Veronica’s POV“Thank you so much, Luna,” the late middle-aged female omega smiled appreciatively and tried to reach for my hands. The guards behind me moved from my peripheral vision to stop her as it is against the code but I raised my hand to gesture for them to stop.I reached back to her hand and held it together while returning the warm smile, my heart flattered and full from her gratitude. I gently told her, “Don’t worry. We’ll get through this winter together. The palace will give you all the aid needed.”The line of pack members behind her remains quite long even as the distribution has begun for hours now. I waved at the kind lady as the line continued. The entourage arrived earlier today and we instantly began the distribution of resources soon after. It’s almost sunset now. I gave another smile to the woman who was holding a young boy, most likely her son, beside him. I grabbed their package and was handing it to her when the young pup said,“Do you really have magic, Your
Veronica’s POV“We first met at the masquerade ball during your coming of age.”I felt like I didn’t hear his words right.“Wha— no,” I gave him a deep frown, “Stop playing with me,” I glared at him, not liking the idea that he is making a fool out of me, “I’d remember if we'd met back then. You’re not really the forgettable type,” I crossed my arms with a huff and a raised brow.Sebastian chuckled and looked down to pick on his lap, “Yeah, but this one is kind of different,” his voice was almost as if he was spacing out.I gaped at him and asked, “Different how?”“You know how you have that unique ability of yours?” He stared at me intently, “The dream walking thing or something?”“Uhuh,” I said, still unsure of his point while I squinted my eyes at him.Sebastian continued, “I have another ability of sorts.”I felt like I didn’t hear his words right again. This conversation has been messing with my head. “Wait,” I put a hand in front of him and let it sink in, “Another one—” I face
Note: The following chapter is entirely a flashback**Veronica’s POV“I did not gatecrash this stupid party,” the boy around my age answered with a bite in his words, “I had an invite,” he gritted.“Hm,” I met his vicious stares and stared him down intently as I emphasized, “Clearly what you don’t have is manners.”The stranger didn’t like what I said. He instantly snarled at me.I raised my brow. The audacity of this one.With the way he is acting pissed off with just that, I had the urge to annoy him more. A great way to entertain myself amidst this night. It’s always funnier to tease people who are easily irritated.“Oh don’t snarl at me, boy,” I told him and gave the same energy back, “You aren’t supposed to be here yet you’re the one who’s acting like this,” I squinted my eyes at his direction, “If you did not gatecrash the ball, what are you doing here?”There was a long silence between us. He was looking at me like I am the odd one here. It was obvious that there was something
Note: The following chapter is entirely a flashback**Third Person’s POV“Veronica! Where have you been?” Jadeline asked the girl who just got back from the back of the mansion to the ballroom. Her voice was raised but hushed as she reprimands the younger one, “I’ve been looking for you!” The debutante responded in her soft voice right away, “I’m sorry, mother. I had to go to the bathroom and fix my gown.”At the back of Veronica’s mind that evening, she feels odd and uneasy. Her answer was like an automated reply she didn’t exactly decide on and even if she says it, there was this inkling inside of her that it does not feel right. It seems like there is a lapse for her.Which years later, she’d find out why. It’s the memories compelled for her to forget.“You should’ve asked for permission first or let me know,” Jadeline remarked in a scolding tone that made her focus on the present, “Where is your manners, dear? Have you not learned that?” Her stepmother continued, the words sting
Veronica’s POV“Why did you have to erase my memories?” I asked him the moment I opened my eyes from the slumber of recollecting my memory.I feel light-headed and a bit dizzy as it dawns on me. It came flooding back in, and it was an odd feeling for me. But I know it was real. I turned to Sebastian who was sitting directly in front of me.“You didn’t want me to know you? You never planned on ever telling me?” I bombarded him with questions while trying to not explode.Honestly, I am a bit mad at him. I didn’t like his actions and the way I discovered everything but I am trying to understand his perspective. Still, I can’t deny that I am currently displeased even if I want to avoid a fight.“I did not want our first meeting to be like that,” Sebastian said intently and admitted to me, “Besides, I think it would be useless to let you know now.”“It’s not useless,” I gritted out, almost instantaneously, that he got how irked I am, “It’s my memory that you erased. You have no right to ma
Keldor’s POVFor the first time since I was born, my life had purpose.It was something that I never expected I’d find when I was given this mission. It was simply an obligation to which I don’t really have much choice too. I didn’t care about its dangers, I didn't have much will in the first place. However, after more than a month of going undercover, I’ve learned some appreciation for this. It gave me a sense of shapeshifting into a persona far from my reality and it leaves me with relief. I can forget my awful life for a bit.There was still no permanence in this lifestyle, which is for the better because that gets overwhelming and suffocating so fast, but at least impermanence is my choice this time.“Good work on the recent hunt, kid,” General Rio slapped me on my shoulder encouragingly. He gave me an impressed smile while looking at the list of resources for this winter.The Luna instructed me to earn his favor. It wasn’t that hard. I just had to excel in my duties even if I ear
