~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~“I heard that you caused quite the ruckus in the meeting today.”The news of what happened had gone more viral than I thought it would. I guess it was unheard of for a queen to simply ban a Luna because they were in disagreement. In fact, as the meeting ended and I left for my room, I heard whispers of the servants already calling me ‘The intolerant queen’, which I didn’t really mind.I’ve had enough of everyone trying to stomp all over me. That incident made me realize it. From now on, I will match any energy given to me. It was far more exciting than cowering and trying to be a good queen.King Marcellus had sent for me barely hours after it was over. He didn’t just need me to clarify what was wrong. Knowing a bit about his personality, he was probably pissed at my show of power.He’d warned and reminded me severally to never try to show my powers as a queen to the public because the title was just a show for him. Too bad, I’m not going to listen to him anymore. I’m abo
~Theo~Being the king’s son does have its own advantages. For instance, being able to get into any room in the palace at will, which explains why I’m in Storme’s room tonight. I’d wanted to speak with her after the incident, but she was already gone by the time I got here.She would be in my father’s room right now, attending to him.I felt my heart explodiy like an airbag. It wasn’t out of joy. It was out of jealousy. Of course, I was jealous. This was why we needed to talk about so many things, making our relationship public inclusive.The secret love was already getting tiring. It’s a matter of time before we get caught anyway. So why not just make it public ourselves?I clicked her door shut, walked to her bed, and laid on it. It felt as soft as her skin, and I bet the pillows were filled with her scent as well.Taking the pillow on her side of the bed, I brought it to my face and inhaled deeply. A sly smile covered my face as I did so.“Hmm,” I breathed, “Such a bad girl. You’v
~Storme~I woke up the next morning feeling so light. That was probably the best sleep that I’ve had in a while. Enclosed in warmth, a little smile played on my lips when I saw Theo still beside me.Last night was the first time that we’d been together for hours without trying to eat each other up. We’d spoken about a lot of things and tried to know more about ourselves. A few times, I almost slipped and told him about the weird things that I noticed about me, but I stopped myself just in time. I couldn’t let anyone know. Not until I was sure what was wrong with me.Last night, I had poured my burdens into him, allowing him to share the ache and the frustrations that I felt. And he had held me closer all through.It almost felt like a date. Just pure tenderness and sweetness. It made me almost feel like I was falling in love with him.I lay still for a moment, simply watching him as he slept, his breathing deep and steady. Even in sleep, he was breathtaking. His strong jaw relaxed,
~Storme~You’re dangerous,” Theo murmured, tracing lazy circles along my spine.Proud was an understatement of what I felt. I’d pleasured the almighty Theo. It wasn’t just a one-way thing now. And the way he had whimpered under my control…phew.There was nothing sexier.“What do you expect from an alpha wolf who goes by Storme?” I retorted, giggling. “Of course, I’ll be dangerous.”He drew me closer to him and planted a kiss on the crook of my shoulder. Slowly, he began to go down, until he got to the sweet spot on my neck.“Baby,” he rasped, running his hand down my arm, “Why don’t you let me mark you? We’ve been doing this secretly for a while and I’m so eager to show you off to everyone as mine.”For a moment, I was tempted to say yes to his proposal. I mean, what could possibly go wrong? He’s my fated mate after all. Wolves are supposed to celebrate members who are finally able to be with goddess chosen mates because that would mean becoming better and stronger at anything you do
~Storme~I didn’t know how long I’d been here. The dungeon didn’t offer much in the way of timekeeping, but I’d counted the times sunlight filtered through the tiny grate high up on the wall. Two days. Maybe three. I couldn’t keep counts anymore.My throat burned. My lips were cracked. My stomach had stopped growling. Now, it just hurt. They hadn’t given me food. No water. Nothing but the cold floor and the stink of dirt and rot for comfort.Theo’s visit had given me a little bit of hope. Seeing him gave me a strength that I’d lacked these past days. And knowing that he was okay made me happy. But now that he was gone, I was back to my old helpless self.I curled tighter into myself, trying to fight the dizziness. But it was no use. That was when it happened again.I stood in a wide open field that looked oddly familiar like the field I used to run to for comfort in the Normadic Wolves. In front of me was the same woman I’d seen before in these visions that I’ve had.This time, there
