LAYLA'S POVThere is a sudden rumble and the door to the room cracks open. The Donald guy from yesterday strolls in, escorting two servants into the room.They are carrying bowls which I am sure are filled with the same soup from yesterday. It tasted horrible but again why would anyone waste their resources and their precious time making a decent meal for slaves."Everyone up!" Donald shouts. I detect a hint of anger in his voice. Is he still mad over what happened yesterday with his boss? Of course he must be and I am sure I am in his shit list for it. Those who were still asleep sits up from their sleeping positions.The servants starts handing over the bows filled with Little soup. I take mine and Mia's. It smells horrible just like the one they had fed us yesterday."You better get used to that princess. It's going to be your everyday meal." Donald smirks when one of the girls makes a face at the bow of the soup she has been given. I take a few spoons and hand the bow back. Ten m
LAYLA'S POVThe carriages comes to a halt before the grand entrance and we walk slower to watch. The doors swing open and two men clad in guard uniforms leap down. They are followed by a towering figure draped in opulent garments that scream nobility. He appears young, perhaps in his early to mid-twenties, but his presence radiates authority and power. “He’s dressed too finely for a slave buyer. He must be royalty.” I whisper to MiaMia nods, her gaze fixed on the huge man. “Definitely a royal or someone close to one,” she murmurs.We watch as the man with the mustache approaches, his gait forced and exaggerated, with Donald coming from the field. A wide, strained smile stretches across his wrinkled face. “Sir Jonathan! What an honor it is to have you here unexpectedly,” The moustache man exclaims, his voice taut with tension as he extends a hand for a shake. It's funny how humble the inhumane idiot can be when faced by a more powerful person. "Where is Prince William? We haven’t
AVA'S POV"What is it Jean?" I try to act more polite and not take my anger out on her. I don't want to scare her away yet when I still have no one else to depend on for information."You have a guest." She announces a bright smile lighting her old wrinkled face."A guest?" I ask confused. "I haven't made any friends here yet. So I have no idea who it could be."Prince Wilson is here to see you!" She says ethusistically like she is talking of a small god and I feel my heart skip a beat. The fucker followed me! What does he want? I thought I had made it clear that I don't like him back when we were in his room."Should I let him in my lady?" Jean questions confused at my not so happy expression.“Do I really have to ask for permission to.” Wilson interrupts, pushing the door open and striding in.“Leave us, Jean, and lock the door behind you,” I command, cutting him off. Rumors of him being my mate could ruin everything with Rowan and tarnish my reputation.“You don’t want them to kno
AVA'S POVBile rises in my throat at Wilson's question.“Who is she?” I hear a chair scrape across the floor as he pushes it away to stand directly in front of me.I stand frozen, my feet and tongue immobilized, struggling to process his words.“Wha…t! Why would you wan…t…” I stammer, biting down on my tongue.“You mean, why would I want to know who she is?” His dark laugh bubbles up, sending a chill down my spine. “Yes, why would you?” I try to sound composed, but my voice comes out as a squeak.His question brings back memories of my stepsister. My mother believed she might be the one to phase into a golden-winged angel, perhaps Prince Rowan's true mate. As long as I don’t know Wilson’s intentions regarding this so-called true mate, I can’t risk revealing anything.“You already have her mate wrapped around your small finger. What I want from her is none of your business. Now tell me who she is,” he demands, his heated glare piercing through me.I fidget, scrambling for a convincing
LAYLA'S POV"Why am I having this feeling that this deal is not working in my favor at all?" We hear the boss' s voice complain as Donald opens the door to usher us into the office. He goes ahead of us to join his boss on the other side of the room.Jonathan leans against the wall looking pissed as hell. His eyes snap to me the moment the door clicks shut behind us and a fresh wave of panic hits me as I feel his gaze flit over my face. I really hope he will not recognize me."Why don't you just take all the healthy ones?" The boss bargains making Jonathan shift his attention from me of which I am very grateful. "Are you warry of doing business with me?" Donald leans and whispers something into his boss ear. His boss nods his glum expression easing."What about you take the others at that price. But you leave her with us." The boss says pointing his finger at me. I thought he and Donald wanted me gone as quickly as possible.Why change his mind all over a sudden. I am well aware non
Prince Rowan's Pov“I don’t have to tell you I’m here just because you didn’t join your parents for breakfast and lunch, do I?” Jason shouts as he walks into the training field behind me and Wilson.Before I chose Ava, I managed to keep my parents' pressure to find a mate at bay. Now, I’m fed up with their predictable meddling in my personal life. They always want updates on how Ava and I are doing and when we’ll plan our wedding.“They are piss—”“You don’t have to repeat yourself, I ignored you just fine the first time,” I groan.“I wasn’t going to repeat what I said,” Jason argues, making a silly face.“Whatever. Just keep your mouth shut.” I step aside to let William take his shot.“A perfect place for a hideout from your future wife, huh?” Jason mutters, picking up a bow and arrow from the rack and joining me and Wilson.“You can’t hide forever, you know. It’s only a matter of time before your mom or Ava starts looking for you,” Jason teases with a smile.“Speaking of mates, it’s
