XenraMy heart skipped a beat as those words met my ears. I was shocked to find Zara standing by the door with her hands folded in front of her, and before she could say another word to me, I asked her, "How long have you been standing there?" My words tumbled out in a rush as I stared at her with my eyes wide open. I couldn't afford to be heard, not when I had spoken about my days as the vampire queen."Well, not so long," she answered calmly with a small shoulder shrug, "but long enough to know that you've been crying and talking to the moon goddess," she added, and as soon as I heard her words, my heart began to race as a great pang of uneasiness dropped in my heart. 'Does it mean she just heard everything I said?' I reasoned within me, causing my eyes to bulge as I rolled them in thought.No, that wouldn't do. After about five seconds, I snapped out of the thoughts that had gotten me busy: "Did you hear what I was telling the moon goddess?" My question tumbled out in a rush, bea
XenraUpon hearing her words, my curled-up lips gradually spread into a wide, empty smile, and I slowly nodded my head twice."Of course!" I exclaimed with my eyes popping open in a feigned excitement, "I'm your friend." My smile grew as I attempted to make it as real as possible.At my words, she reciprocated my gesture, grinning widely this time around. I could tell she was so excited about it, but if only she knew who I was, she'd have understood why I couldn't be friends with her.Although I wasn't a proud person, how could I, Xenra—the most dreaded, respected, and beautiful vampire queen—be friends with a lowly Omega—a lowly slave at that?I snorted at the absurdity of it. 'I could be in a lowly, despicable skin, but that doesn't mean I had forgotten who I was and am, and for someone like Zara, ewww! That's not possible,' I affirmed within me.Although I treat everyone right, that is the least I wanted for myself."When I was coming, I heard the maids talking about the fat, proud
RoyceWith a fierce determination, I left Asher's office that evening. Spending the whole day with him wasn't just torturing but degrading as well, yet I had to put up with his insults and humiliation. "You're back already." My mother's voice broke into my head as I stepped into the living room that evening. I turned towards the kitchen where she had emerged from to find her staring at me with a warm smile on her face. Finally, I could rip off the mask I had been wearing for a whole day and be myself. I could be who I was without having to pretend to be so submissive and address him with the honorifics he never deserved. "Mother, how long am I going to put up with this nonsense?" I asked my voice a rough growl that echoed the anger brewing inside of me as I allowed the words to flow from my heart. I had been keeping it in all through the day, but being right in my own space, I had no reason to do that anymore. "Royce, what is going on?" My mother asked, her brows furrow
Royce"You should still be careful, Royce; apart from Asher, you also have the pack to worry about." My mother's words broke into my thoughts, snapping me back to the present. I turned towards her, my brows furrowing as I began to wonder what she meant by that, and before I could say a word, her voice came again. "The pack might not support you," she said calmly.Her words had hit on my fraying nerves even as the weight of their betrayal settled on my shoulders, but my mother wasn't done speaking."Every one of them believes that your father was evil and sentimental for trying to overthrow his brother," she said, her voice edged with worry. Her eyes glinting with concern.Her words ignited the anger that had been swirling within me, and my hands shot out with a fierce intensity, pointing towards the palace again."Evil?" I asked, my lips and chins quivering with restrained fury, "Then they are all dumb for thinking that way. Maybe they were bribed by Asher's evil father, which was wh
Asher Right in the dining room with my sister Akira, the table was filled with a spread of dishes. As I settled on the chair with Akira, ready for dinner, her voice broke into the thoughts that had gotten me busy. "Why are you looking so excited this evening? Is there any good news?" She asked, her eyes flicking from my face to her plate. My lips curled upwards as her words settled in my heart: "Yes, there's good news." I responded with a matching intensity, and I felt her gaze on me. But before she could ask another question, I swiftly added, "I'm expecting someone special," I said at the same time gesturing towards Akira's fat maid to serve the appetisers. Almost immediately, she began serving the meatballs, and when she was done, she stepped backwards, standing beside Akira at a considerable distance. "Hm!" Akira's voice dropped with surprise. "The last time I heard a thing like that was how many years ago..." Akira trailed off and tapped her fingers on the table
XenraReluctantly, I had apologised to him; if it were deemed fit that I should, I wouldn't have, not after he had addressed my mistake in the most degrading way ever. Beside, if he hadn't insulted me, I wouldn't have lost my composure.Asher was as rude as ever; no matter how I thought about it, I still couldn't see what had warranted those insults from him. His words had stirred up anger within me and had evoked memories of our past.Even as I stood there, I kept telling myself that leaving him was one of the best decisions I made. I was still lost in my thoughts when his angry voice broke into my head."What are you still waiting for? Get out from here!" He ordered, his voice a deep growl like a wounded beast. His words snapped me off my thoughts, and I turned toward him to find him staring at me with a tight face."Brother," Akira's urgent voice came almost immediately, even before I could take a bow. "Brother, you're just being paranoid for no reason," I heard her say as I began