~Theo~Pain greeted me before my consciousness stepped in. It was sharp, seated in the back of my head like a hammer was trying to split my bone in two. I groaned, and dragged a hand across my face, a skull-cracking headache romancing the entirety of my head. As my eyes opened, everything came back to me in blinding flashes: Storme’s broken expression, her being dragged away, my father’s voice accusing her of treason and condemning her to death.I shot upright immediately, the migraines suddenly forgotten. Theo and Grace watched with puzzled expression as they tried to hold me still. But that wasn’t the plan for me.“Theo, wait—!”Fred’s voice was too late. I was already yanking off the sheets and throwing my legs over the side of the bed. Before I could leave my room, he blocked my path, concern written all over his face. “You can’t just jump out of bed and leave, Theo. You need to rest. You’ve been unconscious since last night.”“Where is she?” I rasped.Fred lowered his eyes, atte
~Storme~The cold was worse tonight. Not the kind that seeped through bones, but the kind that makes you think about the vicissitudes of life. The uneven floor pressed against my spine like cracked, jagged teeth, and each breath I took was filled with the stale, damp air. My wrists ached where the silver chains had rubbed my skin raw, and my lips were dry, cracked. Grace hadn’t been allowed to visit. I hadn’t seen another face all day. Only rats. And silence. And shadows.“Is this really how I’m going to die? Without seeing people that I love?”A choked sob escaped my throat. I was weak. I was too weak to fight. My back was still aching with the strokes of canes that the guards had lashed out on me after the trial, which I learned was the alpha king’s command.That devil in disguise.What kind of man was he anyway? Even if he was furious with y actions, could he not even spare his own son? He had stood there, watching as Karen injected his son with a substance that could be dangerous
~Storme~After a torturous night and a nightmare that didn’t seem to end, it was past dawn. I could hear footsteps coming towards me. They were fast and hurried. I crawled out from the corner of the cell where I’d gone to avoid getting wet from the faulty ceiling, and blind-patted my way to the door.The cell door creaked open, and the torchlight stung my eyes. I blinked fast, adjusting to the sudden brightness. Before I could move, rough hands yanked me up by the arm. I winced.“Get up, slut,” a voice sneered.It was a voice that I would recognize even in death. Karen, my biggest antagonist yet.“The alpha king, in his great mercy, has decided to give you a fair trial. Even if we both know that it’s useless, he wants to give you a fighting chance.”The public trial. It was the nightmare of every accused wolf in Castillo Tribe. I wouldn’t call that a trial, because it was just an avenue to let the Tribe people do whatever they deem fit with you before you’re finally sentenced. It was
~Storme~This was almost like a second home to me. For someone who had spent the better parts of her growing up life in a dungeon, I guess I could call it just that. I’ve communed with mice and geckos more probably more than any so-called alpha’s daughter, or queen.The dungeon was pitch-black now. The little bit of light from the moon had disappeared, leaving only the sound of water dripping from the faulty ceiling, and the occasional scurrying rat to remind me that I was still alive.I curled tighter into myself, shivering on the cold, rough floor. My skin ached. My lip had split open again. The cramps on my lower belly was starting to act up again, and the nausea was starting to come back in torrents. The smell of everything in the dungeon irritated me.I closed my eyes, and concentrated on counting from 1-100 backwards. It was something that helped me whenever I felt anxious, or agitated. Somehow it brought me a little bit of peace. I felt myself becoming more relaxed, and my body
~Storme~The words hung in the air like a stubborn fog that has refused to clear away. For a moment, no one moved. Not even the guards.Theo snapped out of the shock first. “Don’t you dare!”Marcellus, whose eyes were now red, swallowed by rage, growled at the guards who were hesitant and confused on whose orders to obey. “Seize the traitor now!”I stumbled back as two armored guards lunged toward me. Theo struggled in the grip of the warriors still holding him, thrashing, snarling like a beast as the veins in his neck bulged. “Let me go! Storme—!”I tried to run away instinctively, even though I had no idea why I thought that it was a great idea, but one of them caught me by the waist and slammed me against the cold pillar. My cheekbone cracked against the cold stone, and I tasted blood again.“Stop!” Theo roared. “You can’t do this—”“I can do whatever I want with her!” Marcellus bellowed. “The sooner you understand and accept that fact, the better for you in this kingdom.”I fought
~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