LAYLA'S POVI thought palaces were built to be beautiful at every corner, but as the guards lead us deeper into the vast structure, the cool elegance of the exterior starts to fade away. It even looks worse when we get to the slave quarters. Seems like the luxurious rooms and stuff we passed on our way down were only meant for the rich royals to enjoy. The slave quater they have settled us in are more worse than a criminal holding cells. It looks more of a basement or an abandoned storage room, dimly lit by two oil lamps from both ends, half broken windows with a thick layer of dust coating them, dusty conners covered with cobwebs and a door barely hanging on it's hinges.It's cold, chilly and ramshackled with a musty odour that makes you feel like puking.After a while, they bring in seven more slaves. They look disheveled but healthy, just like us. We all lie down on the thin mats provided for each of us.If we’re subjected to the same work as normal servants, without pay,we might
LAYLA'S POVFor hours, Mia and I scrub dishes and wipe down sticky surfaces until my back feels like it will snap from exhaustion. My muscles ache painfully as hunger gnaws at my insides.“You should take a break, we’re almost halfway done,” Mia advises as she assesses my worn-out state.Almost halfway done? The thought is overwhelming, it feels impossible to keep working like this. It’s nearly midday, and we still have hallways to clean.“I’ll take a little break then go clean the hallway while you finish here,” I announce, forcing myself upright despite how spent I feel.“Guests will start arriving any time now, it’s better if we get done with the hallways first so we’re out of their way.” I suggest."Good idea." Mia nods her head in agreement."I will clean here while you do the hallways."I fix my long black hair into a messy ponytail before dropping two rags into the cleaning buckets. "You have long beautiful hair. And a very beautiful body, you should let people see that."Mia ad
WILSON'S POVThe girl jerks upright in panic hissing in pain in the process. Her face pales when I step into the shadow of light cast by the open Windows. Under the light she instantly recognizes me. "You don't have to be scared, I am not going to hurt you." I say in the most convincing voice I can master faking a sweet smile.It takes her a moment to snap out of her daze and she purses her lipslooking unconvinced. She must be remembering what happened yesterday. Yeah, words must be a very lame way of convincing her after I and my father had ordered her execution.She must be cursing me inwardly for making her pass through such excruciating pain. She takes a moment to think. I step forward taking a grip of her arm in hopes of easing the tension."Don't pretend you care about me!" She chokes out elbowing me hard in the chest. I hiss in pain but quickly regain my composure.She looks up at me her blue eyes showing too much innocence. My judgement was right. As I had thought earlier sh
ROWAN'S POVMy breathing is hard, my chest puffs up and down as I stare at the unconscious figure lying at the center of the stage. Her long strands of wavy black hair sticks to her injured, bloodied neck. I'm sure I have seen the girl somewhere, just not sure where.Two guards grab the unconscious girl dragging her to a huge stone block that has been placed on the raised stage. Despite being quite far enough I can clearly smell the blood emmiting from the stone block."People like this should never be allowed to exist among us. They seek only to destroy what others have built. So I sentence this heinous thief to death!" Wilson's father announces and the crowd cheers. "By beheading!""She doesn't deserve to be beheaded for stealing a fucking crown. You're not going to stand here and watch this happen, are you?" Jason whispers barely audible over the sound of the cheering crowd. I take a look around, I can see disgust in the eyes of every person."Wilson should handle this. It's his pa
THIRD PERSON POVWhen the alpha king entered the room all guests present looked in his direction and bowed but he merely gazed or payed any attention to them as he welcomed his son on the raised platform.He turned to face everyone as he announced. "My fellow friends, I thank you for finding it in your time to join me in celebrating the phasing of my beloved and only son. " The crowd errupted in cheers. "This night will also be the start of his worthwhile reign." He continued.Wilson barely listened to what his father was saying. If given a choice, he would rather be crowned after finding the girl he is looking for. She will bring power in his reign. People respected packs reigned by angels but they feared and befriended packs with golden winged angels. With her he could build a powerful kingdom like Rowan's. But the moment he walked into the party hall, his reluctance to take the crown vaporized instantly when he took in to the big crowd of Luna's, alphas and the best warriors of ea
