-Adonai-After Dante left my room I resumed my focus on the spread. His presence had been an unwelcome distraction. I had ordered the guards not to let anyone in whenever I was at my study but the law was limited to Dante of course and only because he was my brother.And he had come here to speak to me about, I paused trying to recollect my thoughts. He spoke about the alliance with Laban’s pack and then Jasmine.All those were matters that did not concern him. With matters concerning our pack and others, he could offer his suggestions, but with my personal affairs, I would not take ideas from anyone. I had tried Jasmine and contrary to what Dante said, she had not done much as a mistress, how much more she would be able to do as my wife.What business does he have with what I do with her anyway? I shook my head and tried to return my concentration to the work before me but no, the distraction had affected my focus and now I could not get it back.I was trying to draft out a plan on h
-Aria- Towards afternoon, I began to feel something was wrong when Prisca still did not show up. That was weird. I had thought something had kept her but now I believed something was wrong. I had not touched the food that was brought to me in the morning and now the maids had brought lunch and took away the breakfast. I was slightly hungry but I still wanted to eat with her. I hoped she would not let me starve to death though. Perhaps I should go look for her, I thought to myself but realized I did not even know where she lived. It would be awkward asking anyone to show me where my best friend stays so I did not know what to do. I have been in here since yesterday evening and I have fallen asleep twice since morning while waiting for my friend who never came. There was a knock on the door and my face brightened into a smile thinking it was her. “Come in,” I said gingerly, looking expectantly at the door. It opened and the strong arms I saw made the excitement on my face fade away
Aria-We walked side by side with Dante in town and I tried hard to keep the awe off my face. This pack is so beautiful. More than Moonbeam. What was said about this place was true. All the stories and rumors we heard were true.I had never imagined I would be here someday.“You seem to be…” Dante paused as if he was trying to find the right words. “You seem to be very excited these days.”I turned to look at him and saw that he was looking in the direction I was looking at. A group of children was playing at a corner and I was watching them with a smile.“I love children,” I told him and almost regretted saying when I saw his expression changed.“You do not like children and cannot stand them, Jasmine,” he said more like a statement than a question, slowing his pace and looking at me with doubt in his eyes.What in the name of the goddess is going on? Who the hell does not love children? I mean, they are sweet innocent souls you cannot help but admire their playful and carefree natur
-Prisca-“Prisca please open the door so we can talk, what is going on?” Jasmine’s voice came again through the door. Why can’t she just go away? I was not in the mood to talk about anything.“I am not leaving until I see you,” she said banging on the door and I realized she might do that. I knew her well. Jasmine was that stubborn. I stood up from the bed and opened the door slightly.“What do you want?” I asked her.“Prisca, what is going on? Please let me in,” she pleaded earnestly.“You said you were not leaving until you see my face so now that you have seen me, can you leave?”“Oh come on, don’t be like this. Okay fine I get it, you are mad at me. But can we talk this out? Just let me in so we can talk please.”I looked at her thoughtfully before leaving the door. She walked into the room with Dante following right behind her. Oh great, she had come along with the very man I did not like.“What is he doing here?” I crossed my arms over my chest and asked her, looking at Dante w
-Aria-After a few hours, everything had returned to normal and I and Prisca were laughing heartily again. At this point I was very grateful that I had someone like her around else I would have died of boredom here.“I told him to fuck off,” she was telling me about something that had happened yesterday and I laughed hard.“Prisca you did that?” I asked her, almost choking on my laughter.“Of course I did,” she affirmed.“Yet you keep complaining about not having a man but when you find one you send him away like that? What if he is your mate?” I asked her, laughing.“The gods forbid,” Prisca scowled with a sharp expression that got me rolling over with laughter. “I reject it with everything I love.”“Why?”“Girl, you needed to have seen that man, you will understand why I am rejecting him. For goodness sake, I am asking for a fairy, my prince in shining armor, and not a natural disaster.”“What in the devil’s name is that supposed to mean?” I doubled over with laughter. “Why would yo
-Ariel- I stood in front of the large mirror in my room frowning at the reflection before me. I hated it so much that I looked like Jasmine but was nothing like her. Even though we were twins, she was a lot more different and I hated to say, prettier. Sometimes I wondered what makes her different and it made me want to act like her. I would have the same clothes as her and that was normal because since childhood we wore the same clothes. But it seemed she always outshined me even when we were wearing the same thing. I sighed and moved away from the mirror. I was not asking for too much. All I want is for Jasmine to stay away from things that were mine. Was she not satisfied with everything she had? I looked at the food the maid had brought a few hours ago uninterestingly. I was sure it was cold now and the thought of that made it even less appetizing. There was a light knock on the door and I shook my head as if whoever it was could see me. I did not want any disturbance. “I want
