RaeThe morning light spilled through the curtains, reflecting over our tangled limbs. We hadn’t moved all day. Von lay beside me, his arm lazily draped over my waist, his lips trailing along my shoulder like he was trying to memorize the shape of me. "Von, you have a visitor," I murmured, nudging him gently. He didn't respond with words. Instead, he pressed his mouth lower, and his warm lips brushed against the curve of my breasts.I let out an involuntary moan which became high-pitched seconds later. Von finally freed me giving me a devilishly smile. "Why are you ignoring me?" I asked though it came out more breathless than annoyed. "I’m giving you a reason to stop reminding me," he said, and he leaned forward.His tongue found its way to my breasts again, and he took turns circling my nipples until I arched into him. A sharp knock startled me. However, Von didn’t flinch. He remained in that same position."Your Majesty," the guard called through the door. "Your guest is
RaeThe kitchen smelled like warm vanilla and cinnamon. But even the sweet scent of freshly baked cupcakes couldn't lift the weight in my chest. My arms were crossed against my chest as I leaned against the doorway, watching Anna move around the kitchen. She was stirring something in a glass bowl, humming softly under her breath until she finally turned and caught my eyes.“Why do you look so moody?” she asked, setting the bowl down and wiping her hands on her apron.I sighed and shrugged. “I hate that Von is gone.”Anna arched a brow. “It’s only for three days. You’ll survive.”“That’s not the point.” I pushed off the wall. “Why did that Alpha Aloha or whatever—from Claw Deck Park have to organize an alpha-only meeting? He’s such a jerk.”She laughed and I didn’t find what I said funny. Anna noticed I wasn’t amused and her laughter seized.“You need to look on the bright side of things.” She said. I rolled my eyes. “There’s no bright side.” “Come on, we get to spend time together.
Rae I woke up earlier than usual. The sun has just risen in the sky, painting it brightly. I slipped into my clothes, moving quickly. I didn’t want Anna to catch me leaving the palace. The last thing I wanted was for her to drown my ears with questions. I needed to find answers to Madame Rain’d words. The only way I could do that was to go after Madame Rain. Once outside, I told the driver to take me to the graveyard. He didn’t ask questions—he never did—but he gave me a look, something between concern and curiosity, before starting the engine. The drive was long and silent. I barely blinked as we passed trees and rooftops blurred by fog. My mind was spiraling. I had a feeling I’d find Madame Rain there—or maybe she’d find me. That was how it always went with her, wasn’t it? When we arrived, I stepped out without a word. The graveyard was still. A gust of wind swept through the tombstones, whispering through brittle grass. I stood there alone for a while, saying nothing, jus
Von “Your majesty.” A sharp voice called and I raised my head from the desk, staring at the guard in front of me. “Speak!” I said as I eased into the chair. “We have found the lady!” At the sound of his words. I straightened in my chair. “It’s about time.” I said hesitantly. Then I added. “Where’s she?” “At the throne room.” He informed me. “I will be there shortly.” I replied. He nodded, then walked out of the study. I closed the files on the desk and headed to the room. My mind leaped with joy, as I thought of the look on Rae’s face when I finally told her that I have found Madame Rain. The minute I pulled the door open, I noticed that Rae was fast asleep. I must have really tired her out last night. I decided not to disturb her. Making up my mind to tell her all about it when she wakes up. I walked down the hall afterwards, each step loud and sharp against the marble floor. I entered the throne room with a storm brewing in my chest. The guards stood tall, holding her
RaeTwo days had passed, and there was still no word. No sign. No trace of Madame Rain.She had vanished, just as mystically as she had appeared—like fog evaporating at dawn. I wasn’t surprised by this but Von on the other hand was losing his mind.He wouldn’t stop searching for her. He wouldn’t stop yelling at guards every time they returned and they told him they couldn’t find her.He would call them lazy, and then threaten them. He rarely slept close to me at night. He spent most nights in the study, going over the maps checking the spots that the guards might have missed.One night, I had climbed out of bed and found him, sitting in the study all alone.“Hey!” I said stepping inside.“Hey!” He responded not looking up at me.“I miss you!” I began but all he did was hummed.His reaction felt like a slap to my face, but I masked my emotions.“It’s pretty late!” I continued.“I’m busy. I will come to bed shortly.” His eyes remained on the desk.“You can’t continue doing this Von.”
