Axel"Mine." My hung in the air as my wolf called out to the girl. I turned around to look if there was someone else there in place of that roguish looking girl, but there was none. In fact, being so close to her made me realize that the flowery scent that filled the forest was hers. How is that even possible? No. The goddess wouldn't choose a rogue as my mate. This must be a mistake, or maybe I heard it wrong. The girl came at me and managed to scratch my neck. Her eyes were bloodshot as she attacked me. Her teeth came all out, and she launched another attack, but I caught her and held her hands so that she wouldn't attack me, but she wouldn't stop. She looked at the dog on the floor and struggled harder. Her mouth opened, and I thought that she was about to call her army of rogues, but instead she barked. What? She barked? Did she just bark? My eyes widened as I watched and listened as she barked again and again. My hands loosened around her, and she ran towards the dog, hol
Aaron"Welcome, Prince Aaron," the man I'd been trailing suddenly stopped and let out a loud chuckle, informing me that he was aware of my presence. I thought I was discreet enough. I was just a few steps away from meeting the rogue leader, the man who took the rogue king's place. How did he know that I was behind him? I had to mask my scent with skunk dung to keep them from finding me out, but still he had me figured out. "You smell like royalty, even the horrible smell of skunk couldn't hide that," he muttered in response to my thoughts. I knew it wouldn't be easy to get out now that I'd been discovered. Especially since I was in their territory. Although I had come to the East Blue with my brother and Axel, my best friend, to trail the rogues who had been hurting and stealing from the people in the name of the royal family. However, I was close to finding their camp and couldn't risk them finding us, so I asked that I go alone. Though, I now know their camp and also got to se
Axel"Don't hurt her!"I looked behind me to see Aaron on his feet. His hands were up as he ordered me to stop. My hands dropped, and I immediately went towards him, pulling him into a tight hug. "She helped me," he said, in a voice that sounded like a whisper. He looked weak. "But she ....." I couldn't believe that the lady could help Aaron. I mean how? Or was it the other way round?"She did nothing but help me," he repeated, making me look back at the lady, my supposed mate, who was full of mystery. How could she help Aaron when she needed help more than anyone I know? "She did?" I asked, confused as to how she could possibly help him. She couldn't even walk on her feet. "I'd be dead if she didn't," he nodded in affirmation. That's surprising. Aaron, the lion of Mallory, was saved by a girl who acted like a dog. What could be more surprising than that?Ignoring my doubts and the confusion going on in my head, I moved "What happened to you?" I held him as he moved to go bac
Aaron"We'll come back," I vowed as we were about to set sail for Mallory. I will come back and when I do, I will make sure to get those sneaky rogues and their leader. "We sure will," Axel affirmed in a tone that was laced with bitterness and a high amount of determination. I can imagine how he must feel to know that the same people who were responsible for the death of his parents and the damnation of his pack still roams free and even dares to scheme. Their effrontery was alarming. They had so much guts stuck in them that they walked into our kingdom and attacked the citizens. They spread so much terror among the people that their trust in the royal family was starting to break.I will never forgive them for that. After the great war between the rogues and the Mallory Kingdom, my mother put in so much effort to rid us of the monster that called himself the rogue king, thus winning her position in the Mallory court as the lady Chamberlain. The first ever. Even though her posit
AxelWolves are the most possessive creations. A wolf can share everything, but not its mates. Even though I still haven't figured out who she was and why she turned out the way she was, I still couldn't see her in Aaron's arms. Aaron and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. We do everything together, and I could give up my life for him, but seeing my mate in his arms struck a cord in my heart that I couldn't quite understand. I wanted to tear his hands apart to touch her. I wanted to break his limbs for going so close to her. However, I managed to hold myself back from hurting my friend. I snatched my mate out of his hold and he looked at me in surprise. Everyone knew how desperate I was in search of my mate. I wanted to find my mate, to have her by my side, to ease my loneliness. Although, with Prince Giovanni and Aaron around, I've never been lonely, but with my mate I would feel even more complete. "You found your mate," he chuckled unbelievably. "And it's her?
