Veronica’s POVThe Rozeiros family is still a mystery to me.Frankly, the house of Rozeiros has always been an enigma for the entirety of the North. All I know is that they are monarchs who have been around since the continent was founded. Their power and influence goes way back. They founded the Helios pack and have been the said leader since. Yet despite all this, people know little of them.I have always thought that it's because I am from a different pack. After all, it's not like each clan shares their history over a cup of tea. Wolf packs are civil at most. Alliances are not that common. There's a reason territories exist. But now that I think about it, even after marrying to the family, I know close to nothing about the Rozeiroses.Sebastian Rozeiros was only the demon wolf to me until recently. The strongest in the North, infamous for being the best and most brutal hunter in the continent. He sits on top of all the Alphas. A king above kings. Feared and respected.I know him
Veronica's POVI have been wrong for quite a number of times in my life.I was wrong when I trusted my stepmother, stepsister, and ex-husband who ruined my life, got me dethroned, and exiled in a blink of an eye.I was wrong when I thought Helios would become my personal hell and that I would die after I was thrown away here.And apparently, I was wrong again now.“This is him when he was five years old and sneaked out for his first hunt,” she pointed to the photograph of a little boy with a scowl on his face and a small rabbit on his lap. He was glaring at the camera, “He wouldn’t kill the bunny because he thought it was cute.”The boy looked grumpy but lacked the bite that is usually present in his current age. He looks like an adorable kid throwing a tantrum and I’m sure he was throwing a tantrum when the photo was taken.I laughed while staring at the image. I would surely use this against Sebastian.“Oh there’s these pictures of a newborn Ian too,” she says with a giggle. Luciana
Warning: Graphic depictions of violence*****Sebastian's POVThe first time I believed in my prophesied curse was the day I lost myself.It happened the night when we were traveling back to Helios from a pack convention. We had prisoners with us that were supposed to be taken back to our territory as we had triumphed over expanding our borders and they were the rogues that were sentenced to punishment as a result.The night was supposed to be yet another ordinary evening. However, things took a twisted turn. I was shifted in my wolf form. My pitch black fur was embraced by the freezing wind as I tore through the dark woods in a blur of motion passing through the tall trees. All my senses are heightened and I feel overstimulated, my red eyes were frantic and wild as I scoped the terrain.My throat was scorching and I needed something to quench this overwhelming thirst that was muddling my brain. An unrelenting hunger sits on the pit of my stomach, I was itching for something I couldn
Veronica’s POV“Is it me or are you sweeter to me lately?” There was amusement in Sebastian’s voice as he combed his fingers through my wavy locks. We were laying together, tangled on the couch inside our bedroom as the sunset hues from the open balcony painted our chambers faded marmalade. I tried not to flinch at his comment and keep down my reaction to it.Luciana’s words about his curse were still fresh in my mind.“Sebastian was prophesied to die.”Even the slight memory of it is enough to fill my body with terror and an ache that I don’t want to acknowledge. It’s been days since that and I have been doing my best to repress it, to not consider its implications. After all, Sebastian doesn’t even show that he thinks about it nor does he have any plans of letting me know.Hence, I keep it to myself. Act like it’s not real, not mention it out loud. Because maybe if I never say it out loud, it will not be manifested to existence— I can still pretend that it is not true.Besides, Luc
Note: The following chapter contains explicit adult content.* * * * *Veronica’s POVHrk! Grk, hgrk—Sebastian tightened the fingers that were intently gripping my wavy brown locks as he guided my mouth to take his length further to its base. My fingers dig into his skin from where I was holding him by the thighs. I pressed into the hilt, his tip hitting the back of my throat as the scent of his pheromones dominated my other senses.“Fuck, Veronica,” he rasped as his red eyes bore into mine, taking the sight of me on my knees in front of him. He sure enjoys what was in front of him by the glint in those dazed orbs. His hips stuttered a bit when I continued to swallow him whole. I could feel a rumbling from his chest as he breathed and leaned back on the couch, “You take me so good, love,” he praises.I braced myself as Sebastian moved to grind his hips to my face. The gagging sounds were muffled along with the filthy squelching that just made me feel more heated as he stuffed me down
Veronica’s POVToday I am going out on a hunt and my prey is the untrusting, oblivious Keldor.With the help of Sebastian, we have organized a small event in Helios. The pack will be gathering at the central clearing of the territory for the occasion. I initiated a fun hunting contest, not a big deal but still a competition and I will be joining. The participants will be the pack hunters from the rookies to the regulars. I couldn’t invite the seniors and elites because it wouldn't be wise to take them away from their tasks just for this little affair.“You’re very gutsy for this,” Sebastian commented with amusement in his voice, a hand on the low of my back as we arrived at the meeting grounds. “I could never predict you,” he whispered behind my ear.I turned to look up at him and asked lightly, “You don’t think I can pull this off?”“No,” he gave me a serious look and added, “I know you can pull this off,” he emphasized his words. I couldn’t help but beam at his confidence in me. I
Veronica’s POVMy first hunt was when I was eight years old.Usually, young werewolves make their first hunt around the age of eleven under the supervision of their pack elders. All werewolves are trained to hunt to survive the wild and become a functional member of the pack. However, I didn't exactly follow the normal process.It was a very cold winter during that time, I remember the snow covering the entire territory and we were all advised to stay inside. Father was absent and I had no idea where he was which was weird because everyone should be home. It also happened during the timeframe when we were slowly growing apart. I didn't know it at the time, though. All I knew is that I felt neglected and I wanted attention. I craved for my parent.Back then, I was confused of the change that is slowly unfolding in our family. I might not be able to understand what was happening but I noticed it. I remember asking Jadeline one time,“Where’s Father? Why is he not around lately?” My you
Veronica’s POVI have never truly stepped outside into the world before, my entire life was within the territory of my former pack.My days were dedicated to serving the Eviera clan, I had no time to explore further or even simply travel. I was always busy and my interests revolved around wanting to prove myself to people around me. I have never thought about wanting to discover more, too. I was focused on a tunnel vision.But as I looked out the window and the passing breathtaking view outside, I felt some sense of new regret for the first time.We were in a carriage on the way to the venue of the Culling Tournament. We have crossed outside the borders of the North and it was my first time leaving our side of country.I’ve seen a lot of new places and I realized just how big the world is while I was sinking into my sense of responsibility and duty all of my life.There was a waterfall that I see from afar. It was gigantic and eye-catching even from a distance. The running waters get d
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