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’s pov“I want that street properly investigated!” I barked, my voice echoing off the stone walls of the palace. “If a murder has taken place there twice, then it’s a sign that something shady is going on. I don’t want any more lives lost because we were too blind to see the pattern.”The head guard nodded sharply, scribbling something in his ledger. The others around the table exchanged tense glances, and I could feel the an uneasy feeling growing in the room. The pack had become chaotic the second me and Rae left for our vacation. My guards had reported the death of two people along a familiar street, the minute Rae and I drove in. I couldn’t help but arrange a meeting quickly trying to get to the bottom of things.“Is that the only thing that has happened?” I asked, scanning each face, as I pulled myself out of my thoughts. My eyes landed on Aemond who quickly stood on his feet He hesitated before speaking. “I don’t want to alarm you, Your Majesty,” he said slowly. “Everyone
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
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
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
"Look at her, swaying her hips like she owns the place," someone muttered loud enough for me to hear as I walked down the bustling town square. I kept my head high, ignoring the sting of their words. This had become my daily life ever since I turned sixteen. Every woman in the pack hated me for the attention I never asked for, and the men only wanted my body, following me around at every chance they got. No one cared about who I really was. My feet carried me to Mr. Gracia’s vegetable stall, one of the few places in the pack where I felt an even a shred of normalcy. “Good morning, Rae,” Mr. Gracia greeted me warmly, his weathered hands gently packing a bundle of fresh greens. “It’s a fine day, isn’t it? The sun’s been kind to the crops this season. I was worried we wouldn’t have enough, but look at this—plenty to go around!” I smiled, grateful for his kindness. “That’s wonderful, Mr. Gracia. The vegetables look amazing, as always.” As we spoke, I let myself relax, even if
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
Von’s pov“I want that street properly investigated!” I barked, my voice echoing off the stone walls of the palace. “If a murder has taken place there twice, then it’s a sign that something shady is going on. I don’t want any more lives lost because we were too blind to see the pattern.”The head guard nodded sharply, scribbling something in his ledger. The others around the table exchanged tense glances, and I could feel the an uneasy feeling growing in the room. The pack had become chaotic the second me and Rae left for our vacation. My guards had reported the death of two people along a familiar street, the minute Rae and I drove in. I couldn’t help but arrange a meeting quickly trying to get to the bottom of things.“Is that the only thing that has happened?” I asked, scanning each face, as I pulled myself out of my thoughts. My eyes landed on Aemond who quickly stood on his feet He hesitated before speaking. “I don’t want to alarm you, Your Majesty,” he said slowly. “Everyone
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
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 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
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 “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