-Aria-I placed my hand on my chest immediately the door closed after my mother as if it could steady my racing heartbeat.Now I am so sure if anyone was going to find out I was not Jasmine, it would have to be this woman. It was how she looked at me like her eyes could see through my soul. I struggled so much to act normal while talking to her, but my body shook. I should have known I would have all these to put up with.I cannot let anyone know I am not Jasmine. It would ruin everything for me. My encounter with my supposed mother left me in a state of worry and I knew I had to begin to think of ways to get over with her as well as others.All I had been concerned about was how to get Adonai, forgetting there were other people I would have to relate with who had relationships with Jasmine and I had to flow with them without questions and do so successfully. This was harder than I thought.I stood up from the bed when I realized I had been sitting in one position since the woman left
-Adonai-I was in the courtroom with one of the commandants of my army troop, discussing the recent matters on ground concerning our alliances and the security of the pack in general when one of the guards walked in and bowed.“Greetings, alpha,” he said and I did not reply. I hate to be disturbed when I am busy with something like this. However, I waited to hear what he wanted to say.“Speak,” I ordered when he did not say anything further, looking skeptical.“Ms. Ellen, Princess Jasmine’s mother, seeks your presence,” he told me and I glared at him. Was that the reason he had disrupted my meeting? Surprisingly, I was not as angry as I would have been.“What did she say she want?” I asked, looking away from him to the large map on the table which the commandant was giving explanations.“I do not know,” he replied.“Did you not tell her I was busy?” I asked him and he nodded.“Yes, I did. But she insisted she wanted to see you,” he said and I grunted.“I will not see her now. I am bus
-Adonai-The curse.It was a glaring myth I always preferred to tug in so I did not have to worry about it. It lingered in the air and I was conscious of it. But I would rather think of other things than dwell on it and give it a form in my thoughts.It was the same thing Jasmine’s mother brought up, thinking she would get me caged with it. Yes, it worried me. It was a reality I could not do any with, but I refused to have it as a weakness. When a man is laced with a situation like this, it becomes a burden and what people would term it as a weakness.It would be what his enemies would use against him to get him so I refuse to let anyone see that I cared, less they use it against me.“What are you trying to say, Ellen,” I frowned at her. “Go straight to the point. I do not have any time to waste.”“Of course Adonai,” she adjusted on the seat. “What I am trying to say is not farfetched from the reason I had offered you my daughter to be your wife. Because just like I have said earlier,
-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
-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