Chapter 1

The begining:

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi guys! This book is currently being rewritten since I wrote it years ago, and there's no specific order. It gets better as you read. Hope you enjoy.

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Beads of sweat decorated her forehead, and her hair was scattered all over the pillow. She screamed when another contraction came. It felt as if the muscles in her lower back kept twisting harder and harder until it was almost unbearable. Her insides felt like they were twisted, pulled, and squeezed. She tried fighting the pain away, but immediately regretted it when it became worse. Surrendering to the pain made it more bearable.

Initially, the contractions were somewhat bearable, but gradually, they intensified, causing excruciating and maddening pain. She felt as though her very soul might forcefully separate from her exhausted body, leaving her to endure the relentless and agonizing torment in solitary anguish. The pain reached an unbearable and distressing level, pushing her limits to the brink.

"When can I push?" she asked, biting back the pain in her lower abdomen.

"You're not yet dilated enough to push. Just a little more." The nurse assured her.

Beside her, her devoted mate stood, holding her hand and gently whispering sweet nothings in an earnest attempt to comfort her during this trying time. But the fear was evident in his teary eyes - fear that she might not make it through the painful ordeal, and fear of the lurking threat that a monstrous force could come for their precious daughter. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't conceal the overwhelming surge of emotions, making his concern palpable.

"You can do this, Jade." He squeezed her hand comfortingly. He was also trying to comfort himself too. He could not imagine life without her.

"I'm scared, Lucas. What if I don't make it out a-"

He placed his index finger over her lips, "Don't say things like that. You're a queen, my queen. You will be fine, trust me."

She smiled when he kissed her hand. Two years ago, if someone had told her she would get mated to a werewolf king, she would have laughed in their face. But here she was, having his child.

"You are good. Start pushing." Said the mid-wife, placing herself in between Jade's legs.

With everything in her, she pushed. It didn't matter if she would not make it. All she wanted was to hear the cry of her little girl. She wanted to see her cute face.

"Keep going." The mid-wife encouraged. "I can see the head of the baby."

Lucas stroked her hair when she let out another scream. Seeing her in this much pain was killing him.

"That's it," said the mid-wife, "she's almost out. Just one last push."

Jade tightly clutched her mate's hand as she pushed with all her strength. Finally, the sweet sound of a baby's cry filled the room, signaling the arrival of their newborn. Just as Jade thought the ordeal was over and she could finally relax, another wave of pain surged through her. Confusion and concern filled her mind. The doctor had assured her that there was only one child in her womb, so why was she still experiencing so much pain?

"There's another one." The mid-wife announced.

Tears welled up in Jade's eyes as she contemplated the idea of enduring such excruciating pain once more. "I can't do it," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. She gazed up at Lucas, her partner, who also had tears streaming down his cheeks. It was evident that he, too, was deeply affected by her suffering.

"You've already proved how strong you are by giving birth to our lovely girl. I know you can do it again."

She was determined to not have another child if she were to live after this. Like before, she pushed again until another cry was heard. She had given birth to a boy. It was getting harder for Jade to breathe. She wanted to move, but her body wouldn't move at all.

'What is happening to me?' she thought.

Everything was numb. Her body, mind, everything. She no longer felt pain, nor could she think straight. In a way, she felt relieved. Her mate who had no idea what she was going through had a broad smile on his face as his eyes flickered between her and the twins.

'At least I will die seeing him smile.'

"Soon everything will be over and you can rest peacefully." A voice whispered into her ear. If she wasn't feeling dead, she would have screamed.

"Jade, aren't they the cutest?" He asked, stroking her hair.

When she didn't reply, he panicked. "Jade... Jade! Answer me, please."

She shut her eyes and welcomed the darkness. 'No more pain.'

Lucas found himself caught in a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, the joyous arrival of two lives into the world filled him with happiness, but on the other hand, the loss of one life left him feeling overwhelmed with sadness. He couldn't help but grapple with conflicting feelings, unsure of whether to let happiness or sorrow prevail.

"Jade, I'm begging you." He placed his hand on the bed as he held her hand. She was becoming cold. "Please open your eyes and talk to me. Tell me you were playing a prank on me."

King or not, he let the tears run freely. He didn't care if anyone saw him crying. He just wanted her back. She was his other half that no one could ever replace.

"Alpha," the mid-wife called, "here." She was holding the girl while another mid-wife was holding the boy.

With shaky hands, he took the little girl from her. She had black hair and blue eyes- just like her father. Her tiny hands curled around his pinky as she peered at him through her eyes. It must have felt strange being in an environment that wasn't the womb. Her tiny legs kicked around, but she felt nothing.

