Veronica’s POV Fate probably hates me. My life has started going down at some point and it just continued to become worse ever since. Red Eyes, red eyes. The Alpha. All along he was the Alpha who I thought would be the most impossible thing to happen. I refused to ever consider this possibility even if it had signs. Maybe because I wish he wasn't. Maybe because I wanted him to be different, be someone else. Be someone else that I could trust. Not yet another Alpha who tricks me. The world must be mocking me. “You,” I whispered with bitter and harsh accusations in my words. I glared at him so hard that I wish he would feel it in his bones, make him see the hatred I harbor against him. He was sitting on his throne, legs apart and his elbow on the armchair, his chin propped on his hand. The moonlight was entering from a window behind him, shining some light at the otherwise dark room. It cascaded a shadow over his figure. This is the first time I can truly see his face. His
Veronica's POV The strongest Alpha in the North is marrying a rejected Luna. Whether it sounds absurd or like a fairytale depends on who heard the news. The words started going around right away this morning. ‘Alpha Sebastian has chosen his Luna.’ Everyone at Helios has been talking about it. The news traveled quickly and Sebastian— still trying to get used with that name on my tongue— wasted no time in letting everyone know. And he also wasted no time in tailing me around. “Can't you give me space?” I sighed and frowned at him. He was laying sideways facing me as I sat cross-legged on the bed. He smiled lazily at me, teasing, “No, because we're getting married.” I squinted my eyes at him, “You know you keep repeating that.” I crossed my arms over my chest, “Remember I still haven't forgiven you.” He frowned and picked on the sheets with a pout like a kid, “It's okay.” His voice was low like a whisper, his tone was the same as a scolded child. Sebastian looked up at me sne
Veronica's POV“Here are the rules,” I began while he already responded with a frown.“I don't do rules,” Sebastian complained right away.I smiled at him so sweet, it is obviously fake, “Well too bad for you, huh? Because we will have our rules,” I told him with no room for refusal.And yet he still refused, “No.”“Then the wedding is canceled,” I said.“Then you won't have your revenge,” he mocked and copied my tone.I smiled again and mocked his mockery, “Then I should just die.”It was comical how his face twisted too fast. “What?!” His voice boomed in the still kind of empty new room he says is mine now. “Who even says that?! Stop it, Veronica, it wasn't funny.”He took it way too seriously. It was a shot in the dark comment but I got the reaction I wanted so I think I win that.“Tough, that's my condition,” I continued, teasing. He's the one always making fun of me so I wanted to give him a little taste of it.“You can't change terms like that,” his brows were furrowed and he was
Veronica’s POV“Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Miss.” Analynn was brushing my hair as she smiled at me from the mirror. I smiled back gently.I glanced at the people who were carrying boxes and furniture inside the room. Did I mention how spacious my room is? It is twice the already big room I previously had. I tried telling Sebastian that it was too much but he insists that this is what his queen should have. So who am I to complain?Isolde was the one guiding and instructing them on where to put the things. I barely convinced Sebastian to let his people do it because I couldn’t really care about the interior of my room, anyway. Yet I wasn’t able to stop him from ordering new furniture in replacement of the stuff already in here. They are not even old but apparently, he had so much money to splurge. Ugh.I feel burdened by the things he gives me, especially as they are not even related to my revenge and our agreement in the first place. Well, maybe it is because I’ll be th
Sebastian’s POVVeronica locked me out.I frowned as I realized the warding spell she put on the window. Where did she even get the sage leaves and how does she know the chant for it? This can’t actually keep me out but her message was very clear and a swell of anger filled my chest. I clenched my fist and turned away.Fine, if she wants me to leave her alone, then so be it.I slammed the door open to my palace, a loud thud echoing inside, the servants cleaning at night flinched and stayed out of my way as they saw my livid expression. I marched to my office. Once I entered, I saw Eamon standing at the corner and he jumped a little to the sound of my arrival. I glanced at him, glaring.“What?” There was a sharpness in my voice and my Beta cleared his voice and stood straighter.I am not really in the mood to talk with anyone right now. I walked towards my desk, taking off my blazer.“An invitation was sent for you,” I stared at him blankly, sending a why-should-it-be-my-concern look
Sebastian’s POVI would never have expected Veronica barging in to talk to me.It was moments after my victory howl. Eamon appeared some time after, gauging what happened in the chamber. He saw the slowly disappearing symbols of the duel circle. His eyes briefly darted at his father who’s being escorted by another councilman. I saw his eyes flickered but he said nothing despite the certainty of him realizing that it was me who caused that.He must be having mixed emotions. His loyalty as my Beta is sworn on his life to me and he had a strained relationship with his father, anyway. “My wedding is set,” I told him as I trudged toward the elevated platform where my throne sits. It pulled him back from his thoughts and finally looked at me.Eamon had a lot of questions in his mind but he kept it to himself and nodded, bowing, “Understood, Alpha.” He was smart to know how to respond. That is why I chose him to be my second in command. He knows his place.I was so satisfied with my triumph
Veronica’s POV“You look wonderful in white,” I was checking the waistline of my dress in front of the mirror when I felt his hands wrapping around my waist and he stood close behind me.He discovered that habit and he hasn't been able to stop ever since.I tried ignoring his flirtatious words and touches. Still pretending to check my dress. It was made with floral laces, the design is simple and elegant.He met my eyes in the reflection, “We should’ve had it made too like your wedding gown.”I looked at him disapprovingly, “No need for that,” I said. “I’m just doing this to piss them off.”He plastered a wide smirk, “Damn, baby you're nasty.”My wolf keened at the praise.“I know,” I averted my eyes and pretended to check my neckline yet I could still feel his gaze on me.“Hm, I guess you’re right,” he took the hair over my shoulder and put it on my back. I couldn't help but follow his eyes as he stared at me through the mirror. “You don’t really need much effort to outshine that sis
Veronica’s POVDuring my first marriage, it was my stepmother who decided everything about my wedding.Whether it was my gown, the flowers, the theme, the cake, and even the invited guests. I had no choice but to follow her anyway. I didn't want to start any issues back then and I wanted her to be happy. After all, I went through that marriage for her. Just to please her. Because she told me it is what's best for our family.I still regret it until today.“I think I’ll pick the off-shoulder sweetheart neck gown,” I bit my lower lip as I pointed to the design shown to me. “Wonderful choice, Miss!” The lady smiled at me and bookmarked the page.Browsing the catalog was overwhelming and I was so indecisive. All the gowns were beautiful, I wish I could wear them all at least once. Although I just kept that last thought to myself. If Sebastian gets wind of it, it might start giving him ideas of holding a wedding over and over until I have worn everything shown to me.I almost laughed to m
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