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
Veronica’s POVI woke up with a pounding headache. I was a mess.What was that? It’s unlike any other dream I had before! It’s not my memory and it was creepy. I remembered the feeling more than the actual vision. Who owns that memory? Is it mom’s? Victoria’s? I’m sure that was her. I recognize her. I definitely also did not hallucinate that dream. It felt real. I know it is real. One thing about my abilities that has been already proven, I could go back to the past to some extent.This is too much. The toll of everything lately is much too exhausting.I glanced at the large windows of our chambers. I watched the snow pouring hard like a storm outside. It was already late evening. From last I remember, I slept before the sunset. Just how many hours was I in slumber? The dream felt so short but it seems like time has passed by quickly in my reality. It was jarring to travel back and forth. I don’t know what’s real anymore.Instinctively, I looked around for Sebastian.Because in the
Sebastian’s POVLately, I want to bite Veronica.A mating bite. A bond. After all, it's what will make us official mates. It was ironic to be married to each other but not bonded as mates.Traditionally, it should've occurred during our first night together. However, I still can't bite her. Even though her previous bond with her fucking bastard of an ex-husband has been rejected and gone, it takes half a year before she can have another mating bite.It's been more than four months. Just a bit more… and yet I can't calm down.It is a growing urge, every time I am around Veronica. Especially these days, when the curse seems to be igniting.I know this would sound bad if I say I was thankful because of the continuous dilemma we are having lately, but it served as a good distraction.Because if I wasn't busy with all this, I would've done something drastic.The itch of the killing spree deep inside me still sits on the pit of my stomach. But at least it can be contained. I barely managed
Veronica’s POV“Tomorrow, we will rescue Keldor.”I have gathered my closest aids in our meeting chamber. I have five people with me. Eamon, Soren, Isolde, Analynn and Sebastian. They are currently the only ones I trust about this whole matter. Especially when the suspected traitor in Helios has yet to be discovered. Apparently the triplets are handling that issue.“Jadeline demanded to meet me alone,” I started telling them, “It’s safe for us to follow her demands to ensure that Keldor won’t be harmed.”Sebastian reacted right away beside me. He gave me an incredulous look, “You really think I’d allow you to meet that mad woman on your own?”With a frown and a sigh, I faced him and responded, “I have taken that into consideration already,” I paused while he raise a brow at my claim, “I’ve managed to talk her into allowing you to come with me but you cannot enter the hall where we’ll have our private conversation.”He clicked his tongue and insisted, “I still don’t like that.”“Well,
Veronica’s POVToday is the Winter Trade Summit. Everything must go according to plan.“Lords and ladies, thank you for gathering with us today,” the man, who I remember as also the same guy who made the announcements at Metropolis, greeted the crowd of attendees.He is a representative of the Holy Parliament and we are gathered at their small headquarters in the North. Only officials are invited so the venue is not that big.“We will proceed with the trading deals and transactions facilitated by us to ensure that all packs are involved and aided through the upcoming long harsh winter.”The hall was filled with discussions and negotiations soon after. We were conversing with multiple leaders, especially when they know that Helios has the most abundant resources amongst all the kingdoms.“Your support to our pack will be remembered, Alpha Sebastian and Luna Veronica,” the older man smiled and bowed to us.Sebastian gave a polite nod before going in for a firm handshake, “It's a deal.”
