~Storme~It was finally time for the celebration meant to honor the king’s miraculous recovery. Marcellus decided to call a feast, which I didn’t really see as a feast because it was just the three of us –The king, Theo, and me – that were in attendance.According to Marcellus, he’d grown wary of people more than he used to be and wouldn’t want to incite harm on himself for the time being. Since it was a last-minute notification, Grace had to find me a suitable dress from one of my less-worn wardrobes.When I stepped into the hall, the king was already seated at his position at the head of the table. Theo sat on the left of the other end, which meant that I had to almost sit beside him. His eyes found mine the moment I walked in, their piercing gaze felt like they were stripping me bare.Walking briskly to my seat, I tried to ignore the appraising scrutiny that Theo gave me, and instead focused on the hall to deviate every unnecessary thought, especially since I’d just committed adu
~Storme~Theo’s fingers were relentless. My pulse roared in my ears, louder than music, louder than any chatter around us. I bit down on the inside of my cheek to suppress a gasp when his finger slid into me. My wolf growled with pleasure and frustration; her instincts tangled with mine.“You look flushed. Is the food not to your liking?” the king asked, noticing my countenance.“No!” I quickly interjected. “It is. I’m just so happy that you’re okay.”Theo’s fingers didn’t stop. They teased and tormented, sliding with agonizing precision, dipping just enough to make me ache for more. His composure infuriated me the most. The way he sipped his wine and exchanged discussions, all while unraveling me beneath the table.The king continued, oblivious. “Tomorrow, the queen will meet with the women of the kingdom. A gathering to discuss the prosperity of our Packs. It’ll be your first meeting with them. You must organize them well.”I tried to nod, tried to respond, but Theo’s fingers slip
~Storme~The door to my room clicked shut behind me, but the touch of Theo’s fingers still lingered on my skin. I pressed my back against the cool wood, my chest rising and falling with shallow, uneven breaths.My heart hadn’t calmed since dinner, and neither had the ache that pulsed through me, both from the pleasure Theo had ignited, and the shame that curled around me like smoke.I stumbled toward the edge of my bed, collapsing onto the soft bedding. My fingers grazed my thighs, the memory of his touch searing hot beneath them.“Goddess, what is wrong with me?” I muttered, clenching my thighs.I vividly remember the guards outside the doors looking at me funny when I came out of the dining hall. Could they have heard the unholy noises that we’d made? Or had they thought about how weird it was for the prince to send out every single servant in the room and shut the door while he was still alone with the queen?I should have felt disgusted. I should have been filled with guilt for
~Storme~The next morning, after the crack of dawn, I slipped out of King Marcellus’s room. He was still deeply asleep, and didn’t move all through the night. There was a moment when I thought that he might have died, but his snores had said otherwise.I’d wanted him to wake up and still see me beside him, but he was taking too long. I was already very uncomfortable as it was and I needed to get a good sleep.I held my breath as I closed the door softly behind me. My feet moved on instinct, swift and silent, carrying me down the long corridor toward the sanctuary of my room.When I entered my room, the last thing I expected was to find Theo waiting for me.He stood near the window, bathed in the soft glow of the early morning sun, his arms crossed over his chest. His piercing gaze locked onto mine the moment I stepped inside."Theo?" My voice was thick with surprise.Without answering, he stood and crossed the room in long, effortless strides. His hands found my waist, pulling me int
~Storme~Eventually, after Theo left, Grace returned to my room. Her sharp eyes immediately took in the disheveled state of my bed, the tangled sheets, and my tousled hair. She hesitated, a curious look flashing across her face.I barely had time to concoct a lie before she asked, her voice as gentle as ever, “Did you have a nightmare, Your Highness?”Her concern wasn’t entirely misplaced. The way I was tangled in my sheets, the faint signs of exhaustion on my face; it could easily suggest a restless night. But I didn’t exactly feel like explaining why I was in such a state. I couldn’t possibly tell her that I was exhausted from having too many orgasms from the king’s son."Why do you ask?" I replied.She gave a slight shrug, her lips curling into a small, polite smile. “Your hair,” she pointed out softly. “And your bedding... It looks like you were being chased by a demon.”Well, I guess we could call him that. Maybe an incubus?Nah, he was far from that. An incubus wouldn’t put my
~Theo~“Please, have mercy on me. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”His pleas made me stop for a moment, and I deeply regarded the man who hung before me. The air was filled with the stench of sweat and blood, mixed with the heavy breathing of the prisoner.His wrists were bound tightly to a suspended chain, and his arms pulled back at an unnatural angle. Blood trickled down his body from the deep wounds on his body, staining the ground beneath his feet. I’d made sure to use a copious amount of wolfsbane to weaken his wolf.“And how am I supposed to believe you?” I asked, blocking my senses from any pity. “You’ve not been able to convince me.”His face was swollen and battered; his eyes barely open from the blows he’d taken. “T-that’s b-because I-I don’t…”Fred had arrested him a while ago as the suspect that we’d been looking for. He didn’t have the stench of a rogue, neither did he have their characteristics. But there was no telling even what a normal wolf could do when