Xenra"Let's go have breakfast," Zara's voice rang with excitement as soon as she finished making her bed."Breakfast?" I asked as her words settled in my heart, "I'm not going," I swiftly added, my brows furrowing at the thought of what would be served to us."Really? It seems you had quite enough to eat from the Alpha's table last night," Zara teased, her tone dripping with a mix of mockery and surprise as she stared at me with anticipation glinting in her eyes."Oh, don't speak of it!" I expressed, rolling my eyes as I quickly dismissed every emerging thought of what had transpired the previous night.Zara, at my words, chuckled; she seemed to have understood how difficult it was, tending to that routless monster of an Alpha."So let's go have breakfast before you end up having nothing to eat at all this morning," she urged as she reached out for my hands. Her words made me scoff in disbelief, as if not having breakfast wasn't far better than the rubbish being served to us."I wou
Xenra"Oh, you're really lucky then, because everybody I had worked with had treated me cruelly," she stated, the sternness that had plagued her voice, gradually giving way for understanding.But just when I had started to believe it had died down, her voice came again: "So tell me, which of the Alphas did you work for, that was so benevolent to help you?" She asked, her words laced with interest as enthusiasm gleamed in her eyes. Her words struck me instead, and for the next three seconds I was both shocked and dumbfounded. Although I had known that was coming, I never expected it so soon, and at that instant, I couldn't wrap my head around whom to mention."Oh," I chuckled after I snapped out of my daze, "Alpha em..." I began, and right there my mind was already running around the globe as I tried to think of any other Alpha I had heard about, apart from that heartless Asher.But the more I tried, the more I realised that I had not paid attention to the rest of them, apart from Ash
AsherAlthough Xenra's words made sense to me, I felt it wasn't the right thing to do in that situation. Deep within me, I knew I had to get to the root of it.I knew I had to confirm all that she had just told us, and not just that; I also needed evidence of Lena and Royce's treason.I snapped out of the thoughts that had kept me busy, and as I fixed my gaze back on Xenra, my determination burnt."I'm not going to tell them Akira is sick," I told her, my words dripping in a matching intensity. "Just as you've suggested, I'll play along with them, but more smartly, so I'll send someone in place of my sister."Akira's head whipped from my face to Xenra's as soon as she heard my words, her brows deeply furrowed.I didn't need anyone to tell me how what I had just said had made her uneasy; it was evident on her face.It seemed as though she was asking Xenra if that was a good idea. But Xenra remained calm; unlike Akira, she betrayed no emotions as she waited for me to go on. Typical of t
XenraAs soon as the words left my lips, Asher went silent, and Akira didn't utter another word. After about four seconds of thick, palpable silence, Asher broke the silence."So, why did you come to me? Why did you use that ritual? You know how dangerous that ritual can be; it can cost you a whole lot," he said, his face etched with concern."Why did you ask the moon goddess to bring you here? What danger am I in?" Asher asked me, his voice calm and relaxed, his gaze fixed intently on me as he waited for my response.As soon as I heard his words, I took a deep breath, as I felt a surge of determination within me.At that moment, my initial sorrows had completely drained out and were replaced with a growing confidence.I had completely shoved aside the momentary self-pity and sadness that had overwhelmed me, and I was now more determined to push through with what had brought me out."First and foremost," I began, my gaze fixed on Asher, "the proposal from the purple moon pack was a li
XenraAkira's head whipped towards me as soon as she heard Asher's words, and her brows furrowed deeply.I could see the fear in her eyes as she stared at me, "What did you do to the vampire queen? What did you do to her?" She asked, her words tumbling out in a helpless rush.The fear written all over her face was unmistakable as she stared desperately at me. "Don't tell me you harmed her when you followed my brother to her pack," she said, panicking.But the words had just left her lips when Asher shook his head in response, "No, she didn't," he said, his voice firm and steady, "I don't think she harmed her; let her start saying the truth."Deep within me, I knew there was no way I'd escape his room without saying the truth; I knew it was time I told them the truth since it had gotten to that.Although I didn't know how they'd react to what I was about to say, I just knew I had to.In that instant, I lifted my head that had been hanging low, and my gaze darted from Asher's face to Ak
