She cringed at the hateful glances thrown her way as she walked beside Eric.She couldn't pretend not to notice the disdain and displeasure on their faces. The plight she saw on some. She felt the urge to disappear or maybe turn invisible until they were within the palace walls.They weren't happy. For seven years, their Alpha barely glanced at them. For seven years, he barely showed interest in their plight. He shut them out completely.Their lives had never been the same. So many things went wrong. They couldn't even get justice cause the man who was supposed to fill in was weak.The King was weak. They felt neglected and alone. Confused. Shattered. He was in pain yet somehow he forgot his pain was theirs too. He forgot they needed him as much as he needed them.That they were his people. They were just as shattered as him. Scared of him. Terrified he might just decide to turn his back completely on them.Yet one human and he was ready to
The silence was annoying. He had gotten so used to her running mouth. He took a glance back at her and she was just absentmindedly playing with her collar.He didn't like the silence. He didn't like that she wouldn't even look at him. Of course, he had asked her not to but he thought she would just disobey him as always.Was he too harsh on her? Hell yeah, he was. He glanced at her again. He didn't like this silence. Even if he ignored her most of the time, hearing her talk eased some of the boredom."Valentine" He finally broke the silence and all she did was hum a reply."You're quiet" His voice came out hard and crisp. She kept her gaze on the floor and remained silent."Why?". It sounded so damn stupid to ask that. He literally told her to shut up. He bit his lip a little aggressively in frustration as she refused to speak."Do you wanna leave?" He asked and she nodded, almost curtly. But he didn't want to send her away. Apparently, she
"I'm totally behind you, Val. Don't give in easily" Freya chirped with excitement bubbling through her words. You don't see the Alpha begging for attention every day."I'm not in support of giving him the silent treatment. He can do anything when his buttons are pushed. I think you should just forgive him" Rhoda said."You can only forgive when the person apologizes. He hurt her so a little hurt too is totally fair. Don't you dare break the silent treatment, it's the most exciting thing that's happened all week" Freya said."So if I'm not wrong, your lame plan is to get the Alpha to apologize" Maya spoke from behind. She had been listening to the conversation while sorting some dresses."How about you keep your thoughts to yourself?" Rhoda snickered."Whatever, I guess I'll be seeing dragons soon " Maya shrugged and Valentine whipped her head around."Dragons? I thought they vanished like a thousand years ago" Valentine said with surprise."Shit, I
Zalina kept her eyes on the ground as the King approached her. She couldn't hate him less for everything he'd put her through. Just a ring and she almost lost her daughter."Lina" He called and She gritted her teeth while bowing. How could he say her name so smoothly?"Your m.majesty..." She muttered."How have you been?" He asked and her head snapped to him. Did he just ask her that? Does she look fine to him? Was this the woman that trapped his attention about a month ago?No. I'm not fine. I hate to see your face. I hate your people. I hate your city. I hate your palace. I hate the air I'm forced to breathe with you. I hate the nights I'm forced to spend here. She wanted to scream all that in his face."I'm fine...I guess" She gritted. Then he chuckled and her fists clenched at her side. She wanted to punch that smile off his face. Maybe wipe that laughter too."Your eyes are too fierce, Lina. You could send me ten feet under with that st
Shocked faces stared back at him. His fists clenched at his side as his jaw tightened, digesting the slap."E..Eric..?" She gasped in shock. He stared back at her emotionlessly. Valentine knew his temper was rising. He was going to cause a scene. She thought of what to do. So many things yet nothing in her head made sense."I didn't mean...It wasn't for you...I'm sorry..." She stuttered but he kept staring at her."P..please...." Valentine pleaded behind him. The rest were still in shock with hanging jaws."P..please...calm down...." Valentine pleaded again, a little more desperately this time. He threw them one last look before taking her hand.His grip on her wrist tightened as he led her out of the room. She broke into a little run to keep up with him The minute they were in his chambers, he released her hand and locked the door.She was about to talk when he punched the wall and her heart stopped. She could imagine that punch landing on someone's face. He released another angry pu
The maidens gawked at Zalina's new appearance. In truth, no one thought she would still be so beautiful. At least not after all the torture she's been through."You look stunning" One of the maids confessed and Zalina was tempted to roll her eyes. They could admire her beauty now because of the king then treat her like rags later for the Queen.'Bunch of sycophants' She thought wearing a faux smile. If only they knew she didn't want their praises. In fact, she didn't want anything from anyone. She just wanted to take her daughter home."I appreciate your efforts to impress your king but don't you think you're overdressing me? It's bad enough my whole body is caked with powder now I have to go through a perfume bath?" She groaned but the maidens went ahead with it."The powder is to conceal your scars and the perfume is to smell pleasant. Don't you want the king to.....""No. I don't like perfume and I don't even want to impress your king. I feel suffocated in this dress. Surely all th
