Zelene Sallow:"Tell me, are you gonna punish your own mother?" she yelled when I didn't answer her right away."Just give me one good reason why I shouldn't," I asked, and her face went blank for a moment. She was really expecting me to say something comforting to her."I'm your mother, Zelene. I understand you're mad at me right now. But you can't deny or reject the truth that I'm your mother. You've already lost your sister and your adoptive mother. Are you sure you wanna lose your birth mother too?" The way her eyes filled with tears puzzled me. She genuinely seemed to lack the understanding that she's never been a mother to me and that the reason I lost my sister was because of her."My mother? Since when did you start calling yourself my mother?" I scoffed as I made blunt eye contact with her. The fact that she was trying to manipulate me after revealing her true self to me made me wonder if she thought everybody else was foolish in this world."Whatever I was doing, I was doing
Zelene Sallow:"There, there!" I hugged my daughter after feeding her in the car. It felt so wonderful to have her back with me, which made my heart ache for Zel even more. All she wanted was to be with her daughter, and those wicked people took that away from her."How is she?" Ray opened the passenger side door to ask me."She's doing well," I smiled, observing her gaze shifting toward Ray. I noticed that the blue in her eyes had become more prominent.Could it be that now she will be able to see? I had noticed that she was responding somewhat to voices, or perhaps I was just being overly observant."Can I hold her?" Ray asked in a gentle tone. I knew he felt responsible for not being there for her, but now things had changed. I knew he wasn't to blame."Sure," I got out of the car and let him hold her. The way his face lit up when he held her close to his chest and then kissed her cheek was heartwarming."My daughter," he whispered in her ear, holding her tightly. We were still at
Zelene Sallow:It's been a few days since that unfortunate event, but the clouds of sorrow had not yet dispersed. Everyone remained upset. In fact, arranging a suitable funeral for Hannah and Zel proved to be difficult due to Lady Jewel's objections.She didn't attend the funeral, refusing to pay her respects to a froster. I'm relieved she decided not to come. Her presence would have only added to our stress."We've summoned Jessica," Ray informed as he entered my bedroom. "Her trial will begin very soon, and she'll face the consequences for everything she's done."I finally had a bedroom to myself, which I appreciated for the privacy it offered. The brothers had been behaving strangely, seemingly in competition to spend more time with Yuna and me. I wasn't entirely sure how that would play out, but for now, I was leaving everything up to fate."I'm feeling really nervous," I admitted, getting up from beside the crib after putting Yuna to sleep."Nervous? Why's that?" Shane entered th
Zelene Sallow:"Wait, what are you trying to say?" Jessica asked, her voice trembling, her hands shaking, and her body leaning forward as if she feared someone might attack her."Stop lying; we already know the truth," Axel yelled, further unsettling her. She started glancing between me and him, feigning ignorance."Why would I drug you to sleep with her?" She finally came up with an excuse and wasted no time in using it to her advantage."You didn't know I was staying at the hotel that night. That's why you were always angry at Zelene because you couldn't believe you made such a huge mistake by drugging me accidentally too," Axel shouted at her. His yelling had attracted the attention of the brothers, and they rushed upstairs. Hans and Jerome followed suit after hearing the commotion."Daddy! Look what they're saying. They're accusing me of such a disgusting thing. I would never do that to anyone," she cried, hugging her father tightly. He gazed at me, convinced that I was the one tu
Zelene Sallow:"Axel, please, listen to me," Jessica quickly knelt at Axel's feet and began begging desperately."What is there to listen to? You played such a cruel game and destroyed everything for Zelene. All along, you've been doing your best to hide this truth, constantly accusing Zelene," Axel stood up and leaned over her, shouting in anger."She's just a naive child, Your Highness," Jerome realized he couldn't save her with any more excuses. The video footage had clearly exposed her actions."Child? She might seem like a child to you, but she's a grown adult who wrecked someone else's life and tarnished her reputation. If Zelene received such a severe punishment for drugging the Alpha Kings, why do you think Jessica will escape all of it?" Axel continued to shout, pointing his finger at Jessica, who sat on the floor with a vacant look in her eyes.I could tell that the harsh reality of how messy this situation had become was finally sinking in for her."You're not suggesting th
Zelene Sallow:"Look! The blue in her eyes is growing," I said to Shane, who was holding Yuna and playing with her. She was growing so fast, and at times, she would even respond or make some noises."Ohh! My baby has nice blue eyes," he mumbled to Yuna in a babyish tone. He was so gentle with her that it felt amazing to watch him play with her. It's been two days since my name was cleared, and the brothers have been more respectful towards me.However, there were still a few things that needed clarification. As I watched Shane take care of Yuna, I wondered how I would decide whom to accept.At this point, I noticed that the brothers had begun to expect me to accept them, but I still wasn't ready for it."I'll go see what the others are up to," I said, excusing myself and leaving his bedroom. Lady Jewel had been spending most of her time in her room, and Jerome hadn't stopped demanding to meet her. I wondered how long she was going to keep avoiding him. Eventually, she would have to me
