LILLIE The party, whatever its symbolism, was in full swing. Jace, Esmeralda, and I stood at the heart of it all. Jace encouraged everyone who walked by us to eat and drink to their heart’s content. Every eye that glanced at us seemed to settle on me, and I hoped it was more for the way my dress settled on my hips, than for the matching red tattoo on my neck. I should have gotten a damn shawl to hide it. “They would both reject you.” Jace said aloud, turning to me. I felt relieved to finally have his attention, at least it would take my mind off the numerous stares I was getting. Stunned by his statement which - obviously - came out of nowhere, my eyes danced around his tall frame. He all but rolled his eyes as he pulled me closer. I didn’t know why, but my gaze shifted to Esmeralda. She was locked in an embrace with a dark tall man barely three feet away from us. I returned my gaze to Jace. “Daniel and Darwin. They will reject you tonight, or first thing tomorrow morning.” He r
DAVID I had experienced enough stress for one day, especially after the shocking revelation my brothers had left me to deal with. I would have thought that was all, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. I returned to my bedroom - the one place I could find solace amidst all the madness - only to find my beautiful mother seated on the armchair that faced the balcony. She had already closed the blinds and turned on almost every light in the room. I preferred my room to be dark. Once she heard the door close, she tilted her neck in my direction, and her brown eyes lit up on seeing me. She rose from the chair and took her place standing in front of it, fingers locked in front of her purple silk nightwear. “Mother,” I started to speak. “Good evening.” “David, my boy. I would have thought you'd be happier to see me.” I shrugged both shoulders as I moved to my bed. “It’s just been a long day, mother. I’m tired.” “I thought you'd say that.” She walked slowly towards me and finally se
“I can smell your disdain from halfway across the room, alpha David,” she spoke. Only, her voice was more sultry, and her words sounded sloppier than usual. Like a broken record, as always. But this time…it felt as though I did want to listen. “Then you should know you’re not welcome in here, and that the door you used on your way in is very much available for you to use on your way out.” She chuckled, and a loud hiccup accompanied it. Was she drunk? “Wouldn’t you even look at me? Am I so filthy that I can’t be spared even a glance?” She was testing me, pushing me as always. I cleared my throat to speak.“If I have to see that abomination on your neck one more time today, I shall lose my appetite for the next six days,” I retorted. There was a brief sixteen seconds calm, I knew because I had been counting each passing second in my head, before another hiccup erupted from her throat. “Very well then.” She started to come closer. “I would make you see me.” “I forbid you from t
LILLIE Screwed. There was absolutely no need to look behind me at Alpha David. It wasn’t hard to tell I had stepped on the wrong toes by the heat of his glare at the back of my neck.Oh! And the worry that flashed in prince Darwin and Daniel’s eyes as Alpha David’s footsteps were heard marching towards us. “You bloody whore!” Was all I heard, before I felt the firm grip around my neck that lifted my feet from the ground and had them kicking in the air. “David, hold on. You don’t have to do that.” Prince Daniel’s voice was faint in my ears with the ringing that accompanied Alpha David’s hold. I tugged at his wrists, desperately trying to free myself from his choking grasp. “You’re going to kill her if you continue doing that, brother.” “And shouldn’t I?! You see what she tried to do! She tried to come between us! She fucking tried to seduce me into…seduce us into…” “We know, brother. But this isn’t the way. She doesn’t deserve to die by your hand.” Touché. On hearing that, al
LILLIEI woke up less than five hours later feeling like absolute shit. I didn't know what Esmeralda had told me last night for me to allow her to get me to swallow so much alcohol. Before I could rescue myself from my nerve wracking hangover, my door creaked open. “Who is that?” I slurred, fighting hard to sit up so I could look the intruder in the eyes. After the stunt I pulled last night, it would be silly of me not to keep my guard up. “A little birdie told me you almost got yourself killed last night. I just came to make sure you are alive and well. After all, of what use are you to me dead?”I rolled my eyes at the sound of his voice. Of course prince Jace would be the first face I see in the morning. I should have been grateful that there was at least one friendly face around here, even if I was more of a puppet than a friend to him.After I managed to sit up, I fixed my gaze on him before frowning. “Your girlfriend’s stunt almost got me killed. How on earth could you think
DANIEL What the fuck was I actually thinking? That I could come down to Lillie’s room and what? Have a conversation? I scoffed and shook my head as I turned away from her door. It had been nothing but a waste of time. David was right. The bitch was starting to mess with all our heads. Jace was the one coming in and going out of her room, taking her on dates and what not. For all I knew, he could have had his way with her already. The thought of it had my nostrils twitching. I continued to look ahead as I walked briskly through the corridor. Jace followed me behind, trying to call out to me, but my thoughts blocked out his voice until I felt his hand on my shoulder. I paused on my tracks, visibly flinching from the unfamiliar warmth of his hand on my shoulder. I locked gazes with him, only to find him smiling at me. “You wanted to see how she was doing?” He probed, arching his left brow in what could pass as amusement. What the fuck was so funny? I looked down at my shoulder whe
