~RebeccaI watched as King Richard and his beta, James, discussed with the men. I couldn't hear what they were saying as they were out of earshot, but I could see very well how everything was playing out.From the shocked look on the guards' faces, it was obvious King Richard must have revealed his identity. The tallest of the guards pulled out his phone and made a call; it must be to Kendrick. At the thought of him, my heart plummeted into my stomach. I was finally going to see him again after over 19 years. What would I say? What would his reaction be? I had shamelessly run away that night without looking back, now I don't even know how to face him, let alone tell him I have a child for him.King Richard and James started making their way back to the car. They must have been allowed entrance; I could see the guards removing the obstacles they had laid out on the road. It came as no surprise to me. He was the Lycan king after all; no Alpha would dare refuse him entrance into their l
~RebeccaI couldn't bring myself to utter a word. I just kept my eyes on him. They were becoming glassy and I don't know why. They were not supposed to. It has been 19 years, yet hearing him call out my name the way he did stirred certain emotions within me."Is that really you?" he asked again, and I nodded in response, blinking away my unshed tears.Seeing that I could not speak, King Richard stepped in for me and spoke on my behalf, telling Kendrick the reason why we were there."Alpha Kendrick, we have come all the way from my pack to your pack because there is something very important we must discuss with you."His eyes darted across to the Luna's face before reverting back to Kendrick's, "but I am afraid we have to do so in private."There was a brief disturbing silence before Alpha Kendrick spoke, taking his wife's hand in his, obviously to prove a point. I got the message clearly. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, my wife and I are one; whatever you want to say, I think yo
~RichardAs soon as Rebecca asserted that she had proof confirming Athena as Alpha Kendrick's child, all eyes turned towards her. Her claim caught me off guard; I hadn't anticipated this revelation.Kendrick arched a skeptical brow, questioning, "What proof?" as if challenging her assertion."I will show you the proof in a few minutes," she replied gravely, then unexpectedly shifted her gaze to me.Why was she looking at me? We hadn't discussed any plan like this. Whatever her strategy was, I was completely clueless about how I could assist.Confusion clouded my mind, and I found myself reflexively rubbing the back of my neck."Your Majesty, can you call Nuella?" she requested.My eyes widened. Nuella? Was that her plan? Did she intend to use Nuella as proof? To inform Kendrick that the sorceress named Nuella confirmed his identity as Athena's father? Alpha Kendrick might not be familiar with Nuella; he might know Sorceress Naomi, as her fame had spread far and wide, but not her daugh
~ RichardI already have an idea of what the reason for Alpha Kendrick's shock was. I mean, Athena is my wife, so I have seen the birthmark on her hip area quite a number of times. But what I didn't know was why it evoked that kind of reaction from him, unless…Just then Alpha Kendrick rolled his sleeves up, and the same birthmark on Athena's hip area was revealed on his arm. I was stunned; it had turned out just as I expected. They both had identical birthmarks. Now there was no denying that he was her father.Alpha Kendrick took the phone from Rebecca, his hand trembling as he watched Athena's star-shaped birthmark."My… my daughter, I… I have a daughter," he stuttered through tears. He was overwhelmed by the discovery. I could imagine how he must feel. A man whose wife had been barren for years suddenly discovers he has a child from another woman.He lifted his eyes from the phone and declared aloud in excitement, "I have a daughter, I have a daughter!""Alpha Kendrick, that daught
~RichardAlpha Kendrick was the one who spoke, his voice very subtle and calm."Your Majesty, she is insisting she won't ride all the way to your pack with me and ordered the driver to alert you."I was getting fed up. Rebecca's attitude was beginning to irritate me. I didn't understand why she couldn't put her pain aside just for as long as the journey would last. The main reason we were out here was because we needed a solution to her daughter's ailment, and if she was a priority to her, she would stop trying to be an obstacle and instead do all she can to ensure we get to her daughter on time and provide what she needs to survive; her father's blood."What exactly is the problem, Rebecca?" I asked, keeping my temper under control."I don't want to ride with him, Your Majesty. I would rather ride with you for my own sanity; he is driving me crazy!" she shrieked.I wanted to lash out at her but decided against it. We just had no time to waste. I inhaled deeply and exhaled, calming m
~Richard"Where is my daughter?" Alpha Kendrick asked as soon as we walked in. He was just as eager as we all were to see Athena."Is there a problem, Doctor?" Rebecca asked anxiously.The doctor shook his head. Beads of sweat adorned his forehead. Things didn't look well at all. My heart was palpitating. The few seconds it took for him to speak felt like an eternity.He swallowed hard, his lips eventually parted, and the words we feared came forth, "She is not looking very well; she's with the sorceress, and even her powers aren't doing much to hold her together.""Where is my daughter? I need to see her now!" Alpha Kendrick growled.Pushing past the doctor, I hurried towards the Intensive Care Unit where Athena was kept, with the rest of them following closely behind. I could hear some faint noise coming from the direction of the room they were in. The rate of my heartbeat increased with each step.As soon as I got to the door, the noise grew louder. I immediately pushed it open, an
~Richard"Your Majesty, you can't do that! You are the king of the Lycan kingdom; a whole lot rests on your shoulders, you have a pack to lead," Nuella reasoned. She was so surprised at my suggestion, and she was not the only one; everyone in the room was."I have already made up my mind. Draw out the cold from her and put it in…" Before I could finish, James barked from behind as he approached me, tossing my shirt back at me."Nonsense! You would do no such thing, Richard, not under my watch!" I turned around to look at him. I didn't really get angry at him for lashing out the way he did because I understood he was acting based on his emotions, but that didn't mean I would heed to what he said.I reprimanded him calmly. "You don't tell me what to do, James. Know your place," I turned back to Nuella and just as I was about to speak to her, his words stopped me."I know my place, and I am acting in accordance, Richard," he walked around and stood in front of me in a challenging manner.
~RichardI was so torn as I watched him remove his shirt and sit down at the foot of Athena's bed as instructed by Nuella, waiting for the process to begin.I tried to open my mouth and speak, but could not. I was dying inside with a mix of several emotions: anger, hatred, regret, and pain, the most palpable being pain.It should be me sitting there in his stead, waiting to have the cold in Athena's body transferred into mine, but he had beaten me to it. I had fooled myself by thinking I could do anything I wanted as king. When had he even planned it all? When had he colluded with the doctor to subdue me the way they had done? He was one step ahead of me again! I hated it whenever that happened!My eyes stayed on him, taking in his strong and courageous frame. His face was set and focused as he waited for what was to come."Hold her hands in yours," Nuella instructed, and he instantly obeyed. Moving closer to Athena, he held her tiny frail hands in his large ones firmly."Now close y