The Alpha King's PalaceSilas' POVI shut off my cloaking ability immediately when I was halfway through my journey back to the palace. Instantly I became self-aware and I knew that the king's men had their eyes on me again.Carelessly, I pulled the horse's rein and it neighed. Its speed shot up as he galloped through the wild.Soon the lofty gates of the palace stood tall in front of me. "I am back in my bondage… it will be over soon," I muttered to myself as I rode in.The guards at the palace gates bowed and opened the gate as I drew closer."Welcome back to the palace, Your Highness!" Everyone chorused; the palace guards, maids, and other workers. They stopped all that they were doing and paid their respects as I rode in slowly. That was about all I got as a Prince.I dismounted from my horse and some of the guards led it down to the stables."My Prince, where have you been? You put me in a tight spot with the King," my personal guard scurried towards me, grunting."I guess it wa
Silas"Son. Do you think Joash is dead?" My father asked again, looking piercingly into my eyes. I couldn't hide."I… mmmm… I… think, I, we should presume that he is dead. We haven't heard anything about him after the battle. He was wounded by a poisoned arrow and It's been months now, we haven't heard anything about him."And you believe that? Joash is a beast. He sure has a long life. Do you think, after all that he has accomplished, a single arrow soaked with poison would take him down?" Father asked, his unwavering stare boring into my mind.Hearing him insist, it was obvious that he had his answers and I had to tread with wisdom."... Hmmm … Given all that we know about Joash, he might still be somewhere breathing," I said blankly, looking into my father's cold stares. I had to act like I was with him, or else he would notice an anomaly."The only assurance is the potency of the poison. Although Blake, who supplied the poison, vouched for its potency, I can't trust him blindly. I
SilasIf there was anything we were short of, it was time. Things were getting heated with my father and I needed to act fast.I had always lived under my father's shadow, doing his bidding and living by his rules. If he felt threatened, he would cut off my head without batting an eyelid. Why the heck is Joash stalling? He ought to have reached out to me. I could reach out to him easily if I wanted, but I wouldn't do that. I needed to see his enthusiasm about the matter and his willingness to join hands with me. That was why sneaked out of the palace and risked the consequences of meeting him.If the bastard rejects my offer, it will be his undoing!With my gifts back, I could take Father down on my own. But do you know why I involved Joash? It is because he needed it the most.He had run all his life. With father gone, he would finally be free. I'm not a saint, I wouldn't just give him such peace on a platter of gold. He must play his quota.Call me petty, but I felt that it was the
SilasI shut the door to my living room and walked to my bedroom. I didn't know when my father's bodyguard would resume and I didn't know the extent of his assignment. I prayed he wouldn't follow me all around, guarding me in my rooms.My bedroom was a single room but very large. Two rooms could be comfortably created from it. Behind one of the doors was an opening on the ground. It was disguised as a continuation of the floor but it wasn't.I worked through the camouflage overlaying the opening until I held up a lid. I pulled it open to reveal a staircase. Carefully, I let myself down the stairs and pulled the lid shut.Slowly, I climbed down the stairs into the underground dungeon beneath my bedroom. I had built it several years ago for security reasons."My Prince…" Blake's voice broke through as I landed in front of him. I was holding him captive down there."...Why art thou forsaken me? I have been here for days without food and water," he complained."You are a prisoner. I'm no
SilasWhen I climbed out of the dungeon, I was sweating profusely. My whole length shivered as I replaced the lid and redressed the floor, giving it it normal look. I had to use my legs as my claws were still out. Blake's blood dropped from my hands and I tried so hard to resist the urge to turn.A rage so raw was tearing me apart. Intense pain gripped my heart as I stared at my reality… All that Blake said was true. He was right, I was plotting to kill my father. At a time I had wanted to kill Joash but now I am rooting for him. I wanted the throne after conquering my father and I wanted to reign without interference. But I had to let Joash live! Knowing fully well that he was the only one who could interfere in my regime. ,Apart from his prominence, he is the son of the rightful man entitled to the throne.I had all I needed to get rid of him, especially in his fallen state but I couldn't. I don't go back on my pledges.Tiredly, I sat on the edge of my bed, shaking slightly as I pu
At Alpha Joash's HideoutAlpha JoashThe day was still young but the sun was an early riser. It intensely kissed our bare backs, burning us up with its fury. Every hole in our bodies dripped with sweat as we continued to train.Just like I had ordered, Derrick had relocated every other member and only fifty of us were remaining.That was a reasonable number of people to cope with in a hideout. Although if I had my way I would send more people away. The smaller the number the better.About thirty of us were able-bodied men. We were out in the sun where I was putting them into all manners of bizarre training. I was raising them into elite soldiers. I needed to build an army if I would win the looming battle."No pain, no gain!" Vera yelled. Cheering others on. She was the only female among us. She refused my orders to stay out of this. She had been training with us and I must say that she was doing great. She surpassed my expectations."My Alpha!" She waved at me as she broke out of the
