As we walked downstairs, I was still pondering Prince Louis's words just now.Since the night we confirmed our relationship in the wine cellar, he rarely called me by my name. Instead, he seemed to have a fondness for the term "mate."Although I didn't mind such things, I couldn't deny that whenever he addressed me that way, my wolf would feel an inner sense of pleasure.But now, I must admit I felt a little awkward.No matter the reason for their breakup or whether Prince Louis still cared about Maria, meeting an ex-girlfriend was never going to be harmonious.Especially since I had misunderstood the situation due to the sleepwear Maria left in the bedroom.Yet, when I was actually facing this woman, I couldn't bring myself to scold her.Maria's husband had only passed away not long ago. The funeral, well-known within the wolf community, was a shock to everyone. Prince Liam, in the prime of his life, had suddenly succumbed to an illness, leaving behind a child who had just started el
My brain hadn't caught up with their conversation yet, and I picked up a freshly baked butter cookie from the plate Prince Louis had handed me, mechanically chewing it.Indeed, Alfred's cooking was delicious...Wait a minute!I suddenly realized what had just happened and looked down at the warm cookie in my hand. Then, I glared at the side of Prince Louis's face. Did he think I was impatiently hungry, so he brought these things for me?I couldn't help but find it both funny and exasperating. Did he really think I was a three-year-old child?Regardless, I had indeed been comforted by the gesture.Furthermore, I hadn't expected that while he was conversing with Maria, Prince Louis had been paying attention to me all this time. Did he notice my subtle changes in thoughts and emotions?However, this was just a minor episode, and apparently, Prince Louis didn't take it seriously. After casually giving me a plate of butter cookies, he continued speaking to Maria, "My time is precious, Mari
"Ugh, those annoying pests again," Olivia commented. She also heard the commotion from them. She frowned in exasperation. "I can't stand the sight of them."I nodded in agreement.That group of girls were Cathy's lackeys. At first, they tried to cozy up to me, but I had no interest in attending their dull parties filled with comparison and gossip.After being rejected a few times, those girls seemed to grow resentful to me. So, they decide to befriend Cathy instead. Probably because everyone knew she was my arch-nemesis.Initially, I didn't pay much attention to it. But Cathy started instigating them to spread negative rumors about me in school and speak ill of me, and that's when I reached my breaking point.With Olivia and Kyle by my side, we confronted them in a corner of the school corridor and taught them a lesson. Well, Joe was there too, but before we could even act, he volunteered to be our lookout and disappeared faster than anyone else.Recalling that, I couldn't help but cu
"Olivia Lucchese!"Lucy growled, her eyes flashing with hostility.Olivia replied lazily, "What's with the shouting? You don't have to be that loud for me to hear you. I'm not deaf, you know."I must admit, when it came to getting under people's skin, Olivia undoubtedly inherited some exceptional talent.I tried my best to suppress my laughter as I watched Olivia take a step forward, lowering her voice while threatening, "Whatever you're planning, we're up for it. But let me give you a friendly reminder—the professor over there is watching."Olivia had a natural flair for the mafia. I couldn't help but think.She was standing too close, practically sticking her nose to Lucy's. Lucy was taken aback by Olivia's audacious move and instinctively took two steps back. After a moment, she finally realized how embarrassing her actions were in front of the others.Fuming, she glared at the fearless Olivia and then turned her attention to me, giving me a ferocious look.Out of the corner of my
In the pouring rain, Olivia and I ran desperately towards the direction of the school building.We had no idea why there would be such a creature in the school. However, as we ran a distance away, the beast that was supposed to be chasing us was nowhere to be seen.Panic-stricken, I quickly turned my head to look behind, but all I could see was the pouring rain. The woods had turned into a dark and continuous mountain range in the gray rain mist. Everything gradually blurred in my sight, yet the deep and terrifying roar still echoed in my ears.Fear overwhelmed me, and I felt as if I had been thrown into an icy cave. The bone-chilling cold enveloped me, and the chilling air seemed to seep into my bones. My head suddenly throbbed with intense pain, and a certain memory in the depths of my mind was pried open, revealing a glimpse of the past.It seemed to be a night, also with heavy rain. In the dim and eerie forest, I struggled to breathe, carrying a boy on my back, taking it step by s
After Prince Louis issued the command, the bodyguard who had been holding onto Lucy's arm acted almost instantly. Before anyone could react, he perfectly executed Prince Louis's order."Aaahhh!!!" The clear sound of bones breaking rang out. In an instant, the woman's piercing screams echoed across the playground, sending shivers down my spine.The professors around us had faces ashen with shock as they urged the students, "Go back to the classrooms. Don't watch anymore!" Everyone scattered in a panic. Soon, only Olivia, Prince Louis, the bodyguard team, and I remained on the playground.Olivia and I both had pale faces. But the man who had given the command remained unfazed by what had just happened. He stood tall, looking down at Lucy, who was still being held by the bodyguard, unable to even roll on the ground due to the pain. With a calm tone, he asked, "Still not going to tell me? Then we can break another one.""I'll tell you! I'll tell you!" The pain in her broken bones was too
