-Aria-I sucked in a deep breath as I stood before the council yet again just like I had stood before them a few hours after I had reawakened in Jasmine’s body. Unlike the first time, I had no confidence in myself and what judgment would befall me.I had woken up to find out I had been unconscious for a long. Prisca recounted all that had happened to me and the memory returned. It was funny how my body wasn’t wrapped in bandages and I was still in good piece after that fall. Except for the thudding headache I felt, it was almost like It had not happened. But it did.I did not have the time to fully recover or even ask any questions when I was paraded before Adonai and the elders. I was to get even more shocked by the allegations that I had thrown myself over those stairs just to disgrace the alpha. My mouth threw open in shock. Like who in his right senses would ever do such a thing?I wanted to laugh and tell them there was no way in the world, I Aria would ever do that. Did they see
-Aria-I sat on the bed, resting my head on the pillow while listening to Ms. Ellen's ceaseless laments about what had happened. The meeting at the council had ended, and I am now in my room with Ariel, Prisca, and Ms. Ellen. My head was still banging and the talks were not making me feel any better."Why is all this happening to me," Ms Ellen lamented for the umpteenth time."Mother can you calm down please," Ariel said. She was obviously fed up and the irritation was obvious on her face. I could not tell if the expression on her face was one from the long-lasting beef she had with me or of one trying to put her feelings in check after a failed attempted murder.I could not get my mind off the thought of who might have been behind it. It could be possible that whoever it was that had killed Jasmine has returned with a stronger resolve to get rid of me for good and this time around, he or she is bent on achieving that no matter what. I was not safe anymore. I knew I wasn't from the b
-Prisca-I had not gone far after I walked out of Jasmine's room that I heard hasty footsteps behind me and I had no doubts as to whom it was.I did not know if I should hasten my steps to lose her or slow down so she would get to me. I knew she wanted to talk to me, there was something decisive about the way she was walking and I was certain nothing good was coming out of it."Hey you," she was already closing in on me and when she called I knew there was no way I could prevent it. I sucked in a deep breath to steady myself and closed my eyes briefly before turning round to face her hard countenance."I am sure you do not need anyone to tell you how much I do not like and approve of your relationship with my daughter, Jasmine. Do not get me mistaken. I have no reason to hate you simply because you are not opportune to be like us. But I would have loved that you stayed where you are instead of trying to force yourself where you do not belong."I opened my mouth to speak and she raised
-Crystal-Days had gone by and everything was going well and almost returned to normal. I was able to successfully get rid of the baby and I continued my affair with Derick while I sought to make peace with Asher. It was a risky bait and I was sitting on the fence but I did not care. I had gone far in the game to be scared of the actions I was taking and had also gone far to go back. I made sure to look my best this evening because I wanted to lure Asher to bed. My mother, a cunning woman who was too like my friend Lisa had told me that I could get anything, especially from a man if I knew how to play my games well. Once Asher can lay with me again, it will not be difficult to get him to forget everything that has happened.I strolled down the hallway towards his room which I had avoided for days since the issue we had. But to my uttermost shock, the guard maiming the door did not want to let me in when I got to the door. I scoffed in disbelief, squinting my eyes questioningly at h
-Adonai-I paced around restlessly in the room in deep thought. It had never happened to me before that I was in this state of confusion and to make it had even worse it was all because of a woman. I battled with my feelings while trying to understand them at the same time.How I was not able to punish Jasmine despite everything she had done was what gnawed me. It was unlike me and I needed the softness off.I had thought of making Jasmine my wife since I found her worthy of the place of a Luna. But her behaviours were off and I could make her my wife without raising questions. The elders of the people of the pack had witnessed everything she had done and it would make me look like a weakling to take her back.This made me wish she was not as stubborn as she seemed. If only she had stayed in her place quietly, all these wouldn't have happened and I could easily make her my wife. But she had been so dramatic. I realised to my dismay that it might have been the reason I wanted her.I sq
-Lara-It seemed everything was working for my good, I thought to myself, and every disappointment was a blessing. I never believed it, well not until recently.When the alpha had still chosen Jasmine to be his date for the ball despite all she had done, I could not believe it. I was so upset and even more to think that Vera and Agatha were happy about it.They had come to my room when I refused to go to the ball and tried to convince me to attend it. But instead of making me better, I could see the mockery on their faces under the facade of concern.It is the reason why they had refused to join forces with me to bring Jasmine down. If they had cared enough, they would have done it. Especially Vera. I knew Agatha did not have the kind of self-will for it but if Vera wanted to, she could.After all, she had been the alpha's favorite before Jasmine came. She would have her way with him more than any of us and she was a better competition for Jasmine. Yet she had refused to do anything a
-Dante-I had watched Adonai's expression keenly during the meeting with the council, and I could tell he was sceptical about the decision he had made. It was like always, whenever he had to face the reality of the fact that he could never have a child.It was one of the things that comforted me. Adonai might be a very powerful man respected by all, but with everything he had, he could never have a child and that made a lot of difference. It pleased me so much to see the helplessness on his face whenever the matter pops up.He did try to look strong but I could see through the helplessness when he made that statement of marrying any one of his mistresses if she could get pregnant for him.I went to his room after the meeting as a caring younger brother to sympathize with him but deep down, I wanted to watch his misery some more."You have made some nice designs here," I commented on one of the drawings he made. He grunted something inaudible in acknowledgement. I walked to his window
- Jasmine-What was meant to be an afternoon nap was a restless sleep. I turned and tossed on the bed uncomfortably. It seemed I was being pressed, and I couldn't breathe well. I was not sure what it was, but someone stood over me with a scary look.I could not see her face, I knew it was a lady because her physique said so. But I could take in her expressions. She meant to kill me. I tried to get up, but it seemed I was tied to the bed. She smirked while I struggled and picked up the pillow beside me. She brought it close to my face and I let out a shrill cry.I woke up with a start, breathing heavily and startling Prisca, who was seated on the bed close to me, holding one of the pillows.She gave me a puzzled look which I returned. I eyed her down to the pillow she was holding. How could it be that I was having a bad dream about someone trying to suffocate me with a pillow, and I woke up to see her standing with a pillow?"What is wrong Jasmine?" She asked with concern on her face.
