I didn’t get too far, or should I say I didn’t get anywhere at all. I had barely taken three steps out of the room when a bulky man blocks my path. I didn’t see him coming, so I bumped into him and let out a yelp, like a thief who had been caught in the act.
Looking up at him, I quickly concluded I do not like him. He’s so large, with his muscles popping out everywhere and his hard face looked like a trained assassin. I could see a muscle twitching in his neck as he held my eyes with a wicked stare.
“And where do you think you are going?” He says in a deep voice and cocked a brow at me but to my surprise, he smiled.
“Out of this place,” I answer him with a deep frown, my eyes still locked with his. I realize then that I wasn’t scared of him one bit. He may be all broad and mean-looking but I didn’t feel threatened by him. For someone who had lived most of her life serving others and was told never to sp
I stepped back to allow Princess Elsie in. Behind her is another girl carrying a tray which she sets on the table, then she courtesies and left, closing the door behind her “Oh dear. Have you been crying?” Princess Elsie asks. I think it’s pretty obvious what I’ve been up to, she didn’t need to ask, so I just looked away and avoided her eyes. Princess Elsie looks magnificent and she’s the typical description of a fairy tale princess that I read in books and watched in cartoons as a kid. She is at least five foot an nine inches tall with long blonde hair that is neatly packed without a strand out of place. Her skin is flawless and without a single blemish. When she spoke, I notice her one sided dimple on her right cheek. She has a strong aura around her. Her confidence and poise did not come from years of practice, she was born with it, and an angelic talking voice . I wonder how it would sound when she sings. Her nails too were very flawless and you can easil
Ryder’s POV It’s been a year and six months already and we still do not have a clue who is behind the attacks. They seem to have a similar pattern, combing through different packs and attacking their alpha’s and luna’s. In the past eighteen months, at least thirteen pack luna’s have mysteriously died, or their alpha’s just go missing and their abductors or killers always leave the same message, in the same handwriting. … Justice or nothing… At first, my dad tried to solve the riddle but he has a lot on his hands and with everything that was happening around me at the time, I decided to soak myself in more work and take the case off his hands. I needed the distraction and I have been so engrossed in uncovering this mystery for the last eighteen months and each time I feel I was close to uncovering the case, I find myself at a dead end again. Another pack just sent a message that their alpha mysteriously
TIANA’S POVBoredom. Many hours have passed since Princess Elsie left and I didn’t get my cell phone. I know Mr Scary is still behind the door and coming out again is not going to be an option. I’ll find myself back in here. I grit my teeth in frustration. I don’t think I like this prince much. It’s plain wickedness for him to leave me here for hours without any form of company whatsoever. How does his brain work anyway? I find myself continually sighing and cursing. I wonder just how long he plans on keeping me in here. The arrogant son of a bitch! Prince or not, I’m going to give him a dose of his own medicine somehow. Maybe I would lock him in this room and run away with the keys, then he would know what it feels like.Even I know the whole plan sounds ridiculous but the thought was kind of soothing. I have been here for hours damn it and it feels like I would run mad if I’m no
It took me less than fifteen minutes to take my bath and get into the night wear he provided. I don’t feel too comfortable in it because it is a little transparent and made my nipples more pronounced. After a second look in the mirror, I decide to wear a bra underneath, Something I have never done in my life. Bra’s are not really my thing and they make me super uncomfortable, especially at night, but I had to use it tonight. Prince Ryder says he would be back in fifteen minutes and I wouldn’t want him seeing me like that. Hopefully when he goes, I get to take it off.Exactly fifteen minutes later, there’s a knock on the door and I’m scared at first but then I figured Prince Ryder would not knock before entering his room. I open the door and find a young girl carrying a tray, and a smile on her face. I already had a lot to eat earlier on and I am nowhere close to hungry but I accept the tray anyway and thank her. She doesn’t say a word, she
I didn’t expect him to be so gentle with me, I did not think my tears would touch him so much, but they did, and when he held me close and patted me like that, I felt better immediately and I shivered as the electric currents and sparks from his touch passed through every corner of my body.“Don’t cry, ” he says softly and I start to push him away from me, but it feels like I’m pushing against a rock. He doesn’t release me so easily at first but after a while, he finally let’s go.“Can I go? Please? I just want to be with my friends-” I start to say but his eyes darken again and I begin to feel his anger.“Go to bed, now, ” He says pointing at the bed. With the look on his face, I know there is no getting out of this for me. I could cry all night or protest but he isn’t going to let me out of this room. I sighed and resolved myself to my fate. Then slowly, I climb on the bed and get beneath
