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“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
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 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
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 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 POVMy instincts are telling me that the Celestial Warden is a very dangerous man.Whether he is dangerous for us right now or in the far future, it is still quite uncertain. That is why I can’t fully let my guard down around him. He is mysterious and mischievous— a fact I am sure of. The moment his eyes landed on me, I almost flinched.The Supreme smiled at my direction. However, I still didn’t feel any relief despite his friendly demeanor. All of a sudden, he shifted his attention to me and asked, “Luna Veronica with the Crysmorra blood, right?”It is a bit strange that he knows about my bloodline although not entirely impossible. He probably checked my background, as Sebastian’s wife and Luna from the strongest pack. Having been the Celestial Warden too, he might be the most knowledgeable living individual about the history of my lineage and the Nine Servants.I can’t decide if I feel comfortable with it. Yet I answered politely, “Yes, Your Supremacy.”His eyes were ins
Veronica’s POV“I guess we’re still pretty lucky, huh?” I smiled to myself while clinging to Sebastian’s arm, feeling better compared to earlier today.Things surprisingly turned out for the best. To think that I was dreading the worst fate for us when we arrived here but we managed to overcome that ordeal.I even got information for the exact date of the eclipse. For me, I take that as a small win, consciously refusing to overthink our interaction with the Supreme and the little time we have left before it comes.“I doubt it’s luck,” Sebastian mumbled, like he was speaking his deep thoughts out loud. He has been silent as we walk back to our room, “That’s just way too convenient.”I furrowed my brows though I understood his point. Sure, the Supreme may have given us his intentions of keeping Sebastian under his thumb but the perfect timing of his arrival to stop the trial definitely can’t be a coincidence.So much for seeing things optimistically. We really don’t have that luxury an
Veronica’s POVFor the first time in a very long time, Helios is empty of its people.It was still dark and the sky was gloomy, as if sympathizing with the ominous events that are about to come later in the day. The bitter wind howled through the trees and vacant buildings within the territory. It almost sounded like a creepy crying gust of air. I watched the cloudless ether. The snow was falling on my skin but I was too numbed to feel any coldness. Ironically, I feel calmer than I expected. My heart was not hammering like how it usually is already. There was not even a tangible form of anger in my chest. It was just void and in peace. It makes me feel more eerie.“The kingdom has never been this quiet,” Nolan spoke from near me, his tone languid as he clasped his hands on top of his head, tilting his gaze and watching the same scenery as me.“Yes,” a voice responded. It was Rowan who was leaning on a nearby tree, his hands crossed over his chest while maintaining his impassive demea
Veronica’s POVThe spy is a dead end.“Aren wouldn’t be able to give us any information about Jadeline like we expected,” Nolan addressed the elephant in the room.We were all stuck in utter silence for our set meeting today. All the Rozeiros siblings are present with Eamon as an addition to us. We’re still yet to arrive on a decision of how we will move from here.“Shouldn’t we give him a proper funeral and find out how he truly died?” I asked them, the unsettling feeling never left me since yesterday.“I have talked with Soren,” Sebastian responded to me, “He said he wants to keep this private for a longer time, especially to their family and he asked if he could be the one assigned to pursue his brother’s case.”I bit my nail and asked, “Does he know about Aren being used by Jadeline?”“He got the whole picture after some time,” he paused and sighed, “When the two of us went to talk with the sorcerer last night, he revealed to us that Aren was long dead before he was used as a pupp
Soren’s POV“You should’ve been the one who died instead.”These were the last words I said to my brother. The twin I would never get to talk to ever again.It’s the same words that’s been eating me up from the inside. I will never forget the memory of that night when it started to fall apart. It’s etched in my entire being since then and it’s worse now.“Come on, Soren.” Aren tried pulling me from where I was kneeling on my knees. I couldn’t shed a tear anymore, I cried it all out, “We need to leave. They’re here…”“No,” I mumbled, still lost in haze. I cannot take my eyes away from the lifeless body in front of me. Blood is everywhere. I feel like throwing up and gauging my own eyes out.“I’m not gonna leave—we can’t leave…” My cold, shaking hands tried to hug the corpse to myself, trying to convince myself that I can still hear a heartbeat.Aren was looking outside the cottage, senses heightened as he was scanning for the people who were coming after us. But I couldn’t care less.A
