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
Alpha JoashI felt like a piece of shit while I waited for Vera to return, this was one of the reasons why I didn't want to get her involved. But in this case, I had no choice. Since the twins were holding back and I didn't want to break them, Vera could get through to them better than me—given their history. I paced restlessly in my office until I saw Derrick waking in. But he wasn't with Vera "Where is My mate?""Her Highness wanted to get some air… she insisted that she wanted to take a walk alone..* Derrick responded."And your sword?" "She requested it…""You should have followed her from a distance… things are not safe and you know it… You also know how assertive and unpredictable she is," I complained."I will go after her," Derrick supplied, but I held my hand up."Vera, are you there?" I mind-linked her immediately."Yes, My Alpha. I sent Derrick your way…" Vera's moody voice boomed in my head."Yes, he is here… He told me you wanted to take a walk…""Yes…" the response ca
Vera "My mate had been right about the twins all the while." The words echoed in my head as I walked away from the cell holdings.The realization dawned on me like lightning. Fury and fighting skills are not enough to fight an enemy, the insight to see into an enemy's strategies is also crucial. Lesson learnt … in a hard way. "Way to go, Vera," I said to myself as the sun rained down on me. Looking around, I realized that I had gone far.I was just a stone's throw away from the river that led to our castle.Good! The riverside will be colder. It's a nice place for brooding in this scorching heat… I hastened up.It was quiet and eerie. I patted the hilt of the sword perched on my waist frequently as I proceeded. When we had enough manpower, I would have met enough guards and maids on my way. But I met no one.How will I face my mate? The question dangled in my head, drawing me out of the odd silence that rocked the surroundings.Like my mate heard me, his voice broke into my head. It
VeraMy eyes flipped open slowly. It was the cool of the evening and my vision was hazy. I shut my eyes as torrents of pain rocked my body. The back of my head felt wet and hurt the most."Hmm," a light moan escaped my lips and I pushed up my hand to feel the pain in my head. Oops! My hand was stuck. I tried to lift the second one, but it was also stuck. Argh… I shut my eyes, relishing my pain.Wait, what the heck is going on? I came to my senses almost immediately. I flipped my eyes open again, scanning my surroundings."Viola, where are we?" I asked my wolf and I tried to lift my head. A series of events replayed in my head and I remembered it all. Alpha Woods!!!I couldn't tell how long I was out, but it was dusk already. The night was still young and with my wolf eyes, I could see perfectly well. After a close examination, I realized that my hands were chained down and there was no possibility of escaping.My mate… he should have come for me. Did he really not know that I had b
VeraWhen I came around, it was daytime. The sun seeped in through the blinds, lighting up the whole place.I looked at the strange room and bed then it all came back rushing. My mate saved the day and I was back in my pack. I was in the palace clinic. And I was treated.I didn't know how many days I had spent there, but I felt refreshed and energetic like never before.“You have come around,” Fred’s voice boomed and he walked in with a white lab coat and oversized glasses hanging on his nose “Nice to meet you. I am doctor Fred. Yuu sure have a long life!”“Get the hell out of here. Get my mate and get me some food. I am desperately hungry,” “Your wish is my command, Luna Vera,” he responded.The door flicked open and my mate walked in. Behind him were two maids. One with a try and a filled tea cup. The other was with a covered dish.Seeing them reminded me of my days of little beginnings. When I served tea in uniform and I was manipulated by forces that I didn't even recognise. It
It's been two days since we laid Silas to rest. I was just returning from his side when Derrick rushed towards me.“Your Highness!” Derrick yelled and fell before. He looked disgruntled and apprehensive.“Your Highness! It is lady Vera!” He trembled. I wanted to disregard him as usual but his theatrics somehow got to me so I gave him an audience.“What is it about her? Do you know where she is? If she wants to talk, she knows the palace.“I am sorry your Highness. I didn't let her Ladyship out of my sight since she left the battlefield… She was in critical condition and had nowhere to go. Targon had been with her all along…“Traitors!” I yelled angrily.“Why are you telling me this now? I guess you need my help…”“Her Highness’ condition has worsened. Her wounds were not well treated. They festered and have become life threatening.“You bastard! Why are you just telling me this now? Where is she!? Lead the way!” I thundered and they made my horse ready.Derrick led the way and I was s
JoashI declared myself as the interim Alpha King and all packs that were under my father's rule answered to me. It's been two weeks of renovations and realignment. I released most of my father's prisoners who were unlawfully detained.I also dissolved his chain of concubines that were locked up in his quarters. I set them all free and they went their own ways. I had the remnant of my people relocated to the palace while we began to renovate the moonlight pack that was demolished.I clenched my fists when I remembered what Silas said my father would have done if I had died and Vera lived. What abomination!?Everything was falling into place except Vera. I felt her connection as she tried to link me up on Steve's occasions but I shut her out of my head. Until she decides to return on her own accord I wasn't going to entertain any discussion with her. It was a special day. The day I had set aside to lay Silas' body to rest. I wanted him to lay beside Pete but at the same time it felt
