Veronica’s POVEveryone in my life has betrayed me.This realization dawned on me as I felt my numbing wrists from the heavy metal cuffs they put on me, chaining me to the crusty brick wall of the packhouse’s basement prison.My vision is slowly becoming blurry from dehydration and starvation. I can barely see my scarred legs and I couldn’t remember how long I have been locked up in this dark place.Suddenly, as I was on the brink of losing my consciousness, the sound of the cell bars opening and the looming shadow of a person from the light outside woke me up.“Ah, what a sight to behold,” the moment I heard her pesky voice, rage took over my exhausted body. I clenched my fists, the nails digging deep in my palms that I am sure were bleeding. Even with my messy long hair covering my face, I felt her bending down before placing her hand fan below my chin and lifting it for me to see her unsightly face.“Oh how the high and mighty Veronica has fallen,” her mocking tone and grin made m
Veronica’s POV“For the sin of stealing the virren moonstone and attempting to kill the Five Elders by poison, here stands Veronica Crysmorra, former Vameer, and Luna of the pack to receive her divine punishment.”There was utter silence. I thought that my heart would beat fast in fear for my fate but perhaps I am too dead inside to feel any of it. Everyone was looking at me— in disdain, disappointment, anger, and many other things.I stood in the middle of the platform. There were no stars in the sky and the moon is now behind the gray clouds. I tuned out the declaration of the rest of the damnation ritual. I couldn't care less. After all, it will just end up with me getting beheaded or burned alive.Just in time, I heard the footsteps of someone coming towards me. I knew to whom it belonged. My hearing may be weakened in my state right now but I could recognize him. Colton Vameer.My Alpha. My husband. Ex-husband, given that he will now be replacing me. He stared at me for a long
Veronica’s POV“This is for the best. You will be helping the pack and repenting for your mistakes at the same time,” I avoided Jade’s attempt of caressing my face.“Quit pretending to be a good stepmother. There is no audience now,” I told her.“I just wanted to comfort you, dear,” she said and I clenched my fists so that I could ignore her existence inside this closed space.We are in a covered wagon as they escort me, still chained, towards the agreed meeting place. I was told that the exchange would be held there.All I understood was that I would be a peace offering for the treaty. Long ago, Eviera was on par with the Helios pack. But our pack experienced a decline in recent years. We fell off with the Helios pack and with the power that they accumulated now, our pack cannot stand against theirs so we remain in the shadows to avoid conflict given our ugly history. It was not clear what the exact cause of the bad blood was but we were not able to patch up with them for 20 years.
Veronica's POVWhat awaits me on the other side could be hell.I am not sure what to expect when they told me that I will be sacrificed and sent to the Helios pack for the treaty. So far, they have yet to kill me.At first, I thought that we would be treading the cold on foot. Or maybe just me, as a punishment or initiation but I was shocked to see that there was a carriage waiting once we crossed the river. They gestured for me to hop in so I did.“Do not look through the windows,” the gruff voice of one of the three representatives of the Helios clan told me. I still could not make out their faces because my eyes are really blurry now, my headache is becoming worse.I said no complaints and simply followed them. I am still gauging how they act, I don’t want to make a mistake and suddenly anger them. I am on thin ice.For a second, escaping crossed my mind but I knew that it would be too risky. I am not in my best condition and even if I manage to pull it off somehow, I wouldn’t know
Veronica's POVThe days passed by quickly in my new reality. It was the opposite of what I expected.It has been five days and I have recovered somehow. I am still pretty much a prisoner and I have not attempted to escape. I don't think I have the capacity yet. Besides, I have no concrete plan. I do not exactly have allies to lean on so my best option is to stay here for the meantime. Free food, free lounging.They are generous. I had a couple of clothes to change into and the food was good. You could tell that they are abundant in resources that even a prisoner like me gets a quality meal.I don’t really have anything to do around here all day. I can’t exactly roam around outside. So I sit on the bed every day. Stare at the ceiling. Get mad and try to sleep. Wake up to get mad again.A hobby I picked up, however, is eavesdropping. That sounded weird but I had no other entertainment. My heightened hearing came back on the third day and I used it right away.Their pack is loud with so
Veronica's POV It became a habit. The nameless man with red eyes kept visiting me every night from then on. “The mask is stupid,” I glared at him. “You are not a child playing superheroes.” He chuckled. God, I hate his chuckle. “I have to keep the mystery going y’know,” he tilted his head on his hand as he sat on the couch across from me. I don’t need to see past the mask to know the shitty grin he definitely has on. “Didn't know you were so interested in me. I am flattered.” His red eyes were playful and heavy. The weight of his stares could be felt through my bones, like he was staring at my soul yet I cannot read his mind. “Not all interest is a compliment,” I told him with a frown. It has been three days. At first, I tried interrogating him especially when he came back the night after I confronted him with a mask on. He was evasive and he was just dismissing my questions. I had no choice but to let it go. However, I have never stopped speculating who he is. Right now, I