-Adonai-I was finding it very difficult to concentrate. I found myself thinking about Jasmine and if she was okay. The only reason why I was thinking about her was because I had not seen her in days and I was left with the worry that something must have happened to her.I could not take it anymore and decided to ask one of the guards to get her. I hope she has not done anything funny again this time around. It annoyed me that I could not pretend someone like her did not exist and just live my life. It annoyed me more that was restless and wanted to see her.I stood up from the study table and walked to the door.“Go get me Jasmine,” I said to the guards at the door and one of them left to carry out the order. I walked back to the room and caught myself waiting anxiously for her to arrive.What is the meaning of this? Why was I this excited to see a woman I did not care about a few days ago? This was the same woman who I was going to marry and did not feel a thing about. It is the sam
-Aria-“What does the alpha want to see me for?” I found myself asking and received a glare from the guard.“It is not in my place to answer that,” he replied unsmilingly. My face was laced with some worry for the benefit of those in the room with me, but deep down, I was happy that the alpha was calling for me.In that case, it meant my plan was working. I had better not celebrate too soon, I chided myself. I did not know what he had sent for me, it might not be what I thought.“You must not keep the alpha waiting,” the guard’s menacing voice rang in my air and I frowned slightly. Okay, have I told anyone do not like how these guards speak to me? But he is the least of my worries now. I will deal with that when I can get Adonai’s attention.“I will be right back,” I told Prisca without looking at her and braced myself towards the guard. I stood before him and he moved out of the way.“After you,” he said as he pointed towards the door. I walked past him to the door and he followed be
- Zafa -It was such a dramatic evening. I couldn't help admiring Adonai for how well he solved everything. Ken walked away shamefully with the family he almost lost from the fire he created. Those innocent kids would have died because of his foolishness. I hope this teaches him the lesson he has refused to learn all these years.Everyone began to disperse, and I lost track of Loveth in the crowd. My eyes had been on her until she suddenly disappeared. I had wanted to have a word with her after everything had quieted down, but she was just out of my sight the moment I blinked my eyes.Was she avoiding me? Not after the hot night we had, right? Perhaps, she was just shy, or was it the moral guilt? I could not tell which it was. You can never tell with women.I might have to wait till she was done with the running and hiding games. One thing was certain, she wouldn't run forever.- Dianne -I dismissed the rest of the maids after dinner and finished the rest of the clean-up, humming a s
- Zafa -I woke up with a hangover and rolled off the bed. I walked straight to the bathroom to have a bath and felt much better afterward.I returned to find only a heap on the bed. Loveth was nowhere to be found. Now I couldn't remember if she was here when I had gotten off the bed or if she had left earlier.The memories from the previous night came rushing in and I felt a wave of excitement run through my veins. She had come to me.I knew she wouldn't be able to stay away for so long. That's my girl. Which makes things easier for me. I had thought it would take more to get her back but apparently, she was not as hard as she imagined herself to be. Leaving the army to stress me when all she wanted was a good fuck.I would have to let her know though, that doing what we did doesn't mean I had feelings for her. Sex wasn't love. After all, she was the one who came to me. Secondly, I was drunk so it wasn't me taking advantage of her.I knew how women can get when it comes to having sex
- Zafa -What the hell is wrong with me? Why have I allowed my emotions to get to me and make me treat Loveth the way I did?I did not mean to hurt her, even though I was upset with the way she was always with Dante. Now she has withdrawn from the army, and not only do I need her there, but that would mean she would be away from me.I can't have Loveth out. She is one of the best warriors I have."You can't resign...please," I instinctively added the last part. This is not the time to let my ego control my decisions, so I dropped it off and pleaded. But not even that could persuade her. She was rigid, so I decided to meet Aria instead. Perhaps she would listen to me.Aria had a blank look on her face when I spoke to her."Well, what do you want me to do?" She finally said when I was done."You could help me talk to her," I told her."I'm sorry but I can't. Loveth has made her choice and I respect her decision," she said."Luna please," I pleaded. "You know Loveth is one of the best w