VeraMy mate stood behind me as I patted my body dry. We had just had a shower after the rigorous training under the scorching heat of the sun.He was standing so close to me, teasing my neck with his breath. "I missed you," he said into my head.Good! This was the opportunity that I had been waiting for. He had been busy for a few days now and he was no fun."I missed you too," I muttered.He pressed his wet skin against my body. His hands travelled down the little space between us and he fumbled with my butt. He kneaded each cheek slowly and intensely. My hands travelled down and I guided His hands away from my butt, but I just made the greatest mistake. Slowly, his hands travelled down my sides. They encircled the water on my skin as they worked their way to my chest. He grabbed my breasts from behind and I couldn't resist it. I moaned, throwing my head back. He knew I loved to be held this way."Good girl," he muttered and kissed my neck. His fingers encircled the water on my bre
VeraBeta Derrick led me through the cell holdings until we were standing in front of a tiny cell. It smelled rusty and stiffening, reminding me of my old self."God, I pray that my mate's speculations are wrong. I just wish for the twins to be innocent," I muttered some words of prayer.Standing in front of the gates, I beheld the twins. They sat pathetically on the floor, staring blankly at each other. Bruises and cuts ran down their bodies but they weren't too bad, they seemed to be bearable."Your Highness," the guard bowed and the girls looked up sharply.Our eyes met but they looked away immediately. Great fear fell on them and they shifted uneasily on their butts."Tehla? Tirah?" I called but they couldn't look at me. Each of them shivered and stared at the floor and back at each other. They couldn't look at me!!! My heart began to race. I got my answers already! Oh my God! I was indeed gullible! Why couldn't I see it? I fell for their trap too easily.I held the gate tightly
JoashAt first, when I perceived Vera's scent in my subconscious, I was happy. I had been hanging on, wondering why she hadn't shown up since I ended up in thus state. I thought she had left me again. But all my fears melted away when she suddenly showed up, crying her eyes out.Her regrets, confessions and profession of love were sweet. They transcended into my subconscious mind and kept me going. All I wanted was to return to her, hold her in my arms, tell her that I had forgiven her naughtiness, clean up her tears and make her know that all that matters was that she wanted me now.In my unconscious state, I couldn't keep a record of time and my subconscious floated in space.At some point something changed, affecting my subconscious existence. I began to fade away. All that I thought that I was holding onto, thinned out and I was all alone in a dark abyss. At that point, I had given up. I couldn't hold on anymore and I knew death was around the corner. I couldn't see nor feel my
It was a long day and the sun was almost setting. I hadn't gone to check on Alpha Joash since I left his room in the morning.After speaking with Fred, a glimpse of my past flicked through my eyes and I was taken down memory lane. I was just a maid until the mating ceremony between I and His Highness. I guess that was why I was treated like a Queen when I returned. What if the mating ceremony didn't take place? I would have returned to continue my life as a maid.Power and luxury is intoxicating. Despite the aftermath of the ruins, I enjoyed the privileges of a queen. Everyone treated me with respect, my words had effects and they were prioritized.My emotions were high and I just kept a low profile all day. Now that it was evening, I was planning to go see His Highness when I heard a soft knock."Your Highness! Targon seeks to be in your presence," a guard announced."Oh! Targon, let him come in," I responded and signalled to the maids to leave.The door opened and Targon walked in
Vera"Where the heck is this place? Am I a prisoner here?" I charged at the guard who now stood rigidly against Blake's door. The guard remained unfazed and ignored me. Seeing that my ranting wouldn't yield any result, I let him be and retired to my bed. I should conserve my strength."Think, Vera," I muttered to myself. I needed to escape from this hell hole, but how? I didn't even know where we were and how to navigate.I remembered the dangerous steep wall and the tunnel. How do I get to safety? I tried to mind-link my mate but all I felt was blankness. I must be far away from him.Blake then came to my mind again. Hatred surged up within me immediately. But I had to convince myself, I needed him now. If we escaped together, he might know how to navigate…But as sweet as the idea was it was still dangerous! Escaping with Blake with his level of injury was almost impossible. Moreover, who knows where he would lead me after getting him out of here?"Argh! Where are those bastards w
