Giovanni"Grayson Mansion?" I repeated as I tried to sit.I wanted to see if I was indeed in a mansion. My eyes looked around again and I couldn't understand how I got there. I was with Davis, then he poisoned me and had me dumped or better to say buried somewhere, the how did I suddenly get into this place. I looked around again, thoroughly examining the place. The room was vast, its walls lined with shelves holding ancient artifacts and statues, I couldn’t begin to name. Heavy velvet curtains draped the windows, blocking out the morning sun, though a few determined rays managed to slip through, casting streaks of light across the polished wooden floor. The scent of cedarwood and lavender lingered in the air, a comforting contrast to the damp, mossy odor of the forest where I had been left for dead.I don't know how long I had been in Grayson mansion. My eyes wandered to the intricate tapestry hanging opposite the bed, depicting a battle long past.Surprisingly, I noticed that
Giovanni Two weeks. It's been two weeks since I became conscious in Grayson mansion. I had to find the secret hidden in there. I had searched the library and several other places to no avail. So, I decided to resume the quest of finding the hidden secret.The light flickered as I swept through the corridor, making the shadows dance against the walls of Grayson Mansion. The silence of the night was thick, broken only by the soft creak of the floorboards beneath my careful steps. For the past week, I had searched every corner of this place, each day growing more desperate, more determined to uncover the truth hidden within these walls.It had been a coincidence.or so it seemed that I had ended up here, rescued by Elena Grayson after being left for dead in that deadly Forest. However, fate had a strange way of working, and coincidences rarely existed in my line of work.Grayson Mansion had been whispered about in conversations I wasn’t meant to hear between Davis, the rogue's guard
Giovanni The early morning sun crested over the distant hills, bathing the sea with its golden light. The sight of Mallory Kingdom’s towering gates in the distance sent a rush of excitement through me. I clasped my hands tighter in excitement, My heart pounded with anticipation, a mix of relief and urgency coursing through my veins. After weeks of danger, uncertainty, and searching for answers, I was finally returning home with the proof I needed to expose King Worden and stop the Rogues before they destroyed everything we held dear.Mallory stood tall on the horizon, its silver spires gleaming in the morning sun. The city was as majestic as I remembered, its walls a testament to the strength and resilience of its people. I could almost hear the bustling markets, smell the fresh bread from the bakeries, and see the familiar faces of friends and family who had no idea of the danger that loomed just beyond the borders.I glanced to my side, where Elena stood quietly . Her intent ga
MelodyI was the happiest when the news of Giovanni's return got to me. We all set out for his welcoming with Derek and Aaron walking by my side.Zoraya followed behind me, with a big smile sitting on her face.I found a sense of peace seeing her happy. Her face glowed in the evening sun and her smile added to the happiness I already felt by the news of Giovanni's return.I felt somewhat complete.However, I noticed that Zoraya suddenly became still like she had seen a ghost.I had turned just in time to see her eyes flutter shut, her body swaying as if caught in an invisible current. Before I could process what was happening, she collapsed, her delicate frame crumpling to the ground.“Zoraya!” I screamed, my voice piercing through the chatter of everyone who had gone to welcome Giovanni.The place fell silent, and all eyes turned to me, but I couldn’t care less. My crown, my dignity, my title... none of it mattered. All I could think of was the pale, lifeless figure on the floor.Wit
Zoraya Mallory Palace had become a sanctuary for me, a haven where I could finally breathe without the weight of my past suffocating me. Though it's only been a short while since I arrived here, but the ambience, the people have made me feel so safe that it feels like it’s been ages since I arrived there. I opened my eyes slowly as the tall arched windows allowed sunlight to spill in, illuminating the polished floors and casting a golden glow on the intricate tapestries that adorned the walls. This place, with its sense of timeless beauty, had become my refuge. Here, I was no longer the scared, broken girl from Grayson Mansion; I was Zoraya, someone who was beginning to rediscover herself. But today, that sense of peace had shattered. As I stood amongst the others to welcome the second prince. when I first saw her. At the far end of the hallway, a figure stood motionless, her silhouette unmistakable even from a distance. My steps faltered, and my heart stilled. I
AxelThe grand hall buzzed with celebration as Giovanni was welcomed back home. Cheers and applause filled the air, the scent of wine and burning torches mingling as the people of Mallory rejoiced. I stood tall among the gathered crowd, my arms crossed over my chest as I watched the reunion unfold. Prince Giovanni looked stronger, more confident his presence radiated the kind of leadership a kingdom needed.Yet my focus wavered.My gaze kept drifting toward her.Zoraya.She stood near Queen Melody, her figure small amidst the towering nobles and warriors. Her wild, untamed hair framed her delicate features, and though she had come a long way from when I first saw her, she still had that haunted look in her eyes.My wolf stirred restlessly. We had found her our mate. After years of searching, of longing, of endless frustration, she was right here. But she was still so far away from me.I didn’t dare move toward her. She was still healing, still finding her place in this kingdom. I h
AaronThe evening sky was painted in hues of crimson and gold as the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting long shadows over the grand courtyards of Mallory Palace. The air was thick with tension, though tonight, for the first time in what felt like forever, there was a spark of hope burning in my chest.Giovanni was back.I hadn’t let myself believe it when the guards first brought word. "The Prince's ship has arrived,” they’d said, their faces wary, conditioned by months of unexpected dangers and false promises. But when I saw him ride through the gates, battered but unbroken, his sharp eyes still blazing with that familiar fire, I knew it was real.My brother had returned.I rushed down the stone steps two at a time, my heart pounding. It felt like ages since I’d last seen him, since fate had torn us apart. Before I even reached him, his leather armor stained with travel and battle, his dark hair windswept, and his expression grim....until he saw me.“Aaron.” His voice was roug
MelodyThe echoes of the court still lingered in my mind as I made my way through the winding halls of Mallory Palace, my thoughts fixed on Zoraya. The court session had dragged on far longer than I anticipated, my advisors hounding me with endless reports and squabbles. But throughout it all, my heart remained elsewhere, tugged back to that small, quiet room where Zoraya lay recovering.I had left her reluctantly, her pale face still vivid in my mind, her breathing shallow but steady as I’d smoothed her hair and whispered that I would return soon. I didn’t want to leave her side, but duty had called.Now, as I approached her door, a chill ran down my spine. Something felt off. The corridor was too quiet, the air heavy with something I couldn’t name. And then I saw her.Elena.The supposed guest who had arrived with Giovanni only hours ago. She was walking out of Zoraya’s room, her expression unreadable, her movements calm and measured.I froze mid-step, my hand gripping the edge of
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