Zelene Sallow:"Something has been bothering you," Axel said, frowning at me as I pondered how everything led to this situation.Jerome was determined to free his daughter from prison. It just didn't make sense that he ended his life without even meeting Lady Jewel one last time to give it a shot."This whole situation is so messy," I muttered. "I just don't get it. There are so many things that simply don't make any sense," I sighed, rubbing my temples.“What situation?” Axel continued to ask."But how could it have happened with Jerome?" I still wasn't buying the whole story of Royal Gamma Jerome ending his own life."They're saying he ate a lot of poison," Axel remarked, taking off his jacket and stretching his neck."That's so bizarre," I shook my head while cracking my knuckles simultaneously. There was a sense of unease in my body that I couldn't shake off.Something definitely happened other than the regular 'he took his own life' scenario. I recalled the interest Lady Jewel sh
Zelene Sallow:I haven't been able to make eye contact with Axel since we slept together last night. After that, I went back to my room to shower and take care of Yuna. This morning, I woke up early but chose to stay away from Axel. He seemed happy and full of energy."Ray, have you completed the investigation on the Jerome case?" Shane asked as Ray joined us for lunch. I was getting worried about his odd and distant behavior lately."What? What kind of investigation?" Lady Jewel chimed in, instead of Ray, asking a question. It was strange how she hadn't left her room until news of Jerome's passing had spread. Suddenly, she appeared no longer unwell. For some reason, I was the only one who noticed her change in behavior."There have been rumors going around about the night Jerome passed away," Shane went on, making me secretly watch Lady Jewel for her reaction.She raised an eyebrow and took a deep breath, sitting up straight as if she had something to contribute."I'm not sure what y
Zelene Sallow:Life had been treating us very well. I didn't want a grand public ceremony, so we waited for the next full moon to perform the markings. They had organized days to spend with me. While I would be on a date with one brother, the others would take care of Yuna."Hey! Is everyone ready?" Shane came looking for us as I dressed Yuna in a sweet pink dress. She looked like an angel. It was her first birthday, and I couldn't have been happier watching her being adored and cared for by her fathers."Oh, look at you!" Oscar rushed into the room, gasping in awe at the sight of Yuna. Shane scooped her up, and she giggled in his arms."Let me hold her," Oscar insisted, and Shane passed her over. Ray and Axel entered the room after getting ready, and their expressions mirrored those of the others."Don't think we forgot about you. We'll compliment you once we've showered our daughter with enough praise," Axel teased me, making me laugh at him before he turned his attention back to Yun
Zelene Sallow:My heart sank as Ray tightened his arms around me, pulling me closer to his body while he reached his other hand out freely behind me. I couldn't see what was happening behind my back, but a sudden sensation of something splashing against my bare neck made me shudder and broke Ray's embrace."AHHH!" Vera's painful cry echoed through the air as Ray's knife slashed her throat before she could stab me. Ray shielded me, pushing me behind his back even though Vera could no longer pose a threat to me.Vera dropped to her knees and gurgled, her eyes blinking with difficulty but fixed on Ray's face."You------," she whispered, "for her---," her voice began to fade.As she face-planted, her body started to shudder. I shook my head as I contemplated what her death would mean for Ray."No!" I exclaimed in a shaky tone, rushing in front of Ray to hastily unbutton his shirt while he gazed at me with an astonished expression."You shouldn't have killed her," I protested, struggling t
Zelene Sallow:"Finish her!" Vera shouted. I saw Ray narrow his eyes and raise the knife blade, ready to strike me with force. He pressed it down hard, and just as he was about to slice my neck, I managed to utter through my broken sobs, "I love you."All of a sudden, everything went quiet. Ray paused for a moment, and the hardness in his expression softened."I never stopped loving you," I whispered once more, closing my eyes, ready to meet my fate."Do it, what are you waiting for?" Vera screamed, and I braced myself for the end. But then, nothing happened. I felt the cold blade being lifted from my neck."I guess I've been waiting for her to admit her love to me," he said in his usual, soothing tone. My eyes opened in shock as I saw Vera looking at Ray with utter surprise."Ray! Baby! What are you saying? Remember what we talked about?" she said with a broken smile, trying to get closer to him while secretly cutting her palms.I didn't understand what she was doing until I remember