LILLIE Once again, I was left with nothing to do but wander about the halls aimlessly. Staying in my room all day was bound to drive me insane. This time, I decided to explore a part of the palace I had never been to before - except last night, when I visited Alpha David’s room. I wrapped my arms around myself at the thought. Despite my cotton bra, my nipples stood erect, piercing against the purple silk dress I wore. The thought of Alpha David’s hands exploring parts of my body, and giving me the kind of pleasure I had never known to exist… it seemed to affect me in more ways than I cared to admit. And so did the sound of his laughter. I had never heard or seen him laugh before, but I could tell the sound that reverberated from the walls of the room at the end of the hallway was his. There wasn’t anyone else in the palace who could rouse me the way he did. Except prince Daniel, whom I had only gotten the pleasure of speaking with last night. Two princes and I. How was I to survi
LILLIE Stepping out of the sleek Rolls Royce, I found myself at the grand entrance of the Elite Academy of Darkmoon, standing beside Alpha David and princess Darla who was obviously in her natural habitat. Just like the party I had attended with Jace, the aura of this gathering threatened to swallow me whole. The sprawling campus was a testament to opulence, with its towering Gothic-inspired architecture that loomed majestically against the evening sky. I had never seen anything as beautiful as it. My mother had often spoken about her alma mater, but I had never imagined it to be this glorious. I suddenly understood why she spent most of her time mourning the life she once had. Who wouldn’t? The stone walls, intricately carved with ancient symbols, exuded an aura of both history and power. Tall iron gates, adorned with the crest of the Darkmoon pack, had swung open as we approached, revealing a pristine courtyard lined with perfectly manicured hedges and marble statues of past a
This has been an emotional roller coaster for me. This story began in January, and since then, a lot of things have happened. I’ve been sick, I’ve had countless visits to the hospital, gotten an operation, entered final year in medical school, a lot of things actually. And finally, after nine months, I get to say goodbye to the beautiful Morris family, and everyone involved in their story. It wasn’t easy, but you all stood by me. I hope you enjoyed this story as much I almost enjoyed writing it. And I hope to see you again in my next project coming in OCTOBER, and my debut billionaire romance novel. Thank you all. Xoxo, Bella Hemsworth.
SEVEN MONTHS LATER AUTHOR The sound of the door closing had everyone up on their feet. Daniel, Darwin, Lillie who had been fidgeting on her seat, Queen Sophia, even little Emilia. The doctor blinked twice, fairly surprised by how fast they had all stood. All the set of eyes that peered at her caused her to clear her throat. She couldn’t blame them for being anxious. Princess Darla had been in the labor room for over eight hours. “How’s everything? How’s she? How’s…?” Lillie moved to the front, and the doctor smiled at her. “Everything is fine, your highness. Princess Darla has just delivered two beautiful and handsome children.” Silence hung in the air for three brief seconds. Yes. The doctor had counted. “Does this mean…?” Lillie asked with wide eyes. “Yes.” The tall lady replied. “Twins.” “Oh my God!” Lillie screamed, tears in her eyes as she watched everyone else rush into the room. They were supposed to have gone in one by one, but even the doctor knew better than to tr
Lillie’s POV *THREE WEEKS LATER* I stood outside Darla’s room, taking a deep breath before knocking softly. No response, but I knew she was in there. I could hear her crying from where I stood. Even her large twin doors had done nothing to mask the sound of her sorry. I turned mine into a ball in my throat and swallowed hard to push it down to my stomach. It couldn’t come out, not today. I reached for her door knob, opened the door and found her sitting on the edge of her bed, her face pale, her eyes swollen from crying. The black dress Darwin had gotten for her lay untouched in a rumpled mess beside her."Darla, you need to get ready," I said gently, stepping inside. "It’s time."She shook her head, her hands trembling as they gripped the sheets. "I can’t," she whispered. "If I get dressed… if I go downstairs… it means he’s really gone. That Logan is really gone, and I’ll never see him again. The love of my life, Lillie… the father of my child." Her voice cracked, her should