Veronica’s POV“Jadeline discovered that Keldor is a spy,” I placed my hands on the round table where I gathered everyone who was part of the plan.It is past midnight. Sebastian and I rushed to meet with everyone after the crystal received the distress signal. Eamon, Soren, Isolde, and Analynn are here with us in the dead of the night.Eamon asked intently, “Are we sure that it’s her?”“That’s the worst thing we have to assume,” I responded to him, glancing for a second before my eyes drop on the stone table once again, “The pendant wouldn’t simply send off a distress signal with just minimal harm,” I uttered, wrapping my arms around myself and biting my thumb, “It was curated to warn us of the most dangerous situation.”“That situation is if Jadeline discovers him,” I added as I looked up to them with a frantic gaze, “We have to save Keldor.”Tension is thick in the air and everyone knows the gravity of this matter. We have gone through all of this before but it is an entirely diffe
Veronica’s POV“What is the Crysmorra bloodline?” Sebastian asked from where he was sitting on the couch near me, “What even makes your mother’s family blood so special? Jadeline’s so weirdly obsessed about it.”“If I knew, I wouldn’t have been buried in these books,” I responded with a snap in my tone.Instantly, I felt guilty at the remark that slipped out from me. I faced him, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. I’m just so stressed out,” I explained to him.He sighed and stood up, “I understand. You barely slept in days,” he walked towards me and pushed the books on my table to sit on it while staring at me, “I’m just trying to m
Jadeline’s POVDesperation leads to foolishness—gullible to any false hope, starving for something to cling onto as waves upon waves knock you down. Desperation is an unquenchable thirst, clawing in your throat as you drag your feet to an oasis you can see from afar but despite every step, the distance seems to grow farther apart.Desperation is being aware you are getting tricked but still playing your part just for a fraction of the possibility that things could change for the better. Desperation was the only thing keeping me alive.“You have led such a pitiful life, I would almost sympathize with you if I was not the creature that I am,” the grating voice of the shadow said as it circled me.At my lowest, any hint of fear was gone. I felt hollow, my eyes too tired of shedding tears. I just want everything to end. My fingers became tighter around my baby.“Are you happy with what you’ve done?! You ruined my life now!” I snarled and glared at the floating entity. “Go away, leave! I
Note: The following chapter is entirely a flashback**Jadeline’s POV“I did it for the pack,” were the first words from Rozeiros, as if trying to explain what he did to my husband.However, no amount of explanation—whether it may be just or not—could ever take away the pain of losing my mate. The moment Helian’s body turned cold, I already lost my friend and home. I have only one thing left for me. My child.I took a step forward, glaring at him and baring my claws.“That’s not what I’m asking.” I snarled. “Tell me where my daughter is!”I lunged an attack at him.I wasn’t a hunter nor a warrior. I never liked violence. I was just a healer. It was then when I regretted it. There was a big gap in our skills. He was just mostly dodging and defending himself, probably not even taking me seriously.But it works in my favor. It will be his fatal mistake to go easy on me. I have no intentions of letting him off the hook without my daughter.“I thought you were his brother,” I accused him
Jadeline’s POVThe worst thing about betrayal is that it can only be done to you by the people you treasured most.“What are you doing?!” I yell, voice cracking.Rozeiros still could not say a word. I felt my eyes slowly tearing up.“This isn't his fault, Rozeiros! He was doing it for the pack! You're misunderstanding it!” I tried to lunge at him but the pack members continued holding me back tightly.So I just continued shouting, “You know he wouldn't do something like this for no reason! You know Helian!”Rozeiros averted his gaze at me and I couldn't help but burst in betrayal.“How can you do this?!”I saw his jaw clench and hands fist but the coward did not dare meet my eyes.“Jaedelinne…” his voice trailed off. “I don't have any choice.”Bullshit. Bullshit. Bullshit!His words sounded like excuses. He didn't have a choice? He did! If he truly trusted Helian and what he knew about him, he wouldn't just try and kill him just like this!They knew each other longer. He knew him firs
