It was nightfall. My forehead was perched against the wall of the cell as I had begun to doze off. I had waited all through the day but nothing happened. Alpha Joash didn't show up as well as his guards. I couldn't have been more grateful.Suddenly, a crackling sound hit the air and my eyes flicked open. I saw two guards opening up the cell locks. My drowsiness cleared away immediately."Our misery just began," I hummed to Viola and I shut my eyes again, pretending to be fast asleep.Two strong hands gripped me by the shoulders and jeered me up roughly. Painful howls escaped from my lips as my feet hit the ground. I was still weak and sore from the torture earlier. I was hungry and thirsty, I had no strength left in me. My legs buckled under my weight and I fell to my knees.The guards did not give a damn, they dragged me along and I crawled on my toes and knees behind them.Outside, thick darkness had spread across the skies, but thanks to my wolf eyes, I could see clearly. After wa
"Stop the pretence… I know you have come around. You don't have time for this… you are to resume to the Alpha's chambers by tomorrow. You have just a day to recuperate," an unfamiliar voice rang into my ears and I opened my eyes. My vision was a little hazy but I could see. Déjà vu ran down my spine, bringing me back to the day that I woke up in a clean room after I had fainted in the woods. But it's a different setting. This time, I was not in cuffs and I wasn't surrounded by people.I was lying on a bed and a sullen woman in a clean white robe sat across. She was staring at me through the lenses of her oversized glasses. There was no use pretending, she knew I had regained consciousness.I turned around and winced at the sharp pain in my head. My hand darted to the contour on my neck. There were masses of bandages and it hurt like hell. My last moment on the gallows rushed back to me. I remembered the dart, Alpha Joash, the gallows and how I had blacked out."My Alpha is an expert
It was quite a walk. Although I was fascinated by the scenery, I was all over the place. My body was still weak and my balance was zero. And the guards? They didn't care, they continued to push me along.When we burst into another corner, I knew immediately, ahead was the Alpha's chambers. The structures stood tall and they were breathtaking. Although they stood aloof and secluded from other structures in the pack, they were located at the pinnacle of the pack house and I realised that it could be seen from any point in the pack. It was almost as exquisite as the royal palace of the city's Alpha king and I marvelled.As we proceeded, I saw the maids, there were a handful of them. They wore the same uniform as mine and I found it fascinating. My pack was far behind the most insignificant development here and if I was in a different circumstance, I would have commended all that I had seen.I soon noticed the disdainful stares and glares. Almost everyone we met sneered at me. Oh yeah, the
It was late in the night, Pete had just concluded the training and a guard was leading me down. My head ached and all that Pete taught me rumbled in my head. Despite my weak body, I was put through rigorous training all through the day. Pete didn't give me any breathing space. It was too much for me."This will be your room," the guard that was leading me said and I jumped. I was startled. I tripped and slumped into the room through the open door. I lay there on the floor, thinking about how miserable my life had become. All I had suffered since my parents' demise flashed through my head and for the first time, I didn't cry, I just stared into space, blinking intermittently. The horrendous life where I did not know if I would die or live in the next second was gradually becoming my norm.I had forgotten all about food when I heard a knock at the door. Dinner was brought and I felt hungry instantly. I devoured the meal like I had never eaten all my life.This will be sufficient for ea
Yes, he knows who I am. I'm a bloody liar, a traitor from the family of traitors! To him, my timidity and manners were all pretence.I couldn't stare into his eyes, but I felt the weight of his stare. It bore into my soul and I felt cold. My fingers felt rigid and I could hardly move them. I heard Viola's groaning too, she whimpered within me.I stood there fighting hard to fix the hooks of the second layer of his costume. The hooks ran from his neckline to the helm of the dress.He stood there, staring down at me. Knowing he was glaring at me made me more flustered. Stronger than his gaze was his manly scent, it was driving me crazy. Then it came, Pete's glare from earlier popped up in my head. Although she overdid it yesterday, she put so much effort into training me and I couldn't afford to fail. I took a deep breath, steadied myself and focused on the task before me. And there under Alpha Joash's hateful gaze, I began to fasten the hooks, one after the other.Finally, I did them