Zelene Sallow:I watched as he tied my hands to the tree and then walked back to Vera. He had brought me to the woods and waited for me to regain consciousness. Now that I was awake, I was back to facing horrors.The two of them stood in front of me, Ray with a blank expression on his face and Vera with a proud smirk. The rain had blurred my vision, preventing me from seeing the disdain in their eyes as they looked at me."This is not going to help you get him," I voiced, shivering from the cold but filled with anger at the same time."He's already mine," she shrugged, showing me her bloody palms.I didn't understand the meaning behind her gesture until she clarified, "Every time my blood penetrates his mark, he becomes more and more mine.""Then what do you want from me?" I yelled, struggling to make her hear me through the heavy wind and pouring rain."Huh! Because you're never truly gone. Every time I have him, you crawl back into his life. This time, you almost made him break the
Ray Steele:I sat her down before the council, and they signed the papers for her punishment. She hadn't really said anything but kept staring into the distance, silent tears rolling down her eyes.I didn't bother talking to her the entire time, but I did plan to give her a piece of my mind. After the council cleared the charges from Zelene's name and signed Jessica's punishment, I handcuffed her in silver and made her walk behind me to the vehicle outside.In a few days, the full moon would consume me again, and I would forget about my love for Zelene. I would once again be upset with her and dismiss any love and affection for my daughter. It was just so unfair, but I was stuck in this mess.After I sat Jessica down in the back of the vehicle, I asked her, "What did you get out of it?" She had her head tilted, and big tears were forming in her eyes."You would have ended up with Axel if you hadn't caused all this mess," I knew sooner or later Zelene would have felt the mate bond with
Zelene Sallow:We began our journey back home in two different cars. Shane and Axel were in one car, and Axel had asked to carry Yuna, while Oscar and I were in the other.Oscar and I were the first to reach home. The rain had become so heavy that we had to rush inside instead of waiting outside for Shane and Axel's car.Once we were in the foyer, I began to pace around, glancing at the entrance for Shane and Axel and around the mansion for Ray."Ray!" Oscar called out for him, preparing to search for him, but before that could happen, Ray himself walked out."Oh my!" Oscar sighed in relief, and I echoed the sentiment."Where is Vera?" I asked instead of allowing Oscar to speak.Ray turned to look at me with a blank expression and then muttered, "she's resting in the guestroom.""I heard about Lady Jewel," Ray said with a shrug of his shoulders, "karma catches up with bad people sooner or later." Clearly, he was devoid of emotions because he wasn't himself. I couldn't even imagine how
Zelene Sallow:"Yuna isn't here!" I screamed when I rushed into the room and found her crib empty. This was my worst nightmare coming true. We had been so preoccupied with everything else that no one had thought she would come for Yuna."We need to find her," Oscar grabbed my arm, trying to snap me out of it before I got overwhelmed by tears and despair."How could she do this to me?" I screamed, sobbing as I followed behind Oscar, who was pulling me along with him."Right now is not the time to lose our composure; we need to find her. She wouldn't have gone too far," Axel ran behind us after making a call to Shane, who was already searching for her."What did Shane say?" I asked him, stopping near the car."He said some people saw her heading towards the mountains," Axel replied, helping me get into the car without any delay.Ray didn't come with us because, clearly, Vera wouldn't allow it. Moreover, he seemed to have lost his rationality to the point of becoming Vera's puppet.We dr
Zelene Sallow:"Where's Mom?" Shane and I rushed upstairs to find the cellphone Hans had mentioned. The things Hans had told us were devastating for Shane.Oscar looked up from his phone while he sat in the room where she was supposed to be resting. Ray was in his room with Axel, who was trying to stay close to him to prevent any further interaction with Vera.After learning what her father had done, they were now cautious of Vera and what she might be capable of."She went to use the restroom, why?" Oscar frowned, noticing our breathlessness. Shane was visibly upset, and Oscar couldn't help but see it."Where is it?" Shane avoided Oscar and began searching the room. I had to get closer to Oscar to update him on what was happening."Hans claimed that Lady Jewel was in a consensual relationship with him," I whispered, observing Oscar's eye roll as he doubted the man. "But there's more."I watched him slowly stand up and move closer to me as Shane continued to make a mess in the room."
Zelene Sallow:"Shane, stop it!" I yelled as I pushed him away from Hans, who couldn't even stand on his feet now.Shane was enraged, and so was Axel. Both of them were struggling hard not to let their wolves take over, but it was clear they were failing miserably."I'm going to kill this jerk!" Shane yelled again when he saw Hans trying to get to his feet. I had to push Shane once more to prevent him from harming Hans any further."Do you even know who you're defending?" Axel shouted in frustration, his eyes turning red from anger."What's going on here?" Oscar stood between the brothers and me and posed the crucial question."He... he was in our mother's room... he was assaulting her," Shane yelled, exposing Hans's crime, and even I couldn't hold back a gasp."What?" I yelped, covering my mouth in shock."That's not true--" Before Hans could say another word, Oscar turned around and punched him, knocking him to the ground and rendering him unconscious."I'm so glad you guys arrived.