared straight at Valerie and memories of how much she used to look at me trust and love in her eyes flashed across my mind. The way she would laugh, teasing yet soft, like I was someone worth loving.I remembered how much she loved all of us, how her presence had brought us peace and the different ways she had fought for and with us, even if we were not deserving of it. And I remembered the way I had thrown her aside.The way I had treated Ramona like she was the one I could trust.Th
AnselWe had followed being Skylar blindly, I wanted nothing more than to get an explanation from Valerie. Yes, I was annoyed at her not something in me kept telling me there was more to it and she wasn’t telling the whole truth. That same thing kept trying me to find her and ask for an explanation, but Grey had stopped me when I wanted to go after her. I had been so foolish to listen to him and now it had cost me so much. Cost me my whole life- my reason for existing. After Skylar had shown us that video, we had burst out of the castle like mad dogs and now that we had gotten to where Skylar was leading us to, I was frozen in place as I stared at the scene in front of me. I was confused when we got to where a ritual was- had taken place and I saw Valerie on the floor, a shell of herself. We were too late. I was still trying to wrap my head over when was going on when I saw Patricia, she was standing with Kaden, exhausted hung words with him but I couldn’t hear what they were say