Zoraya"We're home."I watched his lips move as he said the words. As cool as those words sounded, it did nothing but bring pain to my heart as I wished that I had a place to call home too. I wish Zara was alive. Beside her was the only home I knew. Life without Zara has been nothing but painful.I thought that Jayden's place would become my new home, but it turned out to be the opposite. He even denied knowing me, which hurts more than any pain I've ever felt. I don't know why I still feel something shattering in my chest every time I think about Jayden. He was the first human to extend a helping hand to me, but it ended in tears. Even though the man before seemed nice, I couldn't bring myself to trust him. Especially after what he did to Ronnie. "Come."His voice called me out of my thoughts. He put forth his hand for me to hold. I stared at his hand and was immediately reminded of Jayden. He had extended his hand to me similarly, yet it turned out to be lies.Evading his hand,
Zoraya "Look mother, I brought home your long-lost daughter." The woman stood up, giving me a complete view of her astonishing beauty. She was definitely a goddess, because I've never seen anyone as beautiful as her. From her eyes that were so pure and beautiful. Those eyes looked like they could see the depth of one's soul. Her lips were fiery and hot, like they were cut out from rose petals. Her hair was so long that it almost looked unreal. It was styled to make the golden crown sit gracefully on her head. The clothes she had on were regally made that one would think that she was born with it. Everything about her was perfect. She was the complete definition of a beauty goddess. "What?" They both exclaimed, pulling me out of my thoughts. Her mouth was left open like she had something else to say as she stared at me. "Relax mother," the Prince was quick to stop her from speaking or moving. "That lady over there saved me from dying after I was attacked by
Melody "This will be your home now."Tears welled up in my eyes as soon as I said that, so I immediately stood up and left the throne room. I didn't know what it was, but there was something about that young lady that made me want to go close to her. To hear her voice. To console her. I was fighting the urge to hug her as she spoke, but I knew that would be going too far. I wouldn't want to be seen as the queen who was sick. I mean, wouldn't it be sick to hug someone I only just met? What would the people think if they found me hugging someone so dirty? Well, not that I cared about her look anyway. I just had to keep my composure as the queen. I couldn't afford to scare her upon her arrival in the palace.Besides, I didn't understand why Aaron kept saying that she couldn't speak when I could hear her clearly. Though she spoke differently, everything she said was easy to understand. He thought she was barking, but all I heard was her beautiful voice that was laced with pain. I w
MelodyMinutes stretched into hours, yet Zoraya remained asleep. I stayed by her side, unwilling to leave her even for a moment. Her breathing was steady, her face peaceful, but I knew the storm of emotions that would rage within her when she awoke.I gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, my heart swelling with both love and sorrow. This child—my child—had suffered far too much. Even in sleep, her delicate features held the remnants of past pain, the shadows of a life filled with cruelty.But she was safe now.I wouldn’t let Elena steal her away, not like Estrella had stolen her from me all those years ago. The past would not repeat itself, not if I had anything to do with it.I had already failed once.I had lost my daughter to lies, deception, and the bitter hands of fate.Never again.The thought of Elena roaming the palace sent a fresh wave of unease through me. She was cunning, just like her mother. Estrella had spent her life trying to take everything that belonged to m
MelodyThe air in the chamber was heavy with silence. Derek sat across from me, his fingers laced together, his sharp eyes scrutinizing every word I had just spoken. The weight of my revelation hung between us like a storm cloud ready to unleash its fury. I could see the thoughts racing through his mind, the pieces of the puzzle shifting into place.Zoraya was my daughter.Elena was Estrella’s.And Mallory stood on the brink of war.Derek leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. “This changes everything.”“I know,” I said quietly.His jaw clenched as he processed the information, his grip tightening on the arms of his chair. “If Zoraya is your daughter, she is the rightful princess of both Mallory and Dark Flame.” His gaze met mine, unreadable yet heavy with unspoken thoughts. “Does she know?”I shook my head. “No. She doesn’t even know who she is. She was raised in captivity, Derek. She cannot speak, cannot write. The torment she endured…” My voice faltered, and I had to take a ste
MelodyThe tension in the royal chambers was thick enough to cut with a blade. Derek sat across from me, his hands folded on the table, his gaze sharp and calculating. He had just finished explaining his plan to dismantle Worden’s influence and drive the rogues into chaos. It was a good plan—bold, strategic, and exactly what we needed.I smiled slightly, leaning back in my chair. “It will work.”Derek raised an eyebrow. “You sound so sure.”I nodded. “Because I am. Aaron and Giovanni are known as Mallory's back bone and they're worth the hype," I smiled proudly. "They are the best warriors I’ve ever known." Derek nodded in agreement. Worden may have played his game well, but he underestimated who he was up against. He thinks he’s dealing with the same Mallory from years ago, but he has no idea the strength we’ve built.”Derek exhaled deeply, rubbing his temples. “Even with that, war is never predictable. The moment we go after his spies and disrupt his plans, he’ll retaliate. We need