AVA'S POVI can hardly sit still. Pacing on the space between my bed and the bathroom door, my stomach burns with tension. I have been waiting stifly in my room pacing, taking deep calming breaths trying to get my anxiety under control.I pear out my window into the back alleyway. The bright yellow rays of the setting sun beams through my window. Letting out a groan my teeth mercilessly worry my bottom lip. For a moment I contemplate going out there myself. It will be getting dark soon and my maid Jean has not yet returned with the information I need.I take a deep breath through my nose. I won't be lying in a fetal handle on my bed whimpering at the edge of insanity. I can't lie the motives I have for the evening party horrifies me. Yet I know if I don't range on I will loose everything. I can't blame myself for protecting my needs.I have always tried to always give people a chance. But so far Wilson has not impressed me one bit. Saying he and my step sister infuriates me is puttin
AVA'S POV"You found her. Is it done?" I ask looking at the guards I sent to search for my step sister expectantly. What else would they be doing here if they haven't found her. There is no doubt that she has been found but I need to know she is gone before I start questioning how Wilson found out I sent them."Yes we found her but.." One answers."Yes!?" I finally can put everything about my step sister behind me. I wait in anticipation for them to tell me they have gotten rid of her. "But we don't have her, yet." The other adds and my body convulses."What do you mean by you don't have her." I demand my face alight with fury. Anger soaks into the cracks of my happiness. "Did I not give you enough money to buy her back?" "It's Jonathan who bought the girl my lady?" The first guard explains."Who the hell is Jonathan? He doesn't like money?" I question seething as I wait for what they will say.They both look at each other as if not sure of the answer to my question."Someone fuckin
ROWAN'S POVParties always feel like work to me more than entertainment. After a long fucked up day of arguing with my father yesterday I was ready to get away for a few days. I only agreed to come here because I needed a break from all the pressure, well aware that the upcoming days will be a rollercoster.The day is still young and seconds are passing like minutes and minutes seem to take years. I can't wait for this to end.I turn and spot Ava with her maid coming down the hallway. She is in a broze coloured ball gown with matching luxurious jewelry she ordered before we left for this pack yesterday morning.How her sledder body manages to carry around the heavy gown is beyond me."That corset dress must have costed prince Rowan a great sum of a fortune." Jason dramatically hisses shifting at Wilson's side to get a better look at Ava. "Was it really worth it?" "Only when you consider it has changed her shape and created curves that were not there before." Wilson snickers smiling s
AVA'S POVMy muscles tighten involuntarily as Wilson walks alongside Prince Rowan as we make our way towards his father's office.I hope like hell he won't tell Rowan anything or try looking for the girl himself before I manage to make sure my step sister is no more.The good thing is growing in the kind of family I did, you learn to get off rocks while you still can and by all means possible. Before leaving, I'd discreetly arranged for my personal guards to track down my step-sister. Four trusted men, well-paid to buy her back and get rid of her as far away as they can. I need to keep the probability of her ever being found at zero.After I am sure she is gone for good, I can freely and confidently tell Wilson the girl he is looking for is no more. Wilson had slept most of our journey, claiming to be exhausted from yesterday's training. A part of me had wished he'd never wake up. Rowan's casual question breaks the tense silence. "Have you found your mate yet?"I keep my eyes down,
LAYLA'S POVFor hours, Mia and I scrub dishes and wipe down sticky surfaces until my back feels like it will snap from exhaustion. My muscles ache painfully as hunger gnaws at my insides.“You should take a break, we’re almost halfway done,” Mia advises as she assesses my worn-out state.Almost halfway done? The thought is overwhelming, it feels impossible to keep working like this. It’s nearly midday, and we still have hallways to clean.“I’ll take a little break then go clean the hallway while you finish here,” I announce, forcing myself upright despite how spent I feel.“Guests will start arriving any time now, it’s better if we get done with the hallways first so we’re out of their way.” I suggest."Good idea." Mia nods her head in agreement."I will clean here while you do the hallways."I fix my long black hair into a messy ponytail before dropping two rags into the cleaning buckets. "You have long beautiful hair. And a very beautiful body, you should let people see that."Mia ad
LAYLA'S POVI thought palaces were built to be beautiful at every corner, but as the guards lead us deeper into the vast structure, the cool elegance of the exterior starts to fade away. It even looks worse when we get to the slave quarters. Seems like the luxurious rooms and stuff we passed on our way down were only meant for the rich royals to enjoy. The slave quater they have settled us in are more worse than a criminal holding cells. It looks more of a basement or an abandoned storage room, dimly lit by two oil lamps from both ends, half broken windows with a thick layer of dust coating them, dusty conners covered with cobwebs and a door barely hanging on it's hinges.It's cold, chilly and ramshackled with a musty odour that makes you feel like puking.After a while, they bring in seven more slaves. They look disheveled but healthy, just like us. We all lie down on the thin mats provided for each of us.If we’re subjected to the same work as normal servants, without pay,we might