"What took you so long?" Pete accosted me as I rounded the last corner that led to the Alpha's office. "What the…" She gasped after taking a keen look at me. Her mouth dropped open and she couldn't say a word. I didn't say a word either, I just bowed slightly and continued on my way. I walked towards the Alpha's office with uncertainty. My heart was beating fast.The guard outside opened the door and I walked in like a disgraceful child."You're thirty minutes and fifteen seconds late!" Alpha Joash fired, looking at the wall clock.I stood transfixed by the doorway, unable to speak. The tray shook in my hands and I freaked out."If you spill that, you won't like yourself," he said harshly as he stared down at me. I swallowed the lump in my throat and began to walk towards him.Standing before him, I steeled my body and dropped the tray on his table. "Did I ask you to drop that?" He said and I picked up the tray again, trying hard not to spill the tea as my hands shook crazily."I a
It was my first day and I was already frustrated. This won't be as easy as I had thought. Although serving the Alpha directly was an honour, it placed me directly under Alpha Joash's nose. I followed him around like a puppy and I soon realized that he picked me for this position to keep an eye on me.One more thing, he wanted me to fumble. The position was one where I was exposed to every discussion and every detail that passed through the Alpha's table. Thus, the position needed a high level of trustworthiness.I wasn't trustworthy, it was otherwise, and the wise Alpha Joash picked me for this position. Isn't it obvious? It was a trap. Since I was a traitor, he wanted me to fall into his hands.It was almost dusk. I was standing in a corner in the Alpha's office. After Beta Derrick left, I followed him around all day and now he is seated behind his desk, filling in some files. "Your Highness, it's miss…." The voice of the guard at the door sounded, but before he finished his stateme
"My Alpha, I've got this!" Pete's voice boomed through the office. I didn't know where she came from, but from where I was lying on the floor, I saw her. She stormed into the office and sprinted forward, her eyes blazing fire. She took a bow and without waiting for Alpha Joash's response, she flipped me off the floor. I screwed up and I knew it. I had done exactly what I wasn't supposed to do and now I was afraid. The look in Pete's eyes enough to melt steel. And my heart was beating beneath my chest at the speed of a running horse. With one arm around my waist, she dragged me out of the office. She stopped at the vintage part of the porch that led to the office and flipped me down the stairs. I grunted as I rolled down in pain. When I landed on the floor, my whole body was covered in bruises. My body now feeling like a big wall of pain. I could feel wounds at the back of my neck where Pete's nails had scratched me when she dragged me. She was standing right there behind me, look
Silas I rode towards my father, wondering what was going on in his head. "What do you think? We blew up the wrong place in our first attempt. What do you think about this time?" Father asked."This time?" I asked, looking at his soldiers as they galloped towards Joash's location."Yes, the latest information about Joash's location. Do you think we can get him for good?""Oh!" I thought carefully before speaking up. "Yes! Even if we miss him, he can't continue running, he would eventually be caught. But since he was already aware that we are coming after him, it is safe to assume that he is well prepared for us. We can't underestimate him," I said and a tight smile played on my father's lips."Why are you always guarded around me? It makes you suspicious," Father said and I swallowed the lump in my throat."Wait for me, let us conquer Joash, then the world will be under our feet. And it is now, our victory over him." He said and rode briskly into the wild.Slowly, I rode from behind
Joash"Let's talk. You should speak up! You son of a gun! Good move to have left your hideout. We razed it down only to discover that you are not there. Good move. Anywhere you are, do not stay static, be on the move, we are coming after you." Silas' voice boomed into my head and I grimaced."We have been made. We should be alert," I mind linked Derrick, telling him about the new development. I also informed the guard who was with me. We became more alert and held our weapons tightly.We had just walked some distance when I felt a connection inside of me. It was Vera. My wolf recognized her immediately and leapt for joy. I was engaged too but I didn't speak to her, for me, it wasn't the right time."It's Vera. Let's speak with her," Jack said into my mind. But I didn't need such a diversion now, I had to be more alert now if I wanted to return to her alive. "I can't respond now," I said to Jack and matched onwards. Jack became grumpy. He whimpered and laid down quietly without utteri
JoashSilas tried to mind-link me several times but I shut him out of my mind. I didn't want to speak with him. He put my mate in the lion's mouth and wanted me to speak with him, no way!My men and I were done and it was time to leave. The one who was costumed to look like me sat confidently on the horse like he was winning an award. He was wearing my robe and his face was well covered. His frame on the horse looked just like mine. The resemblance forced a bitter smile on my lips."What is your name?" I asked him as I walked towards the horse. "Yobe Yasmine," the man responded tightly."Yobe…" I called but became speechless. I could feel my heart in my mouth… my heart was pounding fast. I had conquered lands and packs but I wasn't immune to this. It was the first for me. No one has ever willfully died in my place."I can't protect you… but from this day on, your people have become my people," I said in a whisper. He heard and nodded. He drew his right fists to his chest. I did the s
