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 “I'll be going now,” Sebastian says as he drops me a kiss on top of my head from where I was sitting on the couch. I hummed in response and stretched my legs, the cloth slipping a little on this cold morning. The weather is slowly showing signs that the heavy winter of the North is just around the corner. “See you at dinner?” He asked and I nodded, giving him a glance and a smile before my attention was back on the envelope I was checking the front and back of. Isolde delivered me this envelope earlier, just in time when we woke up. She said it arrived around dawn. I waved Sebastian goodbye as he headed towards the door. “Try and not give anyone a hard time just because you feel like it, today, alright?” I said, teasing, at the last minute before I looked at him from where I was on the couch. He's back to his daily duties today. Quite busier than usual because of the said upcoming intense winter. He laughed at my remark while he opened the giant doors. He looked
Third Person’s POVKeldor hasn't stayed in one place since he was born.He was an unwanted illegitimate child of an upcoming Alpha from a pack in the West. His mother died giving birth to him. Because of this, he was orphaned at a very young age.Ever since then, he has always been an outcast for his entire life. No one wanted him in their pack. He was shunned and uncared for, loitering at the territory with no house willing to accept him.Despite all this, he survived.It's not like he was particularly trying to live… he just somehow did. He wakes up every morning because his eyes still open. Not like he was looking forward to days to come. He remains breathing and so time passes by.He was born to this world lost and without a place to belong.“Darkness is not your foe,” Luna Veronica says, the first lesson she taught him. It was during the training session when they begin in the evening. “It is your ally,” she adds.“As werewolves, we are servants of the moon,” she surrounded him a
Veronica’s POV “Keldor, I need you to calm down,” I said in a slow pace to get through to him. He looks like he's on the brink of a panic attack from where I was watching him in my crystal, “Breathe,” I coaxed. He seemed to listen and took sharp intakes of air. He gasped for a couple of seconds before I spoke again to keep his mind occupied. “Now, are you okay?” I asked. He was rushing with his words, running, when he made the call to us. I was scared for a moment thinking something bad happened to him then he started rambling. Keldor slowed his breathing and got his composure little by little, “I’m fine,” he said. More to himself than to me. “Did anyone see you? Are you sure no one is looking for you now?” I continued and observed him closely. His eyes were darting around then he seemed to sit down. “Yeah, yeah,” he cleared his throat and wiped a hand over his face. “Okay,” I responded and shifted into my firm voice. I bet he hates to show vulnerability so I would act norm
Veronica’s POVThe scary thing about death is that it continues to take everything from you even as time passes. It is something permanent and irreversible.I know I love my mother dearly. I still mourn for her. Despite this, she has now become nothing but a figment of my memory, a feeling I have known yet cannot fully remember. Her face is long forgotten at the back of my mind. Father burned her photographs years after grieving. I resented him silently for a while because of that. I thought it was him moving on and erasing any trace of my mom. Looking back today, I guess he couldn’t take the pain.I know she has purple eyes because we share the same unique color. I’m not quite sure if she really had long wavy hair just like mine too or I was imagining it. Turning her into a reflection of me, desperately wanting to be connected to her. As years go by, I become less and less certain of what she was like. I just know she loved me. I just know that I will forever yearn for that love. I
Trigger warning: This chapter containers implied harassment. Read at your discretion.**Veronica’s POVThe chamber was immediately in chaos. The atmosphere inside was filled with their panic.I remained beside Sebastian, poised and composed, while the elders of the pack—the ones who once easily discarded me despite all the work I did for them—watched from their carved wooden chairs.Colton sat at the head. His lips were curled in a neutral line, but his eyes flickered with disdain. At his side, Ruby, looked as fragile and sweet as ever amidst her obvious alarm and confusion.I don't know if it's because I've seen her true colors now but it was easier to see through her acting. Either that, or she's losing her only talent.Sebastian told them in detail, “During our kingdom’s recent investigations, we discovered remnants of dark magic—traces that led us to a disturbing truth.”I continued his explanation, “We discovered planted obsidian shards: enchanted, corrupted, and powerful—was fo
Veronica’s POVIt feels like I have lived a hundred lifetimes since I last stepped in Eviera.My previous visit was during Colton and Ruby’s wedding, which was cathartic when I look back at it. It's also when I first made my move against them.Time passes by so quickly. A lot of things happened.“Eviera is not expecting and accepting any guests—” the guard of the borders didn't finish his words when he realized the crest of our carriage.Then, we pushed the curtains of our window away to speak with him.“Alpha Sebastian of Helios,” he greets and then locks eyes with me. I think I’ve seen him around before, when I was still queen of Eviera so I understood the shock of his reaction, gulping in my presence.I guess my bad reputation in the pack remains.“L-luna Veronica of Helios,” he greets me too.The other guard beside him moved so that they could bow together to us. I assumed this second guy was a superior of his.He then tells us, “I apologize for the rudeness Your Highnesses but ha