- Zafa -I could not take it anymore, waiting for Loveth to finish whatever game it was she was playing, hide and seek or whatever. Ever since the day I had her, she kept running away. I did not know for how long she was going to keep doing that, so I approached her, bruising my ego in the process, but I did not mind.I waited for her in the lobby, and not long after, she came passing. Immediately she saw me, she turned around and went the other way."Loveth," I called, running after her. "Loveth please wait."I caught up with her and held her hand but she brushed me away."For how long are you going to keep running away from me?" I asked."For as long as I must remain alive," She said coldly."Why are you sounding this way? Even after what we had?""After what?" She feigned ignorance. "We never had anything. There's never been anything between us and even if there has been and you cared, you wouldn't have acted like a bitch to me.""But that was before now, Loveth. I thought that by
- Aria -Someone walked into my room and I thought it was Loveth."You should knock on doors before walking into a room so you wouldn't see what the mouth will not be able to speak," I said playfully without looking up from the clothes I was knitting."I'm so sorry about that, Luna," Diane answered, and I shot my head up to look at her."What are you doing here?" I scowled at her and she moved back as if she was scared though I could see from her eyes that she was not shaken a bit by me"I am sorry, I just wanted to see you," she said with the innocence that she was devious of."And what for? How can you not knock before coming in?"Didn't your mother teach you any manners? I was at the brim of asking that but thankfully held it back."I'm so sorry, Luna; I did not mean to upset you."The incessant apologies were getting on my nerves already. Worse because I knew she did not mean any one of it.I took in a deep breath to steady myself."What do you want?" I spoke the words slowly as i
- Adonai -Aria stopped dead at the door and I quickly pushed Diane off me. She looked surprised for a while that I did then followed my eyes and turned round to the door.She had no expression on her face when she saw Aria. Aria walked away quietly and I ran after her."Aria wait..."But she was too fast and I did not want to create a scene outside where the maids and guards were parading."Shit, shit, shit," I muttered under my breath as I returned to the room. "Why did you do that?"I turned to Diane and she looked confused."Do what?" She asked."Hug me!" I half yelled. "Why did you do it?""Why? I thought you said we were family?" She looked at me and her eyes were getting teary."Yes I did, but..." I did not know what to say anymore. How the hell do I convince Aria that what she saw was not what it looked like?"It's just a hug, right?" Diane said but I was not listening to her. I was thinking of Aria.- Aria -I closed the door behind me and breathed out heavily. It can't be wh
Dante -How can I escape this? The guilt came washing down on me all over again and now Adonai wants that lady to remain in the palace. It was her knowing eyes and strong resolve about her mother's death that gnawed me the most. She seems to know more than we think she does.I couldn't even sleep well, filled with the fear that she might creep in on me. Those ceaseless dreams I had sponsored my worry. There has to be a connection but only I knew and felt it.I strolled out of the palace to clear my head but even while I walked, the same thoughts clouded my mind. I did not know how long I had walked till I began to see trees and realised I was approaching the border.I stopped and sat on a big stone to rest. Not long after, an arrow flew past me, missing my skin with just an inch. I jumped up, and a werewolf pinned me down, scratching my face. I winced and struggled to get it off me but it was quite strong.It stopped fighting and transformed into a beautiful young lady. We remained s
- Adonai -"I don't think this is a good idea, Adonai," Aria said. "I understand you want to console Diane as much as you can but having her in the palace is not a good idea.""And why is that?" I wanted to know."I just don't feel comfortable with it," she crossed her arms over her chest"You were the one who accepted her as a cook here in the first place. You did not see that as a problem until now that we know she is the daughter of a woman who was like family to me. Come on Aria.""You don't understand. It's not about her being Maria's daughter. It's her sneaky behaviour I am concerned about," she stated."She must have acted that way because of the intentions she came with, to find out about her mother's death," I explained, and when I did, I realised that it was no solid reason."She believed we killed her mother!" Aria stressed. " I wonder what gave her the belief but her resolve seems strong. All the words in that meeting did not make any sense to her. I am worried that she st
- Dante -I took two steps backwards instinctively when Diane revealed who she was."I need an explanation as to how my mother died," she said amidst tears, and I looked at Adonai."I have no explanation for that, Diane. I am so sorry for the death of your mother but you must know that we all felt the same," he consoled."You leave me with no choice than to think you killed her then," she said."Why would I kill your mother? She was like a mother to me too. Hell, she took care of me from childhood. She has served this household since my parents were alive. You think I would want to eliminate her?""Everyone knows you, alpha Adonai. You don't have feelings and you don't care about my mother. Stop acting like you do. Because if you did, you would have tried finding those that killed her. But ever since I stepped into the palace, I never heard of you trying to. The only thing you've got are stories. I demand to know how my mother died and why she had to die."My heart ached within me. I
- 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