CRYSTAL'S POVMy heart pounded in my chest at an alarming rate of excitement as I read the note. It read:"Crystal, if you can, let's meet underneath our favourite tree tonight."At once I knew who it was from.Emily!!!!! My heart swelled with relief and I heaved out a deep breath.Thank goodness! We can finally meet. I was already planning how to meet her in my head when the note flew out as if on cue.When did she have the time to write this and place it under my plate? How did she know the breakfast was for me?Either way, I was overwhelmed that my feelings had reached her. She wasn't angry like I thought she was!I thanked the moon goddess for bringing us together! Life back then at the miserable camp where the slave training took place, was hell on earth. According to our superiors, the training was mandatory if we ever wanted to get hired by the royal palace. Most of the slaves at the training camp were orphans just like us, their parents passed away at war or due to poverty
XAVIER'S POVI made my way to the elders's chambers in the royal palace. My thoughts were clouded by a lot of things; the throne as the coronation drew near, my wicked step-mother and step-brother who would stop at nothing to get their hands on the throne and.. Crystal Thorne... That young lady intrigued me. She was like a gift box that needed to be unwrapped carefully. I couldn't tell what to expect next and the anticipation and thrill brewed inside of me as I waited to unfold the next layer of the wrapped box. Crystal Thorne was really that girl. The fact that she was an omega and once a slave, made me even more curious. Although, prior to our encounter, I had carried out my own personal investigation but it was not enough. We had stayed together for a week and I've been blown away by her. Which made me think that maybe I didn't really know her as I thought I did. She was somewhat of a mystery to me. The fact that my wolf had called out to her, a mere omega like her c
XAVIER'S POVThe day Mary Fernandez passed away was a day of utter grief and gloom. It was as if the whole palace was suddenly shrouded in darkness. The clouds swallowed the sun, making the whole day bleak and dark and the air was stale. It was as if I was hugging death too. For weeks I hadn't been myself and I locked myself in my room, refusing to eat. My father had checked up on me severally but I wouldn't listen to him. I wept throughout the day. Then one day, a gentle knock on my door woke me from my slumber. I wasn't having it because I didn't want any disturbances from the maid forcing me to eat and all. Or was it my father? Or Leo perhaps? I didn't want to see anyone at this moment! The knock continued. With a loud groan, I slowly dragged myself out of bed and headed to the door. With my hand hovering over the door handle, I paused and asked: "Who is it? " "It's me, Xavier. Open up. " The familiar voice whispered fiercely. It's Uncle Ivan! To me, he wasn't
XAVIER'S POV: "Xavier! You are late! " Uncle Ivan whispered fiercely as he poked his head out from the door, his eyes scanning the surroundings suspiciously for any hidden movements and ensuring I wasn't being followed.It was our makeshift hideout and we didn't want anyone finding out we were meeting. We couldn't trust anyone at such a critical time. As Uncle Ivan would always say: "Keep your eyes peeled open always."Giving him an apoplectic smile I said: "I'm very sorry Uncle Ivan. I got here as fast as I could. " Yeah right, Xavier. You were busy daydreaming about the past. I chided myself mentally. "No worries. Get in! " He said quickly as he urged me with his hands frantically gesturing towards the ajar door leading inside the secluded apartment. Looking outside for the last time, I entered the apartment hurriedly. He clicked the door shut and turning to face me, he huffed out a deep sigh. "I hope you weren't followed. " He inquired with arched brows. I shook my h
XAVIER'S POVIt was a dungeon but I had no idea where it led to. Worse still, It was pitch black. I couldn't see a damn thing after the bookshelf creaked shut, leaving us in darkness. "Uncle? ""I'm right behind you. Wait a minute I have a torch. "I huffed out in disappointment and clicked my tongue. "So much for the befitting place you mentioned, Uncle. "I heard him chuckle, almost causing my spine to bristle in annoyance. But remembering who the hell the great Uncle Ivan was, I knew this wasn't what he wanted to show me. It was laughable to just be in a pitch-dark dungeon and talk about how you wanna rule the world. "No, it's not. A little patience, young man. " He admonished again and then I heard the rustling of his clothes as he looked for the torch. A few seconds later, he switched on the torch and brightness filled the once pitch-dark dungeon. My vision readjusted and I could see the stairway leading further down in pitch darkness. I gulped. Never been a frien
XAVIER'S POV"What about her?" I asked with a puzzled expression on my face. He arched his brows. "Why not? "I quickly swept my tongue over my chapped lips and flashed him a rueful smile. "My bad, Uncle. I was just um... Carried away by the abrupt question. "But why was my Uncle suddenly interested in Crystal Thorne of all people?? She was after all just a mere Omega and slave. Well, she was technically not a slave anymore from the moment I claimed her as my mate.He smiled back at me and shook his head."I know you have claimed her as your mate, Xavier. I mean, after your public show in front of everyone, why wouldn't I be aware? The whole palace couldn't keep shut about it."Yeah right. Everyone was being nosy about Crystal Thorne and why I had claimed her as my mate. Like it was anyone's business anyway. But I didn't understand why Uncle Ivan was concerned about Crystal. Could something be wrong with me claiming her as my mate? I pressed my lips together in embarrass
