Tanya’s POVThe moment the door swings open, I’m struck by a variety of delectable scents. My eyes widen as I step inside and take in the sight of the quaint space in the attic. The room has been refurbished with a large desk and several shelves full of equipment and ingredients. There are several copper and glass distillation stills, as well as various tubes, beakers, and droppers. The shelves are lined with jars of dried herbs, barks, and resins. There are also vials with a variety of solvents and oils. The equipment and materials here are brand new and sophisticated, only of the highest quality. The smells that fill the air are so delectable that my heart skips a beat. Marco has even provided a few blank journals for me to record different formulas and take notes. It’s not just a hobby room; this is a fully stocked laboratory for me to create perfumes and potions. The little apothecary shop he’s made for me right in his townhouse is a dream come true. This space is perfect for m
Tanya’s POVI feel everyone’s eyes turn on me as I stumble back slightly in surprise. I barely have time to process what’s happening before Ayana appears at the edge of the crowd. She shoves her way past me, almost knocking me off my feet as she rushes to Cathy.“Cathy? Cathy, wake up!” she cries, shaking the princess violently by the shoulders in an attempt to rise her, her voice drawing even more attention to the scene.“Somebody gets help!” Ayana shrieks at the top of her lungs, but despite all her yelling, Cathy remains unconscious.Suddenly, I see Ayana’s expression twist from melodramatic exaggeration to genuine fear as she holds her hand by Cathy’s face. I’m filled with horror as I realize she’s trying to feel Cathy’s breath, and a sickening sort of understanding washes over me as I see that Cathy isn’t moving at all. “What- what happened? Is she… is she okay?” I ask, my voice shaky with concern.Ayana’s attention whirls furiously towards me.“No! She is NOT okay!” she yells a
Tanya’s POVI turn towards Lily, surprised by the chill in her tone. I’ve never seen her be openly hostile before, but when I look into her eyes, it’s not just anger that fills them; it’s fear. What could she possibly be afraid of? I can’t figure out what’s going through her mind, but I don’t get the chance to ask her. Ayana leaps at the opportunity to accuse me once again, yelling in my face. “So, she’s not a murderer, but she’s a thief!” she cries. Eric and Marco help Cathy to her feet as the princess slowly begins to recover. Still, Ayana is relentless in her efforts to make me seem like the villain. “That extraordinary perfume, you took it from Lily’s family! They recently showed Montenero’s custom perfume collection at the perfumery. Tanya must have stolen it from there.”“I would never do that,” I try to explain. “It’s true that I visited the perfume display, but I didn’t steal anything. I made this fragrant potion myself, recreating the formula from what I smelled in the spe
Tanya’s POVI wish I could spend forever like this dancing with Marco. But all too soon, the song ends, and the crowd turns to the ballroom’s main door as the Lycan King and Queen arrive. Everyone except for the royal family bows at their arrival. My gown swirls around me as I curtsy alongside the others, but I catch a glimpse of the Queen. She stands tall beside her dignified husband, but I’m surprised to see her eyes fixed on Marco. Her gaze is so filled with hatred and envy that it sends a chill down my spine as the King motions for everyone to rise. He stands at the edge of the balcony, officially welcoming his guest to the palace to celebrate the Autumn Equinox. Then, he gives a short but eloquent speech about the changing of the seasons throughout the kingdom and the fall harvest. Once the King is finished speaking, everyone disperses, and Marco is called by the Lycan King to have a talk. The ballroom feels far too large and crowded without Marco by my side, so I quietly slip
Tanya’s POVI stumble out of the palace and into the gardens, feeling tired and mildly nauseous. I make my way to the edge of a large pond, focusing on the sight of starlight glistening on the surface of the dark water. Someone approaches me, and I wince when I realize Ayana and Lily join by the pond, ruining any chance at peace and quiet. Not here. Not now. It’s been a long night, and I’m in no mood to be tormented further. The King’s voice still rings in my ears; the secret of Marco’s sitting heavy in my heart. Not to mention the crushing sorrow of everything I saw in Marco’s old room. The way Lily smiles at me so innocently makes my skin crawl. “My dear Tanya, is everything all right?” Lily asks. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”I did, and she knows it. She’s the one who showed me the ghost of her past relationship with Marco. “I just needed a moment alone and some fresh air,” I say softly. I don’t have the energy for any more drama. I just want to hide from all of this
Marco’s POVLily’s screams ring in my ears, and she thrashes wildly in the pond, sending water in every direction. I race to her side, jumping in before Eric even reaches the edge of the pond. Lily wraps her arms around me with a gasp, her nails digging into my skin. I grimace as she splashes me, hauling her out of the water. “Lily, calm down. Stop it. I got you,” I growl at her, and she wiggles a bit less at my command. I carry her out, setting her down gently on the ground. Eric quickly joins us, his expression wrought with worry. “You shouldn’t have done that,” my brother says quietly to me. “I would have gone in to rescue her.”I know Lily is not mine to rescue. She’s with Eric now, and he’s the one that should be rushing to her aid. But I’m faster and stronger, and I would have done it for anyone. Even though Lily and I aren’t together anymore, I wasn’t going to stand by and watch as she drowned. “You’re welcome,” I growl at him sarcastically before nodding towards Lily. “Tak