"Welcome to the world, princess." He smiled lovingly at her, "Your mommy," he sniffled, "she wanted to name you Valeria, so that's what I'll call you. Valeria Claire Romero. I know your mommy is happy I went with the name she wanted, right?" he looked at her lifeless body and swallowed.

His mind drifted back to what the Lycan had said years ago, "I'll protect you with my life." He kissed her forehead.

He then handed the girl to the mid-wife and carried the boy. He had his mother's brown hair and emerald green eyes. He was adorable. Lucas couldn't stop the tears from falling as he looked at the bundle of joy in his arms. Jade had left him to take care of them alone.

"I'll call you Zayne Dimitri Romero." He smiled ruefully, "I'll raise you both to the best of my abilities." He said, kissing his forehead like he had done with his sister. "And no one will take you two away from me."

-_-

SEVERAL YEARS LATER

"Again!" my father's voice boomed from a few feet away, where he stood with my brother and me. We were engrossed in practicing Neacela, a martial art that focused on exhausting opponents through swift movements. Flexibility was crucial for mastering this technique, and my father pushed us relentlessly until we achieved perfection.

"We've been—" Zayne began, but our father raised a hand, signaling him to remain silent.

I often questioned the reason behind our rigorous training. Yes, we lived in a world where conflicts arose frequently, but this level of intensity seemed excessive. Father would rouse us at the ungodly hour of 6 a.m. to commence our training sessions. It was undeniably exhausting.

"I said again!" This time, we engaged in combat against each other. If Zayne managed to land a strike on me, we would start over, and vice versa.

The only redeeming aspect of this technique was its ability to exploit an opponent's deflection, forcing them to alter their stance and providing an advantage. However, it left me feeling perpetually controlled.

"Valerie, focus!" Father's voice resonated with anger, and I groaned in frustration. We had been at it for four hours, and hunger gnawed at my insides.

"Father, I apologize, but I can't continue. I'm utterly exhausted and in need of rest," I approached him wearily.

"You wouldn't say that to your enemy, would you? You have no idea why I'm putting you through this. I suggest you return to your position, now, Valeria," he growled, leaving no room for argument.

"Yes, father," I acquiesced, my annoyance growing. I assumed my fighting stance once more, facing Zayne, who appeared just as fatigued as I was. Both of us sported dark circles under our eyes, hardly the look befitting royalty.

"Begin," Father commanded.

<<<>>>

Fast forward to my twenty-first year, and like every other werewolf, I embarked on the search for my mate. Father disapproved of me discussing this topic, which troubled me deeply. Given his unwavering commitment to our rigorous training regimen, something was amiss. Zayne and I had commenced our training on our fourteenth birthday. There had to be a reason behind such relentless preparation.

"Hey, V," Zayne plopped down beside me on the bench. We had wrapped up our training half an hour ago, and I was finally able to relax. My muscles throbbed, and a dull headache pulsed in my temples.

"Hi," I took a deep breath, gazing up at the orange-tinted sky.

"Do you have any inkling as to why father is pushing us so hard? I mean, I appreciate his dedication to our training, but this seems insane. I'm mentally and physically drained."

"Zayne, I don't know. I feel like he's concealing something from us, and I intend to uncover the truth."

He leaned closer, and I instinctively pushed him away. Chuckling, he placed a hand over his chest, "Why did you push me?" he asked, amusement twinkling in his eyes.

"You were invading my personal space. Besides, I can't stand the scent of strawberry on you."

He stared at me, bewildered. "You hate the smell of strawberry-scented shampoo?"

"Yes, Zayne, I—"

A searing pain ripped through my body as my hands instinctively shot to my shoulder. I had been struck by a wolfsbane-laced arrow—a deadly concoction of silver and poisonous plants specifically designed to harm werewolves.

"Valeria!" Zayne gripped my shoulders tightly, his gaze searching my face.

Blood trickled from my shoulder, but that was the least of my worries. Suppressing the pain was a Herculean task as it surged through my entire being, engulfing me in fiery torment. I took a deep breath, diverting my attention to identifying my assailant. How had they managed to bypass the guards at the border?

"Did you see anyone?" I asked, attempting to remove the arrow lodged in my shoulder.

"No, I didn't," he replied, his face etched with concern. "Are you okay?"

I yanked out the arrow, instantly regretting it. My vision blurred, and tears welled up in my eyes. While I had heard people speak of the harmful effects of wolfsbane, the pain exceeded my expectations.

"I think I'll be fine. I just need to rest," I began walking toward our home. Without warning, Zayne swept me off my feet, carrying me in a bridal embrace towards the pack hospital.

"Dude, put me down," I weakly protested.

"Quit being a stubborn mule and be quiet. Conserve your strength; you'll need it."

