VeraWhen I got to my hideout. I was deadly tired. I crashed at the base of one of the trees that had become my fighting buddy and I tried to regain some strength.Is this some sick joke? It better be real. I was really late and I expected that whoever summoned me should have arrived already. But apart from the usual cries of birds and cricket, everything was as still as usual.I tried to relax but I couldn't. I kept thinking about what the truth would be. Although I had a glimpse already, I wasn't satisfied with the direction. I needed someone to feed me with what I wanted to hear. Yes, my conviction! My reason for living! It's that my parents were innocent and wrongfully killed.An alien sound erupted and I looked around, judging the direction. It was an arrow with a strange speed, aimed to take me out.Quickly, I dived out of the way and hid well behind the tree. I could tell that whoever took the shoot was highly skilful and was out to kill. Is this the person that drew me out or
JoashWhen I woke up, it was dawn. I was the only one in the room and I reeked of alcohol and sex. I felt a pang of ache in my head and I groaned as I pushed myself up from the floor.Different layers of my regalia lay strewn here and there and I still wear the innermost layer of my regalia. I didn't remember walking in, sleeping on the floor of my living room last night or having sex with anyone here.Sniffing again, I caught a whiff of another smell in the room, it was a familiar sweet fragrance. It was an underlying smell, one I was used to.It smelled like Jenny… it must surely be her… Was she the one I made out with? Holy fuck! "Jenny…" I muttered and my eyes shone wider, trying to remember all I did overnight. Right on the floor was a scarf that I had bought for Jenny. It was carefully folded like it was kept there deliberately to pass a message. Typical of Jenny! "Jenny was here! It was her!"And I did all that to her? When I was on the verge of breaking up with her! What th
Joash"Welcome… The invincible Alpha Joash. What a great aura. Just like your father's! I have perceived your presence since you were about a mile away," the prisoner said gleefully without fear or anguish."... Since you are so used to the royals' aura, I presume that you dine daily with my father," I responded as I took my seat carefully studying him."Who are you and why did you want to kill me?" I asked point blank knowing fully well that I didn't have all the time."Do you think I'm a fool? I will rather stall for time until my rescue comes than tell you a thing," he said with bravado."And what made you think I won't kill you before your rescue team arrives?""Your father will kill you!" He yelled, looking threatened for the first time."Since you will be dead when he kills me, I don't think you should be distressed over my death! Guards!" I commanded and about five guards showed up.The cell tingled loudly as the prisoner shook violently as my guards approached him."Stop!!!" H
JoashMemories from the past flashed through my head, making me feel sick to the bones. I gripped the edge of my seat as I remembered occasions when I hid in the woods to get away from my father. I had always wondered about the reason behind his hatred… Now, I get it. I am the son of his enemy and he wanted to get rid of me at all costs.Why did my mother do that? I wished she was around to answer my question… She caused this mess! She did it because she pitied the dying man? That is lame and unacceptable to me! It felt like there was more to it. My mother believed in fated mates. She believed that she was Alpha King Jason's chosen mate. Aren't fated mates supposed to stick together? Why did she do that?Heaving a sigh, I rose to my feet. My legs felt weak but I pulled them forward, urging them to support my weight."Derrick, get a henchman that is not one of our affiliates.""Yes, your Highness.""Ensure that our captor returns to his abode safely. Wait until his return and safety is
Joash"Why did you abandon me?" Came Jenny's muffled voice as she opened her eyes."What…""It took you so long to show up. You left me here all day long… Didn't Pete tell you that I was waiting in your office?" she said looking into my eyes.Looking wide at her face, I saw her eyes. There were eye bags beneath them and they were deep. Despite her sleep, she looked stressed out and gloomy. She was a shadow of herself. Did I cause this? I thought, my heart bleeding out."I am sorry. I…" "Shhh…" she shushed me, stopping me from talking. "I am tired of your excuses. Now that you're here, it's good," she said, nudging her body closer.I let out a sharp breath but I didn't stop her. Because I was compelled to have her back, I started to accept her again. I held onto her, looking at her softly. She was my soft spot and I knew it.How can I tell her that I was swayed? I had a lot to say and a lot to confess, but I was speechless. I just looked at her, wishing she could read my mind by hers
Joash"It's a miracle. She isn't only breathing, she has also regained consciousness," Fred said, breathing hard as he disengaged from her."Good job," I patted his back and remained on the spot looking at Vera. Every cell in my body wanted me to move towards her, hold her in my arms and feel her heart beating again. But I didn't do it. I just stood there rigidly, looking at her.The doctors began to perform a fee test on her and one of them exclaimed. "She is neither moving nor talking." "She has no reflexes too," another one said, calling Fred's attention.Fred shone a light from a tiny torch into her eyes. But she didn't blink or respond in any way. He carried out some quick tests on her but she didn't respond to any."We will have to wait and see how she improves. We are not sure of anything yet," Fred said dejectedly."Keep up the good work and report all development to me,""Yes, My Lord," Fred responded with a bow and I turned to Killan."I will send more guards your way. Since
Joash"Did she know? Did she know about my identity?" I asked myself as I walked back into my office. Memories of the night when Pete found me popped up in my head.Her involvement marked the end of my father's hunt. Many years ago when I was on the run from my father, he found me and I had been hiding in the woods for a few days, surrounded by my father and his men. I was trapped down like a rat in its hole and there was no escape for me.I was on the edge and overly sensitive. I had thought that he was going to get me since there was no escape, but one night, I suddenly heard a rattling behind me. Despite my alertness, I didn't notice the movements until the intruder was close by.I turned around swiftly, grabbed the intruder by the neck and pinned him to the ground with my dagger ready to strike."Brother!" The intruder screamed. Eyes bulging out of their sockets. They look familiar but I didn't care. When the intruder saw my murderous intent, she shook off the hoodie covering her
JoashThe training range was hot as Killan and I engaged in a duel. It wasn't only a duel but a killer game. At first, Killan came softly at me not wanting to contend with me. But I wasn't in a good state of mind and I attacked him like he was an enemy. If this would lift my sore mood, it must be real, mind engaging and a good diversion.I knew his ability and I knew he could take whatever I bring. Apart from being a good diversion, I also wanted to measure his capabilities.When he realized that he was going to die by my hands, he fought back and at that point the fight became fierce, interesting and a good diversion.After a few minutes of a good fight, sweat rolled off our bodies, but it was just the beginning. Neither of us relented.At each point in the fight, different issues bounced off my head, Pete, Jenny, Vera, my real identity and some other official matters. As they came, they made me go wilder and my attack became wilder too.Killian was extremely good and dangerous but
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