RYDER’S POVShe is so innocent, sweet yet stubborn, and she has her way of getting on my nerves quickly. Yes, she is equally annoying. She seems like she would derive pleasure in disobeying my orders but I would not take that from her. The mere thought of it made a scowl cross my face. Louis and Elsie look up at me, both raising their brows.We just finished having breakfast and we are seated at the balcony. I still have a few minutes before getting on with the business for today, so I decided to spend the time with my siblings while my mate was still sound asleep in my room.My mate. It’s hard to take in, it’s almost unbelievable but it’s exciting at the same time. I don’t know much about her but I intend to find out. She doesn’t seem like one to talk about her past life much. It had taken her a moment to even voice out her age. Eclipse pack is not one of the largest packs and a
TIANA’S POV“Miss Aldridge, Your highness asked that we delivered these to you,” A frail looking girl carrying a hand full of clothes drops them on the bed, and another girl follow behind her.“Thank you,” I mouthed to them and they smiled genuinely. “Wait,” I quickly stop them before they leave. “I was wondering if you knew Rose?” They shook their heads simultaneously “Nora?” They look at each other and shook their heads again. Then I just sigh and wave them off.When they left, I go to inspect the clothes they brought for me. Expensive clothes. Each one had a label on them indicating they had just been bought and I gushed over how beautiful the dresses are and the price tag on them. I don’t think Prince Ryder picked out these outfits for me, they looked really girly and classy, something a lady would pick. Anyway, Mr. Scary t
“What are you all doing here anyway?” I ask, glancing around the room.“Come, ” Sadie pulls my hands and start to lead me outside, the other two following behind us. I can’t begin to describe how big and beautiful the werewolf palace is. This particular building is not as big as Prince Ryder’s and it was divided into several beautiful sections. It is about two stories tall and I want to explore more areas but I don’t have much time. I want to spend the hour catching up with them and telling them about my own experience too. I also need to speak to Layla.When we exited the room, they take me to a much smaller area, it’s like a mini parlor with awards and medals scattered all around and about six single chairs.“I think the best thing that happened to us was coming here, ” Rose commented, taking the first sit and I followed suit. Sadie took the chair close
We had just given the closing remarks when I finally caught a glimpse of Layla. She waved at me from behind the crowd, a wide smile on her face. I’d have been mad if I wasn’t surprised at how broadly she smiled and waved at me. It was hard pulling away from Ryder to go to her when my hands were trapped between his.When he finally let go, Layla was walking up to me same time as I was walking to her. A closer view revealed her flushed cheeks and bright eyes.“Someone looks overly excited. Where have you been?” I smiled as she pulled me into a tight embrace.“First, I’m sorry I haven’t been beside you,” She says with a little giggle, I doubted if she was really sorry.“And you are supposed to be my best friend,” I pouted childishly which made her laugh more.“I know, but I couldn’t help it,” she giggled “You look absolutely amazing by the way. I’ve never seen a
We recited our oaths before going into the ritual proper, and then the mating process had to come before the crowning ceremony. It was a rigorous exercise with Ryder taking his oath first, and then I followed suit.The king slits his left palm with a royal dagger, and Ryder does the same. Then they shook hands and the crowd bared their necks while the exchange of power was ongoing, with the kinsmen reading out the vows for Ryder to repeat.Once that was done, he had to go on his knees to receive the crown from his father. I knelt with him as his father proceeded to crown me with his mother’s crown once he was done with Ryder. I repeated my vows too and swore my loyalty to my people and to Ryder, to rule alongside him and put the welfare of my subjects first.Then it was time for the mating proper. My wolf was giddy with excitement, she had waited for this a long time. To be joined with her mate forever as one. It was midnight already and the moon was at hi
I smiled at the girl in the mirror and she smiled back. Tears glistened my eyes, but I had to hold it in, or else Elsie would go ballistic on me. ‘Don’t you dare ruin your make up’ she’d warned countless times. I laughed childishly as her eyes pried into mine through the mirror, the warning very evident in them. I can’t believe this is happening. I am just a few minutes away from being crowned the werewolf queen. Clad in the royal attire, and adorned with the most expensive jewelries, I looked nothing short of a Queen. Nora, Sadie, Rose and Layla had just exited the room to join the crowd outside. “You look absolutely stunning,” Elsie wiped her own tear before it dropped. “You know how much this means to Ryder,” she sniffed. “It means everything to him,” I nodded my head. I didn’t doubt Ryder wanted this as much as I did, or even more. “My mother’s crown has been laying around for years since her demise. It was her dying wish