Tanya’s POVI’m hot and cold all at once, the fever wracking through my body. The chill of the pond from that night seems to have seeped into my bones, making me shiver even a sweat clings to my skin. My hand rests on my stomach as guilt courses through me, stronger and sharper than any discomfort from the fever.If I were the only one sick, I wouldn’t mind. But at that moment, when I jumped in after the earrings, I forgot that I’m not just making choices for myself anymore. There’s a child growing in me that will suffer the consequences of my mistakes. I berate myself for not having thought of that when I recklessly threw myself into the water. If this baby suffers because I made myself ill, I’ll never forgive myself.What kind of mother will I be?Something shifts on the best beside me, and I wince at the stiffness in my joints. My eyelids are heavy with fatigue, and everything seems blurry and far away like I can’t tell whether I’m awake or dreaming.Suddenly someone’s lying beside
Tanya’s POVOnce I’m fully recovered, I visit Lady Vivian’s home in the palace every few days to learn her craft. The days I get to work as her apprentice quickly become the highlight of my week. Her wing of the palace is not as grand as the ballroom or the main hall, but I can tell from the moment I step through the doorway that Lady Vivian’s home is filled with love. She has a delicate woman’s touch and carries herself with admirable grace and dignity. She looks young for her age, but there are a few tiny wrinkles around her eyes when she smiles that make her look friendly and enchanting. “Careful when diluting the oils, dear,” she says, watching as I pour the contents of a dropper into a larger bottle. “Remember that the concentration of the extract will affect the intensity and duration of the fragrance.”I follow her advice, carefully mixing the solutions. There’s something incredibly soothing about being around Vivian, and I can’t help but feel the need to make her proud.“Wel
Tanya’s POVFor our honeymoon, Marco takes me somewhere far away. Far from the royal families and the kingdoms. Far from civilization. We delve far into the woods and into its depth is where he brings me to a beautiful clearing. And there lies a small and quaint log cabin, big enough for just the two of us.“It’s beautiful Marco,” I whisper in awe.Like little fairies, the bees and little bugs float and dance about the fields of lavender that surround us. The sun sparkles down and makes the grass glisten a vibrant green. And the log cabin sits quietly amidst the beautiful scenery.Marco brings me in and we drop our things in the room. I immediately go to kiss him, but Marco shakes his head with laughter. “What?’ I ask playfully.“Put on your bathing suit first.”“Oh?” I chuckle, but oblige, pick up my bikini and quickly change as does he, and the two of us head off again. H
Tanya’s POVI’ve been laced up in the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. The heart shaped bodice is covered in magnificent rhinestones and crystals that glitter and shimmer as I move. The corset hugs my figure and is connected to massive angel sleeves that slip past my wrists. The bottom of the dress flares out around me in layers of a brilliant shade of emerald green. And the veil that’s placed over my head cascades down and out in a long train that’s fit for royalty.For a Queen.I can’t help eyeing myself in the mirror in disbelief. With my hair pulled into a tight bun, it’s only the little twirled whisps of my hair that are left to frame my face and green eyes that stare back at me in astonishment. To consider all the events leading up to this very moment, baffles me. Eighteen-year-old Tanya would never believe she is standing here today, about to be married to the King of the Mador Kingdom, to be
Queen’s POVI’ve been confined and restricted to my quarters for over a month now. No one has come to see me, nor have I asked to be seen. I remain in solitude accepting my fate, so long as my children are able to survive, I care little for my own existence. My children will carry on my legacy, they will live on.Despite my acceptance of it, this reality still haunts me. And I find myself turning to books as a method to overcome my sadness. At least Joseph allowed me that. He could have easily left me within four walls that are empty and barren. But he permitted my love for reading.I drown myself in the variety of genres I’ve collected over the years. Books about science, books on philosophy, bibliographies, and my favourite, fiction. But today is no day for reading, for as I sit beside my window, my hands are forced to put down the pages in my hand. My room faces the main gate, and I watch the guards fluster and run about like madmen
Dorian’s POVMist enters my eyes and the world suddenly swirls out of focus. I frantically blink trying to see, but the mist is heavy. Thick clouds darken my surroundings as snow falls like white bullets from the sky. My skinny arms and hands wrap themselves round my body. The tips of my ears sting from the frigid environment as my teeth chatter uncontrollably.I’ve been walking for days. But my legs struggle to push through the thick layer of snow that blankets the ground. And behind me I leave a pathetic trail that will soon be erased as more snow falls. I bet I will be erased, blown away from the terrible cry of the wind, or smothered by the ice, or worse, I’ll freeze, and wither away and melt into the snow.I drop to my knees.I try to stand, but my body is too weak. And the snow feels like a comfy mattress, offering me eternal sleep. But I have to keep going. My life has to mean more than just what my mother has made of me.