XAVIER'S POV"And I fail to adequately grasp the young lady's role in this. " His words haunted my thoughts at once and my mind was filled with millions of questions about Crystal Thorne. What if she was never a slave? And maybe a spy? But how could she be spying for that long? She looked rather unwell. And according to my homework, she had been subjected to the most dreaded slave training and I was impressed she survived. She was a big fighter to have survived for this long. I was happy to see that she was gaining weight and looking even more beautiful than how she was while staying in that miserable slum. What blew my mind in particular was how supportive and selfless she was to her friend, Emily. She didn't want her to suffer alone but rather to be with her in the Royal palace even if it was to work as a slave. At least the working conditions were quite favourable compared to that miserable slum. She was... What was I thinking at such a crucial moment?!! My Uncle ju
XAVIER'S POVHis amber eyes gleamed as they bored into my dark brown ones. I was befuddled as I struggled to find the right words to speak again. The silence was deafening. The clock ticked in rhythm with my heart beat as I waited. Damn! What the hell was going on? He was kinda giving me the creeps! "Uncle Ivan? What's the matter? " I inquired with bulged eyes. He shook his head as if he was pulling himself back to the present. What the hell was that? He chuckled wryly and let go off me. "I just had a bad feeling. " He said quietly as he stared into oblivion like he was seeing a ghost. He was acting weird and now I was creeped out even more. I gulped and rubbed my wrist gently, utter confusion still marring my brows. "What do you mean by that? What's going on. You're acting strange Uncle."He shook his head again and smiled at me. "Never mind. Forget I ever said anything. " He said waving it off. Like hell I would! He had a bad feeling about something out of the
LEO'S POVOh shit! This wasn't good! Crystal was going to be kidnapped. What if I was already too late. I didn't exactly hear everything that they said. But I knew something was off, and I was already too late by the time I got to Xavier's chambers. I came just in time to see two men clad in black clothes and a mask covering their faces, carrying Crystal after drugging her. They put her in a horse-drawn carriage.I tried to follow the carriage as discreetly as I could until they stopped at a cavern beneath a high mountain.Damn it, but even if I wanted to rescue her , I was outnumbered.There was no way I could make it at this rare. I would just end up getting myself killed.Then what do I do at this rate? This was a matter of life and death. Crystal was in dire danger. My mother and crazy girlfriend had completely gone bonkers! I needed to get Crystal out of there as fast as possible before things got out of hand.I had no idea what exactly the two women wanted to do to Crystal. H
CRYSTAL'S POV It's has been a lonely evening....a lonely day, in fact. Xavier was hardly around. He had been very busy with having ceaseless meetings with his uncle, and tonight, he had mentioned earlier that he won't be available until later in the night or early in the morning so I shouldn't wait up for him.I puffed out a deep sigh. He had been very busy these past few weeks. I heard the coronation was drawing to a close. No wonder the discreet meetings with his uncle have risen. He had been working so hard with little time to rest. I hoped he was doing okay? I had insisted earlier that he took today's off, but he wouldn't listen.I slid out of bed and headed to the balcony for the view and to get some fresh air. Maybe that would help me relax and sleep better. Lately, I've been finding it somewhat hard to fall asleep easier.I also wonder if Martin was doing alright ever since he went exiled. At any rate, it was way better than remaining here. Alicia would have made life a livi
ALICIA'S POV Shit! Shit! Shit! As if things couldn't get any worse than it already was!Three days had passed, and I didn't hear a single word from Martin anymore. I had instructed Lucas to check on him in his quarters, but he was nowhere to be found. He didn't even report to work the following morning. So I had Lucas go to his bakcksmith shop discreetly to find out if he was there. But he wasn't....infact, until now we had no idea where he would have run off to.It's been a week and not a single word. What could have happened? If he had exposed my plans to Crystal or Xavier, I would have known by now. But something was strange. What did Martin do? He probably ran off somewhere. He was a spy, after all. It was easier for him to adapt.But damn it! I didn't expect my plans to be ruined. I invested so much into this, and yet I have nothing to show for it! What the hell was happening?! Did Crystal do or say to him? What really went down? I wouldn't be able to know when she tells me
