Ella's POVMy insides were no longer the same. I knew that tonight's party wasn't going to be a good one. Michael was going to try and use Ryker to get back at me.I needed strength, now more than ever.My hands balled into fists as I took deep breaths to calm my racing heart and troubled mind.The first thing on my mind was to go to Michael and demand that he released Ryker. But this was what Michael wanted.He wanted to see me vulnerable so that he could manipulate me but he was wrong. I would give him the opposite of what he wanted to see.With my mind made up, I started moving out of the dungeon. Just when I was reaching the entrance, I heard a cracked voice I recognized as Andrew's."Times are hard my dear child... I pray the goddess gives you the strength to succeed..."His words were a fuel that ignited my anger towards the entire Crystal House even more. I wanted to go back and scream to his face how all this was his fault.I wanted to remind him of the great role he had playe
Ryker’s POVMichael’s intentions were bad, I didn’t need a soothsayer to tell it to me. After he dragged me out of the dungeon, his men took me to a strange room in the palace that I hadn’t seen before. It was dimly lit, and I could barely make out what was in it until they opened another door. It was then I saw the small window at the top, illuminating the place.It was a bathroom.My brows raised and I turned to them, expecting a sort of explanation from them but they scoffed and led me to the opened door; “Scrub yourself clean, you are going to be the star tonight,” one of them said.I understood that they were mocking me. They were trying to make a fool of me, but I didn’t even blame them. It was their time to act as fools.I walked into the bathroom and let the shower run. I wanted to skip the bath, but the cold water was too inviting after being denied water for such a long time. I scrubbed myself clean and when I stepped out, the room was empty, safe for a white singlet that s
Ella’s POV ♤ Twenty minutes before the Party ♤When I left my room, I had just one plan in mind, to end Michael and his silly antics once and for all.So I walked down to the guards' quarters, ignoring the looks they were all giving to me. I went straight to the captain's door and knocked.There was no response, so I tried the door knob but it was locked as well.Damn it.My hands balled into fists as I realized that the door was locked and Jason wasn’t there. I checked the time on my small silver wristwatch, and I saw that I was running out of time to play around. It was almost time for the private party, and if I didn't find Jason, things were not going to be under my control.My heart tightened as frustration started getting into me, I had to think of another way to handle this. I had to find another way before the party started."Princess Ella," a voice called behind me, and my wolf jumped in excitement.It was Jason."Oh, Captain," I called with a smile. "I have been looking f
Michael’s POVRyker’s voice echoed in the room sending the girls I had paid for the show to get on their feet instantly. The situation was rapidly getting out of hand, and I realized that Ella was right.I was stupid.I didn’t think it through properly. I should have never removed the chains from Ryker. Now he was free, and I didn’t even possess the Alpha’s cry to command him into doing my will. But there was no way I would get this far and just give up now. Never.“Take him away! What are you waiting for?” I screamed, hoping to get the men to action.For the good part, Ryker was still very much outnumbered. The very way we got him the first time, I could use that. Though the number of men wasn’t as much as the first time, it was worth a trial. I wasn’t about to give up now.“Get him! Now!” I insisted, taking a step back to urge the men even more.But none of them made a move. They just stood there, watching, too scared to make a move. There was just one of him and about twelve of the
Ryker’s POVThe guards surrounding us became still as Ella’s order echoed around the room. None of them dared to counter her words.She had used her authority and position, no one dared to respond contradict, or challenge it. Their heads lowered as if an invisible power was controlling them. They could not speak, as if the goddess herself had placed a spell on them.I felt pride grow within me as I watched the scene unfold before me. The same Ella, who was once a nobody, now stood her ground and took her fate in her hands.Who would have thought that a girl I got as a replacement for my supposed Luna, would take the place and turn out to be the true heir to the powerful crystal pack —just who would have thought?My wolf was excitedly twisting as I watched Ella stand her ground and defend her territory. It felt like a pride of watching a child grow till they were bold and confident. In that instance, my legs developed a mind of their own and I walked to her side and held her hands to o
Ella’s POVAs soon as Ryker left the palace grounds and I was certain that he was safely away, I turned back to the palace, but I didn’t head to the main building. I took the path that led to the back of the main structure to the cabin where Selena and her father had been abandoned.My mind was made up and I was going to make sure I put an end to this all once and for all.“Selena?” I called as I got closer to the front porch.As I took the first steps, the door opened, and Selena’s face appeared behind it. As she saw that it was me, she got out completely and wiped her hands behind her dress.“Ella… what are you doing here?” she asked.“I am here to end this.” I got closer and took her hands. “How is your father doing?”She looked surprised and I couldn’t tell if it was my question or my presence that caused the most surprise. She turned her head to the door and back at me before she shook, her head.“He is fine… but what is going on?”“We need to speak to the guards and put an end t
Michael’s POVAfter the conversation with my mother, my head was hurting from too much thinking. We couldn’t come up with a perfect solution, so the only thing left to do was to return to my chambers, get a good sleep, and by morning, I would see the damage my actions had caused and find a lasting solution.The goddess must have truly loved Ella. My plans were so easy, yet she found a way to make it complicated. Now trying to fix it was making it harder and close to impossible. But I was certain that after tonight, I would solve it.My hands ran into my hair for the millionth time as I left my mother’s room and proceeded to my room where Sarah was waiting for me.“My sweet King,” she whispered the moment I opened the door. “What took you so long?”Her voice alone helped to calm my nerves. It was like cooling water on my burning skin.“Just a long day… which I had already guessed that was why I asked you to come,” I lied.I didn’t think my plan would even fail. I had called her here be
Ella’s POV“You think I am scared of you!?” Michael spat out with his ears burning red in anger.It was sad that he still didn’t realize how fucked up he was. I walked to the bed and lowered myself gently, watching him continue to embarrass himself.“I order you all to stay away from me. I am your alpha! I rule over you!” he yelled but even the men scoffed and rolled their eyes at him.Slowly, he started comprehending his awful situation. He turned around facing each of us as if he was losing his mind, and then he screamed, coming at me. Before he could reach anywhere, Myles stopped him, and he was immediately placed into chains.“I command you all to stop this! Let me go! Release me instantly!” he screamed repeatedly.And that was when I got up and walked close to him, my eyes burning with the pain he and his supposed mother had made me go through before I lost my baby.“No one would listen to you, Michael. You had your time and you messed it up. Do not expect anyone to help you now.