Veronica’s POV Something shifted in the way they treat me. “Anything I request for?” I eyed him with furrowed brows. “Yes,” the pack Beta Eamon, as he finally introduced himself to me earlier, answered in a monotonous voice. “What if I will only eat boiled virgin rabbit soup from the Highlands of the South?” I asked. I bet he is a strict general in their pack because I watched how hard he fought back rolling his eyes. Tough guy. It was quite amusing. “Then we will procure you the boiled virgin rabbit soup from the Highlands of the South,” he answered with an evident grudge. I held back a snicker but grinned widely after successfully messing with him. This is my first genuine big smile since my life went down the drain. I don’t know what changed but I will not poke around a blessing and risk jinxing it. “I would very much like a big bowl of lasagna and a medium-rare ribeye steak with a tub of sundae of all possible ice cream flavors with lots of sprinkles, chocolate syrup and m
Veronica’s POV All eyes were on me. Even without my heightened hearing as a werewolf, I could feel the deafening silence and hear the way everyone held their breath once they realized my presence. There were no announcements. I have a new scent that all of them would pick up quite easily. Because I am an outsider. Because I don't belong here. I stuck out like a sore thumb. The towering figure of a man around 6’3 ft tall approached me. It took me a second before I recognized him. He had a buzzcut with his large body. His steps were heavy. Eamon, the pack’s Beta. The Alpha’s right hand man. He stopped in front of me, his back was on his pack and uttered, “Come follow me.” It almost echoed through the entire hall. That is how unsettling the silence was. I cannot pick up the smell of everyone but again, even without my lycan senses, the air is filled with too much tension. Eamon suddenly turned to face the awaiting crowd of his pack members. He was frowning and in a strict voice,
Veronica's POV“The longer you stay, the more dangerous it can get,” Rowan emphasized his words slowly. Declan was just leaning on the nearby wall, watching us silently with arms crossed.Luciana stood in front of me, holding me by my shoulders and looking directly into my eyes, “Are you sure about this, Veronica?”I met her gaze and nodded, “I think he needs me.”The Rozeiros siblings glanced at one another. They have been acting very secretive since I woke up.My body still feels weak. I'm not in my best condition yet but I can stand and walk already so I didn't let it stop me. Besides, it's not like I'd feel any better stuck laying on a bed knowing that my husband is rotting, locked up somewhere.It's almost like we switched places. I know he didn't stay put when it happened to me so I cannot really ignore it. I also don't want to.“We can only let you talk to him for a couple of minutes, Veronica,” Luciana started explaining, “Please understand. This is important. It's taking a lo
Third Person’s POVThe moment Sebastian got her intended message, he didn't waste any time to look for Veronica.“There is only one possible altar that they would use,” Declan said, looking up from the piece of paper where the message was written and meeting his brother’s stares as he adds, “The Altar of the Crescere church.”“I think they are using her to lure you there,” he continued, “They are planning to kill you.”Sebastian didn't heed his words and marched to the doors, on his way leaving.Rowan followed right away, “Sebastian!” He calls and stands between the doors and the other alpha, “Don't be hasty! They wouldn't try out this plan if they don't think this could actually work,” he said.The latter just snapped, eyes wide in frantic dilation.“I don't fucking care!” His booming voice bounced through the walls of the chamber, “You want me to sit here and do nothing?! I know where she is now! I will get her back!”“This could be the perfect timing,” Luciana suddenly interjects a
Warning: Graphic descriptions of violence**Veronica’s POVEverything unfolded quickly the moment Sebastian arrived.“Shit! How did they find us?!” I heard a loud voice clamoring to enter the room where they had me locked up. I think it was Gareth yelling.The door slammed open with a loud thud and I blinked my eyes hard because of the sudden harsh light from outside that hit my eye. It has been a while since I was exposed to something other than pitch black darkness. They barely open that door when they enter so my vision needed to adjust at the change.When I opened my eyes, I saw Gareth stomping his way to me angrily. His eyes were dilated in rage as he hastily yanked me from where I was crumpled on the floor. I yelped at the pain that shot through my bones because of his tight grasp on my arms and the chains that pulled against me.“Get up!” He growled at me, “What did you do?!” He shouted at my face, I flinched due to his booming voice.“Let her go!” Colton appeared and tried pu