Kyle's appearance immediately drew all of Olivia's attention away. She coldly snorted, her gaze like daggers piercing through Kyle, and she couldn't help grinding her teeth with force.I noticed her expression and asked Kyle in a low voice, "Did you two have another argument?""No," he replied casually."Then why is Olivia angry?""Who knows," Kyle deliberately drawled, glancing at Olivia, teasingly adding, "Maybe she was a pufferfish in her past life, needing to get mad every day to avoid exploding. Right, Claire?"Before I could say anything, Louis fake-smiled and pulled me away from Kyle's grasp. He put his arm around my waist, staring at Kyle, and said, "I've heard about you, the eldest son of the Lucchese family. You made quite a name for yourself during the last forest hunt.""Oh, Your Highness heard about me? What an honor," Kyle's tone was polite, but his expression showed no signs of being honored. I couldn't help but gasp at his boldness, but then Kyle suddenly turned to me
A few days later, whenever I recalled the words Prince Louis said to me in the playground, my heart would involuntarily race.This emotion was too overwhelming and intense, making me somewhat unsure of how to handle it."Helen," I chatted with my wolf, "do you think he was telling the truth?"Helen gave me a definite answer.Throughout whole history, each generation of Lycan treated their vows with great seriousness. It is said that since ancient times, the Moon Goddess and the Fate Goddess have been sisters. Therefore, every time a member of the royal family made a vow under the moon, the Goddess of Fate would engrave it on a stone tablet. If they break the vow, they will face tenfold punishment..When Prince Louis said those words, it was in the evening, and I wasn't sure if there was a moon witnessing it.However, before I could worry for a few days, Maria came to me again. She came with her some this time.It was my first time meeting Prince Chris. He looked like a mini version of
Maria's POV“What happened? What’s going on?!”The sudden explosion of cheers woke me from my drowsiness. I looked around in panic, and only after confirming that there was no danger did I finally relax. I grabbed Mandy, who was leaning on a broom and watching TV with great interest.“Mandy, what’s going on? Why is it suddenly so noisy outside?”“That’s not noise, Maria,” Mandy said, revealing an ugly smile with a mouth full of crooked teeth. “Alpha Louis just announced his heir!”Hearing the name that hadn’t appeared in my life for so long, it took me a few seconds to finally react. “Louis? Prince Louis?! He’s become the Alpha King now?!”“You really are a country bumpkin.” Mandy rolled her eyes dramatically at me and disdainfully pushed my arm away. “That happened last month. Haven’t you heard? Our Alpha even has an heir now.”“Heir?”The moment of confusion was quickly replaced by a surge of joy.Yes, the heir—it must be my Chris! My Chris has become the heir of the kingdom. That m
Louis's POV"Your Majesty, here is your speech."Kyle's voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I quickly turned off my phone, hiding Claire's refusal from the screen."Sure." I took the paper Kyle handed me and scanned it quickly, frowning. "Isn't this a bit too formal?"Kyle shrugged. "Well, Your Majesty, tonight is an official ceremony. After all, every werewolf will witness Claire becoming our Luna.""Alright."I nodded in agreement, folded the paper, and tucked it into my suit pocket. Then, I checked my watch. "How long until the wedding starts?""About twenty minutes. Perhaps you would like to wait outside? The media is ready."Glancing out at the castle lawn, I saw the sea of people and cameras aimed at the wedding venue. Surrounding the crowd were countless armed guards maintaining order.I withdrew my gaze and chuckled. "This might be the grandest ceremony of the year, don't you think?""Well, perhaps the grandest ceremony of the century."Kyle responded with a smile. "Shall we
Claire's POV"Are you sure this dress looks okay, Olivia?"I anxiously tugged at the wedding gown and stared nervously at my reflection in the mirror. Damn, my waist still looks a bit bulky."Am I the only one who thinks this dress makes me look fat?""Yes, my dear Luna."Olivia, who had already helped me change into the third wedding dress, rolled her eyes at me. "You look absolutely stunning, Claire. You're just experiencing a common condition called pre-wedding anxiety."As she spoke, Olivia lifted the large train of my dress to prevent Kitty from stepping on it."Don't believe me? Ask Kitty! Kitty, do you think Claire looks beautiful?"Caught off guard, Kitty turned around, holding a flower basket slung over her shoulder. It was empty of petals, but she already looked as cute as a doll.Oh, how I wished my first child would be a girl as adorable as her! I silently prayed to the Moon Goddess.But the sweet Kitty couldn't hear my thoughts. She tilted her head and carefully examined
