Thorin’s meeting with Tatum was short. He had barely spent up to five minutes there when he left to escort Bekon back to the prison cells.Baka followed quietly after him. She had never seen the insides of the prison cells and was struck by what she saw. There was no segregation. Werewolves and humans alike stayed in the same bacteria infected prison cells. But maybe that was the idea—to pit them against each other, slowly killing the humans, and the werewolves would no doubt win because they had their abilities on their side.Thorin had turned around twice and seen her but never tried to stop her or tell her to go away. Bekon had barely spared her a moment’s glance.When he was escorted into his cells and was locked up, Bekon didn’t turn around to acknowledge her. “Keep it short,” Thorin warned and he walked away. There was no one else in Bekon’s cell, and the one next to him had three female werewolves. They too didn’t give her the time of the day apart from the brief looks of c
“What’s this I hear about you being engaged to a werewolf called Ruby?” Takoda asked.Both Mother Tina and Tania’s head shot up. “What?”It was breakfast time and they were sitting around the table eating. They weren't the kind of family who had breakfast and dinner together like Boaz’s family did. Everyone ate their meals in their private rooms. Today was different however as it was Mother Tina’s birthday.“A necessary lie,” Tatum admitted as he inspected his plate for any extras he didn't like out of habit. He should’ve known he would come up with nothing as Baka had personally prepared his plate. The thought made him smile, just like he had at Boaz’s breakfast table when she had taken care of his plate so instinctively.There was something very intimate about that action. He had wanted to gather her up in his arms and kiss her silly after she pulled that stunt.“Why was it necessary?” Takoda raised a brow, his arms braced on the table. “It has spread like wildfire.”Tatum shrugge
Baka’s vision became two red orbs of fiery flames as she watched Aksana, unable to take her eyes off her for even a second.If she had to guess, Aksana was still in the business of betraying her kind. Baka couldn't understand how one seemingly shy woman had managed to convince their whole community that she was good.A slew of curses raced through her head.She had dreamt of the day when she would see her and beat the living daylights out of her. Then she would amputate her body, starting from her treacherous tongue. When that was done, she would strip her down naked and strap her to a horse, drag her through miles of bramble and gorse. Then she would burn her alive and scatter her ashes to the wind.Oh, how she would love to start now. Takoda and Aksana finally left the balcony and rejoined the other guests. Baka kept her gaze strewn on Aksana, keeping tabs of her movements.She was talking flirtatiously to one of the guards. Baka didn't know him. He was a tall and gentry fellow a
Couples were twirling and swirling in the throne room to the beat of the fast music. Guests' laughter and voices filled the atmosphere as the room buzzed with the sound of the orchestra and was illuminated by warm light from the chandeliers above.Baka spent the rest of the evening trying to put Aksana out of her mind. She knew Aksana would make good on her threat but she didn’t have the heart to ponder on it a moment longer.She had no control over what Aksana would do so it was stupid to worry twice. That snitch wasn’t worth her time and energy. But she would do well to stay as far away from Baka and her friends as possible. There was no telling what Baka would do if Aksana ever double-crossed the people close to her.She continued serving the guests their food and drinks.After a long while, Baka stood at a small corner close to the kitchen, waiting for orders to carry another round of food and drinks. It was going to be a long night. She could kill for a chance to rest her aching
The kitchen was a mess. The dishes were voluminous. They filled the sink, the counter, and several huge buckets. Baka stared at them in horror.It would take all of them, a small village, and the king’s army to finish those dishes. Her body was beginning to revolt against her for the hardship she was putting it through.“How long do masquerade balls last?” she asked Aja who was standing next to her with a similarly appalling expression as she towered over the sink.“It's not set in stone,” Aja replied with her hands on her hips. “Guests just sort of…. start dispersing slowly.”“Okay, but from your experience? How long?”“Till dawn.”Baka whimpered. At the rate they were going, she would finally sleep next year. She was very positive that she was going to faint from exhaustion. “Instead of standing around and complaining, start washing the dishes now!” Carlton yelled from behind them as he toasted meat on the fire.He’d been cooking all night. Some guests kept asking for a refill or
Long after the masquerade ball had ended, Tatum stood on the balcony in his room, watching the starry skies.It was peaceful and surreal, unlike the masquerade ball. He’d smiled and held idle conversations with Mother Tina’s guests when all he had really wanted to do was be in his room, enjoying the quiet solitude.He had put off joining the guests downstairs long enough until he couldn't hide anymore. His absence wouldn't have gone unnoticed. Takoda was better at events than he was. Attending them gave him a headache. In the past, he made excuses to get out of attending them because he didn’t want to have one of his spells and have people aware of his ailment. It would make him weak in their eyes, and they would’ve used the knowledge of his strange illness against him.Now he was somewhat free of his headaches, thanks to an oblivious Baka. She had freed him of a lifetime of pain, and she had no idea. Still, he was too much of an introvert to be around so many people. The only excit
Out in the courtyard, Tatum watched as his betas exercised in the field. Some ran across it while others did push ups.It was early noon and the weather was extremely hot. Tatum had enjoyed running and sweating under the heat. His wolf purred contently as he sat under the Bantaba, pouring himself a cold drink. Before he had left, he checked on Baka to make sure that she had followed his orders to sleep in. She hadn’t been in the slave’s quarters. Both Aja and Emily were not sure when she left or where she had gone.He was annoyed that she hadn’t listened to him, even when it was for her benefit.She was as stubborn as she was beautiful.“Your widower days are almost over, I hear,” Thorin said from beside him. They were both shirtless, having drenched through their workout outfits with sweat.Tatum poured the water down his parched throat, slamming the glass down on the counter with a heavy sigh.The preparations for the selection festival were well under way. By the end of the week,
Tatum raised his brow. “What makes you think there's a woman I'm in love with?”“Just a hunch.”Like him, Eugene had trained his heart, blocking its rate and heat signature from every other werewolf. So Tatum had no way of knowing if he was telling the truth. But he was determined to find out. There was a knowing glint in Eugene’s eyes that unsettled him. Something he had said had caught his attention.“You implied that Gabriel is king because you could never accept being bound by duty to the city. But isn’t it the truth that he’s king because he’s the offspring of your parent’s true mate union?”Eugene shook his head. “It’s true, he’s a true mate kid. But that’s not why he’s king. Our father was ready to give me the title. I turned it down.”Tatum was bewildered. He had never known. He had simply assumed that was the case because his was no different. “Why?”“Why what?”“Why did you turn it down?”“Ah,” Eugene smiled, still sitting in his meditative position. “I knew what it would co