Veronica's POVThe public deliberation of the reopened case starts today.It's not only the Sun Council that we have to convince, we also need the entire Helios pack to believe us.After all, without the people's favor, even if I manage to throw her in jail, I'd never truly win.In the back of my mind, I have considered that perhaps I was taking things exaggeratedly. Sure, she was rude the first time we met and I know how she schemed to make me look evil for the rest of the kingdom but aside that, there wasn't any life-threatening matter she did to me. I barely even know her.I could argue that it isn't my fault she had some dirt in her that I dig up and it could bring justice to someone else who she wronged but I'm not that much of a hypocrite to pretend I didn't do this for my personal intentions.Some sick and twisted part of me is glad to have this squabble between us like it's just merely a game to me. If it was the Veronica of the past, she wouldn't even act on it and always ch
Veronica's POVI have officially lost my mind.It was a spur of the moment reaction as I took a swan dive off the balcony. My mind was just filled with adrenaline and it's all I could think about at that second.Maybe it was the anger, the frustration, and just wanting to quickly get this over with.Also, I hated that Analynn was involved in this petty squabble for the throne or for a man. I don't want anything to happen towards the people I care about.My schemes and moves are all mine. If I get karma for it, I will take it on my own without letting anyone take a hit for me.On the other hand, while crazy and dangerous, I knew how this would spiral to my favor. It'll be bad but not really life-threatening.“Oh my god!” I heard a voice yell in horror. It was so loud that my head was ringing. Ah, that could also be because I hit the ground.The person, whoever that poor witness is, shrieked so loud once they recognized me, “Luna Veronica?!”My head was spinning. My vision is blurry. I w
Veronica’s POVI was in a deep slumber.It felt like I was drowning. I wasn't really conscious but I have awareness. I saw things in a third person perspective and that's when I knew my little trips during my dreams were happening again.The vision started with a strawberry-blonde girl, probably around my age more or less, running as fast as she could.I looked around and realized that the place is radiating from olden times. Too ancient for my memory and knowledge. I couldn't see her face but I felt her emotions. I felt despair and fear as she ran.There was a connection between us and it's sitting in my gut. Who is she? Who is she running from? I was as lost as she seems to be.Then, a familiar balcony appeared.That balcony.Is this why I am having this vision?As if to prove my words right, it continued.“Don't you dare jump!” A voice yelled, the person who was running after the stranger.She snapped her head towards its direction. However, before I could see her, I felt a strong
Sebastian's POV“Why is it not breathing anymore, Luciana?” a far distant memory of a young version of me asked in plain confusion towards my big sister.“It’s dead, Sebastian,” she answered me, a hand on my shoulder as she stood behind me.My eyes bored into the dead body of my rabbit. The little creature lasted for several months.Every morning, I visit and poke at it for a couple of minutes as part of my daily activity.That day, when I did my usual play with the animal, it didn't move. It didn't respond. I thought it was one of those moments where it just randomly lies lifelessly in the cage so I wasn't bothered.However this time, it has been hours and it still didn't respond. I dragged Luciana to my room to check on it.“But why?” I questioned, frustration present in my whine, “I took care of it,” I gritted my teeth. Sadness for my loss shapeshifting into anger, the emotion I know best, “I gave it everything it needed,” I insisted.Luciana sighed, “Well, it needs more than your
Veronica’s POVIt's about time to put an end on this whole fiasco.Things picked up from where they left off. Despite taking a long break due to my incident, I really didn't have much stuff to catch up with. The previous plan was close to fruition last time, anyway.“Who even thought of something this sinister?” Declan exaggeratedly uttered, even mostly monotonous, and his eyes darted to his brother.Sebastian scoffed at him, “Don’t look at me.”Declan squinted his eyes at their youngest, “I didn't say it was you. You’re too impatient and violent for this step by step and thought out plan.”Sebastian mocked him childishly, “Nice insight I didn't ask for,” he bit back before his mood shifted quickly, “But you’re right. All the credits belong to my wife,” Sebastian said with pride in his words that made me blush a little while he smirked at my direction.Declan looked at me. I waved my hand at him and gave a small awkward smile. His sleepy eyes were boring through me with so much intensi
Veronica’s POVDriselle is a less skilled version of Ruby… which is not a good thing because Ruby isn’t that much of a mastermind herself.They are both the sweet girls that everyone loves and adores. I don’t know why I seem to attract such people. The only difference is Ruby can keep the act going better than Driselle. She knows best not to be reckless. I have got to give it to her that she never once slipped and had me fooled myself too. Driselle is mostly overcompensating that if you look closely, you’d sense how ingenuine she actually is.With such parallels, I had a realization. Ruby couldn’t stand on her own which means Driselle is probably not alone in this. I do not mean Nyssael because of how she blindsided her ‘friend’ so there must be someone else in the shadows. Turns out I was right and that is how I traced a loose end in her story.“State your name and introduce yourself to the court,” Sebastian instructs the ginger-haired man who has now replaced Nyssael at the witness
Veronica’s POVMy reputation in Helios has never been better.It has been three days since Driselle’s imprisonment. It became a big shock for the entire pack. She was pretty well-known and they all felt betrayed. From being one of the most loved members, she became the most hated in the kingdom.Word got out about the verdict I have given too. Most of them contradicted my decision, saying I was being too lenient for settling with lifetime imprisonment. Helios is known to be cruel so that makes sense. For them, execution is how they punish the majority of their criminals. They gave me a pass, though, and mostly sympathized with me saying it is probably stressing for me because she harmed my life and that I was just a forgiving person.
Note: The following chapter contains explicit adult content.* * * * *Veronica’s POVI don’t hate the monster in Sebastian because I actually love the idea of keeping it on a leash only I could control.This is something I have just recently come to terms with.The unmatched passion, desire, and hunger he puts in every possessive touch, every domineering grip, and every greedy grasp is a reminder that I am wanted. I am needed. It placates the anxious part of me that always fears unworthiness. “You’re so damn hot, baby,” Sebastian smiled in between our kisses and pulled a bit on my lower lip with his teeth, his hand stroking up and down my spine as I straddle him on the bed, “Fucking love how crazy you get,” he whispered and bent down to lap on the skin of my neck.I whined and looked up at the ceiling, breathless, as my fingers massaged his scalp, pressing him more to myself, the friction sending waves of pleasurable electricity within my nerves. I couldn’t help but grind on his lap
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