17 "Yes," I replied, though the true answer remained concealed within me—indeed, I didn't even know the answer myself. When the coldness became more aggressive, I realized the need to go back inside. I was no longer clinging to him, no longer interested in talking with him. For once, I felt oddly empty but fulfilled. Contended? Safe? Clarified for once? Maybe that's what it is. What are you thinking? I want to ask him. Since he was out here, preoccupied in his trance, I knew he was thinking deeply about something. He mentioned there were numerous murders that have been happening lately, besides that, I knew there was something else that was about to happen, things he must've planned. "The ceremony will be sooner than expected. It is better to end us with haste," A frown crossed my features. "What ceremony?" "To break our bond," "You rejected me already..." "Rejection doesn't qualify as an official separation. One must go through the unwinding of two fates and two souls," Bene
18 "Are you sure you had a bruise here?" "I do," I almost exclaimed. The pack doctor, as others often referred to him, cast me a disapproving glance before making his way to his desk. He selected a handful of herbs hanging from a cluster of clay pots, deposited them into his mortar, and proceeded to grind them with the pestle. The gentle crunching sound sent shivers down my spine, and soon after, the aroma filled the air, enveloping my nostrils and surprisingly easing my headache. By the time he finished making a sticky paste-like consistency from his herbs, he walked towards me, his fingers lightly touching the area where my bruise was to apply his self-made medication. He managed to clean my face although he was quite bewildered. I didn't know if he was telling the truth or if the guard was lying, either way, I chose to ignore that matter today. "Nice to meet you again, Kaleya," I hastily spun around, only to meet Chance who was grinning from ear to ear. I dipped in a curtsy,
19I was a bit preoccupied with reading to take notice of someone approaching.Wells came to a stop right in front of me, arms crossed. While my initial instinct was to ignore his presence, a deeper sense of respect urged me to acknowledge him."You've been here for hours. Don't you eat sometimes?"I briefly raised my eyes to meet his gaze and shook my head. "I lost my appetite a while ago, maybe I'll eat later," I replied firmly.Since my encounter with Alpha Chance and Knight, I had chosen to keep a low profile and remain silent—too embarrassed to utter a word, let alone face them. My memories involving them were a jumbled mess, just as our interact
20As soon as I heard the king's voice, I obeyed, falling silent and moving forward, my steps hesitant yet steady. I entered the dimly lit room, illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight. The room, though chilled, felt stifling and burning upon my arrival, and I couldn't help but think that it was nothing like how I remembered it to be.Despite my attempts to appear less intimidated, the fear still weighed heavily on my shoulders. Fortunately, his Majesty remained engrossed in his seat and documents, meticulously scanning through page after page without sparing me a glance. His lack of attention, which I was quite thankful for, afforded me the time I needed to steady my racing heart and become accustomed to my surroundings."Your name?"I jerked, utterly startled. "U-uhh Ka—Amethyst, your majesty,""Just Amethyst?"For the second time, I fidgeted. "Y-yes, your majesty,"King Lucian Strevus regarded me with a clammy state. His eyes linger on my face, tracing every feature that I ha
21As I grappled with comprehending the nature and impact of magic in this realm, I sought guidance from Chance, who displayed remarkable patience. While I marveled at the vast expanse of the kingdom, in a single panoramic view, I grasped the immense power it held. The sun gradually descended, shrouding the land in the creeping embrace of twilight. Surrounded by such beauty and serenity, I experienced a fleeting taste of what freedom truly meant. Perhaps it was just a glimpse, but my mind and body would forever savor the memory of that feeling."Expect that the sun isn't as sultry as in the Eastern Kingdom,"I shifted my gaze to the person who spoke beside me. With his strong, well-built physique, streaks of blonde hair, and tanned skin, General Cassius nearly left me breathless. He had captured my attention from afar, but up close, his features were strikingly handsome in an almost exaggerated way. He stood at nearly the same height as Alpha Knight, but the contrast lay in their aura
22Alluring, much like werewolves. However, the distinction lies in the fact that their radiance seems ethereal and more fitting for the night. The vampires I had envisioned in my mind were anything but normal-looking humans. I had pictured them as beastly and corpse-like, all skin and bones.Unfortunately, my earlier assumptions were proven wrong, as the vampires I encountered today were mesmerizing, capable of making you believe they weren't as sinister as you had once thought, or even fool you into underestimating them.General Cassius werewolf howled and as the vampires pounced on him, flashing their twin fangs, he snapped their heads with his jaw, and like twigs, they snapped. Blood spurted everywhere, staining his fur coat."Protect the Luna!" Emissary Masons bellowed, his voice cold and authoritative."No! Don't mind me! Fight for your own!" I said, staring at a vampire who was ready to launch himself at me.Emissary Mason didn't respond. Breaching our formation were four vampi
23As I tried to speak, no words came out. I felt Alpha Knight's hand shift from mine to adjust the blanket, carefully draping it over me to shield my shivering body. Our relationship had been indifferent, but with each passing day, he continued to surprise me with his compassionate actions. Even though I was on high alert, he took it upon himself to tend to my wounds once more, despite Emissary Mason's insistence that he should do it. In truth, I had hoped to tend to myself, but with everyone around insisting, I chose to let the matter go for the time being."H-how did you manage to get to us? And w-what about your kingdom?" I asked, remembering the implications he had to go through to get to us.I observed him as he swallowed, his attention focused on applying a damp cloth to my wound. "The kingdom is being well managed. My father is overseeing everything," he began. "Regarding your sudden departure, the moment I learned that you were nowhere to be found in the palace, I immediately
24Three months ago, a small pack known as the Fire Crescent pack suffered a brutal massacre. The attack occurred at dawn, under the light of the full moon. The pack's members consisted of seasoned warriors and some of their elders had even led in major wars in the past. It was hard to believe that such an established and respected pack, known for its historical contributions, would become the target of such a horrific assault.The issue was further complicated by the fact that many seized this opportunity to defame the Western Kingdom by name and implicate the royal family. Rumors were spreading like wildfire, and it was causing people to question the integrity of their leaders. As a result, the royal family had no choice but to address the matter.Alpha Gilmore, the first prince, had been dispatched to investigate and engage in negotiations with the citizens. With support and resources from the kingdom, they aimed to ensure security was of the utmost importance. The citizens require