- Loveth -"Hey," I heard someone call and turned round slowly, recognising the voice. Not again..."How are you doing today? Loser?""What do you want this time?" I asked Sheila with a sigh. She was facing my existence with those two puppets of hers."Funny of you to think I would want anything from you," she said and they giggled. Talk of sound effects."Well, you keep budging me, leaving me with no choice but to think you want something," I told her, and she frowned."Well maybe I do," she moved closer and pulled my hair to its roots. "Maybe I want you to shut your crab up when I am talking to you.""Let go of me," I sucked in the pain. I would not give her the pleasure. But she still held on, pulling it harder."Or what, you're gonna fight me like you did last time? You never learn, do you? You think you are something because Zafa let you off the hook the last time."I knew she was trying to provoke me to react so she would leverage on it but at the same time, I would not have he
- Loveth -I did not know how I lost hold of my emotions and fell into Dante's ready arms. Love for Zafa was causing me so much pain, and he was doing it intentionally, yet I could not help it."What is the matter, Loveth?" Dante asked softly into my ears and I was tempted to tell him. I moved away and wiped my tears."I'll be fine," I said with a smile."Are you sure?" He asked with a look of concern on his face. "You can tell me anything.""I know and I appreciate you for your concern.""Hmm," he breathed out, observing me. "You promise?""Yeah." But even as I said that more tears gathered in my eyes, and I had to leave quickly.Immediately, I made a turn, and someone grabbed me roughly by the arm."What the hell," I gasped in pain and turned round to meet the angry eyes of Zafa piercing into mine."What is wrong with you?" He said between gritted teeth."You're hurting me," I struggled to get out of his grip while wondering what the hell he was talking about."Are you so cheap that
- Sheila -I brushed my hair gently, making sure it was well-straightened. I loved my expression in the mirror—so pretty. I took my time. I am attending a council meeting as the assistant general of the army with Zafa for the very first time, and I have to look my best."You're still here?" Miley said when she walked into the room. "Zafa said to make sure you're there early.""Why worry about that? I'm just trying to look good," I said and she shook her head. I don't think that is a good idea, Sheila. You should have done all that before now.""Pssst," I waved her off as I adjusted the lip gloss, which needed no adjustment. When I was finally satisfied with my looks, I blew her a kiss and walked out the door with her staring after me. There was nothing to be worked up about, I rolled my eyes. It was just a meeting, and I'm sure everyone goes late for events as well.When I arrived at the meeting, the confidence I had gained seemed to have abandoned me at the entrance. All eyes turned
- Dante -"There is something I have been meaning to ask you, brother," I said to Adonia and he looked at me expectantly. "The new cook..." I trailed off."Okay?" He pushed when I suddenly went quiet."Who is she?" I asked and he pursed his lips thoughtfully."She's just a young lady who looked for the position in the palace and got it because of her skills," he replied."Right. But the chief cook has always been someone we know. At least, someone like Maria who has been with us for years. We trust her with our meals. I would have to say this lady is young and inexperienced but she has good skills.""Well, Aria thinks Dianne is doing well and if she thinks so, I trust her judgment."I wanted to ask him if he observed something strange about her, or familiar with her cooking but I was not certain how that would sound so I let it slide."Is there anything the matter?" He wanted to know. "Did you notice something?""Oh, I was just wondering," I covered up.Later that day, she found me as
- Loveth -I tried everything possible to ignore Shelia but she was bent on getting into my skin until she mentioned my parents and I lost it.I lost my parents at a very tender age when they both had to go to war. They did it for the pack and not just for me but many rumoured I was a forbidden child and that was why my parents did not mind leaving me behind.But I knew my parents loved me. Yet, as the rumors thickened, I could not help but worry about it."Get off me!" Sheila screamed but I did not listen to her. Her puppets, Ashley and Miley came to fight her off me and I beat them all."Hey!" I heard a masculine voice and I was already ready to pounce on whoever it was as well. I turned round but the familiar scent made me stop in my tracks."What the hell is wrong with?" Zafa asked, dragging me by the arm."Don't ask me, ask her," I retorted, pulling away."What happened?" Zafa turned to Sheila who was struggling to catch her breath."She was not doing her job well and I corrected
-Prisca- Yes! My plan has finally worked. I am going to exchange marital vows with Adonai and legally be his wife.It does not count that I am impersonating Aria. He is not going to be tied to Aria in reality but to me.I sat beside him, before the crowd with my face veiled and a sly smile across my face which no one could see.A few people had suggested I take off the veil so they could behold my face but Adonai politely declined. No one pushed it, and I successfully got tied to Adonai.I had feared that Dante would have wanted to expose me because he didn't seem pleased with the plan, but he didn't.I was led to Adonai's room while the party continued in the hall. There I took off my veil and sat comfortably on his bed.He was not here yet, for he was still having some drinks with his visitors. I chuckled happily. Alas, my dream has come to pass.The door opened and I quickly adjusted. I hissed when I saw it was Ariel."What are you doing here?" I asked sharply. She did no