Louis's POV"This will likely be our last meeting, Prince Louis."In a small tavern near the Southern Forest, Garfield Evans, clad in black and wearing a hood, sat across from me. The arrogance and ambition once evident in his demeanor were replaced with a bitter smile and an unhidden hatred towards his enemies."I suppose so," I replied, ignoring Garfield's raised glass and instead downing my drink in one gulp. "After all, the Southern Forest is a terrifying place. Even my brother met his end there.""Well, dying in the same place as Liam would be a kind of luck," Garfield responded with a resigned smile, but I could see the sincerity mixed with sorrow in his moist eyes."Don't forget, this time you'll face not only the horrors of the Southern Forest but also the secret organization hiding within it, which opposes the royal family. They are your real enemies.""I'll never forget that, Your Highness. Rest assured, I will avenge Liam before I breathe my last!"The rekindled murderous i
Claire's POV“So… you really plan to exile Evans?” I asked cautiously after listening to Louis recount the events in the dungeon the previous night. “What about the Black Mountain pack? They’re already stirring, trying to overthrow the royal family. Won’t this only fuel their ambitions?”“On the contrary. I plan to convene the Council of Elders and hold a public trial for Garfield Evans. Once his crimes are exposed to all the werewolves, everyone will understand why I imprisoned him. By then, the Black Mountain pack will have no justification for opposing the royal family.”Louis calmly analyzed the situation while peeling a grape and placing it in my mouth. I nodded thoughtfully, but then immediately spat it out, wrinkling my nose.Louis looked at me in concern, “What’s wrong?”“The grape tastes bad,” I said, my mouth puckering from the sourness.“Really?” Louis glanced at the grapes on the table and immediately summoned Alfred.“Your Highness.”“Claire says the grapes are bad.”“Bad
Garfield's POV“Say it again—what did you do to him?!” I tightened my grip on Maria’s throat, feeling an overwhelming urge to snap it right there and then.“Tell me, Maria, what else did you do to him?!!”“Let go of me! Garfield!”Maria's face had turned purple, her flailing legs now dancing on the edge of the abyss. Even this couldn’t quench the burning hatred I felt for this woman.Blood debts must be paid in blood!Anger surged within me. Just as I resolved to end her wretched life, a figure crashed into me. My injured leg gave out, and I fell into a puddle, releasing my hold on Maria."Seize them all!"Prince Louis’s commanding voice echoed in the dank, hollow dungeon. Within moments, torches illuminated the damp darkness. A squad of armed guards swarmed the small cell, capturing Maria, Rick, and me, dragging us before Louis.“Prince Louis, Evans... Evans tried to kill me!”Louis’s appearance was Maria’s salvation. She cried out, reaching for Louis’s robe, but he recoiled in disgu
Garfield's POV"Alpha!"Just as I was coaxing Kitty to finish her broccoli, a figure once again climbed through the window."Rick?" I narrowed my eyes at my beta, my tone growing stern. "I don't recall ordering you to enter the castle again.""I'm very sorry, Alpha."Rick's expression was serious under my rebuke. "I followed your instructions that night, intending to take Chris from Maria's villa. But I discovered something important that I felt I had to report to you immediately."I scrutinized Rick. Though he wasn’t particularly sharp, he had always been loyal. If he claimed to have made a significant discovery, then…I set down the bowl in my hand and said, "Go ahead. What did you find out?""Last night, Chris suddenly fell ill and was rushed to the hospital.""What?!" My voice involuntarily showed my anxiety. "How is he now? Is he alright?!""No. In fact, I overheard the doctor and Maria talking. The doctor said Chris's illness is congenital and very difficult to cure—unless Maria
Maria's POVThings were progressing smoothly.I walked quickly through the castle’s corridors, followed by three or four guards. They were accompanying me to retrieve Prince Liam’s portraits and belongings on Louis’s orders. However, these items were useless in saving my son’s life. The only person who could save Chris now was someone else entirely.“Ouch!” I exclaimed in pain, clutching my stomach and suddenly squatting down.“What happened?!”“I... my stomach hurts.” I faced the approaching guards, looking distressed and speaking weakly, “I’ve been too stressed about Chris’s illness, and my stomach problems have flared up again.”“What should we do?!” One of the guards scratched his head, looking worried. “Should I notify Prince Louis…”“No, there’s no time to waste!” I bit my lip, feigning great pain, and interrupted the guard’s suggestion. “The most important thing now is to get Prince Liam’s portraits and belongings! If Chris wakes up, he will surely want to see his father first…
Claire's POV“What? Chris is in the hospital?! What happened?!”“Calm down, my dear.”Louis gently pushed me back onto the couch, but his brows remained furrowed. He turned to the guard who brought the news and asked, “Could this be another one of Maria’s schemes? Is she trying to gain sympathy using Chris?”“No.” The guard lowered his head and relayed the information he received from the doctor about Chris’s condition.“Moreover, I inquired with the emergency team that responded that night. They all confirmed that Chris nearly suffocated to death.”The words “nearly suffocated” left Louis in silence, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of worry for the innocent boy. No matter what Maria had done, Chris was just a child. Besides, he was Liam’s only son.Thinking this, I turned to the guard and asked, “Which hospital is Chris in now?”“Saint Richard’s Hospital, but Chris is still unconscious. The doctors have recommended no visitors.”It seemed Chris was gravely ill this time. Both Lo