Veronica's POVOn my way to meet Jadeline, I encountered the person I least expected to see tonight.“Going somewhere, sister?” The figure of a woman emerged from the near corner of the hallway.“Ruby, what a surprise,” I greeted her with a sweet smile, “It's been a while.”Her heels clicked on the cobblestones, there was a haste in her steps as she walked towards me with a mad expression.I don't know why but it seems that her saintly facade has been slipping a lot lately. Or perhaps she just doesn't try to pretend in front of me after I've already discovered her true nature.“Sneaking around aren't you, Veronica? How unladylike,” She gritted out and stopped in front of me.I almost rolled my eyes at her statement. She's so childish. I don't have time to waste on her nonsense.“I could say the same thing to you, Ruby,” I said mockingly. I know she hates it when I act high and mighty around her. I plan on getting on her nerves. “Got lost on your own? You know you shouldn't leave your
Veronica’s POV“Hail, Supreme,” the entire committee of the Holy Parliament greeted in chorus, bowing to the newly arrived man.I watched how even Sebastian and Gareth followed. It took me and Colton a late second to follow.Having been from two powerful packs that always participates in the Culling Tournament and has connections throughout the upper society of the lycan continent, I assume they know the obviously high-ranking person.Sebastian wouldn't have bowed to someone lower than his status. To think that he's not almost on par with the Holy Parliament with how he interacts with them on the same footing, this means that this stranger surpasses, and probably sits on top of the chain.I tried peeking to see him as he trudged inside the courtroom, past the middle circle where Sebastian was positioned and towards the elevated platform in front, where the committee was.He walked with regality and authority. But I can't sense his second gender, which is normal sometimes especially wh
Veronica’s POVToday is the trial for the final verdict about Sebastian's murder and we have to bail time.“Luna Veronica,” the mocking voice of my boorish, brainless, ex-husband Colton disturbed the peaceful silence I have at where I was by the stands, “Majestic as ever with the way you managed to claw your way up towards another reign despite everything.”I turned to him with a cold, emotionless face.“Colton of Eviera,” I began, refusing to call him by his title as an Alpha, because I despised the time that I was beneath him when I know we're not even in the same league and he was never better than me.I looked directly into his eyes, “I see you're still the same too. Always barking up the wrong tree without a bite, thinking so full of himself but just overcompensating for the many things that you lack.”His fake politeness and confidence easily crumbled. Colton snarled at me, taking a step closer with glowing eyes in anger.“Funny you say that and look down on me. Then I guess you
Veronica’s POVWhen lycans lose their sense of self, they become feral werewolves.It happens in instances that the wolf side of a lycan fully overtakes the consciousness of the individual. If left unchecked and not cured in the right time, the werewolf will just become a mindless wolf, entirely animal; with no humanity left in them.So imagine my shock when I see Eamon in this state.“What happened to him?!” I exclaimed and stepped forward to get a closer look at where he was kneeling on the floor, canines bared, elongated and drooling.His eyes don't recognize anyone. They were wild and dilated, when I moved, he tried lunging at me with a bite and a growl but Declan held his chains, rattling as he was pulled while Sebastian was quick to grab my arm and held me back. I looked at him in panic. He had a blank stoic expression.“Don’t come near him, he’s not himself,” he warns and glances at the writhing Eamon, “It’s almost the same state whenever I lose myself to the curse.”It was har
Sebastian's POVI remember my very first kill vividly.Back then, the entire Northern continent was facing a rise of beasts and monsters.There was a breach at Helios, the entire pack was in chaos as a swarm of giant golems entered the territory.I was seven and told to stay in the palace. I haven't been into real hunts yet, especially unsupervised because they caught me back when I lied about going to a hunt to keep the rabbit I got.Then again, even as a kid, I was stubborn. I do what I like. I hated that all my siblings get to participate but me.That's how I found myself in the middle of Helios, with what seems to be the leader of the golems headed to me, pouncing.It happened way too fast.“Sebastian!” I heard Rowan yell from afar. It was loud even amongst the commotion of everyone fighting and the warriors trying to control the situation. My instincts took over. I fully shifted for the first time.I remember just dashing towards the danger of the giant golem, the feeling of ad
