-Lara- It was Dante's turn to look disturbed and I relaxed to watch his reaction. Just a few seconds ago, he was running his mouth; now he looked shocked for words, and then he scoffed."You must be a clown, Lara, Do you think I will believe that?" He scowled and I chuckled."Whether you believe it or not, it is the truth. I am pregnant."He looked down at my belly and back at me."How do you have the confidence to stand in my face and lie when just some days ago you were exposed by Vera for faking your pregnancy?"What? So she was the one who told the alpha that I was not pregnant? I wondered within me, but how did she know? I will deal with that later after I am done with this."What does it matter? If I had my way I would have carried Adonai's child. But since he was cursed, there was no way that could happen and it wasn't my fault. However, you aren't cursed, are you? So what were you thinking when you were fucking me hard almost every day?"Dante squinted his eyes, perhaps, the
-Dante- It was true that Lara was pregnant. I did not believe it when she told me and had to get her checked, secretly though, because Ariel has eyes like an owl, and she was watching my every move. The doctor confirmed that Lara was indeed pregnant. I was worried. I can't let anyone find out about this and Lara has a running mouth. Especially now that she is pregnant, she wouldn't mind telling everyone.I had sleepless nights thinking about what to do and finally concluded. So I sent for Lara in one of my hideouts and waited patiently for my men to bring her."I did not expect you would send for me this soon," she said, her shoulders held high in pride. "Knowing what kind of man you were, I expected you would think about this longer than now."I sighed."I have thought about this, and I realised there is nothing I can do, Lara," I said, and she snorted."Of course, so you have decided to keep me and the baby then?" She asked. "It means that you are going to marry me?""No," I smirk
"Arrgh!" I pushed away the papers on my study table and sat back forcefully on the chair, covering my face with my palms.I felt hot all over my body. Why is all this happening to me? Despite all I have as the alpha of a very great pack, all is a waste when I cannot have a child to my name.I have always felt incompetent and unfulfilled only because of that, even though I held a bold face to it whenever I am with the elders, but it has not been easy on me.And that was the reason I preferred not to think about it, or have anyone talk to me about it until that stupid girl came to me and said she was pregnant.I was quite relieved, only because at least now I would have a child. But she had lied to me for her selfish desire and now I wished I had not listened to Dante and let her live.Perhaps, knowing that she had paid with her life for what what she had done would have been better for me."I should have killed that girl," I had said once to Dante."You don't have to worry about killin
-Aria-What does she mean by that? I frowned."I don't understand," I told her."Jasmine...," Maria placed a hand gently on mine. "I have always known that you have been mated to the alpha right from the very day I set my eyes on you. And I am certain that you have the solution to the curse."My head seemed to be spinning when she spoke. This isn't new to me, because I have felt the connection, but now that she said it, it made me feel hurt. I did not want to accept it. I don't want to be Adonai's mate. Never."You have gotten this all wrong Maria," I blurted. "If Jasmine was meant to be Adonai's mate then I am not the right person for this because I am not Jasmine."There was a brief silence for a while, Maria's face a cascade of confusion."What are you saying, child?" She chuckled in amusement. "Why did you say that you are not who you are? Is this because you don't love the alpha? I explained to you already, and I promised, Adonai is the way he is only because of what has happene
-Aria-My chest heaved heavily as I struggled to process everything that was happening to me all at once as I hurried out of Adonai's room and back to mine. Curse, pregnancy...Mate...It was all too much to take, but amid the turmoil going on in my head, all I could hold a fast grasp on was my revenge.Thankfully, when I got back to the room Prisca was not there. I quickly locked the door. I need to think and come up with something fast.I have no more time to waste in planning before something comes up again and disrupts it like the last time. I will go through with my revenge right away.If I am pregnant, Adonai would want to keep me because of the curse. I have to run away. Yes, I am going back to my pack. It would drive him to find me and I will take it from there.I wanted to leave immediately, but it was late already. I will have to wait till very early tomorrow. I could not sleep. My eyes remained open throughout the night, and immediately it was dawn; I gathered a few things