VeraThe walk was as long as I had expected. It was just like the way it was when I was brought down there.I was wary of Blake. I was not just following him blindly, I was alert. But after following him for a while, I simmered down."He won't try any trick now. He knows that you will overpower him easily." "Viola!" I yelled. It's been a long time since my wolf spoke up. She whimpered wearily inside of me and went quiet again. The recent turn of events must have been overwhelming for her.Suddenly, Blake came to a halt. I also halted and clenched my fists as I waited for him. He turned around slowly and looked at me, his eyes were filled with hatred and disdain."We should go our separate ways from here. Follow the next turn on your left, it will lead you to a familiar path… We will meet again," he said with a chilling voice.I was about to speak up when two men jumped out of nowhere. I froze and thought they were aiming for me but I wasn't their target. They fell in front of Blake
Vera I was very close, so close to the shrubs- a precise long jump would take me out of the grass less terrain. But I was already out of breath. My heart was beating fast and my strength was no more.I couldn't dare to look back anymore, the sound was so close. I knew if I continued to linger in the open, I would be caught.With the last ounce of strength in me, I lifted myself up and pushed myself forward. It was my last try but I didn't make it. Instead of stumbling into the grass, I landed just by the side.Without looking back, I felt the arrival of the horde. They were still at a distance but I was sure that they would be able to see me since that had emerged. The hair on the back of my head stood up and I choked up. Fear gripped my heart and I couldn't look behind me. I swayed to the right and to the left as I tried to maintain my balance and surge forward. I just needed a few steps to get out of the way but my legs suddenly felt heavy. They were so heavy and I couldn't lift t
Vera Blake rose to his feet and swayed here and there. I couldn't tell if he saw me or not but as he rose up, he began to limp in my direction. This was my chance, he was broken and I could kill him now. If I killed him, I would be helping my mate who had vowed to kill him and at the same time, I would be disrupting whatever Prince Silas had in mind for keeping him alive. But he was once my mate… Even if I had rejected him and our connection had been severed, I still couldn't kill him. No, I can't do it.Seeing my timidity, I jumped ahead and went my way. One thing was sure, I must not be caught by him.The sound of the on coming armies was getting closer. I lifted my head and took a long look into the wild. My heart skipped a beat as my wolf eyes caught some sparks of dust from a distance. I felt light headed as I looked in front of me. The armies were closing up on me, and not only that, I seemed to be running in their direction. Quickly, I changed direction, my destination was th
VeraBlood trickled down my wrist as the guard dragged me on. This can't be happening. Am I really escaping from here? I must be dreaming.The guard stopped in front of the door, pushed the door open and threw me out like I was an unwanted piece of garbage.I didn't resist him as my strength was non-existent compared to his. He flung me out and I landed on the ground with a great fall. With my eyes shut, I remained sprawled on the floor and groaned in pain. It felt like all the bones in my body were broken. Heavy breath escaped my lips and I shuddered and continued to breathe until my breath became stable. Slowly, I shook the dirt from my body and began to rise up. Cold and thick darkness had descended into the night and I was in the middle of nowhere.I staggered off the ground with my eyes seeing stars. When my vision cleared out, I turned around in circles as I looked here and there. I didn't know where I was and nothing looked familiar. The only familiarity was the disguised ent
JoashThere on my seat, I watched Derrick and others return. I could tell that the hunting went well as their hands were not empty. Each one of them had games in their hands and hanging over their shoulders.At the same time, those who went to get water returned. They had some crooked jars with them and I could tell that they were filled with water."Yay!!!" The men making fire shouted as they sighted them. They all teamed up and got ready to debowel the meat.As I watched them jubilate, my heart sank. In my head, I could hear the hooves of my father's army lurching towards us. I should send them away, I can't beat my father with the number of men with me. If I was the only one, I could play hide and seek with my father just like I did in my early days. I should send them away. Vera… she came to my mind and I gritted. The fact that she was in the palace made me giddy. That bastard! Silas! What the heck is he up to? If Vers falls into the hands of my father, Silas will pay with his li
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 b