Veronica's POV“So Eamon is the traitor,” Nolan slumped down on the couch after he got back from the courtroom, “I don't believe it,” he mumbled to himself.“Me neither,” I uttered as I glanced at him from where I was standing in the middle of the room, “I don't know Eamon as much as you two do but I never considered him as a man who can do that.”“He seemed responsible and dutiful, a man of principles,” I said.Nolan sighed and looked at me, “It's because he is.”I have noticed that because he is Sebastian's closest aid, Eamon has a tight relationship with the Rozeiros siblings too. Being the pack Beta, this also has tremendous repercussions to the Helios hierarchy.We fell silent for a while, probably sharing the same worried thoughts. Until Sebastian spoke.“It can mean something different,” his serious voice echoed within the chambers.He had his back on us, hands clasped together behind him, standing in front of the ceiling to floor windows, staring at the dark outside.Nolan per
Veronica's POV“We all know the tales about the demon wolf. The kind of stories told to children at bedtime to warn them about the big bad wolf, a nightmare even amongst our kind.”I felt Sebastian’s hand flinch from Colton's words but he remained stoic. It's the most reaction I got from him since earlier. Nolan himself fell silent too.I glared at the bastard Colton but all three of us cannot contradict his words despite wanting to cut his tongue right then and there. It's vexing that he's aware of this fact and exploiting it to provoke us.“The brutal descriptions of the death brings the rumors to life. Always the torn limbs, the body in pieces, and the head is ripped away,” Colton’s eyes glinted with satisfaction as he looked at us, “Same pattern means same killer, yeah?”I bit the insides of my cheek.After witnessing that dark side of Sebastian, I started to see the same pattern Colton was pertaining to. Sebastian has this habit in killing, quite instinctive, that I don't think h
Veronica's POV The mystery pieces of how the murder of the Culling Tournament started coming together after seeing Colton and Gareth. They are definitely behind this. “Why are we joined with pests here tonight?” Sebastian gritted out the moment we stepped inside and saw them, “I wasn't informed that we are having bad company.” “I don't think we're the bad guys here, Sebastian,” Gareth answered with a smirk as he stared at him goadingly, “We came here to help.” “Help me and go fuck yourself then,” Sebastian took a step to lunge, almost instinctively but I pulled him to a halt. This is bad. Horrible, even. We can't have Sebastian lose his temper and trigger the curse in the middle of this trial. If that happens, we'd never recover for it. As much as Helios is powerful, the pack is still bounded by lycan oaths and principles. This could turn as an ammunition and an excuse for every enemy that the kingdom has to aid in taking down Helios. With everyone possibly working together t
Veronica's POVThere are three things we need to sort out.First, the trial for the murder of the Culling Tournament: it's impossible to disprove something Sebastian did commit. However, we cannot let this be used against Helios and let them corner us. Either we sway the direction into a more favorable judgment or manage to finalize a settlement.Second: find our Beta. Eamon is still missing out there. It could mean a lot of things but mostly two worst possibilities— a sign of betrayal or a hint of danger. Declan has set out to chase after his tracks and hopefully, come back positive results. Third: get points one and two done within a short amount of remaining time before the upcoming eclipse.Because unfortunately, this isn't the strongest storm that is about to hit us. That, I am sure of.“You know, when we talked about coming back to Metropolis, I didn't think it would be this soon,” I broke the silence in the carriage as we started to cross the familiar large arc at the end of t
Veronica's POV“I'm not dying Veronica.”I’m not sure when my anger turned from being betrayed through a broken trust into the stubborn vulnerability I want to avoid that comes with the possibility of losing him.His words echoed in my head.Sebastian was so sure that the curse will not kill him. He doesn't even seem to take it seriously. Perhaps it's only natural. He's never been weak in his entire life. Being in the brink of death is an unfamiliar territory for him.But not for me.“You don't know that,” I held his baffled gaze.I toed with near-death for a couple more times than I can count my entire life.I was never a gifted hunter by birth— it was all hardwork. The desperation to be acknowledged that fueled me to excel. I had no choice but to make myself excel, indespensible. Yet never a prodigy like him.So I have brushed with death a lot of times. Then, my life turned into worst. There was a time when it almost ended. Twice. One during my first imprisonment and second was duri