Alpha JoashUnlike my chambers back at the pack mansion, my place here was just two rooms. The outermost room and an inner room where I would be sharing with Vera.I had lived in hell. I had enjoyed wealth, power, and fame and my conclusion is… Either hell or heaven, none of it matters without peace.I ordered Derrick to wait outside whilst two of my attendants dressed me up.Pete... This was Pete's assignment. Gosh, I wondered if I would ever get over her painful demise… and Jenny…The eerie feeling I had when I visited Jenny's grave came back to me. I pictured her grave back at the moonlight pack and a bittersweet feeling erupted from my soul. I was indebted to those two, Pete and Jenny. I had to live up to their faith in me and… live a good life with my mate.My eyes settled on my regalia as I found a diversion from my troubles.Instead of the three pieces that I used to wear. It was just one piece and it was made from cheap fabric."Leave," I said to the attendants who were stil
Alpha JoashI had anticipated Targon's safe return since the day I sent him away. I sent him off to make crucial findings that would largely determine my next move. Then, I didn't expect Silas's visit or proposal.My eyes dazzled over him as he walked in.One of his feet landed on the floor while his other knee kissed the ground. "Long live your Highness!" He hailed, bowing his head."Speak!" I commanded, looking straight into his eyes."Your Highness. I investigated just like you ordered and here are my findings. The path outside the hideout is rough. The moonlight pack house is in ruins. Despite the King's men guarding it, it has become a den of thieves. Our enemies sabotaged our spoils, leaving us desolate. The King's men let them be. They were only there to sniff out any traces of us, not to protect the remains.""Not only the Alpha King, but most of your rivalries are also out seeking for you. Especially Alpha Woods. They believe you are god and wouldn't die of a poisoned arrow.
Vera"Good job, Targon. You can take some rest for now. I will summon you later," My mate said to Targon who rose to his feet and left immediately.Just as he left, Telah and Tirah were led in. Although they looked terrified, I didn't bat an eyelid. Seeing my reaction, they became more tense."Your Highness! Your Ladyship!" They chorused and fell on their knees, quivering. Did they know why they were summoned? Were they expecting this already? My mate remained calmly in his seat watching how I dealt with the situation."Why are you two jiltering?" I asked."The … the summon seemed urgent and unusual," Telah stuttered while Tirah remained quiet and continued to shiver."Alpha Blake Simpson of the Shifter's pack, what is your relationship with him?" I asked in my coldest voice."Nothing!" Both chorused with trepidation."Nothing?" I asked again with a deadly calm. But remained silent and continued to stare at the floor. "Speak!!" I commanded and Tehla started speaking."We worked as h
Alpha Joash"This is just the beginning," I said more to myself than to my mate. In every conspiracy, there is always a bigger picture.Blake must have joined forces with Alpha King Jason before the clash. It was a calculated move when he appeared on the battlefield in the guise of saving Vera.From the beginning, he must have planned to use Alpha King Jason's influence to get rid of me and to encapture Vera— To him, I was the only hindrance between him and Vera, little did he know that Vera chose him over me, and was going for him. He must have been aware that my father also wanted to take Vera into custody, as it was the surest way of luring me out if I survived the attack.Given my father's intelligence, he must have seen that Blake wanted Vera for himself. He knew the fool would abscond with her and he did. He was just playing Father's scripted game. But I wondered why Father didn't kill him when he showed up in his presence. He must have other designs for him.A series of quest
Alpha JoashVera and I didn't sleep in the castle tonight. Better days seemed to be gone. We slept in the room prepared for us in my chambers.While I watched Vera fall asleep, I couldn't get any wink of sleep. My heart was troubled and after trying so hard, I gave up.Carefully, I arose from the bed. I flicked away the strands of stray hair on Vera's face and pulled the quilt up her shoulders. She stirred a little but remained asleep.With a faint sigh, I stood erect, gave Vera's sleeping form another look, and glided out of the room without making any sound.Quietly, I closed the door behind me and leapt into the dark. The moon was bright tonight and the stars in the skies were worth a thousand.I smiled sheepishly thinking about how I would spend my first full moon with Vera after all this is over.My reverie soon stopped as I heard footsteps approaching from behind. The sound of the steps and the scent gave the intruders away. It was Beta Derrick and two other guards."Your Highne
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
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