~Karen~I traced the edges of the tiny vail with my fingertip, my mind filled with frustration and simmering anger. The garden was quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds, but it did nothing to soothe the fire burning in my chest.Theo had refused me again. He was really ready to die instead of mating with me. He was ready to choose that woman over and over again over me.I gripped the vail tighter, recovering myself enough to loosen my grip just before I broke the container and the contents spilled to the ground. It had taken me a lot of money and time before I was able to lay my hand on such a dangerous substance.A small smile filtered across my lips as I gazed at the vial reverently. “If you won’t be mine because of her, perhaps you would rethink if she’s out of the way?”Since we were children, I had known he was mine. Betrothed since we were five, raised with the understanding that one day, we would be bound together in both duty and love.
~Storme~“Isn’t this so pretty?”I ran my fingers over the Taffeta silk of the gown in my hands, admiring the delicate embroidery. It was a beautiful dress; deep green with gold-threaded vines curling along the bust area.It was one of those dresses that I’d never thought about wearing, but somehow, Grace had dug them up while re-arranging my closet.“I could wear this to a formal occasion, right? What do you think, Grace?” I asked, turning to where my maid had been standing just moments ago.But she wasn’t there. I frowned, then remembered that she had gone to fetch me some juice.I sighed, setting the dress down on the bed. Grace had always been quick, efficient, and unusually cheerful for someone who works in this depressing palace. I had grown used to the sound of her laughter in the room, and her endless chatter about things I sometimes only half-listened to.But it has been too long since she left. It should be more than thirty minutes now. And I don’t think that juicing an oran
~Karen~I tossed and turned in my bed, my mind running wild with the images of the tragedy that was supposed to have happened by morning.Storme, lifeless and all cold, the palace in mourning. And Theo... Would he cry? Would he grieve for her the way one should grieve for a lost mate?I scoffed at the thought. Probably. He was foolish like that, wasting his emotions on someone who had no right to them.I rolled onto my back, my eyes fixed at the sparsely designed ceiling above me. How will I react when I receive the news of her death in the morning? Should I scream? Maybe throw myself onto the floor and wail like a heartbroken sister?“Yea, I should probably practice before I sleep.”With a satisfied smirk on my face, I adjusted my expression appropriately and began my wailing practice. My lips trembled, my eyes welled up. I even let out a choked sob for posterity.“Yes,” I whispered, swiping the tears that dropped on my cheeks. “That’s perfect. I’m a natural at this.”It had taken ju
~Karen~I was still speaking to Grace, making sure she understood exactly what needed to be done, when an omega ran up to me. She looked nervous, her head bowed as she stopped a few feet away.“My lady,” she said, “The queen has requested that you meet her in the women’s only hall.”“Why?” I asked sharply.The omega shifted uncomfortably. “The queen commanded that we all sympathize with you since you are mourning someone you have lost.”My face squeezed in a deep frown. Was this some kind of game to Storme? I never asked for anyone to help me with mourning, or sympathize with me; yet, she had decided to take it upon herself to do just that. And not only that, she even gathered almost the females in the whole household for that.I clenched my fists at my sides, hate and fury swirling in my chest. But then, an idea formed in my mind. A great idea that made me smile.This is an opportunity. I could use this to my advantage.My lips curved into a smile as I nodded at the omega. “You can l
~Storme~The moment I stepped out of the women’s only hall, I knew that something was off. There was a strange heat crawling up my skin, a bad sensation that had nothing to do with the mourning ritual, or Karen’s fake display of grief.It was the way she had insisted on serving refreshments even when it wasn’t the rule of the kingdom. It had been suspicious, but I had played along, watching her just as she watched me.“I should have refused to drink that beverage,” I muttered, “What if it was poisoned?”But I felt fine. Besides, Grace wouldn’t let me take anything that would be harmful to me. That thought alone calmed me down.A small part of me wanted to believe that Karen was just a desperate fiancée trying to reclaim a man who had never been hers to begin with. It could be that, or it could be that she was just innately dangerous.“I really should be careful around her. She gives me bad goosebumps.”I was still trying to process the day’s events when a strong hand gripped my wrist
~Theo~Slowly, I began to strip her clothes. Her zipper slid down and the black gown slipped from her body, and pooled at her feet, revealing the most perfect creation that I’d ever seen. One that makes me have wild thoughts even when it’s all still covered up.When I saw her this morning walking out of that hall, I hadn’t been able to hold myself back from accosting her. I’d almost lost my composure when our bodies touched again, but it was the fire in her eyes that nearly undid me. Dressed in that ridiculous mourning attire, she looked like sin wrapped in sorrow, a queen even in grief. My queen. The one woman I could never claim.Not openly, at least.“What are you doing?” she asked when I paused for some time.I exhaled and shook my head. “You’re just too beautiful. I don’t think I can stop looking at you.”“We don’t have time for that.” She breathed impatiently, trying to unbutton my shirt. “All I want you to do right now is touch me. Do more touching than staring.”She fused her
~Karen~“I’m so sorry, My Lady, please forgive me.”I glared down at the shivering mess in front of me, my fists clenched so hard that my nails dug into my palms.The back and forth was becoming tiring. How difficult was it supposed to be to carry out a simple task? My patience was already slice thin, and would snap at any time now.It’s already been two days since my encounter with that slimy, pretentious, unfaithful bitch. She was supposed to be dead by now. At the very least, she should have been on the floor, writhing in agony, gasping for breath as the poison works through her veins. But she was still here, alive. Untouched. Walking around the palace like nothing had happened.And Grace… Grace stood before me with her head bowed, her body trembling like a pathetic leaf caught in the wind. Was she such a loyal dog who can’t bear to bring harm to her owner?“And why should I forgive you?” I asked, slamming my hand on the desk, the thud sound echoing throughout the silence of my ro
~Theo~The discussion between my father and me was dragging longer than necessary. Matters of the Tribe had a way of doing that. It was always endless disputes, trade agreements, and border tensions. My patience was wearing thin, but I kept my composure, responding when necessary, even though my mind was elsewhere.The forces against Storme and I were getting stronger, and it was only a matter of time before we were publicly called out in the Tribe. My refusal to marry Karen wasn’t helping issues at all. She was already threatening Storme’s life, and knowing the kind of personality that Karen had, it wouldn’t take her a blink to eliminate whoever she saw as a foe.The whole matter was driving me insane.A sharp knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. Before my father could answer, the door swung open, and in walked Karen, dressed in her usual arrogance, a sly smile playing on her lips. But what caught my attention wasn’t her.It was the girl trailing behind her. I recognized he
~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