-Prisca- I stood before the alpha and the council of elders for the very first time in my life but I was not shaken. I did nothing wrong."Where is Jasmine," Adonai asked and I shrugged."I don't know," I said. He hit the chair with his hand."Don't lie to me," he raised his voice and I shook a little."I swear, I don't know where she is. If she is not in her room then I don't know," I said. Why is he asking me that and why is everyone looking at me like that? Where is Jasmine? What happened?"Do you know that she ran away?" Adonai asked and I looked confused. Ran away? What is he talking about?"I don't know anything about this alpha," I told him sincerely."You were the last person with the Princess and she is your friend. How do you expect us to believe you do not know anything about this?" One of the elders said."Please, the princess did not mention a word of this to me and she did not even look like she was up to something."There was a moment of silence until Adonai spoke agai
-Ariel-I rushed into my mother's room, forgetting to close the door behind me."Mother," I called hurriedly. "Mother, did you hear what is going around the palace?"She turned round to look at me, her face drawn sadly."I did," she nodded slowly."What arrant nonsense. Why would Jasmine say and do such a thing?" I ranted. "Mother I am so fed up with her. I am so done. Why would she wake up one day and claim she is not Jasmine but some... whatever fairy tale drama, what the hell?""Aria..." Mum called but I was not paying attention to her."And this is the same person you keep killing yourself over, insisting we stand her side. Now how are we going to face this thing she has done?""Aria!" Mother called again, her voice raised and I stopped talking to look at her. She closed her eyes, took in a deep breath and opened them again. "It's true."I squeezed my face in confusion."What is true?" I asked."That lady might really not be my daughter and your sister, Jasmine," she said, and I s
-Aria- It was a long journey but surprisingly, I made it without passing out. Whenever I got so tired, it felt like there was an energy renewed from within that I had no idea where it was coming from.A familiar wave of wind hit me immediately I stepped foot in the land I had lived almost all my life. The same place where I had been despised and killed. I sucked in my breath; my eyes closed, and by the time I opened them, about four vicious eyes and snarling werewolves surrounded me.I stiffened in fear; any funny move from me would get them lurching at me, so I remained still, afraid to even breathe.One of them walked towards me and sniffed me."This one is oddly different," he said. "Who are you and what are you doing here?""My name is Jasmine," with all the effort I put in trying to hold my composure, my voice shook when I spoke. "I would like to see the alpha."The werewolf turned to look at the others and they crackled a laugh. I wondered what was funny."You want to see the a
-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 not reply b
-Adonai-It took a while before what she said 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 then 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 ceremony. You
-Adonai- I took in a deep breath to steady myself when Maria approached me, her face strained with worry and told me Aria was nowhere to be found.I had asked her to go get her since the ceremony was about to start."What do you mean by she is nowhere to be found," I asked, my voice in a low whisper so the people at my table would not hear."Even I don't understand myself," Maria said. "But she is not in her room and no one seems to have seen her."No, this cannot be happening now. I braced myself and tried to remain calm."Uhm, gentlemen, I will be right back," I addressed the men at my table."Is everything fine?" Dominick asked as I excused myself and I told him all was well. All was not well at all. A few minutes to the start of my wedding the bride is nowhere to be found.I walked with long strides towards Aria's room with Maria following steadily behind me."I was wondering if she had to quickly do something outside the palace because it doesn't seem like she..." Maria trailed
-Aria- I groaned in pain as I opened my eyes. I tried to move but discovered I couldn't, I was tied firmly to something I could not see, a pole or something.What's going on? I tried to think. The last thing I remembered was being prepared for my wedding and then strange faces appeared in my room.I looked up sharply when I realised what had happened. I was in an empty room that was void of anything normal in a location I could not fathom.I recognised the faces in the room as the ones who had walked in on me."Who are you and why did you kidnap me?" My throat was dry, as well as my voice. None of them bothered to give me an answer."Hey, say something. Who sent you?" I pushed."Keep it down Aria," a very familiar voice said. "This is not the palace where you speak anyhow you like and everyone is answerable to you.""Prisca?" I muttered under my breath but she heard."Tis me, yes," she stretched her hands out in a show of dignity. "Flesh and blood."I looked on in shock. Is this a dr
-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