JoashPete was nowhere around my chambers. She had been drifting away since she noticed my attraction to Vera and how she was willing to die for me. It took me a long time to notice Pete's detachment and how I felt about Vera.Seeing the coast was clear, I walked into my bedroom, locked the door and walked into my secret Calderon. In no time, I was walking down the path that led to the secret room where I kept Vera. I couldn't wait to break the news of the ceremony happening the next day. Although it seemed rushed and I wanted to use it as bait, I still wanted Vera to enjoy every bit of it.When I got to the door, it opened on its own accord. The guards and the maids were standing in an array as they greeted me.Ignoring their greeting and with a smiling face, I popped into the living room to meet Vera, but she wasn't there."Where is she!?" I thundered as I rampaged the bedroom."Your Highness, this way," One of the guards called and led the way.When I found Vera, she was sitting o
Vera"I told you… he won't force himself on us…" Viola said as we tried to calm down."Shut up!" I yelled at her crying out loud. "How is this any better?" We are having a mating ceremony tomorrow… Don't you get it!? We can't be with him!"Viola became silent and I continued to ramble. I knew she wanted him. He is our mate, but that isn't the only thing that matters… There are a lot of factors holding me back.I said up from the bed, trying to think…I have to abscond before the ceremony tomorrow. Without the bride, there won't be any mating ceremony, I thought while Viola gave me a cold shoulder.JoashMy heart bled as I walked out of the room. My head felt jumbled. I was battered on every side."Mate?!" How can she be my mate when she doesn't want me? "Jack? There is definitely a mix-up somewhere. My wolf remained silent and I yelled at him, "Tell me something! You just ruined my night. How could you break the news at such a crucial moment?""You didn't believe in the fated mate bo
VeraI thought escaping would be easy, but after an endless scuffle with the guards, I still couldn't make my escape. A few of them died in my hands, but I was eventually overpowered and chained down... Not after I had stolen some daggers and darts from them.It was Alpha Joash who permitted the guards to chain me down.How could a man make his guards chain down his lover? Insane right?Just like I had thought, I turned out to be right.I was just a piece of thrash to him. When he was done with me, he would rip me apart.In my shackles, I couldn't beat the guards so I decided on a plan B. I would follow through with all procedures and make my escape during the mating ceremony. It would be easier to escape at the mating ceremony than here. I took respite in this and lay low.All night, my thoughts wandered and I remembered my father. He was a big dirty liar! A traitor and a sinner. He brought this great peril upon me while I trusted him blindly.Lines from the letters he wrote to Alpha
VeraThe ceremony progressed but solemnly. The pack members and other dignitaries who were around couldn't question Alpha Joash but it was obvious that they didn't like me as their Luna. I wouldn't blame them, I was a traitor.The time that I dreaded most came. It was time when Alpha Joash would mark me as his bride. This wasn't supposed to happen, but I guessed I had overestimated myself, thinking I could escape without a plan. I had stalled for an opening but none came until now. My escape really seemed impossible and now it was time to be marked.It was always the greatest joy of every she-wolf to find their mates and to be marked, but no one wants to be marked just for the fun of it. Not just ceremoniously, it must be real. My mate wants to mark me without acknowledging that we are mates. Is he even aware of our mate bond? How did his desire to kill me spur into this? Why is he doing this? Nobody cares, but I do.My eyes gazed down the exit and I wished I could disappear or somet
JoashFor three days I didn't leave my chambers. After Jenny was buried, I stayed indoors to mourn her death.On the fourth day, I got ready for interrogation. Pete was already caught and imprisoned in my chambers. My men lost her on several occasions because I wanted them to capture her alive. I just couldn't bring myself to kill her. She is my sister.She was caught in the hall set apart to mourn Jenny. My men trailed her from Jenny's grave where she went to place a stone. They finally caught her in the hall and brought her down."You don't even love her! You chose a traitor over her… why are you dispirited? Why are you in disarray? Why are you mourning her?!" Pete charged at me as soon as I entered her confinement.I settled on my seat glaring down at her"You are missing something. Isn't Jenny just a pawn in your game? You killed her in a wimp! Aren't we even? You liked her but you wanted her to marry the man you wanted to!""Jenny was never a pawn! She was my friend, she was the
VeraIt has been four days now and Alpha Joash hasn't shown up. It didn't really matter but I couldn't take my mind away from him. "I just wanted him to be safe," I told myself.My plan to escape during the ceremony didn't work out, but just like I wished, I wasn't marked. It was my greatest relief but not Viola's. She became quiet since the ceremony failed and I didn't seem to care. She was just a beast moved by the passion to be marked by her mate. Humanly speaking, there are a lot to consider before taking the plunge.All that transpired at the ceremony was still green in my memory. I still couldn't erase Jenny's cold stares from my head. I wondered why Alpha Joash brought her to witness the ceremony… and Pete? What the heck is she? Has she been behind all the attempts on her brother's life? What a dysfunctional family! Alpha Joash broke away from the royal family. He had a sister by his side who was seeking for his head. I shook my head in irritation… Whatever, it's a family thin
VeraIt was morning and I just had my breakfast, of course with my shackles still in place. I wasn't sure if Alpha Joash would ever show up again. I felt stuck, stale and lost. All that raged in my head was how to escape from here, atone for my father's misdoings and possibly die along the line. It was the only way I could find peace.Wondering how another day was going to be fruitless. I shut my eyes and banged my head slowly against the headboard of the bed. Suddenly I caught a whiff of Alpha Joash's scent. "He is here," I found myself muttering loudly as I sniffled again. My wolf skidded for joy, but not only my wolf. I was also elated to see him but on the contrary, I didn't want to see him. My elation felt like some kind of relief that he was finally here. It was a complex feeling."Long live, Your Highness! Long …. Your Highness!!" The guards and the maids saluted from the living room and I prepared myself to face him.The salutations stopped and he spoke in hushed voices wi
VeraIt was twilight already, the brilliant hues from the sunset had escaped into my room. I knelt on the bed and manoeuvred my shackles until I had a good view. The golden red hues down the horizon dispersed over the earth, spreading its wings as far as I could see. I wish I could also be free.I had shut off my thoughts about Alpha Joash and now, I had something to do- staring at the sunset.A familiar scent wafted into my nose and I tore my gaze away from the view."Is he here again?""Common! Vera… Get a grip on yourself! Even if he is here, he doesn't want to see you and it's not like he will set you free," I muttered to myself and sulking, I turned around and continued to watch the sunset.The door opened and I turned around, expecting to see one of the maids."I am sorry, I don't want dinner tonight…"The words died in my throat as I stared back at Alpha Joash. He was leaning against the door, looking grunted.Camouflage! I thought as I beheld his countenance. "Long live your
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