-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
-Aria- I was being dressed by the maids for the wedding when Adonai walked in, and they all trooped out to give us a moment."Is anything the matter?" I asked, searching his face."Not really," he replied with a small smile on his face. "I just wanted to see you."I rolled my eyes at him."You see me every day," I pointed out."Yeah," he replied with a sigh as he walked to a stool and sat in front of me, his eyes watched me tenderly."What?" I shook my head with a chuckle."You know, there is this old story we heard while growing up," he said."Okay?""That you become too excited and overwhelmed about someone or something because you are about to lose it.""Hmm." I breathed out. "Never heard about that before. But why are you talking about that? Are you thinking I might leave you?""No. I am relating it to how excited I am about getting married to you," he said and took my hand in his. "Are you ready to become Mrs. Adonai and Luna of this pack?""You think I am ready?" I threw back a
-Adonai- Today is the day I officially get married to Aria. I was sure my face radiated the joy I felt within. I could not hide it.I walked around the building, watching as the maids and guards ran around to put things in order. It is going to be a very big ceremony. Invites have been sent far and near, and all the provinces and clans, big and small packs, would be gathered for the wedding.Werewolves coming from far distances had arrived the night before. Dante approached me with a grimace on his face."So you are finally getting married to Aria," he commented."So am I," I said with the same energy."Well, how does that make you feel?" He wanted to know and I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to discern his reason for asking."Complete, I guess. A man with a family.""Mmm," Dante hummed and nodded. "True.""And after this, you also have to settle down as well. You have a fiancé already, so that wouldn't be hard, I guess?"He chuckled."Well then, after you."While we spoke, alpha Do
-Aria- My heart skipped a beat when I lifted my eyes to the door and saw Adonai. He walked in with a blank expression on his face, approaching us slowly."Adonai, Zafa here was just telling me that he was leaving the pack. It was what we were discussing before you walked in," I jumped in to explain hurriedly when he had not asked me anything.Adonai did not respond. I tried to read his expression, but he hid it well. He stood beside me and faced Zafa, who looked back boldly as if Adonai had not walked in on us almost about to kiss."Is that so?" Adonai finally spoke, addressing Zafa."It is indeed so," Zafa confirmed, unshaken."But you did not tell me," Adonai said dryly. "You came to my wife to tell her but I am not aware of what is going on.""She was the one that sent for me first," Zafa replied. "And I did plan to tell you, though, she is the reason why I came to this pack. Either way, you would have known anyway."I was worried about the way the two were going. I wouldn't want
-Aria-I moved away from the view of the window and sucked in a deep breath. I was getting better already, but health came with its problems. I was not on good terms with both Zafa and Adonai, and the two avoided me.I had thought Zafa was acting up because of his feelings for me, but when I found out what happened, it was already too late.I confronted Adonai, too, and now he was upset with me even though he had taken off the sentence on Zafa and he was a free man again. That did not solve anything.And it is funny to think that the wedding ceremony was just in two days and the couple were not talking to each other. Adonai might as well as just call off the wedding for now, or postpone it. I loved him and can not wait to get married to him but at least, not like this."Never have I seen a bride looking like this a few days before her wedding, except, of course, she doesn't love the groom, which is not the case for you," Prisca commented."A lot of things are going on in my head," I t
-Adonai- I couldn't help the joy that radiated all over me, happy because both Aria and my baby were safe and in good condition. I quickly took my bath so I would return to Aria and spend some time with her. She was all that mattered to me and not this ungrateful pack I led.I would take a break from everything and create a special date for me and her. I have put plans for all the wedding preparations to kick start with immediate effect. I am wasting no time in making her my wife, whether the pack likes it or not.I walked into the room to meet her talking with Prisca, who excused us immediately after I walked in."Hey love," I greeted Aria brightly as I dragged a stool and sat close to her."Hi," her voice was less enthusiastic than before but I decided not to dwell on it."So how are my babies doing," I asked as I rubbed my hands against each other."Good," she answered shortly."Okay..." At this point, I was sure something was wrong. "Is everything alright? Why are you sounding th
-Adonai- I paused and turned round to behold Aria's questioningly eyes on me and Zafa."Aria?" I called under my breath, unable to believe my eyes even though it was a thing I wanted so badly. I let go of Zafa and he staggered, hitting a table. I care less about him as I hurried to Aria and held her hands. "Aria you are alive.""What happened?" She asked as she tried to sit up."Please don't stress it," I held her back gently. "You have been in a coma for days now.""Coma?" Her eyes widened a bit."Yes," I replied as I explained. "You were poisoned." I turned towards Zafa's direction as I spoke and she followed my eyes."What?...what about my baby?" She suddenly panicked."Hey calm down...""My baby, did....did something happen to it?""Calm down now," I said slowly as I sat beside her on the bed. "Look at me. That is something we don't know for now but the most important thing is you are alive.""No," she shook her head vigorously. "Nothing must happen to my baby.""Come on, we can
-Dante- If only I had known that killing Dan would make Adonai think of the option of using Zafa, I would have thought of something better. But Dan was a fool and the reason for my hasty decision. I was livid. He dared go behind my back to seek Zafa's help.He must have told him I forced him into it and I cannot have such foolishness go free. My only consolation was that the poison would have done severe damage to Aria by now that there would be no help for her.Let Zafa try all he can, and Adonai try to get all the medicine men he can far and wide, there's nothing that can be done.I have made all my strategies and they are ready now. I have strong support within and outside the pack. This is only but a distraction before I pounce on Adonai finally. He wouldn't be able to fight back because his hold on the pack is weak.Almost all the elders and men in the pack are by my side. I have penetrated them and talked them into believing Adonai was no good anymore. Aria made it even easier
-Adonai- I blinked my eyes rapidly at the sight before me to be sure I was seeing well."What is this?" I asked the guards even though I could see clearly who it was. Dan was lying lifeless and as cold as the floor beneath him."We found his dead body in the heart of the forest. It was murder. His stomach was torn open by strong werewolf paws. There were no traces of who did it."I swallowed a lump and took in a shaky breath."How did this happen?" I asked no one in particular and did not get any reply. "Just how did this happen.""Who would have killed him and for what reason?" Dante asked the question that was on my mind. "Did he have any fights with someone?"And to those questions, there were no answers as well. I could not think straight. Aria needed to be treated and one of the best men in the pack had just been killed.I had to get some doctors on standby to attend to her while the guards searched for Dan but now that he was found dead...I did not even know what to do."What d
-Prisca-I had no idea what was happening to Aria and did not know how to feel about it. Zafa had been arrested but even though I was not happy with him for the way he treated me in the first place, trashing my feelings and emotions as a woman, I was finding it difficult to believe he had poisoned Aria.It seemed he was framed but who was I to say otherwise or even for my opinion to be heard? I was not even allowed to see Aria since she was kept in treatment and I got updates about her health from Maria who told me she was not getting any better.She wore a sad look every time she was telling me."Did you think he did it?" I had asked her once out of curiosity."Who? Dan? No," she shook her head. "I don't think he would do such a thing to Aria. He doesn't seem like such a person.""You don't think he did only because he doesn't look like one who would?""No, because my instincts tell me so," she said and I shrugged."In that case, since Aria is not getting any better, why don't they l