The silence that once prevailed in the room took an opposite turn as everyone struggled to get a closer view. Zalina could barely make out anything from the spot she stood.Kimberly stood beside Alisa, snickering. The pet was trying to impress him not knowing she had crossed the line. Aldric couldn't care less as he sipped his wine, enjoying the show.The same couldn't be said for the Queen though. She was worried about him. Especially since she knew how deeply this would affect him. After all, it was her body he was going to pour his aggression on.Freya lowered her gaze guiltily. The floor suddenly seemed like the most attractive thing in sight. Maya wouldn't spare her either as she kept throwing glares at her.Others were simply monotonous expressions. Curiosity. Not only did they want to know why the strange girl was dressed like their Luna, but how Eric would handle the situation.Valentine, on the other hand, was lost. She had no idea what was happening or why Eric looked like h
Suicide.Yes, suicide. But that didn't mean it was actually going to happen. Not when he felt so dizzy and weak. The light stab suddenly made sense. One of the doctors had succeeded in injecting him.He looked back and realized he wasn't far from the palace gate. He couldn't get further either, as much as he wanted to. The stupid injection worked like magic.At this point, he was glad there was some sort of escape from his raging mind. He didn't care if it was from the drug or suicide, he just needed to be out. To escape. It didn't matter which was the easiest.He stopped running, giving in to the strong effect of the drug. He felt his body go limp before the darkness hit him like a wave.Valentine stared at the flowing water with teary eyes. Her eyes were hurt from crying too much. Her head pounded from trying to understand. Her heart wouldn't stop breaking.Yet nothing made sense. She was simply back to the place she started. She released the tears no matter how much her eyes were t
FlashbackFreya stepped into Marcie's room with the juice she ordered."Your Highness, your drink" She informed and Marcie took the glass from the tray."What would you do with a hundred pieces of silver?" Marcie asked. Freya looked around to confirm Marcie's question was indeed directed at her."I... Silver is not allowed in the land.......""But you humans use it out there, don't you? You don't plan to remain a slave forever, do you?".Freya bit her lip before mumbling a response, "No, Your Highness. A hundred pieces of silver is a lot. There are so many things I could do with that"."Good. You know what happened earlier with the doctors" Marcie took a seat this time. Freya nodded slightly wondering what it had to do with the money."Good. I'm sure you're also aware that the injection will be tested in a few hours"."Yes but....""I have a job for you. If you get it right then you will get two hundred pieces of silver" Marcie studied her expression closely before adding, "I want you
"We won't have you waste any more time. Test the injection" Iyaki commanded. The doctor looked frightened. He was visibly trembling before the Elders. The rogue before him was growling and gnashing its teeth at him. He swallowed hard."Should we use force? You might not like it" The second elder spoke."I am telling the truth. I was sent from my pack to work.....""Nobody cares where you come from. All doctors must be tested and proven worthy before being assigned to the Alpha. We do not doubt your abilities, we only want you to show us" The third elder spoke calmly."A-Alright..I-I can do t-that. I'll j-just inject it...." He stuttered and the Elders nodded in encouragement. He took a step towards the chained animal. It snarled at him and his heart stopped. What if it goes wrong?Princess Kimberly had given him this with specific instructions to inject only the Alpha. Thinking of it now, he felt like a fool. He should have questioned her. What if it was dangerous? He shut his eyes, t
Freya was shocked to see Valentine in the east wing. Since the night she went into the tower, Freya had assumed Eric had ripped her apart, apparently, she was wrong.She looked around quickly for a place to hide before Valentine noticed her. The only escape was the room she came out from. She sighed and entered the Queen's Chambers.Queen Estel was lying gracefully on the couch, with the maids massaging her feet. Her eyes landed on Freya instantly."Why are you still here?" Queen Estel asked distastefully. Freya swallowed hard."Actually It saw Valentine and I couldn't let her see me here" Freya rushed her words."Is that so? She's out of the tower already?" Queen Estel smiled."Yes, your h-highness" Freya stuttered nervously."That was quick," Gyai chuckled."Yes, Gyai. Very quick. Yet that makes it even better" Queen Estel said gleefully. Freya looked between them, trying to understand the conversation."Stop staring, you little swine" The Queen snapped and Freya quickly lowered her
