Claire's POV"Awesome!"I pumped up next to Olivia, who looked relieved, her worries melting away like she was just on vacation at the castle."Finally, it's time for some much-needed girl talk with my bestie! We haven't had a good chat in almost two months! Spill some royal gossip, my dear bestie! I promise I'll keep it a secret!"I shrugged helplessly at my friend."Believe me, Olivia, I'd love to indulge your curiosity. But unfortunately, the only royal member I've met so far is Prince Louis. And as for gossip, what you've heard from outside will probably be juicier than anything I could tell you.""Oh no!" Olivia groaned. "Come on, Claire! Don't be a buzzkill!""Well, if you're really itching for royal dirt, there's someone else around here who's better suited to spill the beans than me."Curious as ever, Olivia quickly asked, "Who?""Kyle.""Kyle?"I raised an eyebrow at Olivia's puzzled expression. "Didn't you mention earlier that he witnessed the friendship between Evans and Pr
Claire's POV"Aw, come on, Claire! Why won't you let me keep digging? Kyle's obviously hiding something from us!" Olivia, who I had dragged back to our room, started to gripe."Even if Kyle's keeping a lid on things, it's probably 'cause he's worried about you. Your lips have a habit of getting you into hot water," I shot back, delivering what felt like a double dose of lectures from the people close to her, leaving her on the edge of jumping up."What? So now even you think I can't keep a secret?""I didn't say that." I quickly raised my hands to show I meant no harm. "It's just... People slip up sometimes. And you, my friend, seem to do it more than most.""I—"Seeing her own flaw, Olivia's momentum quickly died down, and she looked a bit sheepish."I'm just a bit careless, that's all.""But your careless words sometimes affect many lives, especially when it comes to matters involving the royal family!""Okay, okay, I promise I'll be careful... Wait! You sound like you already know
Louis's POV"What's the status now?"Leaning against the command console, I queried Martin over the radio. He was on his way to the site of the Black Pearl incident, my trusted beta and personal warrior."Your Highness, the sea is still rough with heavy fog, visibility is low, and we're still searching for Luna Diana."Martin's voice remained steady, but his words only added to my already mounting frustration."We need to find my mother at all costs! Got it?""Yes, Your Highness."Ending the communication, I angrily ripped the radio off my chest and hurled it against the wall."Damn it!"Next second, Garfield appeared like a ghost, calmly picking up the shattered radio. He stopped a meter away from me."Your Highness."Not yet having calmed my inner rage, I vented my remaining fury at him."What is it?""You haven't slept in over thirty hours, Your Highness. It's time to rest.""Do you really think it's a good idea, Garfield?" I snorted, "To suggest sleeping when my mother is still mi
Claire's POVI stood up, looking at the servant standing outside the study, and asked, "Who is it?""It's, it's Maria, and Prince Chris."I couldn't help but frown, "Her again?"Alfred, sensing that the conversation was coming to an end, stood up and gave me a slight nod, "Since the guests have arrived, please allow me to go and greet them."Alfred didn't mention Maria's name, which eased my mind slightly. Perhaps it meant Maria wasn't on Louis's list."I'll go with you," I quickly walked to Alfred's side, "Now that Louis isn't here, the castle needs a host."Alfred looked at me appreciatively, "That would be great.""Oh, Alfred, it's been a while."As soon as we entered the castle's foyer, Maria stood up immediately, warmly greeting Alfred. But she didn't even glance at me, as if I were just a maid following Alfred."I noticed you've replaced the lilies in the foyer with hydrangeas. That's a combination I hadn't thought of before.""Oh, actually, that was Louis's idea."I wasn't goin
Claire's POV"Hurry up, give me the doll!"By the time Alfred and I rushed to the grassy area where the kids were playing, Chris had already stopped crying. On the lawn, Maria was like a fierce mother wolf, shielding Chris by her side. With his mother's support, Chris began ruthlessly snatching the rabbit doll from Kitty's hands, threatening her with all sorts of words."If you don't let go, I'll have my mom snatch you up and throw you into the South Forest! There, you'll be eaten by monsters just like this rabbit!"Chris's curse left me utterly shocked. Was this the same sweet little prince who used to flirt with Louis? And how did he know about the South Forest?Watching Kitty being roughly dragged to the ground by Chris, I instinctively shouted, "Stop!""Don't shout at my boy!"Maria's fierce gaze shot towards me like an arrow, "You don't have the right to do that! You ignorant commoner!""Forgive my bluntness, Maria."Seemingly worried that Maria would attack me again, Alfred inte
Claire's POVThe almost malicious threat left poor Kitty frozen in place. She stared at Chris with sheer terror, forgetting to evade, even forgetting to cry, until a thunderous shout made everyone tremble."Stay away from my daughter!"Without even looking back, a black figure swiftly passed by me, heading straight for Kitty. Evans looked so urgent that he even let go of his wolf-headed cane that was always by his side. But whether intentionally or accidentally, the cane, once thrown away, hit Chris's arm squarely.The little boy immediately burst into tears, eliciting screams from Maria."What are you doing, Garfield?""I'm protecting my daughter."Garfield didn't give Maria's screams and rebukes a second glance. He held Kitty tightly, his icy gaze like a knife, pinning Maria in place as she attempted to defend her son.Perhaps fearing Garfield's status as the Alpha of the Black Mountain pack, Maria didn't display the same aggressive attitude as before. Instead, she accused Garfield
Louis's POVI squinted at Evans. Never seen him so submissive in my memory. When Liam was alive, Garfield Evans, the youngest captain of the Royal Knights, was always reserved and arrogant. And after Liam was assassinated, all that was left of him was arrogance. But this unwarranted submissiveness made me suspicious."Why?" I stared at Evans, pressing, "It was Chris who started the argument, who laid hands first, took your daughter's stuff, even tore her doll in front of her. Don't you want me to punish Chris for this?""Louis!"My words brought a gasp from Maria. That damn woman dared to interrupt at this moment."Don't make me repeat myself, Maria! Shut your mouth! Or get out!" The angry growl nearly made Maria lose her footing.I looked away, instructing Alfred beside me, "Get Chris and his mother out of here! They're not allowed back in the castle without my orders!""Yes, Your Highness."Maria opened her mouth, perhaps wanting to say something in her defense. But when my icy gaze
Claire's POV"What?!?!"Louis' words caught me off guard, leaving me practically speechless. While I was left shocked and unsure, Louis just gave me a little wink. "Did that really blow your mind that much?"I stared into Louis' deep blue eyes, along with his charming smile, and suddenly felt a surge of anger at being teased."Don't mess with me, Louis. It's not funny.""I'm dead serious." Louis toned down his smile as he took hold of my shoulder, his expression becoming more serious than before. "I mean it, Claire. Let's have a baby. You and me, our next generation.""Is that really okay? I mean, you're the next king, and your marriage and your children are all being watched and commented upon by the nation. I'm not officially recognized yet. And importantly, the royal family cannot accept having children out of wedlock, right? Shouldn't we get married first?"Louis' light chuckle cut through my jumbled words. Watching his amused expression, I blinked, only realizing after a moment w
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