AsherIn that instant, my gaze flew to the door, and just as I had suspected, the locks were intact.As I fixed my gaze back on Xenra, I saw her lips trembling as she tried to make coherent words. But the only thing she could say was "I-I-I."The fear written all over her face was unmistakable as she stuttered, which made me even more curious, and my brows furrowed.Seconds stretched on but she couldn't utter a word, at least nothing coherent that I could make sense of. She couldn't even meet my gaze.After about five seconds, she fixed her gaze on me. "I, um... The—the..." She said, but I swiftly interrupted her, even as I decided to go straight to what I wanted to know.At that moment, I didn't need anyone to tell me otherwise; she was strange, and I knew it; something was definitely off about her, and she had just proven it to me, again."Who are you?" I asked her as calmly as I could, "There's no need to lie to me." I said."From the first day, you healed me, I knew there was some
XenraI halted in my tracks as a great sense of hesitation settled within me. My mind was flooded with countless thoughts, and I began to ponder how to go about it.In that instant, it dawned on me that I was only too concerned about their safety that I didn't even think about how to go about it.As my thoughts stretched on, something crept into my heart, a diversion that made my brows furrow."Does it mean Asher likes me?" I muttered beneath my breath, but I didn't even allow the thoughts to settle in my heart before I shook it off."No, it can't be. It's not even possible," I said to myself, my voice heavy with conviction. "Maybe the moon goddess allowed it to happen because she wanted to save them." With that in mind, I quickly shoved off the thoughts as I decided to face the situation, but then I hesitated once more."What should I do? How do I go about this?" I whispered, my mind reeling with countless thoughts.I knew I couldn't just walk up to Asher and tell him his mate was p
XenraIn that instant, I sprang to my feet, and my mind spiralled with countless thoughts as I sought means to get out of the dungeon.My fists clenched with fierce determination, and I marched forward, my steps carrying me towards the entrance of the dungeon room.For the first time ever since I was thrown into the dungeon, I deliberately stared at the gate that held me enclosed, a strong iron gate that stood from floor to roof.As I stared at it, a thought dropped into my heart, but as I pondered on it, I realised it was risky."This wouldn't do!" I snapped out of it, knowing that breaking down the gate would attract the attention of the people in the other cell and the guards."It will complicate everything and make it even more difficult to save them," I said to myself, shaking the thought from my mind.I didn't need anyone to tell me that I'd have to pass through the guards at the various posts to get to Asher even if I successfully pulled down the gate.I knew even if I threw wh
XenraI tried to wrap my head around what was going on and why they had said such a thing like that, but nothing seemed to make sense to me.After about ten seconds of trying in vain, I snapped out of the thoughts that had kept me busy and decided to shove it aside."After all, it has nothing to do with me," I said, shrugging, and then I began to walk back to the spot of my meditation.As I settled in the spot and tried to continue with my training, their voices kept breaking into my thoughts, making it impossible for me to focus.As I snapped back to the present, I couldn't shake off the nudge that had settled deep in my heart, a great sense of uneasiness that kept taking my mind back to the people in the other cell, and I couldn't help but wonder what was really going on."If it was about Akira, why are they doing it secretly?" I asked myself, my brows furrowing as I drifted back into thought, wondering why they really had to hide in the darkness to do whatever they had to do.As my
XenraAfter a long session of meditation and cultivation that day, I stretched my limbs, my lips spreading into a smile as I felt a great sense of peace within me."The past week in the dungeon has been the best in my life," I said to myself and drew in a deep breath.As I slowly opened my eyes, I could feel a great sense of strength and renewed energy within me."No doubt, I'm back!" I said to myself, my lips curling into a determined smile as I felt the surging powers within me."I didn't need anyone to tell me they were back. "This dark dungeon has been a great help to me. Thanks to the calm and quietness."Aside from the fact that I could feel my vampire spirit within me, I could also feel the emergence of my wolf with great intensity.As a hybrid, I had never felt that part of me before, or maybe I had never really given myself to that side of me.But this dungeon has really helped me in aligning with that side of me, and not just that, but to also master the powers and ways to t
LenaAs I pondered what Royce had just told me, something dropped in my mind, snapping me off the thoughts that had kept me busy.My head whipped towards him, and in that instant, I asked, "Did you just say 'hidden dungeon?'" My voice was rushed and urgent."Is that nowhere that fat maid?" My brows slightly furrowed as I stared at him."Yes, my lady, that's where she is." Royce firmly replied. Hearing his response made me snort, and I began to slice the beef on my plate again.As I did so, I continued, "You can just tell the men to start experimenting with her by pouring some of the content in her body. After all, she's useless now to everyone." The words had barely left my lips when I continued savouring the beef again, even as I relished the satisfaction of what I had just said.A light chuckle broke out of Royce's lips instead as soon as he heard my words, the sound of which belied the hesitation in his heart."As long as I like the fact that we think alike, my lady, remember when