Valentine woke up with a bright smile. She glanced at the man sleeping beside her and her smile grew wider. She leaned in and planted a kiss on his lips.His arms wrapped around her instantly, making her grin like an idiot.She laid back tracing his features with her fingers. He looked so relaxed and...beautiful. Well, Eric had always been beautiful but now it looked different, almost angelic."Damn, Val. You're so whipped" She giggled. Slowly, she took off his arm and got out of bed. She needed clothes and food and admiring Eric all day wouldn't get any of that.She walked out of the room and found her way out of the tower. The guards seemed surprised to see her but she merely smiled at them and headed for the servant's quarters.Maya was the first person she saw as soon as she stepped in."Valentine! You're still alive?!" Maya exclaimed, wrapping her instantly in a suffocating hug."C-Can I-I b-breathe a l-little?" Valentine choked out and Maya released her instantly with an apologe
"I'm getting married?! Why?!" Aldric half-yelled. King Edmund simply sighed and took a seat beside him."Sit, Aldric" He spoke. Aldric was reluctant at first but eventually sat."It wasn't my decision" The king started."Obviously!" Aldric spat. The king shot him a look but chose not to comment."The Elders will have a meeting with you after you're properly rested to discuss the marriage"."They can't just impose their decisions on me. I am old enough to decide to marry or not" Aldric frowned."Don't think your promiscuity has gone unnoticed. You've laid with almost all female servants and you don't expect them to watch their distress silently" King Edmund stated."Is this about Valentine?" Aldric frowned."Is she your only victim?" The King threw back. Aldric scoffed."I'm glad you know the answer to that.""I'm not ready to marry anyone other than my mate," Aldric said defiantly."You prefer to go about defiling potential mates of others. This marriage does not stop you from being w
"Who killed Alana?" Iyaki asked and Eric's eyes widened with hurt and accusation. Iyaki scolded himself inwardly."You think I killed her? Do you believe I played a part in her death? I loved her, Yaki! How could you even....." Iyaki quickly placed a hand over his chest. Eric stiffened though his eyes were filled with rage."Calm down, Eric, calm down" He spoke softly and Eric's harsh breath began to relax. He did however shove the other man's hand away."I'm sorry I misinterpreted the situation but I assure you I have never for once considered you a murderer" Iyaki apologised. His tone gave out his remorse and Eric seemed to buy that."I'm not sure I want you to look at me that way. Even though I have indeed committed a few murders of my own kind" Eric spoke with a bitter smile. Iyaki's eyes narrowed."We understand you weren't in your right frame of mind and no one blames you for that. We can only mourn the losses and hope there won't be a repeat"."You have too much hope" Eric chuc
A guard walked into the throne room to report to King Edmund."Did she arrive home safely?" The king asked."Yes, Your Highness, although she kept asking about her daughter we were able to assure her that she was on her way," The guard replied. Edmund nodded and dismissed him."I'm so sorry, Lina. I wish I could grant that one wish of yours" He muttered. Queen Estel walked in at that moment."YouHighnessss" She bowed. He nodded absentmindedly."Have the guards returned?" She asked, sitting beside him."Yes, they did. She is home now" He replied."I'm glad you did this for me. Thank you" She smiled. Edmund smiled softly at her."I told you I would. I don't have plans of replacing you, Estel even if you torture me most of the time"."Not tonight" She winked and he broke into a grin."Do I have your word or you are just messing with me?"."You have my word. So don't get too stressed, you'll be needing the stre
Valentine couldn't have been happier than she was now. This man whom she'd longed for was right in her arms, begging to stay. Presently, she was braiding his hair and stealing a few kisses when she could. With the strong heat of passion between them, Valentine was surprised they hadn't taken each other by now. It warmed her heart though that what she shared with Eric wasn't just based on sex, even though she didn't exactly know if he felt the same towards her but they were making progress."The braids are too tight" He hissed."Really? I thought you liked it rough" She teased and he pushed his face upwards to stare at her with that mischievous glint in his eyes."Is that what we're doing now?" His tone was teasing and Valentine realised the double meaning to her words. She hit him playfully as her cheeks heated up."You're such a perverted mind, Eric"."What can I say? I'm not asexual not to think of you beneath those clothes even though I've had q
Zalina roamed around the dark cell with a frown. How many days did that witch plan to keep her here? She thought of Edmund and scoffed. If he truly cared about her, he would have noticed her absence by now.She sat on the floor with a frustrated sigh. Maybe she should have been nicer to him, pretending to care in the least. But what did she do? She slapped him and warned him off her. How on earth was he going to find out that stupid Barbie of his locked her up now?She thought of screaming for help. She tried that earlier but no one came. It seemed she was just disturbing the hallways and other cells, if any.She heard footsteps and quickly stood."Hello? Anyone there?" She called out but got no response. The footsteps only kept getting closer."Hello? Can you help me out of here? Hello?" She kept calling until a figure stopped in front of her cell. She tried to make out the face but it was too dark to see anything."Who are you?" She whispe