Veronica’s POVRevenge won’t give me peace but it will give me satisfaction.I killed Jadeline with my own two hands. If I wasn't that corrupted before, I'm forever tainted now. So I chose to see it through to the end.At least then, I’d have my conclusion. I could really shed the skin of my past without any attachments. I’ve done the worst anyway, might as well finish the job.“Remind me to not make an enemy out of you,” Sebastian gave me an amused smirk as he leaned on his chair.I raised a brow at him and grinned. “Like you’re not as diabolical.” He only responded with a hearty laugh.Perhaps the reason why we belong together is we accept the darkest, ugliest parts of one another.Today, I’ve made up my mind on how we can close this chapter of our lives—the ritual, the demon, the curse, and Jadeline. It took me some time before I could come up with something that covers all the tangled webs left behind. It's not wise for the truth to leak. A lot of people, even other packs and t
Sebastian’s POV“Veronica?” I called out in the darkness of the night. I patted her side of the bed and it was empty.I got up in haste, eyes glowing to check the surroundings and instantly stepped out to look around. Then, I remembered our mating bond.With that, I sensed her presence easier than before and I knew exactly where she was. What she's feeling and if she's okay. My feet brought me to the open balcony of our chambers.“There you are,” I murmured, only feeling relief when I really saw her in the flesh, despite the bond we share.Lately, I’ve known fear. Perhaps this is the result of recent events. I don’t think I’d ever forget what fear is anymore. She was wrapped in a silk robe, the breeze brushing her skin as she stared over the moonlit horizon. Her scent was carried by the wind, calming me in a way no other ever could.Her silhouette looked breathtaking. “Ah, yes. Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up,” Veronica answered, looking at me over her shoulder with a smile.I’v
Veronica’s POVNothing happened.Or at least, that’s what we told the rest of Helios when they started coming back to the territory. We spent the last few days cleaning the traces of the ritual and the chaos that happened while also recovering from our wounds and letting reality sink in.Tonight was a starless evening. The moon was hiding behind the clouds and the storm has calmed down into a soft chilly winter. The wind stirred my clothes, carrying a refreshing breath of air. The sound of the nearby falls could be heard.I was standing by the river’s edge, somewhere near the altar from nights before. I watched the raft float away from me, in the center of the stream, the crackle of the flames consumed the wrapped body that lay atop of it. There were no flowers, no offerings, no runes etched into the wood. Just the body—hers— and the silence on an ordinary wooden plank.It had been five days. Five days since I killed her with my own hands, with the blade she gifted me, because of the
Veronica’s POV “What’s the point of breaking the curse if I lost him?” The three siblings were standing around me as I knelt beside Sebastian’s body. Nolan said that from what he read, if the obsidian crystal reacts to him, that means that the demon’s host still lives—and yet minutes dragged on with no signs of him waking up. Luciana said it was time to accept it. But I can’t. How could I? I looked at the dagger I was still holding. My vision became blurry thinking about the life I took with it. I’m still soaked in their blood. His blood… At that moment, I was seriously thinking of ending my life, to follow him—to feel the pain I’ve caused him. But isn't that an easy way out for my sin? The punishment best suited for me is to live with the guilt and loss forever. “Veronica, you did what you had to do,” Luciana told me, hand on my shoulder. “Sebastian asked for it. There was no other way.” I replied with nothing. My grip on the hilt tightened. I felt another taste of anger in
Third Person’s POVUnder the red moonlight, is the sight of the tragedy.Three figures emerged from the woods, all with barely healing injuries. Snow crunched beneath muddied boots, the sound cutting through the strange stillness that hung tensed over the clearing.The moonlight has returned, seeping little by little through the clouds, no longer veiled by the eclipse. Midnight has passed. The moon’s soft glow fell upon the ruined ritual circle—blood-soaked stones, broken altar, and the scent of black magic long burnt out. In the center of it all, slumped on the ashen ground, the Alpha—Sebastian lay unmoving. And beside him, his queen, Veronica, knelt, her trembling hands covered in blood… of not just his and her own.She wasn’t crying. Not anymore.Not after she has already poured all of her tears out.A sharp whistle broke the air.Veronica looked up sharply, eyes narrowing—guarded.From the edge of the forest, cloaked in shadow and exhaustion, the Rozeiros siblings came to light
Warning: Graphic depiction of violence.**Veronica’s POV“You think I can’t do it?” All I was seeing was blood and darkness as I stared at her. I didn’t have anything to direct the angry emotions I have but I remembered that if I trace the root of every problem I had, it would lead back to her… and I was reminded, woken up from drowning through the pain, to see my wrath again—the reason why I went through everything.Revenge. Revenge on Jadeline.The one who has wronged me most.“If there’s one thing I’d do tonight… I will kill you!”I lunged. A single, brutal movement.The dagger pierced Jadeline’s side.Jadeline gasped softly, her mouth curling into something between surprise and peace. She didn’t dodge even if I knew she could’ve, regardless if she was shocked or not.She just—laughed. And smiled at me, “There she is…”“My golden child.” Her hand reached to touch my face. “My dearest Veronica.”Her words made me angrier. I felt disgust crawl through my skin. I grabbed her arm an
Veronica’s POVThe searing pain of Sebastian's mark settling on my skin was the most warmth I felt since this all began.I was silently crying—mating bonds may sting at first but it should be pleasurable after it seals. However, because Sebastian was stabbed and losing his life, I had to feel that same sensation too due to our new connection. I stared at him lying in front of me. As if just in slumber. Or perhaps that was just denial.“No… please,” I whispered, brushing strands of matted hair from his blood-slick face. “Didn’t you feel the black smoke leaving your body? I—I saw it… That’s the shadow right? It's gone so… you can come back. You wanted to stop it from taking you as a vessel and becoming too powerful, right? It’s gone now… you should come back too…”I choked up a sob and shook his body, “There is no way you die like this! With just a dagger! That dagger wasn’t for you! It shouldn’t be for you—no… I… how do I live with your death?” There was still no response. He remained