David’s POV Blood. All over the room. Dripping from every wound in my body. I didn’t need to see my reflection in the mirror to know I had been beaten up real good. Yet, when I saw it, a bitter chuckle forced its way out of my throat. I had managed to kill them all even in my state. The fuckers must have known they wouldn’t be able to stand a chance, hence why they had to poison me. In those last minutes of my life, the faces of my brothers flashed in my mind as I sat on my bed. My brothers, my sisters, my darling mother who had seen so much loss in her time. I never thought I’d see them again. I thought that, by the time they reached the hospital, I’d be long gone. When the rogues came, I was sure it was over. They had knives, weapons—I barely had the strength to lift my arms, but something inside me, something primal, wouldn’t let me give up. Not yet. Not before seeing my family one last time. If they could get to me, that is. There was no guarantee they had been able to make it
Darwin’s POV Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but there wasn’t a crown on my head. However, I knew I had stepped into David’s shoes the moment he was hospitalized. It suddenly made sense why he had been so stoic and protective of everyone. For the first time in a long time, I could feel what he felt. The weight of the world resting on my shoulders. My world, and that of Dark Moon at large. Even as I ripped Jace’s head from his neck, the reality of what had just happened sank deeper as I looked at him—the cousin who once laughed with us as children, now reduced to this: A lifeless head in my hands. Who would have thought I would be the one to end his life? Who would have thought that he’ll be the one to turn our lives around? To hurt my brothers, to betray the only family he could call his? His eyes, once filled with arrogance and ambition, were now vacant, staring up at the sky even in his death. But now, he would be unable to see any fucking thing. His life had ended.
Darwin: The battle was far more brutal than expected. Dead bodies lay across the ground, a mix of our own people, rogues and rebel soldiers. Daniel and I were yet to turn as we were preserving our energy to fight our common enemy. A wolf lunged at me and I caught it by its collar and snapped its next in one move. It dropped to the ground, slowly shifting back to its human form as it took its last breath. Another one came and I sank my claws into it, twisting and tearing its guts out so it lay on the floor in a disgusting pile. I only one had one intention as I made my way towards the Palace. And that was to make sure Lillie and my family members were safe. After I'd confirmed that they were, I would return here and find Jace. The hall was empty. Void of anyone, so I knew they had all been carted away to safety to the Palace's secret basement. I heard a familar sob and hurried towards the corner leading to the underground building. Lillie was crouched beside Logan w
Lillie's POV: Tonight was a wedding and the whole Palace was bright with the hustle and bustle of activities. A decorating team had been employed to decorate the area and it had gone on for about two days. Tonight, they were finishing up the rest of the decorations as guests began to arrive. I heard the Queen's voice from where I stood in Darla's room. She was yelling at the decorating team for their slow pace and we all laughed when she asked one of the ladies to get out of her sight. "It's not mother's wedding and yet, she yells like it's hers." Emilia said from where she stood, our beautiful flower girl, getting dressed by some of the maids. Darla chuckled from where she sat in front of her vanity table. "Mother can be a control freak at times. Don't tell her I said this, or she's going to serve my body to the guests." Emilia grinned in mischief and I instantly knew she was going to use emotional blackmail now that she had power over Darla. "Wh
Lillie's POV: Things were going smoothly. More than I expected. I banished the thoughts of something ruining the good time everyone was having and decided to, for once in my life, be happy that things were going the way I wanted. Queen Sofia was forced to interceed on Logan's behalf and the embargo of being a slave was taken off him. Darla made it a point of duty to remind her every waking moment of the day until the Queen decided to have rites held on Logan's behalf. And now, they were seen always having little cute moments around the palace. Logan and Darla were always found in each other's arm and I always saw the look on the Queen's face. Even after taking the banishment off Logan's head, she still wasn't in approval of their relationship. But as time went on, she became busy with other things and paid them no heed until I found her one day, smiling at Darla and Logan as they sat at the porch. Darla had her head on Logan's lap as he read her a book. It was such a
Lillie's POV: I paced from one end of the room to the other, trying to come up with words to say to my brother. Logan stood, head bowed low, at the other end of the room. I could tell he was feeling extremely bad, but not guilty. He finally stood tall, steeling his expression as he stared right at me. "What are you going to do? Judge me for following my heart? Call that a mistake also?" I honestly had nothing to say to him if I was being honest. I was just surprised that Logan and Darla were ever a thing. I wasn't angry or judgemental. I just didn't like how it had been hidden from me. Did Logan not trust me? Or hadn't I been a good enough elder sister for him to talk to? These were the thoughts that plagued my mind. I turned to him and sighed. "When did you start Dating Darla?" "We're not... dating," He replied. "Though we really like each other a lot." "So when did all these start?" He scoffed. "Do I have to tell you all the details?" "Yes. I have to know." I