Alpha JoashAlthough we were just fifty in number, the task of evacuating everyone to safety made it difficult for Targon and Derrick to stop me.I undid my horse's knots, mounted on it, and made my way out of the hideout.I thought I was free until I felt Derrick's fragrance wafted into my nose. This time, I was unstoppable. I had waited enough. My mate was out there facing the woes all by herself. Not even my wolf can stop me now."Your Highness, this isn't the best option!" Derrick finally caught up with me."Say that again and I will snap your neck!" I roared and set my horse on the move. Targon who was standing in my path jumped out of the way as my horse galloped towards him."Get down to work and get everyone to safety!" I yelled at the two of them and pulled my horse's reins, "Giddy up!!!" I commanded.The horse tore through the path ahead of us and in no time, I was approaching the concealed entrance of the hideout. Suddenly, I felt a tingling sensation and a voice broke int
Alpha JoashI cussed as I rode into the wild. I had never felt so agitated, I wanted to get to Vera in time, but Silas' horse didn't yield my command, it was obstinate and as slow as a snail."Vera, I hummed softly, trying to link her up, but there was no response.Why? Is she tired? She said she was alright and stalling to get some information… Yeah, I knew that was probably not true but I didn't expect that she encountered great difficulty… Wait… Didn't Silas say that she killed Alpha Woods and some rogues were unto her?"Vera!!!" I tried to mind-link her again, but all I got was silence. My heart throbbed with fear."Giddy up!" I commanded and hit the horse forcefully. It neighed and galloped forward, speeding down the rough terrain.Impressive! I held its reins and lifted up my body as we shot forward.It was a smooth ride and unlike I had expected there was no ambush or constraint on the way. This seemed to be suspicious, given the ongoing clash with the rogues, but thanks to it
SilasI was a prisoner in my own abode, the palace walls were like shackles, binding me down.Yes, I had lived under my father's caprices and almost like a prisoner all my life, but they were better days than how I lived now.Since my father assigned his special guard to monitor me, my life had become miserable. I wasn't given breathing space. I could still communicate with my men who were stationed far and wide, thanks to my gifts.It was late in the night and I was strolling down the palace gates with my father's guard sticking to me like glue.Ignoring his presence, I let a blissful smile spread across my face as I remembered Joash. That scoundrel, he must have reunited with his mate and now I am out of his mind. I smiled wider.Our damsel in distress is more capable than I had thought… I couldn't believe that she killed Alpha Woods when she was surrounded by rogues. Good for her she achieved her revenge.I'm glad that Joash got a good match, but wouldn't that make them a formidabl
Alpha Joash Vera had regained consciousness when I returned to the cabin but she was running a fever and seemed unstable and disoriented. Her parched lips quaked like she wanted to talk but she couldn't utter a word.I had envisaged these and had got all the necessary herbs"I've got you," I muttered and brought out the herbs stuffed in my pockets. I brought up a gourd of water and lifted her head up. As the water touched her parched lips, her eyes widened and she grabbed the gourd. She gulped down the whole content before letting go."You will be fine, just rest for now," I pecked her forehead and rose to my feet. It was time to work.I wanted the guards to be alert so I left them to the task and got the job done.I looked around the cabin for utensils. Luckily I got a bowl, some water and a piece of cloth. The water and the cloth were not clean but they were manageable.I dipped the cloth in the bowl of water and pressed it on Vera's forehead. She shivered and lashed at me. I held
VeraMy back rocked my mate's chest as we broke into the wild. I was still weak and sore but a great relief and sense of security flooded my heart. "We are safe now…" I said to my wolf."Are we really safe? I can feel darkness looming ahead. I don't know what it is, but I can sense the tension," she replied."Yes, I can sense it too but I chose to enjoy the moment.""You should ask our mate," Viola insisted."He isn't in the mood… it seems he's trying to escape from here.""Yes," Viola responded."Let's give him time to do so. I have a lot to ask him too."There were a lot of questions that I wanted to ask my mate. I lost touch with time when I was going in and out of consciousness… and when I came around, I didn't understand a thing. I was with some masked men in a cabin and all I remembered was that they accosted me in the woods. It seemed like they saved me from the rogue wolves but I watched them as they took me out with a blow. I didn't know their identity and it all got mixed up
Joash"Swear on your life that you will keep her safe," I said to the two guards standing in front of me.I wasn't sure of my decision. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to trust Silas and his men, but as it was, I had no choice in the matter. I couldn't leave Vera to wander in the woods all by herself and given the circumstances and her physical condition, she mustn't attempt the battle with me.Both guards landed on their knees in front of me. One knee was on the ground each while their second feet were stumped on the ground.They brought up their swords and bit the blades three consecutive times. It was a sign of allegiance. Allegiance? It looked too easy. Getting the allegiance of another man's men wasn't something to come by easily. I wasn't well pleased with the development, but I still committed Vera into their hands."It's time to leave." I commanded. The men rose to their feet but Vera, who was standing aloof, couldn't look at me."You are not using the horse," I announced and
SilasI was on my knees and grounded in my father's yard!It was past dawn and my knees had begun to ache. Father had already retired to his room. I knew that there was no salvation for me when he said I would remain on my knees until Joash was conquered. It wasn't an empty threat.I was under the watch of one of his bodyguards, Kepler, the guard who guard father's bedchamber. He could qualify as one of the ruthless and coldest amongst his guards, but father left him and made him watch over me. Isn't that out of line? I was right, father knew something.At this point, I was far gone and his suspicion wasn't my concern. I only prayed that my men got to Joash in time. I shifted on my knees as pain descended brutally on me. This won't cut it. I couldn't stay forever on my knees. I changed my position and instead of kneeling, I sat sprawled on the ground.Kepler's gaze turned grimly cold but I didn't give a damn. Father will meet me here when morning comes."Your Highness," the voice of
JoashThe night was fast fading and the sun was almost rising. The wood was still quiet except for the loud sound of nature taking its course with the sound of my horse, intruding the silence. My father's men were still in the shadows and Silas' men hadn't shown up.Is Silas playing games with me? Could his tips be lies? Or did I discomfit the enemies by travelling backwards? Vera! Was leaving her with Silas' men a mistake? My heart skipped a beat. I wanted to mind link her, I wanted to warn her, but I decided to trust Silas. Vera is unpredictable, raising a force alarm might do more harm than good. And the last thing I wanted was having her all over the place, adding to my burden.I ignored the feeling and continued on my journey. But I couldn't shake off the odd feeling and all that filled my head was Vera. Her safety and well being were matters of great concern to me. She wasn't cut for the harsh life of the woods. Memories of the times I was on the run with Pete clouded my visi
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