CRYSTAL'S POV"Crystal? Where are you going to?" His deep voice seeped through the recess of my mind, causing a shiver to shoot up and down my spine in a rush.I instantly halted in my tracks like a statue as my heart pounded hard and fast like a hailstorm against my ribcage.I gulped. Was I dreaming? Was this for real? Was my ears playing a trick on me? Did he just call out to me? Did he really just choose me over those sophisticated and well-polished women? I forced a lump down my throat as I slowly whipped around. The three women were still flocking around him. The woman in the green dress still had her hands on his chest.I bit my bottom lip and forced my gaze to meet Xavier's. His lips curled up into a cocky smile as he followed my line of vision.I quickly cleared my throat and tore my gaze away, heat rushing to my cheeks in embarrassment. Damn it! Now, he probably knew that I was jealous.I tipped my chin at him, meeting his piercing gaze. Even though my heart was pounding s
CRYSTAL'S POV "But I don't know how to dance. I've never-!" I widened my eyes as his index finger on my lips shut me up.My heart raced against my chest as my cheeks heated, causing my nipples to pebble in response.No way he just shut me up with his finger pressed against my lips.Now I think I might just lose it and melt like butter against his touch!I gulped.He winked at me as a smile curved at the corner of his lips."Don't worry, I will teach you. It's not that hard." He said. He squeezed my hands in his gently as he led me to the centre of the stage for a dance.My heart pounded like a hailstorm against my chest as I obediently followed him like a bee following a honeycomb. All eyes were fixed on us, and I could hear surprised whispers from the crowd as we approached the stage.Would I be able to dance with him without making a mess? I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of the crowd and much less, in front of Xavier Fernández. Come to think of it, this might be the
CRYSTAL'S POVThe letter read thus: "Dear Alicia, my angel and darling. You looked particularly beautiful today at the luncheon. I couldn't take my eyes off you for even a second. Seeing you casually lounging on the sofa and giggling with your friends sends several sizzling thoughts running through my mind. You have no idea how much you haunt my thoughts.wanna take a wild guess? Well, there's only one way to find out, sweetheart. You know where to find me. And oh! lest I forget, did you see the bouquet in your room? I had to send the maid to deliver it to your room for me. No worries honey, it's nothing grandeur. I just wanted to celebrate you always for being by my side and for just being my gorgeous girlfriend. I'm so happy to have you in my life. Mo cherie."Love,Xavier.With shaky hands, I closed the letter and gently put it back in the box as I met it. My heart was drumming in my chest, beating so hard and fast. I pressed my hand onto my chest, hoping it would calm my rattl
CRYSTAL'S POVI woke up to the sound of running water from the bathroom. Soft music was playing in the background from the music player box on the table close to the bathroom.I groggily sat up, rubbing my puffed eyes. I quickly took a sneak peek at the bed mirror stand hoping it wasn't obvious that I cried myself to sleep. There were sleepy bags underneath my eyes that all. It could be mistaken for sleepy bags so it was all good. I yawned and stretched my arms as I peered at the wall clock; It was 10 am in the morning. I wondered when I slept off. I wondered how long I was awake. All I could remember was that I cried myself to sleep. I didn't remember what happened afterwards.Anyway, I've decided to forget whatever happened in the early hours of the day and face the day as if nothing happened. But when he came into view, the content of the letter popped up in my head again. The contents of the romantic letters came back to haunt my consciousness...I took in a shuddering breath
CRYSTAL'S POVI gulped. How do I couch the question? How do I ask him what I said when I was drunk? How do I ask him if I made a mess of myself? At any rate, I was curious to find out what exactly I did or might have said last night."Crystal?" He called out, and I jumped as his hand touched my arm.Heat rushed to my cheeks, blazing like hellfire underneath my skin.He clicked his tongue as he lolled his head back and chuckled."Not you spacing out on me again." He shook his head.I wanted to kick my own ass mentally. I couldn't believe I had just spaced out on Xavier twice in a row. What happened to take charge of the situation? It was a hell of a difficult task now. It was like everything changed after I found the letters.Remember, no matter what, don't let him find out that you went snooping around his stuff and found the letters! But it was so hard. Anytime I stared at him, I was reminded of the contents of the letters. It drifted through the recess of my brain; it was as if i
CRYSTAL'S POV Oh my God! Did he find out that I had opened the box and found the letters?! Or I was simply overreacting?I sucked deep breaths through my lungs. My heart was a frantic drumbeat in my chest, my stomach a storm of nausea.He stepped out of his walk-in closet, his eyes darting all over my face dubiously.My breath hitched in my throat."Crystal?" He said again. Uncontrollably, my eyes lowered to the piece of towel tied lazily around his waist that had now dipped lower. I almost caught a glimpse of his groin.Instantly, my nipples hardened in reaction.I gulped and cleared my throat as I forced my gaze to look up at his searching face.What happened? And why did he call my name?"What?" I asked hoarsely. "I can't find something in my closet." He said, looking at me pointedly like I took whatever it was he was looking for.Wait! Hold on... What was that?I forced a lump down my increasingly dry throat as I forced my brain to recall if I had mistakenly tumbled anything
CRYSTAL'S POV His words were clipped and icy. And as they rolled out of his mouth, my heart was pounding relentlessly like a hailstorm against my chest.I swallowed as I watched him say those words. What the hell? He sounded so harsh! I don't even get this man at all. One minute, he sounded nice, and the other minute, he sounded harsh.But I needed that reality check, though. I was just his mate and an omega. I shouldn't forget that and get carried away. Maybe I was wrong after all.... all his so-called calm and nice demeanour towards me might be all a facade, and I kept falling right into it. Helplessly and hopelessly in love with my prisoner.I couldn't just leave here if I wanted to. My movements were limited. I never knew who was watching me. My life could pretty much mean nothing to him, and yet I fell in love with him. What was I even thinking? Did I actually think that there might be some sort of hope after I found those romantic letters between Xavier and Alicia? C'mon, now,
CRYSTAL'S POV In less than twenty minutes, I was ready. I put on something simple and light. It was summertime, after all, and it was probably hot outside.I needed to bask in the sunlight for a little tan, so wearing a light fabric was the suitable option. I pulled up my long dark brown hair into a ponytail. The embroidered dress was a little below my knee, and I put on a pair of brown sandals to match my chestnut-coloured dress.After one last satisfactory nod, as I assessed my reflection in the mirror at the dresser, I stepped out of the room quietly, locking the door behind me.I should get to the servant's quarters... Emily should be there. Or what does she usually do at this time?I peered at my hand-held wristwatch. The time read 12:10 pm. Wow, it was still quite early. I suddenly remembered when Emily mentioned that, in the early hours of the day, she was stationed in the laundry room. I was already making my way towards the servant's quarters when I halted and turned arou
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