JoashSwords clanked, arrows danced and gunshots rocked the air as the combat peaked. The few soldiers who escaped the explosion battled hard with my men, but they couldn't beat us.Either way, they were going to die. They either die at my hands or die at my father's hands for losing me. Their fate was decided since they were assigned to this battle.Derrick and I pounced out of our hiding places alongside our subordinates. We charged along the open space making us visible to the enemies.Seeing me, they went mad! Yes, I was their target and it was their chance. Their strength doubled and they attacked without mercy.While they battled with my men to get through to me, I dodged every shot, dart, dagger, and arrow that came my way. Simultaneously, I fired my muskets, taking some of them down while Derrick and the two men who were with us covered me on every side. Speed was an essential tool, our enemies were well-trained but we outshone them with our incredible speed.In a brief moment
SilasMy heart bled as I peeked at the ex-lovers. Having them together was more intense and heated than I had thought. I felt sorry for them, they were caught in a web of conspiracies and were victims of circumstances.What if the adults did their job? What if they weren't greedy? Those two might have been together and their love would have blossomed.When Vera accepted Blake's rejection, I saw him quake and my heart bled. The tiny bit of humanity that bound them together was shed off. In that instance, the anger in Vera's eyes turned murderous. Blake became nothing but one of the bastards that she wanted to kill to avenge her parents' death. But with a brave restraint, she stopped herself and walked out on him."Vera!!!" He yelled her name but she was done.Love has always been complicated. As for me, I had seared my emotions and love was out of the picture. No love, no fated mate, just the throne!Heaving a sigh, I lifted the lid to the dungeon to return to my bedroom. I wanted to d
JoashMy assertion was right. My father's men hadn't shown up and it was almost sunset.It was our gain and his loss this time. It afforded my men and me enough time to bond. Apart from the bond, Derrick and I discovered each man's expertise.We paired them into groups. We also formed our rules and different combat strategies and hacks that we needed to win the battle.Normally, I would have expected that my father would send just a few of his men since he knew that I was a small fry and had lost everything. But I didn't want to take chances. Since it was about me, Father wouldn't hesitate to empty his entire army to come after me.One of our strategies was to maintain different positions. We also had potent leaves stuck to our bodies as camouflage and also to conceal our scents. By Twilight, we were already set. We had assumed strategic locations. Each man with the weapons he knew how to use best.I and Derrick were stationed at the entrance, but he wasn't with me. We were stationed
SilasI knew when Vera and my men arrived. I was well informed about the journey from the beginning till they entered my underground chambers through the tunnel. The path through the tunnel was an alternative route known to me and a few of my men.After I left the palace in the morning, I tried the link up with Joash all through the day but he wasn't responsive. The bastard was ignoring me whilst I wanted to know what the hell was going on in his head.I was up till past midnight and I heard Vera when she entered the room where Blake was locked up. I had not seen him since I visited him and broke his nose.I was sentimental at first and I wanted to stop my plan of making the ex-lovers meet but I changed my mind. Their meeting could be pivotal to my backup plan.I wanted to watch what was about to go down to pick my cues. So softly and gently, without alarming anyone I climbed down through the stairs and stood at the vantage position from where I watched.As I looked at Vera, all I saw
SilasI sat on the ground in father's yard with Kepler all night until the rising of the sun. It was about time that my father resumed his office. I thought Kepler would go in to fix his duty but he didn't leave. He stayed with me until I heard my father walking out and fully ready to resume the day's assignment."Long live, oh King! Long live,Your Highness!" The palace workers greeted and I turned around. Father was fully dressed in his kingly regalia and was strolling out of his chambers. The first set of assignment everyday was his morning patrol."Your Highness," I greeted with my forehead kissing the floor."Take him to the courtroom," he ordered without looking my way.Kepler left with my father while two other guards carried out my father's instructions. They dragged me down to the court room like I were a criminal.They threw me in but I landed on my feet. Father's seat was empty as he hadn't returned from his patrol. Why is father doing this to me? What has he found out abou
VeraI was led into a clean room where an array of maids were waiting for me. My guards had disappeared and there were a new set of guards waiting for me.I threw myself towards the bed, but before I hit the bed two maids rushed towards me. Skillfully, they dragged me away from the bed and began to unclad me.My clothes were full of filth and grime, they were stinking. I wondered why I didn't notice this earlier, but now that I noticed, I was too tired to clean up. "Get your hands off me!" I yelled at them and threw one of them on the floor."Enough!" One of the guards commanded as the other maids rushed at me. He walked towards me, lifted me up and helped me back to the bed. "She is tired. Let her get a first round of sleep before working on her," the guard commanded.Some of the maids were dispersed and I flung my tired body on the bed.I shut my eyes and sleep carried me into the dream land.When I woke up I felt a little disappointed, the sleep didn't last as long as I had expe