Marco’s POV‘Marco? Marco, are you there?’ I’m sitting with my war council when Eric’s voice suddenly infiltrates my mind. My brows wrinkle, and my forehead creases as I can’t decide how to respond.“I need time alone,” I say to my soldiers, and they all leave the tent we’ve been using to conduct tactics for the fight against the pack rogues. Eric is still calling out to me when I sit down.‘You right. You were right. I should have listened.’ This doesn’t sound like Eric, not at all. We considered each other rivals since children, we never played together, never trained together. We chose to be as far away from each other as possible. I saw Eric as the son of the Queen who replaced my mother, and Eric saw me as the person who threatened his right to the throne. I don’t even remember the last time we’ve spoken over the mind link. Or, we m
Marco’s POV“What do you mean she’s missing?” Eric has to yell over the rain, but his eyes are wide with disbelief.“She’s missing! Taken from her bed last night, there’s no evidence that she even left her room. And even if she did leave, she took none of her possessions, not her purse, nor her clothes, nothing! It just doesn’t make any sense.”I relay to Eric everything with regards to Cathy’s disappearance in detail. About how she was seen the night before but could not be found the next morning. That we checked all of Cathy’s usual places, and that I sent soldiers to every corner of the kingdom. And how even other kingdoms hadn’t seen her. “The only explanation is that you took her!”The rain pours and drenches us. But with my wolfish eyes I can see through the fog and dark mist, noticing how Eric is visibly shaken by the news about his sister. However, I notic
Tanya’s POVThe morning starts off in absolute chaos.Marco receives a call from the phone by our bedside, and the frantic voice over the line makes it difficult for me to make out the words. But I know it’s serious as Marco’s face immediately hardens. Knowing not to ask any questions just yet, I rush off to get ready, and he drives us to the palace. In car he explains that Cathy appears to be missing!I leave Claire in the care of Vivian as I go off to help in the search. The soldiers check the surrounding woods, while police officers roam the streets in their patrol cars. Neighbouring kingdoms are alerted to her disappearance and asked to keep a look out for her. I go with a couple of the maids that knew Cathy well, checking all the places she may have ended up, hopefully on her own accord. But we all can’t help but think the worst of this situation.Eventually, I, Marco and couple of other well-known and well-trusted ro
Tanya’s POVI don’t really remember how I woke up this morning. All I remember is that I was the little spoon, and as soon as Marco roused from his slumber, he decided to fulfill his role as the big spoon. I girlishly giggle trying to run away, saying that we need to get up to start the day.Course Marco cares little for my logical arguments. “I don’t like to use my royal title as an excuse. But in this case, I will. The world can wait on us for once. We’re royals.”I gasp in laughter. “Marco!”“Nu uh, I want you. And I will have you,” despite my flailing, I finally surrender to his lustful impulse. I allow him to press my body flush against his, spooning me again. And as he fiddles with his boxers, I find my desire rising down below, my wolf growing hormonally impatient despite my initial protest.Finally, I feel the head of his length press against my hole, and I suck in a breat
Tanya’s POVAs our lips finally part again to catch our breaths, I stare into the depths of his ocean eyes, finding myself roaming across the waves of his deep blues. He smiles. And I smile back, and we both can’t help breaking out into a chorus of laughter. My giggles and his playful chuckling weave into a glorious happy melody.“From now on,” Marco whispers. “I’m never letting anyone get in between us ever again. You’re the love of my life,” I find myself staring at him in awestruck, before propping myself up, leaving my lips inches from his as I whisper.“And I promise, to never let anyone stop me from loving you again,” but before, I allow him to lower himself towards me. One of my hands gently grabs his arms, pulling one side of his body towards me, whilst my other hand pushes against his chest. And he soon understands what I’m after.We tumble again into array of kisses, and