Note: The following chapter mainly contains flashback**Jadeline’s POVA great sacrifice—is what they called my child.My innocent child. To them, she was nothing but a sacrifice, a collateral damage. Both sides saw a helpless infant and decided that taking her life is not a big deal. As if I didn’t hold her fragile small body in my arms after I birthed her, felt her warmth and the way she lit up my world, forever changing my purpose, my being.It was only days after my marriage with Helian and our coronation when we found out that I was already pregnant for a while.The best moment throughout my entire existence was the first time I held my daughter.“She’s beautiful,” I whispered, eyes tearing up as I stared at my sleeping baby, cradling her to my chest.“She is,” Helian said and leaned closer to us. He rubbed his thumb faintly on our child’s cheek, careful to not wake her up. He dropped a lingering gentle kiss on top of my head and mumbled, “Thank you for bringing her to this wor
Veronica’s POV“Time to fulfill your purpose, my dear.”Jadeline’s clawed hand shoved me to the ground and I was thrown off balance, crashing onto the snow-covered earth sliding backward, cold seeped into my bones while ice and frozen dirt scraped against my skin. The sting of the impact barely registered to me. I didn’t feel cold, the rage I had burned hotter and I gritted my teeth, pushed myself up to glare at the woman who threw me.I looked around. We were at the entrance towards the clearing of Helios’ waterfalls where the winter doesn’t fall. The place that once looked so magical and majestic in my eyes seemed terrifying in this light.Jadeline walked towards me and picked me up by the wrists again, yanking me forward with force. I gasped as she dragged me across the dirty ground."Let me go!" I snarled with a struggle but her grip was unyielding.Things continued passing in a blur.I couldn’t hold back my cries and sobs as I tried to escape from her grasps. However, what momen
Veronica’s POVThe blood moon is almost devoured in half by the eclipse. Time is running out on me. I’m exhausted. I was losing my will. At some point, anger was just too heavy to carry that it made me hollow inside but this was my fault. I have no one else to blame but myself. I have let my heart lead me here.My entire life, I was just going around in circles, following someone like a pathetic dog trained and tricked to be pulled on a leash—just for a fraction of fake love. I was lonely and I clung to scraps to fill the missing part in my chest. It’s what led me to despair. It’s what led me to vengeance.Now, everything is different. I found someone who’s willing to pour me the affection I’ve been chasing all this time; more than I could take, more than I could handle.In the pits of my hopelessness, his red eyes flashed in my mind.That’s right, I still have Sebastian.I can’t afford to pity myself. He believes I am strong enough to push through this. He trusted me and isn’t that
Veronica’s POV“How did you break free?” I choked out while I tried to remove her grip on my jaw.I need to think fast. I cannot lose the upper hand or everything would go downhill and she would turn the tables on me. Yet I can’t let her predict how I plan on getting away from her.Jadeline let out a hollow, bitter laugh. “Don’t be so full of yourself, Veronica. I would give it to you—it was a nice try but you know better than underestimate me.”“A flimsy spell of illusion won’t keep me for long.” I yelped as her claws dug into my flesh, blood dripped on my chin. I pulled on her wrist but she just gripped me tighter.Perhaps this strength is still part of the perks of her contract with the dark entity. The spell wasn’t fully completed, I wasn’t able to weaken Jadeline to her lowest. “You think I’d agree to let myself be tortured in pain for your satisfaction?” Her frenzied eyes stared into mine. Her words piqued my attention.That’s right, what triggered her sudden will that allowed
Veronica’s POVIt was as if I’m taken back to a century ago.Jadeline’s next memory is the first great eclipse as I realized the surroundings and the sky in her vision.I felt her body freeze from where she was paralyzed in front of me, my gaze briefly checking on her before I looked around to see the memory in detail.It was her and Helian.“They will find out about this,” young Jaedelinne was agitated as she paced back and forth, fumbling with her fingers.“I’m telling you! You should just give this up,” her voice broke and she moved to hold his arm, pulling him.But Helian remained staring at the waterfalls. I wasn't sure if he’s not listening or he just can't hear her.Jaedelinne faced him even as his eyes continued to look past her. There was definitely something wrong with him. He doesn't feel like the same man in her earlier visions. It was as if he’s not in his right mind.“Helian! Helian, listen to me!” Jaedelinne said louder this time. She’s growing more anxious as she fran
Sebastian's POVI didn’t plan on leaving Veronica to herself until I heard the fading voices and tortured sounds of my siblings. At first, I was still conflicted because we have anticipated complications like this but I had a fraction of a second to decide when I felt their fading presence.My body moved on its own and I came rushing to them.It’s as if my entire being is being pulled towards the grave danger that it detected. I felt an ominous disturbance that sent my instincts into alert. I knew this was no regular for, surpassing even what we projected.I have to trust for now that Veronica could handle herself before I go back to her.My strength has never been challenged to the point where I consider the possibility of losing. Hence, I never feared an opponent. I even So this unfamiliar trepidation that flows through my veins right now is not a good sign.It was the same case for my family, my siblings. Being at the top means that there are only a handful that can stand against