Veronica’s POV“That shouldn’t be possible! Being soulless is unheard of!” Soren exclaimed, hysterical as he lunged at the sorcerer. “You’re probably mistaken, maybe you can cast the incantation again!”“Soren, calm down—” I tried to approach him and pull him from the poor sorcerer who he had been gripping tightly by the shoulders. “We can investigate this in a pro—”Soren shoved me harshly in the middle of his fit and I stumbled a bit from the force. Sebastian easily caught me by the arm and all of us watched Soren spiral. “It can’t be true! It can’t! Because if then… If then… Having no soul is basically…” Soren has let go of the sorcerer and is now pulling his hair with his widened crazed eyes.He faced us with a horrified expression as he mumbled,“Dead.”I couldn’t help but pity him so I walked to Soren and yanked to hug him, burying his head by the crook of my neck to release a calming scent. The moment I did, he started crying and sobbing. His hands unconsciously hugged me.Ome
Sebastian's POVThe possible traitors have always just been four people—this is a fact I have known since the first time I realized that we have a betrayer in the pack.Eamon. Isolde. Soren. Aren.The traitor has always been just among them and only them. After all, they are the four people who have been consistently present during the incidents and have the skills to pull off the deed. I did not consider Keldor who was stuck in Eviera and held hostage nor Analynn who has limited knowledge about our plans.Eamon’s only incriminating factor is that he is the Beta but I doubted that he would betray me.Isolde seemed attached to Veronica and I couldn’t think of any motive strong enough for her to risk it.Soren may seem a bit carefree but he’s an obedient and devoted warrior I have watched grow.Aren… Now him, I’ve always suspected. “He’s in this prison cell,” Veronica told Soren who was behind her, silent and with unreadable mixed emotions in his face. “We thought you should be here wh
Veronica’s POV “How can you be so sure?” I asked Sebastian as we trudged the hallways, my heart hammering in my chest. I just fixed myself up after venting my anger in the practice field. He came to get me and then filled me in about his plans for the Helios traitor. I couldn't believe it when he first told me. I thought I was just too tired from lashing out at those poor dummies but he told me he’ll show it to me. “He's been working for you for years, right? He’s also a native pack member,” I said, my mind still in denial. A pack traitor is something that is hard to accept for werewolves. After all, we pride ourselves in our bonds with each other, it's what gives us strength. To have one in a kingdom as prosperous as Helios is simply unthinkable. Even as I am aware that there is definitely one for quite some time now. “It's only the fitting answer after we’ve traced the possibilities of how Eamon’s actions and his entire investigation was known to the enemy,” Sebastian respond
Veronica’s POVThe eclipse is more than just a week away.“You’re really obsessing over that bite, huh?” I turned to give Sebastian a smile as I let him rub his thumb over my gland, holding back a shiver from his touch. He shifted in the sheets and moved closer to nuzzle his nose by my neck, inhaling there, “Can you blame me?”“It’s the only thing that keeps us apart,” he mumbled as he dropped his head on my shoulder.Sebastian grabbed my hand and played with our fingers together.“Once we have the bond, we'll become one,” he blurts out, “I would feel your emotions, hear your thoughts… Our wolves would be complete, I’d be able to sense you, you’ll become part of me and—”He looks up to meet my gaze.“I'd always have you.”Sebastian said it so earnestly that I was left unable to say anything back.He sat properly now and reached to hold my cheek, “That’s all I ever wanted.”My heart hammered in my chest, feeling so full and cherished from the affection that he has always given me.I l
Note: The following chapter contains explicit adult content.* * * * *Veronica’s POVThe Veronica, who has heard the rumors of the fearsome king of Helios, and the frightened exiled Luna who first stepped in this territory, would’ve never imagined this even in her wildest dreams.Kissing Sebastian started in a fervent moving of our lips together, savoring each other like we’ve been starved for decades.It did feel like that.“Hmm,” I hummed in delight when he sucked on my tongue and tilted his head to explore the inside of my mouth better.With the continuous assault of problems towards us lately, starting from my abduction to the untangling of Jadeline’s grand plans, we never have time to actually be intimate anymore.Until tonight.Our kiss turned slow, languid, and dizzying. I felt drunk with the way he gently but harshly moved his lips on mine.I’m now kissing the same Alpha I used to only think in fear.Fate really is a funny thing.My wolf was purring inside me, enjoying this t
Sebastian’s POV“You share the same strength and violence of the one who’s once Helios’ strongest.”Those are words I remember my father saying, back when I returned home from my first official hunt with some pack members. I never truly understood what he meant by it. He just always regarded me with his observant eyes every time I used my abilities. “I hope you don’t share the same curse.”He mentioned one time.He’s probably disappointed now.“This ledger… it shouldn’t exist,” Rowan’s remark pulled me back from my deep thoughts,, “The information here was supposed to be only known by our family,” he added.After the recent events, my siblings somehow ended up more involved in Veronica’s whole revenge ordeal. I’m not really sure how I feel about it.Back when Nolan was the only one sticking his nose into it, I was already pretty irritated by the fact. Now, all of them are. I want Veronica to share a close bond with my family and I’m glad they are treating her well— there was a time