Veronica’s POVI do wonder if my revenge is worth all this.Lying on the cold concrete floor, back to where I was once before, my mind couldn't help but think of everything I have been through.Maybe I really was too self-absorbed lately. I should've seen this coming. I should've predicted this to some extent. I should've known better.I swore I won't find myself in this position and yet here I am again. It took all of what little strength I have left to stop myself from crying. I have to be strong— that's how it's always been. I have been on my own for my entire life so I needed to be resilient. I never had anyone but myself.Somehow, despite doing all I can, I never succeeded in getting what I want.I don't know when it started or how my life regressed into this constant loneliness and suffering, filled with fear of abandonment and exhausting hatred… that even when I thought everything was going to my favor, it still crumbled. The ironic part is it's all I've ever known.“You have b
Third Person’s POV The king has gone mad. Within the hushed concerned whispers that were circulating in New Helios, it was what they had agreed upon. They have witnessed the horrors of the demon wolf’s wrath— stories that were only passed down from one person to another before. It's said that he has been tamed now. Yet the recent abduction of the queen woke up the sleeping beast. “Veronica was taken away.” Those words were the catalyst. In a blink of an eye, Sebastian lost his composure. A loud howl erupted in New Helios that evening. Everything happened so fast. He had Rowan lifted from the ground within a second, hand choking the older man’s neck, so strong that the latter struggled to breathe. Sebastian’s eyes were glowing crimson red, terrifying and angry. “How did you let that happen?” He snarled, face close to biting him, “You better choose your fucking words, Rowan or I would not hesitate to crush your head right now.” “Sebastian!” Luciana gasped scandalously and trie
Veronica’s POV I don’t know how long has passed since they had me locked up. I lost count of the days. All I am sure about is that I have been stuck in this dark place for a long time. There’s nothing to really tell the time. It makes me feel insane. Not to mention, I haven’t eaten since I arrived here. They just give me some water every now and then. One glass. I realized it must be one per day which means that I might have been here for around three days already. They visit and monitor me occasionally; as if I can actually do something in my weakened and shackled state. Gareth was here this time. He had a file as he picked on his nails. He was sitting a couple of feet from me. Then, there was the church bell sound. Again. It rings three times a day from my observation. I assume it was a marker of some sort. Three times. Morning, noon, night. It's most likely for prayers. It has been the second time I have heard it so it must be noon. The church, based on my hunches, is most
Veronica’s POVWhen I opened my eyes, it felt like I had gone back in time.I felt the shackles in my hands and feet. The same familiar wolfsbane coursing through my veins, even with the taste of silver this time. I hyperventilated during the first few minutes of realizing I was back at this very situation.Gasping for air loudly, I did my best so that my mind would not crumble. I cannot lose myself. I tried to breathe slowly.I reminded myself that I have gone through this once. I can survive again.I have to survive. I must survive.This can't be the end for me.If I have to claw my way back up from hell again, I will do so. Not even death can stop me.Calming a little after a long torturous moment, my eyes scanned the place I am at. There are no windows. It wasn't a cell, there weren't bars or anything.I tried recalling what happened. I was in the woods. I separated from Isolde and Soren to take a breather. Someone appeared. A masked man. And then there were others, carrying weap
Sebastian’s POV“It will always point towards the one closest to their heart.”It sounded like just another swindle. I held the compass in my hand, inspecting its intricate carved design. The compass is made of real gold. I can sense that the antique description about it is authentic. The claims of being enchanted, however, I was still contemplating.All I know is that it captured my attention. I remembered Veronica and her dreams of going out into the world. She has a traveler’s heart despite being confined in one place, one duty, all throughout her life. I think she would like this thing.Whether it is truly enchanted or not, it didn't matter. It looks pretty and it works as a normal compass too so she'll have use for it either way.“Alright, I’ll take this one,” I placed the compass on the glass display cabinet and pushed it towards the vendor.The woman smiled as she took it, “You made the right decision, Your Highness.”For a brief second, I squinted at her comment. That was sort
Veronica’s POVI believe I was more of a hunter than a queen.Or at least that was what I thought when I was younger. It’s not like I dreamt of becoming a full-fledged hunter but more so the fact that hunters travel the most in packs. I have always wanted to step out into the world. I wanted that kind of freedom.However, fate has different plans for me.“I think you should take a carriage or even just a steed, Veronica,” Rowan told me with firmness as he followed me, “Also, we have some guards here in addition–”“It’s fine,” I told him with a smile and pointed at my two personal guards that were only a few feet away from us, “I’ll take Isolde and Soren with me.”Rowan sighed, “This is still uncharted territory even for your elite hunters.”“We won’t be long, I promise,” I stopped just before the entrance to the clearing that connects New Helios to the nearby mountain’s vast forests. I look at the large looming trees ahed, just as tall as the ones found in the North. I turned to him a