-Aria-That was a very tricky question and I did not know how to answer it.“Why do you ask?” I asked, trying to sound casual while buying time to think of the perfect thing to say to him.“Well I have seen you a couple of times with him,” he said and I might have thought he sounded casual as well except for the way he looked me straight in the eyes as if daring me to say otherwise.“Dante is my brother-in-law-to-be,” I said guardedly. “And somehow, I am in a way related to him through his brother. I do not understand what you mean by if I like him.”I watched his expression for any signs. He smirked at me and I swallowed hard silently.“Dante is my brother alright,” he said. “But I want to be sure I am not sharing my woman with another man, and any man at that, my brother included.”“Huh?” I was not sure I got that, especially what he meant by ‘his woman.’“You are my mistress,” he explained, pointing his spoon towards me. “And you must know you belong to me and me alone.”I chuckled
-Dante-I kept pacing around, trying to think of what to do but Asher would not quit talking.“Dante, you have not said anything since, what is going on? You told me you will make sure everything goes according to plan but look at what’s happened,” he kept ranting and I tried to ignore him.“Dante I am talking to you.”I paused and turned to look at him with a glare.“What is wrong with you?” I asked with a frown on my face. “I am trying to think.”“Well you have been thinking for too long now and I need to know what is going on.”I sighed and leaned on one of the old rugged tables in the old building which served as our secret meeting place in the heart of the forest. I don’t know what had interested Jasmine so much to have gone to make findings about Asher and brought out all these. But now I knew that not only was she a threat to him, but me as well, because we were in it together and she had yet again, ruined my plans to becoming the alpha of my pack.The plan I had that concerned
-Dante-I cleared my throat lightly in amusement, squinted my eyes, and cocked my head in one direction. It was all I could do to maintain my composure. "And who the hell do you think you are to ask me such a question?" I asked, glaring at her. She folded her arms across her chest defiantly. "I do not have to think I am something before I can confront a man who sneaks in and out of a building I live in," she shot back. I took a few paces towards her. "What the hell do you mean?" I asked in a low tone, between gritted teeth. "You know damn well what I mean, Dante." "Have you been stalking me?" I asked her in a fierce whisper, and she scoffed. "Why would I do that? You are not even worth stalking. I would rather sit up all day picking seeds of the imp tree than stalk you. And why do you look like you have something to hide? Why are you so worried about that?" "I am not worried about anything, and I am not answerable to you," I scowled at her. "Listen, Jasmine, do not think
-Aria-I gathered up the sheets to cover myself not because I was cold but because I needed something to express my mixed feelings to or on. Above all, I was more excited about my last night with Adonai. It had been blissful, more than I expected. It was more than a sexual act. There was a connection, one which I could not quite fathom.But I was quick enough to remind myself not to get carried away by that. I had a purpose and I must keep in mind my drive. I was getting somewhere and it seemed Adonai was beginning to have a soft spot for me.Yet, I was not too relaxed to know that my plan was moving rather slowly while I was heaping up more enemies on my heels. I knew Dante was not happy about the recent developments and the look in his eyes suggested he was up to something. Of course, he had been on my list to watch out for but even more now. He was as cunning as a serpent and he had something up his sleeves.I knew I had to be way ahead of the game to be able to get what I wanted b
-Aria-A very strong wind almost swept me off my feet as the werewolf almost tore at me. But my eyes were closed, and my hands were protectively over my face. Yet it was more than a minute and the wolf was not on me, and the growl had gone wilder and tougher.I opened my eyes, my chest heaving heavily to find another wolf had darted the attack, and the two were fighting on the ground.The new wolf was bigger, fiercer, and stronger, and by the time the wolf that was going to attack me was able to get back up, it had sustained so many injuries. All the other wolves retreated, leaving me and my savior alone.I had not had the time to process all that when Prisca ran towards me from nowhere and held me in a firm embrace.How did she get here? I was too shocked to say anything as I kept looking at the wolf that just saved me.“Jasmine,” Prisca called worriedly, touching my face lightly. “Jasmine, are you okay? Did they hurt you?”She ran her hands over my body in concern. My eyes were stil
-Ariel-I entered my room and closed the door with a loud bang. You entrust some bunch of idiots with a simple task and they ruin it. What is there in killing that girl? It would not take more than five minutes, yet they could not deliver.And that stupid Prisca of a girl, always found where she is not wanted. She had been the one who rushed to raise an alarm about the incident. I hissed loudly and sat heavily on the bed. I was this close, this close to getting rid of Jasmine yet again but she escaped. Thankfully, the incident would not be traced to me because they had managed to escape.Imagine they had been caught, they had better not mention my name because I would deny everything and make sure they get double sanctioned for false accusations on a royalty. I hissed again. Thinking about the whole stuff was so annoying and made my head bang. I felt like screaming out my frustration.I hate Jasmine so much I wish I could strangle her right away and not have to wait on a strategy that
-Prisca-Everyone walked out and I was left alone with Jasmine in her room. I did not plan to stay any longer though, since I had kept my distance recently from her and she had not tried talking me into staying.But I was glad I was able to notice something was off and raised an alarm and now she was fine.“Uhm, make sure to rest okay? You will feel better,” I told her, making for the door. “I will be on my way now.”“Prisca wait,” she said softly.“Yeah? You want me to do something for you?” I asked with a raised brow.“Yes, I want you to sit with me,” she said with a small smile on her face, tapping the side of the bed close to her. I hesitated before walking towards her on the bed and sat down, still looking at her quizzically.“Is everything okay?” I asked her again and she sighed.“Everything is okay Prisca,” she replied. “I just wanted to thank you for saving my life.”“Oh that,” I smiled. “It’s nothing. Besides, you are my friend and I should look out for you. And you should th
-Lara-I woke up with a frown on my face this morning. Today is already a bad day, I decided. Every day was a bad day as far as I am concerned and the alpha is not looking my way. What was more, that stupid Jasmine was rubbing herself all over the place acting like she was more special than everyone else.I was not happy that Adonai was entertaining her too and it was obvious he was beginning to have a thing for her. It makes me sick, knowing my chances with the alpha are getting slimmer by the day because of her.I do not want to be a mistress. The only difference between being a mistress and a maid is the services we render. Sometimes, our existence does not count in the empire. I wonder how Vera and Agatha and so comfortable with being that.As always, they were seated in the parlor we all shared, all of us, except that pompous Jasmine of course, who thinks she is too important to associate herself with us. She does not even eat with us.“Why is your face squeezed this way, Lara?”
-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
-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