-Prisca-Something is not right somewhere. Jasmine is acting weird and I must get to the bottom of it. There was just something off about her and the way she acted since she had recovered from the last incident that almost claimed her life and she did not want to open up to me.I arranged my clothes carefully into the dresser. This was my favorite thing about the dry season. My clothes would always dry when I air them. I had better enjoy it now before the rain comes because it always does in great torrents and the sun barely has the chance to shine.I did not like the way Jasmine had withdrawn. We were not like this. How did our relationship go down in a space of less than two weeks? If it continues this way I might lose grip on our friendship. There was nothing wrong with her except she had been acting off.Was she suspecting anything? And why would she not tell me then? Well, since she kept insisting she was fine I had better let her be for now.My thoughts were interrupted by a sud
-Aria-I did not know for how long but I had slept off while laying lazily on my bed. I yawned and stretched on the bed. Hell no, is this how my life is going to be? Sleeping every day and doing nothing productive? I was not used to it.Back there in Moonbeam, I was a maid and I worked my hands out from childhood and it became a part of me. Here I woke up to being served, my clothes washed and meals prepared by the maids. It was a boring life to live especially not that I had decided to slow down my relationship with the only person that had kept me company all this while.No, Prisca had done nothing but it was the sudden awareness that I was not safe even with her that gnawed me. I would not be spared if Prisca should have a hint that I might not be her friend. Just like I had thought it would be easy for Ms. Ellen to find out, perhaps it would be easier for Prisca to since she spends more time with Jasmine than anyone else.How would I have been able to explain how I did not know m
-Aria-I swallowed hard and began to think of a way I could quickly cover up the mistake I had made. How could I have forgotten and told them my real name? Now the two were looking at me questioningly wondering who Aria was. Why had I even offered to introduce myself in the first place? I almost hit myself. I am sure they knew who I was without any introductions.“Oh, can you just imagine myself?” I laughed nervously. “Did I say I was Aria? Please disregard that. That is a name I had given myself which my friends call me with. I am Jasmine.”That was lame but I smiled and hoped they would buy it. They seemed to and the tense atmosphere became light again.“Yes I know my lady,” Maria said and I wanted to hit myself again. Of course, she knew.“Well what do you want to make?” she asked me while the other lady I had walked in with left to join the others as Maria led me to a space I could use.“Mmm,” I hummed thoughtfully. “I had not thought what I wanted to make though.”“Are you cookin
-Ariel-Jasmine cooked? Do miracles happen overnight? Jasmine does not even know how to light a fire to boil water.We were not allowed to do any of those while growing up. Though Jasmine had always been the rebellious child who would sneak out to join local children in their chores of fetching water and firewood, I was still better than her when it came to work.“I did, with the help of the maids,” she said and I nodded. Thought as much.“Well, you don’t have to cook, do you? You have maids who do everything for you,” I stated.“Well yeah, I just wanted to,” she said. A question popped into my mind and I did not think it was necessary to ask but curiosity got the best of me.“Who did you make it for?” I asked.“Uhm, actually I…,” she stuttered and coughed. “It’s not like I made it, especially for someone you see, but I just thought to share it with Adonai.”I cocked my head in a direction with an amused smile on my face.“Wow tell me about it,” I said and she shook her head, waving h
-Aria-While the guard was explaining to him I could not get my eyes off him. They had said he was meditating but he looked like someone who had just come out of the bathroom with a towel around his neck and water dripping from his hair.“What is this Jasmine?” he asked me and I had to struggle to maintain my composure so I could reply to him.“My lord, good morning,” I greeted warmly. “I am so sorry to have disturbed your morning but the guards would not let me see my Lord. I tried explaining to them it was important I see you but they would not let me.”He held my eyes for some seconds with no expression in them and I fidgeted a little. It was all I could do not to look away and be intimidated. His eyes moved to the tray the maids were holding and it lingered there. I hoped he would not do something crazy like ask me to leave or even go back to the room and close the door in my face.“Let them in,” he finally said and I silently let out a breath I had not realized I was holding, bar
-Prisca-I paced around the room restlessly thinking about what Dante had told me and trying to figure out what he had meant by all those things he had said. Was he trying to blackmail me? And on what grounds? It seems he does not know who I am and he thinks he can threaten me because I am a scarred cat.Well, he must be mistaken and making a very big mistake because he was messing with the wrong person. Of course, I had no intentions of doing what he wanted me to because I would not be forced to do anything with force.And I know he does not love Jasmine as much as she loves him. Whatever his intentions are, he is not going to get it from me. I must not let him think he has a hold on me.I sat on my bed. Just who the hell does he think he is anyway? Coming to my house to tell me all that rubbish.I had stayed away from the empire for some days now because I wanted to give her some space but I had hoped she would come looking for me just the last time and as always. This was the thir
-Aria-The red stoned ring! She was wearing the ring on her finger. What is going on?I blinked my eyes rapidly and swallowed a lump in my throat. Or was I mistaken? I recognized the ring because how could I ever forget the memory that flashed in my mind about Jasmine’s death? It looked just like it.Prisca did not notice the look on my face as she unpacked the food she had brought from the basket while I just kept staring at her in what felt like fear and shock all in one. But I did not have the time to think further when a sudden nauseated feeling hit me and salty saliva gathered in my mouth.I held my stomach and ran to the bathroom to throw up.“Jasmine,” Prisca called out, running after me. I threw up and leaned on the wall, gasping for air.“Jasmine, what is it?” Prisca asked with concern on her face, placing her hand on my shoulder. I recoiled unconsciously, moving away from her touch.“Jasmine…” she looked worried.“Did you put garlic in the food?” I finally found the strength
-Lara-I walked briskly to the large sitting room where Vera and Agatha were seated and discussing.“Guys,” I stood before them and they looked up at me.“What is the matter, Lara?” Agatha asked, looking at me questioningly. “Why are you running like someone who has just seen a ghost?”“So none of you is wondering why the alpha did not join us for breakfast today?” I asked, looking at them one after the other. Agatha hissed and Vera shook her head, looking away.“So this is the reason why you were running as if something was pursuing you?” Agatha stated disappointedly.“Is it news that the alpha does not eat with us?” Vera asked. “Many times he is too busy to join us. Why are you acting as if you are a newcomer here?”“Yes it is no news that the alpha does that sometimes-“Most of the time,” Agatha corrected and I scowled at her and continued.“But have you cared to find out why he did not eat with us?” I further propped.“Can you listen to yourself, Lara?” Vera looked like I was milk
-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