~Storme~It was finally the day of the meeting. Honestly, it wasn’t something that I was looking forward to. Meeting my stepmother again after all these years was a wound that I didn’t want to reopen.But then; I guess I can’t escape things like this with the kind of position that I’d been given.Grace and I moved around, inspecting every inch of the room. Servants darted from one side to the other, arranging the last few details, ensuring everything was perfect before the arrival of the other Lunas.Everything looked just as it should. Elegant. Refined."Are you sure it looks alright?" I asked, glancing at the long table set for the Lunas of the different Packs. “I feel like this isn’t enough. Do you think more Lilies should be added to this table?”"Everything is in order, Your Highness," Grace reassured me, her smile soft. "Just relax. You’re ready for this."I wanted to believe her. I really did. But my heart was racing, and the nerves clawed at me, making it hard to focus on any
~Theo~“You’ve become really sloppy,” Fred said, swinging his blade at me. I narrowly avoided it, a tight grin curling at the corner of my mouth.“You're the one who’s sloppy,” I retorted, stepping back to regain my balance.I gripped the hilt of my sword tightly, my muscles straining as I dodged Fred’s attack. Perspiration formed on my face, and my breath came in short gasps.“You sure about that?”Fred’s attack came quicker this time. He directed a fake swing at me and immediately followed up with a quick jab. I blocked the strike, feeling the force of the return attack on my arm. “Alright,” Fred agreed reluctantly, “I’ll admit, you’ve gotten faster. But you can’t deny that you’re distracted.”“Distracted?” I raised an eyebrow as I brought my sword up to block his next attack.“You’ve been distant,” Fred said, pressing the attack. “I’ve noticed you haven’t been fully engaged during our trainings lately. It feels like your mind is somewhere else.”I didn’t answer him right away. He
~Storme~It felt like I’d just signed my second death sentence when I noticed Marcellus and the guards behind him. He was breathing heavily, and his eyes had turned red. There was no denying what had happened between his son and me. there was no way I could deny it. Not with my dress almost off my body, and Theo’s shirt thrown away in a corner. The truth was just too glaring.“I can explain—” I started, trying to adjust my dress as decently as possible, my voice trembling as I stared at Marcellus’s wide, enraged eyes.But he didn’t let me finish. What happened next felt like it was edited in an extremely forward motion. I barely saw his fist before it slammed into Theo’s jaw with a crack that echoed throughout the room. I let out a gasp as Theo staggered backward, blood spraying from his lips.“No!” I rushed forward, but Theo caught himself before he fell. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then looked up at his father.“Don’t,” I whispered to him, begging with my eyes. “Pl
~Karen~The thanksgiving feast was an utter disaster in my eyes. From the moment Storme walked into the hall, basking in the attention of the alphas and dignitaries, to the Alpha King’s half-hearted speech thanking the Moon Goddess for sparing his queen’s life, every single second grated on my nerves.I’d kept my expression neutral, but inside, I was seething. I could tell that the Alpha King’s words were nothing but a formality, lacking any real emotion. His tone was dry, detached, as if he were merely checking off a duty on a long list of royal obligations. I almost rolled my eyes as he finished the dry speech.Favor? From the Moon Goddess? What a joke. If Storme had truly died, I would have personally made an offering to thank the heavens.But Theo had to push things further, of course, forcing me to say a prayer for my sworn enemy, someone that I would have snapped her neck as she sat pretty on that table if I had the opportunity.The prayers tasted like bile to me as I spoke, but
~Storme~{A WEEK LATER}Karen walked into the sitting room like she owned the place. She moved with an air of entitlement, her expression rigid as she sat across from me, smoothing her gown as if she were settling in for a long chat. I didn’t trust her presence, but I forced a polite smile expected from a queen."How are you doing?" she asked, her voice falsely sweet."I’m okay," I replied evenly.I knew better than to let my guard down around her. The event of the past days had made me know that Karen and I were sworn enemies who do not have a chance at coming together for peace. For someone who was willing to incinerate me even when it was obvious that I was alive, I wouldn’t put anything past her anymore.She offered a slow smile, tilting her head. "I must say, congratulations. You have quite the talent for cheating death. I’m almost envious."I gave a small, meaningless smile, but said nothing. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction."Are you ready for the feast this e