"Yes, sir," I acquiesced, resting my head against his chest, my ear attuned to his steady heartbeat. My eyes drooped, and resistance proved futile as darkness enveloped me, welcoming its embrace.

"Doctor Steve!" I heard my brother call out moments before consciousness eluded me.

<<<>>>

"She's awake," Zayne's voice resonated through the haze as I gradually regained consciousness. The throbbing in my head felt relentless, as if each pulse were a relentless reminder of the pain I had endured. I blinked my eyes open, struggling to focus on my surroundings.

Shuffling and murmurs filled the air, a symphony of worried voices. As my vision cleared, I saw Zayne's concerned face hovering above me. His grip on my shoulders tightened as his eyes roamed my face, searching for signs of my well-being.

"Valeria, are you alright?" my father's voice was laced with both relief and trepidation. His hand reached out, gently stroking my hair, a gesture of comfort that always managed to soothe me in times of distress.

"I... I think so," I managed to respond, my voice weak and raspy. The pain in my shoulder reminded me of the wolfsbane-laced arrow that had pierced my flesh. The memory flashed before my eyes, the excruciating agony that had coursed through my body. How had I ended up here?

Zayne interrupted my thoughts, his voice filled with concern, "Your shoulder is still healing. You shouldn't exert yourself."

I nodded weakly, realizing the gravity of my condition. My mind drifted back to the moments before I had lost consciousness, to the mysterious events that had unfolded after I lost consciousness. There was a man there. The words of the dark-haired man haunted me, his chilling promise echoing in my mind.

A flicker of determination ignited within me as I mustered the strength to speak, fixing my gaze upon my father's troubled face. "Father," I called out, my voice quivering with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

He froze, his hand ceasing its motion in my hair. The atmosphere seemed to grow heavy with the weight of his unspoken secrets. His eyes darted away, unable to meet my gaze. My heart raced, sensing that he held knowledge about the enigmatic events I had witnessed while unconscious.

"What is the Aima Fengari?" I pressed, my voice tinged with urgency. I needed answers, and I refused to be kept in the dark any longer.

For a lingering moment, silence hung in the air, stretching like a taut wire. Finally, my father's lips parted, and he released a heavy sigh. It seemed as though he had been wrestling with the decision to reveal the truth.

"The Aima Fengari," he began, his voice carrying a mix of solemnity and apprehension, "is a rare celestial phenomenon that occurs once every two hundred years. It is said to herald a significant event, often accompanied by great change and consequences."

My pulse quickened as his words sank in. The realization that I had unwittingly become entangled in something of immense importance sent a shiver down my spine. I leaned in, captivated by his revelation, eager to understand the full extent of the Aima Fengari.

"Long before you were born, a gathering took place," my father continued, his eyes clouded with worry. "The moon itself turned blood red, casting an eerie glow upon the land. People gathered, their hearts and eyes filled with a strange blend of anticipation and serenity."

His words painted a vivid picture in my mind, and I found myself transported to that ethereal scene. I could almost feel the palpable sense of awe and wonder that had permeated the air. The moon, a crimson sentinel, presiding over an event that defied the boundaries of normalcy.

"The red moon," my father's voice wavered slightly, "signified the arrival of two beings, descending from the heavens with an aura of majesty. One was a figure of grace and compassion, radiating a sense of peace. The other..." His voice trailed off, a glimmer of fear flickering in his eyes. "The other was a being consumed by darkness, eyes smoldering with anger and hatred."

A shiver coursed through my body as I imagined the stark contrast between these two entities. Light and darkness, locked in an eternal dance, their arrival signifying a pivotal moment in the world's fate.

"They spoke of Ophelia and Darius King," my father's voice grew heavy, weighed down by the gravity of his words. "Their disobedience of the goddess had consequences, and a price must be paid."

My breath caught in my throat, and I leaned in closer, my senses heightened with anticipation. The mysterious figures, the divine retribution, the ominous warning—all of it converged into a tapestry of intrigue that I yearned to unravel.

"The dark-haired man," my father's voice grew faint, barely above a whisper, "his eyes found you even before your birth. He spoke of a curse that would bathe the soil in blood, its effects triggered by the birth of the first."

A chill ran down my spine as his words settled upon me. The weight of those words held a foreboding that sent a surge of unease through my veins. I was the firstborn, and the dark-haired man's gaze, filled with malevolence, had locked onto me.

"I'm coming," The man's final words echoed in my mind, a haunting promise that left me trembling with fear.

The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, revealing a tapestry of destiny that entwined my life with forces beyond my comprehension. My father's evasive answers had only whetted my appetite for the truth, and I vowed to uncover the secrets that lay shrouded in the Aima Fengari and the curse that loomed over our land.

I wanted to know my stand in everything and what would become of me.

He said he'd come for me. I would wait.