CRYSTAL'S POVI was such a fool! How come I didn't realise that Alicia had been playing a trick on me all these while?! Xavier and Emily, my best friend, warned me, and yet I didn't listen because I wanted to give Alicia the benefit of the doubt for once. I had hoped that something good was going to come out of our friendship after she supposedly rescued me that day. Rescued? But come to think of it though...now that Martin had exposed the truth, what if Emily had been right that the whole idea about Alicia randomly showing up that day and most especially in the nick of time to save me, sounded so thought out and planned. What if Alicia also had a hand in that as well? She had insisted that Xavier get me a new bodyguard because she had been plotting to bring one here herself, which was Martin. How come I didn't see that coming?! I was so blinded to the fact that Alicia was turning a new leaf and wanted the best for me. What a fool I had been! Now, thanks to the moon goddess for swa
MARTIN'S POV A video?! Why does this sound so familiar. "What?! What did Leo do to you if you don't mind my asking? Did he-""No!" She blurted out before I could finish. I didn't want to complete that statement in the first place, silently hoping it wasn't true ."No, he didn't! I'm glad he didn't." She said shakily, and I couldn't help but feel the pain seared through my chest, watching how hurt she looked.She must have been through a lot. I wondered what really went down that day...Thankfully, Leo didn't rape her as I thought. She paused and sucked in several deep breaths before she continued:"He tried to have sex with me but I'm glad it didn't go through....so a video was made and I was threatened that the video would go public if I didn't do as I was told. I had no choice. Before I could gather my thoughts together, I ran out. I was mortified, broken, and scared to death. "She paused as she bit her bottom lip frantically before she continued again."I wanted to run away an
MARTIN'S POV I resumed work the following day as usual, but this time, it was different. The emotions writhing inside of me were relentless. What do I do? I was restless, and I couldn't even concentrate on my job.I think the moment of truth was finally here, and for the first time, I was going to follow my heart to hell with the consequences. I would rather voice out the truth that will set me free than bottling up all these lies and guilt nibbling at me steadily.As usual, we met for her morning run, and when we slowed down for a break, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to tell her the truth. At this rate, what was even the point of hiding the truth?! It was utterly useless because I quit! I wouldn't stand by, fold my hands, and watch as an innocent, young lady's life was torn apart, and I had a hand in her destruction. No! I wouldn't be able to live with myself after that. I would blame myself for as long as i lived! So instead, why didn't I try to make things right?G
MARTIN'S POV I sucked in a deep breath as I swallowed.She arched her brows diametrically at me as she peered up at me, eyeing me closely.I cleared my throat."What brings you to this crappy side of the royal palace. It was rare seeing you here at this hour. This place doesn't suit your fancy, my lady." I said, with a sly smile curling up at the corner of my lips with an intent to taut her.She rolled her eyes as she moaned in exasperation."Oh for fuck's sake, Xavier drop the stupid formalities and step aside!" My eyes widened slightly as curiosity creased my brows.Don't tell me she was planning to step inside my shithole of a room!"Um...what on earth are you planning to do, Alicia?" I dipped lower as I whispered fiercely, looking both ways to ensure that no one was within earshot and in sight.She waved me off and pushed past me as she entered my tiny room. But the good part was that she didn't have to duck her head like me.I puffed out a deep sigh of resignation. There was
MARTIN'S POV Days passed by like a blur and then weeks and before I realised what was happening, two months had gone by. And in all of those times, a day didn't pass without my mind being preoccupied by the thoughts of Crystal Thorne, the lady whom I served under. The lady I had sworn to protect with my life. And you know what? I would gladly lay down my life for her. No one deserved that, but Crystal Thorne! Where on earth has she been all these while?! If only I had been a little earlier, we could have ended up together. Hopefully..... Well, at least, she wouldn't have had the opportunity of even crossing paths with Alpha Xavier Fernández. If only I had come into her life earlier. Maybe she didn't have to suffer. We could have run off somewhere and started a new life as a couple who shared a somewhat similar past. But was it too late?Maybe it wasn't too late after all.... how else could the both of us have met anyway?! Crystal Thorne had been locked up within the four walls of t
MARTIN'S POV"I'm sorry once again, Crystal," I said again when we were outside alone and after we had jogged around the open fields of the royal palace.She shook her head frantically."It alright, Martin. It is fine. I understand that you're still trying to find your feet," she paused as she shot me a rueful smile."You know, I used to be like you when I first started my job. I was confused and scared. I wasn't sure about what to do. I was so clueless like a fawn parted from its mother."I smiled warmly at her as I listened to her.I couldn't help but admire her beauty. She was indeed breathtaking. On top of that, she was a strong young lady who had survived a lot. I owe her some respect for that!"Thank you for understanding, Crystal," I said gently, shooting her a wide grin.She was not only empathetic to my plight, she was gentle and nice towards me.I wish to know more about her, and it had been eating deep at me. The curiosity to know what lies in the deepest recess of her he