-Aria-As I walked back to my room, hand in hand with Prisca, I wondered if this was how clingy she was with Jasmine and how she had coped.I was not used to this, having someone all over me. I was always by myself. No one wanted to have anything to do with me anyway, and I got used to it.“So tell me,” Pisca turned to me with a big smile on her face. “I saw you staring at the alpha while he was on the training ground. Why were you looking at him like that?”She asked me, and I wondered for how long she had been following behind and watching me. And why had she not called or said anything till I had gotten to the end of the building? That was cringe, I thought but remembered she had been friends with Jasmine all this while, and this was just how she had always been.I swallowed the urge to ask her why she had been following me. Jasmine should have expected this from her right?“You don’t want to tell me?” She spoke into my thoughts, bringing me back to the conversation.“I just caught
-Aria-I would have scrambled up to my feet and scurried out of the room at Ariel's orders as if she were addressing me, but I had to remind myself that she was my sister, not a lord. However, I was not able to speak for Prisca, and she had to leave. She stood up slowly from the bed and walked out of the room, looking at me one more time before closing the door behind her. Prisca was a very expressive person, and her emotions were always reflected in her eyes, which I never failed to notice.I felt guilty when our eyes met before the door closed behind her. She was hurt that I did not say anything to stop her from leaving, but I did not know what to say.I jolted out of my thoughts when I felt a pair of eyes boring into my skin, and I remembered I was left alone in the room with someone—my sister, Ariel. My eyes quickly darted in her direction, and the glare in her eyes softened a bit. She had not wanted me to see the glare, but I had felt it when I was looking away from her. More lik
-Ariel-I struggled to keep the detest I felt for Jasmine off my face. If what I felt towards her should be displayed on my face, it would sure be nothing less than pure hatred. Why had she not died the last time?“Why did you do it?” I asked with as much concern as I could.“Do what?” She asked, shaking her head and I sighed. I hate having to repeat myself, and most especially this…I had to hold myself from scowling at her with my eyes, this being I was so unfortunate to have as my sister.“Trying to take your own life,” I said. “Why did you do it?”She looked at me as if I had just asked a ridiculous question or more like an obvious question I should have an answer to already.“Did you not think what it would cost us, myself and mother?” I continued when it did not seem she was going to an answer to the previous question. “Especially Mother, it would break her completely to lose you. Have you forgotten so soon all she had done for us?”“I did not mean to hurt anyone,” Jasmine said w
-Aria-I released the breath I had not realized I was holding. I had thought Ariel was here to speak about Dante, perhaps to throw accusations. But I was wrong.She was here acting all sweet and calm. Could it be she does not know about Jasmine and Dante? That she had missed their secret suggestive signs? No, it did not seem like it. Ariel definitely knew.Why, it was just but a few minutes she had been here and talked to me that I was considering she was really what she appeared to be. I had better not let myself be fooled by her acts. Ariel was as cunning and she definitely knew what she was doing.I can never miss those knowing eyes, they speak depths and volumes which I cannot ignore. She was up to something, I knew that.I did not need anyone to tell me Jasmine and her sister were not close, that was decided. So Ariel speaking about trying to build a relationship? No, absolutely no.I mean, it would not be bad if I had a sister I could share moments with. But someone like this an
-Dante-I strolled into Adonai’s room casually without minding knocking on the door and found him in his study with a stern countenance. Whenever he was at that table, he acted as if he was handling the matters of the entire universe and did not want any disturbance. I scoffed inwardly as I approached him.“What’s up?” I asked, standing before the table. He looked up at me briefly before returning to the sheet spread on the table.“What do you want?” he said directly and I shook my head.“Good morning to you too, Adonai,” I told him with a sigh. “At least you should greet me before asking what I want.”“As you can see I am swamped Dante,” he said without looking at me. “I do not have time for pleasantries and I do not like this interruption.”“You are always busy Adonai,” I smiled at him. “You should have a moment's rest. And talking to me would not disturb your work.”“What do you want?” he asked me again.“What are you working on this time around?” I asked back, peeping into the she
-Aria-I woke up with a yawn and stretched on the bed. I did not know when I fell asleep yesterday and I wondered how I had slept for that long throughout the night.Well, it was a beautiful morning to be Jasmine yet again. I stood up from the bed feeling tired. It was just like the feeling you get, getting tired from sleeping for too long. It was a scam, I shook my head as I walked straight to the bedroom to freshen up.I washed my face and dragged a towel from the hanger on the wall. I walked back to the room cleaning my face when I noticed a shadow on the wall. Was there a ghost in my room or something? I cleaned my eyes again to be sure I was seeing well. There was no ghost, but someone was standing in the middle of my room like a ghost.“What the…” I exclaimed, jumping a bit. “Who the hell are you and what are you doing in my room?”“I am sorry my lady,” the lady bowed a little. “I am a maid here and I have come to call you out for breakfast with the alpha.”I looked her up and d
-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
- 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
-Adonai-It took a while before what she said was registered in my head."Are you insane?" I retorted, placing a finger on the side of my head."No, I am not," she responded confidently."How can you say such a thing?""I am only trying to help you, alpha," she said. "Think of what the people at the table will say when you return there without a bride.""And have you thought about what it would be when they also realize that you are not Aria?""They wouldn't have to know. A bride can be veiled. You are not under any law to reveal your face to anyone. I believe that they might think that is what you want and they will respect it."I hesitated, trying hard to think about what Prisca had said. She was right. I would be seen as a fool if I returned to the people with the news of Aria eloping with another man and there would be no wedding.It would be the second time I gathered people and something ruined the ceremony."You know what, you are right. But this is just for the cerem
- Dante -It was a dark forest and the silence was louder than a thousand drums put together. I was in the middle of nowhere and the cold was enough to freeze me to death.My teeth chatter, and I wrap my arms around myself to feel warm. It did not help. I decided to shift. My fur might serve as a good cover. Surprisingly, I couldn't shift either...What the hell is happening to me? Where am I? I looked around fearfully. I heard a movement and jumped."Hello?" My voice shook. There was no one in sight. "Is there anyone here?"Then there was the chirping of birds, which sounded so creepy to my ears. Now I would prefer the gross silence to this sound. At least, I thought I was alone. Not now that I heard movements and I could not tell who was there with me, if it was a prey or predator."You miss me?"A light yelp escaped my throat. Now that voice was fucking familiar, but try as I may, I could not tell who owned it."Who are you? What are you?" I asked again even though I did not think
- Aria -"Could you give me some time to think about this?" I said to her after I had spent all the time thinking. I just couldn't find the right words for her request."It can't be that hard..." She wanted to push."I will get back to you not long after now," I maintained and she nodded"I will be very happy if you consider this and give me a positive response. It would mean a lot to me," she said before walking out and not long after she did, Loveth walked in."Was that the pretend Luna I saw coming out of your room?" She asked, pointing her fingers backwards towards the door. I chuckled inwardly."She is.""What does she want?" Loveth asked and I shrugged."Said she wants to be my maid," I told her, and an amused look crossed her face."That is strange," she commented and I nodded."The same thing I thought.""That lady is so puffed up with pride. How's she request to be a mate of yours?""The same thing I wonder about," I said thoughtfully."Well, what did you tell her?" Loveth wa