VeraMy body seemed to be shutting down and the closest place for me to hide was the Shifters pack. This time, I didn't give a damn about my connection with the pack. I stumbled in through one of its openings and threw myself on the floor. Blood trickled down different cuts on my body and I felt feverish. To cap it up, I began to hear some rustling in the bush just behind me.Whoever it was, I didn't care. I just laid sprawled on the floor, waiting for whatever was coming. I had resisted all along and I was tired.I laid there but nothing happened. I must have heard wrongly, I said to myself and put my mind at ease.I was beginning to doze off when I heard the sound of swords. Someone was coming to attack me while the other must have shown you to defend meWho could that be? Targon? Did beta Derrick send someone after me? I let it all go as I was too weak to think. Slowly, my eyes closed up and I drifted into slumber while the sound of combat continued in the background until it was
DerrickThere in my hideout, I watched all that transpired in the King's camp. How Silas was killed and how Alpha Joash took the advantage of the distraction to get his father.Silas death was a painful one, but it wasn't my place to cast blame. It was proper to say that he sacrificed himself for the course that he believed in. He wanted his father's demise. When I saw the opening, I fired a twin arrow that took the King down. I couldn't let him slip out of our fingers again. We have had enough. Vera was caught up in the whole saga and I couldn't help but feel sympathy for her. The guilt in her eyes after she realized what she had done was heart rendering. I hope she forgives herself and that her mate won't hold it against her. It was an understandable misconception.After the cruel King took his last breath, I and the two other men who were with me burst into the camp. We dealt mercilessly with the soldiers who were planning to strike back after their King's unexpected death.They
Joash A twin arrow flew past me and landed on my father's back. I recognised them immediately. They were arrows from my men. Derrick! I muttered and didn't bother to find him.I looked behind me and my gaze settled on Vera. With a cold glare in her eyes, she threw another dart. I tried to deflect it, but I missed. I stood there and watched helplessly as the poisoned dart flew past my father's arm, cutting through it.“Aha….” Father groaned and tumbled to the ground with Silas’ body still hanging in his arms. He turned over his shoulders and looked at me. A proud laughter escaped his lips with blood sipping out by the sides“ We are not different! You used me against my son and my son against me. I will haunt…”“I call you Father,” I said, swallowing hard.“I'm not your father! You bastard! A son can never kill his father!” He continued to blabber but I had regained myself. I picked up his sword and slashed him on the neck. Silas’ body tumbled out of his arms as he held his neck a
JoashThe dart that came from behind almost cut Vera's neck but it didn't. I could tell that it was thrown by a skillful archer. Not until it landed, I didn't realise the target. The target was one of my father's men who had almost released an arrow to take me out.My eyes widened as I realized what was to come. Drinking the toxic wolfsbane was just a show, my father had another plan in mind. He wanted to take me out all at once. Just like Silas said. My death indeed has nothing to do with Vera's salvation. Wait. Who threw the dart? Is it Silas? Did he just save me?One of Vera’s darts landed on the bottle of wolfsbane in my grip, shattering the bottle. The second dart flew past me, I didn't know its destination.“Aha!!!” I yelled as the wolfsbane from the bottle spilled. It splattered in my hand and body, burning me up. I groaned in pain.“Who dares!?” My father thundered and stood up from his seat. No one knew it was Vera except me. Father grunted as he saw the man who was suppose
JoashA heart rending pain squeezed my heart and my vision turned red. It felt really hard to breathe and I coughed out loud. My body felt sore and I felt all that Vera was possibly feeling.With my hands still lifted up, I rose up to my feet and took heavy steps down the hills.“Do not go with me!” I gritted and Derrick stopped.“We have your back,” he barked.“Don't do anything silly,” I grunted and continued down the hill.“Don't come, mate. Save yourself,” Vera's whisper distilled into my mind.“Shut it!” Argh! That wasn't what I was supposed to say. “You wait for me. I'm coming to get you,” I said to her and shut her out of my mind.Just then, a weary but familiar voice broke into my head. It was Silas. “You fool. Hasten up. Come get you girl before it is too late. Father is a mas dog. If you stall for a second, he will kill her,” he said.“You loser! You should have kept her safe but you lost her.” My heart skipped a beat as I descended from the hills. Two soldiers grabbed m
The sound of battle on top of the hills ceased. I heard Derrick and my men shout if victory. It implied that the battle has been won and the King has stopped sending in troops. Now, this marked the beginning of my battle with my father. I remained there waiting for Derrick's summons. And all I could think about was Vera. How sweet my reunion with her would be. I was lost in thought when I heard Derrick's voice.“Your Highness,” He called me out of my reverie.I sprang up to my feet immediately, all dreams vanished out of my head.Derrick was bathed with blood. The look in his eyes broke my heart. I knew what it meant. It meant most of our men were slain.I rose up and parted his shoulder. I have been there before. I knew how it feels to lose one's men. Moreover this is our loss, not his alone.“How many are remaining?” I asked “Five,” he whispered.“It will be fine,” I said and climbed up the hills.“Victory at last.” I cheered him up.Suddenly a cry of joy sounded from my father's