Von Anna’s scream cut through the quiet morning like a knife through glass. I dropped the papers I was reading and bolted from the study. The sound hadn’t come from far. I met her halfway down the hall, her face contorted in panic. “What happened?” I asked, already bracing for the worst. “I’ve been trying to get Rae to come out of her room,” she said breathlessly. “It’s been a day! She won’t answer me, and she hasn’t eaten anything. I’m worried—really worried.” “She’s sulking,” I replied coldly. “Let her sulk.” Rae was angry at me and knew she was only doing this for attention. She wanted me to stop searching and I know she feels that by pulling off this stunt she would manage to convince me, but that wasn’t going to work. I was almost close to finding Madame Rain. I drew myself out of my thoughts and I turned to look at Anna. “Let her sulk,” I repeated. “Return to your kitchen duties.” Anna shook her head with tears in her eyes. “It’s more than that! You didn’t see her
RaeI stirred slowly, as I took in the world around me. My lashes fluttered, and when my vision adjusted, the first thing I saw was Von, sitting by my side with his hand wrapped gently around mine.“How… how did you get here?” I asked, and my voice sounded scratchy and weak.Von immediately leaned forward, his thumb stroking my wrist. “Shhh, don’t stress yourself,” he said softly. “Just… relax, Rae. I’m here.”I blinked at him, confused, trying to sit up. “Why are you suddenly caring about me now?” I asked, bitterness slipping through my tone before I could stop it. “You didn’t seem to care before…”He looked down for a moment, almost ashamed. “I know,” he said. “I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. I was so… caught up in everything. Frustrated. Blinded. And it nearly cost me you.”His voice cracked slightly, and he reached out to brush a stray hair from my face.“I should’ve thought,” he whispered. “But instead, I acted. And that was a mistake. I’m sorry, Rae.”“It’s fine…” I murmur
Von"Tell me!" Anna said with an impatience tone. “I need answers.”I had no idea what she was inquiring my mind had drifted off the second she started speaking.These days, I was always disconnected from my body, lost in my mind, and reality always felt like it was slipping from my grasp.“Rae…” Anna dragged, her voice was loud and demanding.I blinked, taking in the garden that surrounded us. If it was any other day, I would have found this place serene but right now, nowhere felt serene.“Do you think it’s going to be a boy or a girl?” she repeated, leaning in as she sipped from her juice.I exhaled and leaned forward too, elbows resting on my thighs. “Von wants the baby to be a boy.”She grinned. “I figured he would. Men always want sons at first. But…” She paused dramatically, wagging a finger at me. “What you want matters too.”I shrugged slightly. “It’s not about what I want. It’s also not about what he wants too.”Anna rolled her eyes. “Oh please. My mom always says women have
Von “What do you want to tell me?” I asked, my tone sharp as my eyes swept over the guard standing stiffly in front of me. “And where the fuck is the seer?”The lead guard shifted uncomfortably. “I couldn’t bring her, sir.”I stepped forward, narrowing my gaze. “What do you mean you couldn’t bring her?”He swallowed, glancing at the others. “Sorry, your majesty. Wrong words, I mean I didn’t see her at her home.”My jaw tensed. “Are you messing with me?”“No, Your Majesty,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “I would never do that. I swear it.”I folded my arms, narrowing my gaze. “I want a probable explanation. Where. Is. The. See?”“She… wasn’t in her home when we got there,” he said. “We searched endlessly, sir. But there was no sign of her.”I stared at him in silence, then asked, “By ‘everywhere,’ you mean where? A part of the pack? Or the entire pack?”The guard hesitated. “Just where she lives. Around her house. Nearby.”I stepped closer, making sure he heard every word. “You n
VonLandon hesitated as if he was thinking of what to say and I felt my patience wearing thin.“Now I need you to speak you go mute.” I shook my head. “How pathetic!”He didn’t say anything and another second grew by and I was about to snap when I noticed his mouth move.“We need to see the seer,” he finally answered. “The only thing I know—” he paused, correcting himself. “Your Majesty… is that this event is tied to the curse. I’m sure the seer will know more. She’s lived a thousand lives.”“The seer!” I scoffed shaking my head.“She knows things von…your majesty.” He corrected himself midway. I fell quiet, contemplating his words trying to figure out if this was a good idea or not. After much thought, I looked at Landon.If I don’t get the answers I want I would make I beat him till he takes his last breath.My eyes left Landon and then it landed Roy, who snapped his head in my direction.“Send someone to get the seer,” I said.Roy left right away. A few seconds later, he was bac
VonThe dungeon was damp, filled with the stench of blood and stone. I walked in, and the guards immediately stiffened at my presence. I had decided to go see Landon, it was a crazy move but I just had to do it. I needed to save the people.I needed them to trust me again.One of the guards stepped forward and I stared at him. “Shall we get your kit ready, Your Majesty?” He asked.I paused. My eyes drifted to the cell, where Landon sat chained to the wall, his face bruised and shirt stained with blood. He was still unconscious, I hoped he would come wake up soon. I needed to speak to him. “No,” I said, a few seconds later.The guards exchanged looks of confusion.“I said no,” I repeated, firmer this time. “Free him.”Their eyes widened in disbelief. One of them hesitated. “Your Majesty?”“You heard me,” I said coldly.Roy, who had been standing silently by the wall, stepped closer. “Are you sure about this, Your Majesty?” His voice was low as he spoke.I turned to him. “Very sure.”