The following days passed in a blur. There seemed to be too much to do under very little time, and I would not have been able to hold it off, if not for Elsie’s help. I didn’t know the first thing about organizing anything, and I wanted this to be perfect. I can’t afford any lapses.Ryder was enveloped in a pile of work himself, and we had little time with each other. Many nights, he didn’t return to bed and had to work through the night. He wouldn’t allow me to assist knowing I was pretty exhausted myself, but I fell asleep very frequently in his office and woke up in his room.The royal suite had been cleared out in the main castle for us while his father moved to the building behind that had been created for the purpose of his retirement. Our things had been cleared out and arranged in the royal suite and it would be our last night here. Louis will be moving in here once we moved out, and I knew I would miss this place so much.T
Right now, I’m super exhausted and I just want to crawl into bed and sleep, even though the evening is still young. I and Elsie have been on a shopping spree all day, trying to put a few things in place in preparation for the mating ceremony. There is a whole lot to be done before that day and I only just realized we have little time. Elsie had too much energy for one person, and if I hadn’t insisted that we continue tomorrow, we would have still been out by now.The regained my strength the minute I stepped into Ryder’s house and noticed he was home. He’d called earlier, but we hadn’t talked much. I climbed up the stair to the room with speed. Our bodies and minds were connected. I knew he could feel my presence the minute I walked into the building, just like I felt his.He was just stepping out of the shower when I walked in, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist, and I drooled over his body. Tearing my eyes from his chest and biceps
We returned back to the royal palace that same day and by the following day, things were being put in place to shut down Eclipse pack. I didn’t stay back to see it though, my job there was done, and I was back to the royal palace. Many members of Eclipse pack will not like me, because they wouldn’t understand this was in their best interest, but I was used to them not liking me, I lived with that all my life, only difference now is that I have upper hand. I hurried to meet Elsie who had been waiting for me downstairs for a while. As usual, I had woken up to find Ryder’s side of the bed empty, and the disappointment that followed was totally beyond my control. I had to remind myself that the fact that he had marked me now didn’t mean that he would have lesser responsibilities, and he only just informed me about his father’s decision to retire in less than two weeks, so there is a lot that needed to be done before the handover ceremony. To my surprise, Louis was beside
It’s a long ride from the royal palace to Eclipse pack and I would have dreaded the journey if not for the presence of my mate besides me. The last time I had to travel this long was when I left the royal palace to hide from Ryder, a very foolish decision as I have now noticed. I could never do without him, and I don’t even want to try.We pulled into the pack gates and looking round, a lot has changed from when I was here. The warriors on guard saluted and stood in position as we entered. From behind the tinted side glasses of the vehicle, I can see mothers carrying their young pups and hurriedly running to shelter, for fear of the Alpha Prince.The pack has been under the governance of the royals for the last few days, and a lot of things have changed since I remember. The atmosphere around the pack was unusually gloomy, and even the warriors wore sad faces. The walls of the packhouse look duller than I can remember and the trees and plants that decorated
Dungeons are really scary. We had a small dungeon in Eclipse pack where I spent a couple of nights in the past. I remember Alpha Simeon had me locked there for two weeks straight one time he said I had disrespected his Luna. It was the longest time I stayed in a dungeon at a stretch and it was a horrific experience. I think I was about thirteen then.I swallowed as one of the guards led us to the cell where Jordan was. Ryder’s hands were positioned at the small of my back, and apparently, he didn’t like the idea. I could feel his emotions and I know he can feel how uncomfortable I am here.I have never seen a dungeon so large before. It rested many feet underground with several cells lined up opposite each other. I couldn’t walk the lengths of the cell, because it was separated into several sections. Some cells were smaller than some and the crime committed would determine the cell one gets. I know this all too well from my own experience.I co
TIANA’S POVFor obvious reasons, I felt relieved when I heard about the news of Simeon’s death. I know my mate would have wanted a more severe punishment for him, but I could care less. I was more than happy that the case would finally be closed and that my mate can have a little rest and move on to other things.My father had to go back to get himself ready to move here fully, and he said he would be here in a couple of days. I am glad that he would be around me from now on and that we would finally be able to be part of each other’s life. Meeting Ryder was the best thing that happened to me, and I don’t want to envision a life without him.I want to be more involved in the work going on around here, and most importantly I want to go back to training, although Ryder is not hearing any of it. It is late in the night already and we were laying on the field by the lake side, gazing at the star