{NOTE: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS DUAL POV FROM BOTH THEO AND STORME. HAPPY READING.}~Theo~A collective gasp rippled through the room. My own breath caught in my throat. I rushed closer, my hands shaking as I reached for Storme. I pressed my fingers to her throat, feeling for the impossible.And then I felt it. The faintest, most fragile thump beneath my fingertips.She was alive.The room erupted into chaos. Karen shrieked in protest. The king’s eyes darkened with an unsatisfied emotion. The guards shifted uneasily, looking to him for orders.“This is a trick,” Karen spat. “A game. You saw her, Theo! She was dead.”I barely heard her. My heart was pounding, my mind racing. Storme had been cold. Still. Dead. And now…Geenie turned to my father. “My king, this is a great omen. She was taken by the spirits, but they have returned her.”My father’s expression hardened. “Then we must finish what we started.”My blood ran cold. “What?”“If she was meant to live, she would not have been declar
~Theo~I wiped my hand clean on a white handkerchief, shaking off the last remnants of the blood clinging to me.“What’s going on?” I asked, turning to the guards.One of the guards who had gone to check out the alarm, stumbled forward. “The palace vault, My Prince. It’s on fire!”My body stiffened as I listened to the guard speak. The vault was close to where Storme’s body had been taken. If that was where she was, then there's a huge possibility that the fire might burn her body as well.Without another thought, I broke into a sprint.“Theo!” Fred’s voice rang out behind me. “It’s dangerous! Storme is already dead. The fire burning her body won’t matter now.”But it mattered to me. Even in death, she deserved peace. Not this.I shoved past the chaos, dodging the guards as they worked hard to put out the fire. The heat seared my skin, but I didn’t stop. When I reached the room, I heaved a sigh of relief.The fire hadn’t touched her yet.Storme lay on a tiny bed, draped in ceremonial
~Storme~“Per radicem et saxum, per ignem et mare, scutum lucia me circumdat clare. Nullum Malum transeat, nullum maneat, Haec custodia nocte dieque stet.”(By root and stone, by fire and sea, A shield of light encircles me. No harm may pass, no ill may stay. This ward shall hold both day and night)The murmurs surrounded me, rhythmic and steady, their cadence weaving through my half-conscious mind. The words felt familiar, yet distant, as if they were buried deep in my bones, waiting to be unearthed.I felt a hand on my chest as the chants continued, and it felt like someone was retracing the birthmark on the back of my wrist. A little pain permeated through my skin, but it stopped almost immediately. The chanting stopped as well.My eyes fluttered open. A dim, flickering glow illuminated the space around me. The scent of burning herbs and something earthy filled the air. A woman stood before me, stirring a bubbling pot over an open flame. Her face, lined with wrinkles that somehow m
~Theo~The glass of alcohol in my hand was nearly empty, but the burn in my throat wasn’t enough to drown the rage consuming me. I paced up and down, my brain reeling of the sort of pain that I would mete out to the target that I had coming into the dungeon soon enough.She would taste exactly how it felt to die in the most painful manner. I would make sure of that.Keys jingled, and Fred and his men dragged in a figure covered from head to toe. They threw the body at my feet, and Fred yanked the leather bag off her face. The second she saw me, her eyes widened in horror, and she began to plead.“P-please, My Prince, spare my life, please!” Her voice was shrill and desperate. Her hands trembled as she reached for me, but Fred shoved her back down.“Shut your mouth!” he barked.He handed me a small leather bag. “We caught her trying to leave through the back of the palace. It looked like there were some unidentified guards trying to help her escape. We also found the bag on her.”I to
~Karen~I limped down the corridor, my head held high despite the pain throbbing in my leg. The scent of blood clung to me, but I ignored the questioning glances from the passing servants. Let them look. Let them whisper. None of it mattered. I had won.The ragged cloth that Mona had managed to find for me reeked of dampness and was undeniably dirty, but it was better than walking through the palace halls completely naked.“Theo tried to kill me.” I muttered to myself incessantly, as if saying it over and over again would make it become a lie.I hadn’t believed that he would be able to do something like that to me, his childhood sweetheart. If I hadn’t escaped as quickly as I had, then I would have been the second body that would have been incinerated tonight alongside that witch’s body.His rage, his grief, him fighting me, it had all being for that wretched woman. Even in death, she clung to him like a curse. How else was I supposed to get rid of this darn disease that had infected
~Theo~The world stopped. The air in the room turned suffocating. I heard nothing. Felt nothing. It was as if my body had shut down completely. I couldn't process what I had just heard. My mind rejected the words, my body refused to accept them.My breathing turned ragged as I turned to the doctor, my voice dangerously low. "Check again."The doctor swallowed hard, his face pale. "My Prince.. I've checked multiple times. There is no pulse. She has stopped breathing."Something inside me snapped."NO!" I bellowed, grabbing him by the lapel of his coat and shaking him violently. "She’s not dead! She’s not dead, you hear me? You’re lying! Do something!" My voice cracked as I shook him harder. "Bring her back! Bring her back right now!""Theo!" Fred grabbed my arms, trying to pull me off the doctor. "Theo, stop!""She’s not gone! She can’t be gone!" My vision blurred. My chest ached with unbearable pain. "Storme! Storme, wake up! Wake up!"I fell to my knees beside her bed, clutching her