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 POVI prepared myself for some disapproving reactions from the Helios pack.It just makes sense that they would be wary of me and might even dislike that I was chosen. I guess it didn't really sink in to me as much outside my awareness because I was in a bubble of people who respect and like me here. I was under Sebastian’s protection.Now that he is not around, I could notice a bit of resentment and grudges towards me.Of course they cannot act on it though, especially as I am guarded all the time. Maybe this is why Sebastian fully assigned Isolde and Soren to me.It started as subtle as a slightly askewed plate on the dining table. Barely noticeable that I simply thought that it was a mistake. After all, the dishes served to me were perfect and with a lot of choices. I was dining alone. Isolde was out checking the staff and people that would accompany us to Eviera tomorrow. Soren was tasked to inspect the carriages we will use while Analynn prepared my clothings and other
Veronica’s POVI have lived many lives for other people.There was this crave for approval that has always weighed on my shoulders. I have always felt like people tolerating me is only conditional. I have to be useful and I have to offer something to them so that they would keep me around. I don't know where it started. I don't know when it could end, I still carry it with me until today.Back when my father was still alive, our relationship was okay. We were a bit closer before Jadeline and Ruby. Somehow we stopped being as close after his second marriage.I didn't wanna harbor anything against him. I liked that I would have a mother around and a sister too. But after all this, sometimes I wonder whether he just wanted to replace my mom and me.During his second marriage, father became busy with pack matters I still cannot fully understand back then. All I know is that it was important to him. So important that it consumed his time.I wanted to enter that world of his. That's why eve
Veronica’s POVHome sweet home— or so I’d like to say.The entrance to the Eviera territory was decorated with an arch. There were a lot of people around, guests from the other packs and more. They probably invited everyone in the North. It's a tradition. An Alpha and Luna’s wedding must be grand. It tells the status of their pack and their political power at the same time.It almost takes me back to my first wedding. The decorations are quite exactly the same, it's a little unnerving if I dwell on it.Somewhere in the back of my mind, a voice whispers in me that it's as if the only thing they changed this time was the bride.Sebastian’s arm around my waist tightened and pulled me back from my observations. He leaned towards my ear and whispered, “You okay?”I leaned on him and hummed, “Hm, yeah. I’m doing good.”I didn't reciprocate his gaze and it's not like he can meet mine with what I’m wearing. I had to hide my identity for now, since the wedding had a short window of waiting for
Veronica’s POVThe wedding march sounded like a funeral song during both times I stood in front of the chapel door.In Eviera, there is a church where weddings of the Alpha and Luna are always to be held. It was a tradition in the pack so naturally, this is where the ceremony will happen. While standing outside, my mind keeps going back and forth between the past and the present.My first wedding was filled with nothing but a sense of duty. My hand was stiff around the bouquet, back straight with how tight the corset of my gown is. I had a veil over my face. I could only take deep breaths back then, calming myself and convincing myself that this is for the best. I want to do this.“Make me proud, Veronica.”Mother, as I used to call her, and her words kept on echoing in my mind in each passing second the walk to the altar came near. Standing here now, at the same spot, felt like deja vu. It’s like a parallel time of the nerve-wracking experience. I am less nervous now. It is ironic,
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
Veronica's POV“Tell me one good reason why you're alone in this chamber with my wife,” Sebastian barged within a fraction of a second after hearing Nolan answer him.I knew it was coming. I didn't even have time to react.And perhaps Nolan fell from his crib when he was a child because he goads his short-tempered, violent brother more.“Clearly because I want to steal my dear brother’s queen—” his laugh didn't finish when he started choking on air.Sebastian’s hand grip around his neck tightly, claws elongated. That would definitely leave a mark.I grimaced but remained on my feet. Saying anything or trying to defend Nolan would just be worse and besides, it was his fault.Now alarmed, he raised his hands in the air with a pained smile, “Can't I joke around, Sebastian? It's like you don't know me at all!” He managed to yell with a lot of struggle.“I don't find it funny,” Sebastian answered, voice raspy with a low growl while baring his sharp canines before he threw Nolan's body with
Veronica's POVNolan terrifies me a bit.I have come to this realization recently. At first, I thought he was the easiest Rozeiros to read and get close to. After all, compared to his siblings, he's more cheery and outgoing at first glance, even welcoming and chill.However, getting to know them more, he's actually the most mysterious out of the five. And this is coming from someone like me who is usually adept at observing people.While Rowan is stoic, Declan is apathetic, Luciana is intimidating, and Sebastian is aggressive— Nolan is fickle. You cannot fully predict him.One moment he's nice and laughing, then suddenly he's menacing and scary. He seems to know a lot of things and hide many secrets too.“What do you want?” I asked, a bit more vigilant than I wanted to protray and stepped back, making sure there is distance between us. Nolan smiled wider, as if he noticed my intention and thoughts.“Can't I just drop by to check on my favorite sister-in-law and catch up?” He tilted h