Von I followed Roy down the hallway in silence, my boots echoing against the stone floor. My jaw clenched tighter with every step. I didn’t know what I’d do when I saw Landon—only that it wouldn’t be merciful.The throne room doors opened, and I stepped inside. My eyes locked onto him immediately.Landon looked almost the same, except for the patches of white in his beard. Time had aged him, but not enough to erase what he’d done.“Von!” he said the moment he saw me.I stopped in my tracks. My voice was cold as I spoke. “It’s Your Majesty to you. You’ve lost the right to call me by name.”His head dropped for a second. “It seems… you haven’t let go of the past.”“Betrayal like yours doesn’t get forgotten. Not in this lifetime.” I spat. I was trying to control myself I didn’t want to attack him. Not yet!Landon stepped forward slightly. “I know what I did was wrong. I have been living in guilt ever since. That’s why I’m here. I came to the palace because… I wanted to apologize. But th
Von I put on my armor, ensuring that it was tightened around my body.Then I headed out with the rest of the guards. Before I left, I went to Rae’s room. She was still asleep, her face appeared peaceful as it always was.“Wish me luck,” I whispered, sitting beside her for a moment. “I’m really counting on tonight. I need to find out the truth before the people come for me.”I stood up, gave her one last look, and left the palace.The car ride was quiet. Roy sat beside me. The streets were darker than usual. Quiet. Too quiet. I guessed it was because everyone feared rumoring at night ever since the incident happened.When we arrived at the checkpoint, the guards split up, heading toward different parts of the area. I stayed near one of the buildings with Roy. We kept low, hiding in the shadows.Roy pointed toward a house at the end of the street. “This one hasn’t been hit. Every house on this street has seen death—except that one.”“Why?” I asked, frowning.“I don’t know. But it sits
Von I stood still, staring at the bodies lined up in the streets. The smell of blood mixed with the scent of wet earth. It had rained earlier, and now the streets were soaked—with water, with sorrow, with death. People cried around me. Some screamed as they held their loved ones—mothers, children, fathers—all lifeless in their arms.My chest tightened. I didn’t know what to say or how to move. It had been three weeks since this nightmare began, and instead of getting better, it had turned into something worse. Something monstrous.I swallowed hard and turned slowly to Roy, who stood beside me. His face looked pale. “How did this happen?” I asked. “I told you all to be alert.”“We were,” Roy said quickly. “We kept watch. The guards didn’t see anyone leave their homes. Nothing strange happened during the night but why the time we stepped into the street. We couldn’t believe how it happened.”I shook my head, still trying to process the scene. “This is strange,” I muttered, more to myse
VonI woke up with a stiff neck and sore back, from sitting in the chair beside Rae’s bed. Her hand was in mine, and the cold feeling reminded me that she was still here with me—even if she wasn’t awake.I stood up slowly, stretched a little, and walked to the door. When I opened it, Anna was standing right outside. She looked tired. Her arms were folded across her chest, and her eyes were red like she’d been crying.“How is she?” Anna asked softly.I looked down, then back at her. “Still the same.”She nodded and peeked past my shoulder, her eyes finding Rae on the bed. She didn’t say anything for a while. Just stared. And in that moment, I saw it. The pain. The helplessness. She loved Rae just as much as I did—maybe even more in her own way.“You can spend some time with her,” I said, stepping aside. “She needs all the love she can get.”Anna gave a small smile. “Thank you.”I left the room, closing the door gently behind me. I didn’t have a destination in mind. I just wanted to br
Von “Rae!” I shouted, panic thick in my voice. She didn’t respond. Her eyes were shut, and her body was limp, slumped on the ground as her soul had drifted somewhere I couldn’t reach.My heart pounded as I rushed to her, kneeling and scooping her into my arms. She felt so light, too still, like she wasn’t really there. “Please, stay with me,” I whispered as I held her tighter.I didn’t waste another second. I carried her straight back to the car, each step feeling heavier than the last. When I reached the vehicle, my eyes immediately landed on the driver who had brought her.“Jaro!” I called out sharply.He jumped from the driver’s seat, eyes wide with worry. “Yes, Alpha?”“Get the pack doctor to the palace. Now.”Jaro nodded quickly, not asking questions. He climbed into his car and drove off quickly.I walked hurriedly towards my car, positioning Rae in the passenger seat.I adjusted her head until it was resting against the seatbelt. The minute I got behind the heel, I pressed
Rae’s povWhen the car pulled up to the graveyard, I was met with silence not that I was surprised the graveyard always felt like a peaceful sanctuary. “I will be back soon!” I told the guards as I climbed down slowly from the car.My shoes made a soft sound against the gravel as I walked, it grew louder when increased my steps. I stood close to Jace’s stone, idly staring at the withered flowers that clung to it. My eyes suddenly moved to the sky which had gotten darker. I watched as the once bright clouds turned grayish like it was harboring rain.I didn’t know if this was a sign that it was about to rain or a sign that Madame Rain was coming.I hoped it was the second. The last thing I wanted was to deal with rain, which would stop me from achieving my mission.I sighed, pulling my eyes from the sky, and back to my surroundings. My eyes scanned the field of tombstones, noticing how the ground looked forgotten, like death itself was tired of remembering who it took. ‘Where was