CRYSTAL'S POV "Dinner?!" I squealed with widened eyes. "T-together with you?" I sputtered with my hands flailing frantically.He nodded."Yes. C'mon, let's go. I'm famished." He urged, cocking his head towards the door.I hesitated as I tried to calm my ragged breathing. I found it surprising that Xavier would suddenly ask me to go for dinner with him! I thought I would find him so pissed off that I left without a word but surprisingly, he wasn't at all and now, he was asking me for dinner?Was this a dream?! How was this possible? Or was there something I should be aware of? I sucked in several deep breaths and gingerly rose to my feet, my brows were pinched together in confusion. Reading the expression on my face, he said after a chuckle."Oh, you thought we were going on a romantic dinner together, just the two of us?" He ribbed with a sly smile forming at the corner of my lips. I pulled my lips between my teeth as heat instantly rushed to my cheeks. I nodded shyly, tugging
CRYSTAL'S POV What did she just say? Did she just call me a filth in front of everyone?Oh my God! I was so embarrassed to look at their faces. I bit my bottom lip and forcibly swallowed the tender fish that I was chewing down my throat, almost choking on it.I hastily reached for the glass of water on the table and gulped its contents down my throat.Alpha Xavier didn't even say a word in defence. He kept chewing on his food with precision.I was too stunned to speak as I gaped my mouth open slightly."I don't think I want to be here, seeing that the slave girl has probably touched the food!" Luna Racaheal vented with so much aggression scrunching up in her brows as she pointed at me.Honestly, what did I ever do to that woman that made her loathe me so much? It wasn't my fault that I was claimed by Xavier to become his mate. He chose me as his mate.Leo's gaze was shrewd and assessing as they bored through mine.I lowered my gaze to my clasped hands. I clutched my hands together s
CRYSTAL'S POVNice dress, by the way, Crystal." Leo said, suddenly, startling me.What the fuck was he thinking, saying that to me?!I sucked in several deep shuddering breaths to calm my rattling nerves.What do I say in return? The way Xavier stopped chewing and was staring at me, waiting for my response, was making me uneasy.I shifted relentlessly with my breath hitched in my throat. I tried to speak, but I was at loss for words. What do I even say to that? A thank you? It might only enrage Xavier since he had instructed me not to say a word.I gulped and averting my gaze from Leo, I nodded again towards Xavier's direction, acknowledging his permission to release me and then I scurried away without looking back to see the expression on Leo's face. I didn't want to see it. That man has gone bullocks! I wondered what came over him all of a sudden. Why does he suddenly want me back after abusing me earlier? Was I a game just to get back at his brother, Xavier?I heaved out a deep sig
XAVIER'S POVI watched her leave the dining room in a rush, knowing damn well it wasn't a bathroom break. She was so uncomfortable throughout the dinner and as much as I hated to admit, I felt a twinge of guilt wounding its way into my stomach.It was as if she was inside a bubble and was floating around aimlessly alone. I wanted to reach out so badly and hold her hands, pulling her into the fold.But I had to keep up with my usual demeanour, especially in front of Leo and Luna Rachael. I didn't want them to have anything against me.The fear in her eyes as she poked absentmindedly at the vegetables, made something flutter in my heart that I couldn't put into words.Why does my heart move towards her, as if her gentle, clueless presence was pulling me, attracting me to her like a magnet?It was insane. She has been drifting into my thoughts lately and I couldn't control it.Shit! The rules were simple: No love, no strings attached to avoid complications. And now I was the one brea
XAVIER'S POV"What the hell are you doing here?!" I hissed with annoyance wrinkling at my brows.She shot me a lewd smile and drew closer."Why can't I be here? I came to get some air too. It's been quite a day." She puffed out a deep sigh as she rested her arm on the railings.I huffed out an exasperated groan. "Alicia...what if Leo catches you here? He's your boyfriend now. You should spend more time with him, not me."She scoffed, rolling her eyes."His name brings me disgust. Will you just forget about your brother while we are together? I'm here with you, Xavier, not with him. Stop ruining the moment with the same old story."I arched my brows at her."Same old story? You're not in love with my brother, are you?"Her brows pinched together in disgust as she shook her head aggressively."Of course not! Why would I be?""Then why did you end things with me, Alicia?" I quizzed, fixing her a suspicious stare.She looked away and gazed at the moon. A tight-lipped smile graced her red
CRYSTAL'S POV I had been waiting for Xavier all night that I didn't know when I slept off.Waking up, I felt groggy and tired and super famished. That's right, yesterday at the Royal dining room was a total disaster. I was derided by Luna Rachael for no obvious reason, and I had used a bathroom break as an excuse. Xavier had instructed that I wait for him in the inner chambers. I had waited all night but he didn't return so I fell asleep.I turned on the other side of the bed to see if he was still asleep, but to my surprise, he wasn't even in bed.I glanced at the wall clock and the time read, 9:10 am. It was still early in the morning, and he wasn't even in bed.Maybe he was in the shower or perhaps went for one of his usual so-called walks. He probably went off to see Alicia again.My heart fluttered in annoyance.Well, whatever. It wasn't like it was any of my business anyway.I yawned and stretched. What I should be concerned about right now was what I was going to eat.As if
CRYSTAL'S POVI yelped in shock as the booming voice from the door startled us.I gasped in astonishment to see Xavier's huge frame filling the entrance of the door.That wasn't the only reason I was shocked. My eyes dipped lower as my jaw gaped wide open like a fish on a hook to see the beautiful banquet of flowers he was holding on his left hand. Flowers?!! For me? Was he really serious right now? What the hell was going on here? Was there some sort of contest going on because why on earth did the Fernández brothers both come to give me an expensive looking banquet of flowers? Or perhaps it wasn't meant for me but for Alicia? Don't be lame, Crystal, the look of puzzlement in his eyes said otherwise. It was most definitely for you!Hold on! Someone, please wake me up .This had better be a dream!! I'm screaming mentally right now and flapping my hands like a bird! Xavier just got me flowers???!!! What for?!But this wasn't the time to get excited. We have far more important things
LEO'S POV"Fuck!" I grunted in pain as I held my side. It hurts like hell and my neck was burning with pain as well. I was in so much discomfort that a guard ran towards me to give me a hand."Alpha Leo! What happened to you? Was there an attack? I will send for-"I waved him off and smiled weakly."It's alright, Austin." Austin was my personal guard . He was always stationed at my chambers.He nodded but his brows were still pinched together in concern. He supported his arm around my back as we staggered to my chambers.I was limping in pain and I couldn't breathe properly because of the scorching pain searing in my chest.Damn Xavier! I would never forgive him for this! He ruined my one perfect chance to reclaim Crystal Thorne, my mate whom I had once rejected. And on top of that, he had disgraced me in front of her. The way he easily beat the hell out of me made me cower in embarrassment as I fumbled out of the inner chambers. Shit! Now, all thanks to Xavier my stupid brother, C
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