DerekThe council chamber emptied slowly, the weight of my words still lingering in the air like a heavy storm cloud. My mind raced as I paced the room, Giovanni standing beside me, his presence a silent pillar of support.King Worden had betrayed us. Not only had he conspired with rogues, but he had also directly ordered the execution of my nephew.A man I once called an ally.A man who knew the inner workings of Mallory’s defenses.I clenched my fists, barely restraining the anger simmering beneath my skin.“Giovanni,” I said, my voice low but filled with authority. “We cannot delay. If Worden has already made his move, we must act before he does.”Giovanni nodded. “Agreed. The rogues will be emboldened by his support. If we wait too long, they’ll strike when we least expect it.”I exhaled sharply, my mind sorting through all the possible avenues. There was no room for mistakes.“We need to root out every single one of his spies within our borders,” I said, turning toward him. “He’s
DerekThe council chamber was silent, the air thick with tension. I sat at the head of the long, ornate table, my fingers curled tightly against the armrests of my throne. Across from me, Giovanni stood with his shoulders squared, his expression grim and unwavering.I had always known Giovanni to be sharp, a warrior in his own right, but today, there was something else in his eyes—something darker. A weight that came from witnessing something truly vile.He had returned only days ago, yet I had summoned him to court so that he could address the court about his findings along with Aaron. Too many questions swirled in my mind, and I wouldn’t rest until I had answers.“Speak, Giovanni,” I commanded, my voice calm but firm. “Tell me everything.”Giovanni took a slow breath, then met my gaze. “I saw the rogue’s den with my own eyes, Your Majesty. I saw their numbers, their strategies. But worst of all, I saw the truth behind King Worden’s betrayal.”A murmur ran through the few nobles pre
ElenaThe palace had grown quieter tonight, the usual distant chatter of servants and the rhythmic steps of patrolling guards seeming more muted than usual. The air carried a weight, an unspoken tension that sent a prickle of unease down my spine.Something had shifted.I walked with my usual measured steps, careful not to let my thoughts show on my face. I had spent too many years perfecting my composure to let suspicion slip through now. And yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched more closely than before.Had the Queen figured something out?That thought alone made my stomach tighten.She had been different at dinner tonight. I had caught her watching me more than once, her gaze sharp, assessing. There had been no outright hostility, but her presence had carried a weight that hadn’t been there before.Queen Melody was a woman of power—one did not rule a kingdom like Mallory without possessing an acute sense of awareness. If she had begun to suspect me, I needed t
MelodyThe night air was crisp as I stepped onto the balcony of my chambers, the scent of jasmine and damp earth filling my lungs. The world outside was calm, bathed in the soft glow of the moon, but inside me, a storm raged.I had been restless ever since Zoraya arrived. Something about her had called to me in a way I couldn’t explain—an ache deep in my soul, a pull stronger than logic. And tonight, that truth had finally been laid bare.She is ours.The voice of my wolf echoed in my mind, unwavering.I stilled, my fingers gripping the cold stone railing.Zoraya is My daughter.My lost child. My Darya.I squeezed my eyes shut, my breath coming in sharp, uneven pulls. A wave of emotions crashed into me all at once—relief, sorrow, fury. How had I not seen it sooner?Her scent, her presence, the way my heart clenched every time I looked at her—it had always been there. My wolf had suspected it from the very beginning, but I had been afraid to hope, afraid to be wrong.But I wasn’t wron
MelodyZoraya’s hands trembled in mine, her dark eyes wide with unshed tears. I could feel the fear radiating from her, pressing against my senses like a whisper of the past she was too afraid to recall.But I needed her to.Her breathing was uneven, her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t. And, of course, she couldn’t—not in the way most people did. The only sound that left her was a broken, strangled whimper, a noise so haunting it sent fury rippling through me.I already knew what she was trying to tell me.Elena.The name alone was enough to make my wolf stir restlessly beneath my skin. She had been watching, waiting, ever since the first moment I saw how Zoraya had reacted to her presence. The sheer terror in her body language had told me enough.I should have known sooner.The pieces had been right there before me—the way Zoraya recoiled, the way her entire body went rigid at the mere sight of Elena. It was more than fear. It was deep, ingrained t
ZorayaThe palace was quiet tonight.I curled up on the plush rug beside my bed, knees drawn to my chest, arms wrapped tightly around myself. Ronnie was nestled against my side, his small body warm and comforting. His breathing was steady, rhythmic, and for a moment, I focused on it, matching my own breaths to his.But no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t shake off the weight pressing down on my chest. The memories clawed at the edges of my mind, restless, demanding to be acknowledged.Elena was here.She had been here for days, watching, scheming, and worst of all, smiling. A smile that hid sharp edges, a smile I had learned to fear. No one else saw what lay beneath it. No one else knew.Except for Queen Melody.My fingers dug into my arms as I thought of her. The Queen had been… kind. Far kinder than anyone had ever been to me. She gave me food, soft clothes, warmth. She spoke to me in a way that made me feel seen. Heard. Even though I could not speak like the others, she understo