JoashI wasn't prepared for this but I had to do it. It's time to level up with my brother. After a few minutes of walking, I got to my secret spot where I had my horses and a few men. I changed into casual clothes and ordered some of my men to follow me.It was a day's journey to the palace. The palace of the Alpha king, my birthplace. When I arrived, I stashed my horse outside and made my way into the palace. Only a single guard followed me; others had spread out to scout the palace and give needed support.I had just walked into the lion's den. I was the black sheep of the family and no one liked me. They wanted me dead, even my father. It wouldn't be surprising if a poisoned arrow got stuck in my heart right nowI didn't waste my time to greet my father. I made my way straight to my brother's chambers. I knew now he must have been informed that I was around.With my special guard behind me, I made my way cautiously towards my brother's chambers. As I rounded the last corner, I saw
VeraIt has been two days now, I have been going in and out of consciousness and sleeping and waking non-stop. I felt terrible and sick. Fred and Killan would be worried sick about my disappearance by now.I was in a seemingly familiar room which turned out to be Alpha Joash's Bedroom. I was alarmed when I realised that I was in his bed. I wanted to pull myself up but I couldn't. So, I remained there, too afraid to let anyone know that I had regained consciousness.While I lay there, the scene where I drank the poisoned tea kept popping up in my head. It haunted every bit of my consciousness and I wondered why I did such a foolish and unnecessary thing. I didn't know what happened but I knew that Alpha Joash hadn't come to see me. I knew I was in his bedroom and Beta Derrick with a few other guards was keeping watch over me… but where is Alpha Joash? Why hasn't he come to see me? How will he react when he comes? Is he still angry with me? I had to brace myself to face him.Just then t
JoashI entered the Pack through a secret entrance and in a guard's uniform, so I believed no one noticed my entry. Hastily, I made my way into my chambers and went straight to my bedroom. Derrick as well as the other guards greeted and I patted Derrick's tensed shoulders. He looked concerned about my trip home and I nodded, implying that all went well."Have you seen Pete around?" I asked. I was still puzzled about the similar appearance I saw at the palace."Yes. She left not quite long.""Really? Good… And… How is she doing? I got your letter." I finally asked, pointing at Vera's bed. It took everything in me to resist the urge to rush towards her."She hasn't regained consciousness but she is alive.""Why is it taking so long for her to come around? I think we should call the physician," I responded and without knowing it, I began to walk towards her bed.Her eyes were closed and she looked pale. Slowly, I proceeded to feel her pulse, but as my fingers touched her neck, her eyes
Joash"I thought you wouldn't come to me this morning. You came, but you are still angry," I teased Pete as she dressed me up for the new day."Did I do something wrong here? I should have waited for the maid that you saved to come fix you up," she pouted."I know, but…""No, no, no… I want her gone. She is messing with you. She will get you killed. She is changing you… can't you see it?""Enough!" I thundered and she quaked. She continued her work angrily and I knew I had to speak to calm her down. After all, she was my Pet."I can see it all and I know your concern. Trust me, I've got this. Okay?" I said cupping her face in my hands."Yes… My alpha," she responded grumpingly and continued to dress me up. I almost asked her if she visited the palace the previous day, but I stopped. It was a lame question as she was not expected to go near the palace.In about an hour, she was done. It wasn't just an ordinary day, I was meeting Alpha Woods so I was specially dressed to fit the occasio
VeraI wasn't sure that Alpha Joash believed me when I told him I didn't know the identity of those who were using me. "If it were you, would you believe it? I asked myself as I lay on the hard floor in my room. I missed the comfort of his room and the bed but it was better here. I was all alone and not under Beta Derrick and Pete's watchful eyes. Knowing that they all wanted me dead made me uncomfortable in their presence."The workload will be hectic. I heard Alpha Joash is hosting a visitor tomorrow." "Yes you are right, it's Alpha Woods… I heard he has arrived already." "The Alpha's kitchen wi be quite busy tomorrow." "I can't wait to get it over with." I overheard some maids discussing as they passed by my room. Although I hadn't fully recovered, I wanted to impress Alpha Joash by serving him. I was sorry for my attempts on his life but it was the best I could offer and who knows, some people might be out there waiting for a meeting like this to make an attempt on his life agai
Joash"This is an impromptu visit, Blake. What brought you this way?" I began. I had had enough of their drama."I am here to seek your help, Your Highness," Blake responded and rose to his feet."How may I help you?" I asked."My father's death was covered up to look natural but I am afraid it was all a lie. He was poisoned. We thought we had fished out the traitors after Beta Clams was executed but it turned out that his men had infiltrated the pack more than we realised. They killed my father!" Blake lamented, shooting a killer glare at Vera who was sitting quietly at the back."I am sorry about your loss. Your father's death saddened my heart as well. But let's make something clear. Vera Clams is now a member of my Pack, You shouldn't direct your hate at her. She is a maid of my presence and I wouldn't tolerate any irrational act against her.""I am sorry, your Highness.""Fine. So apart from Vera Clams and her parents, have you fished out other remnants within the pack?"No, but
VeraCan you imagine the enormous pain ripping through my heart? My chosen mate and my second chance mate were sitting in the same hall with me and they gave no damn about me. Rather, they were hurting me. One was oblivious of our bond while the other dished out hatred.I remained there, serving Blake as instructed. As I bent over, I felt the heat of his breath. I never thought I could feel such again, but here it was. It was real but jinxed, mixed with hatred. Not only his breath but his eyes too. They shot daggers at me, crushing my heart. Nervously and hastily, I finished serving and I bowed a little. I wanted to escape his presence, it was killing me. As I began to rise, I felt a tap on the table and it was as if time stopped."You wretch! Your father started all this! Even after death, we couldn't stop him. His men killed my father!" Blake gritted and the plate of soup on his table flew into the air and emptied on my face.Laura shrieked irritatedly. "Pathetic bitch! I thought y
VeraI lay sprawled on the floor of my room in pain. I had washed my face and gotten rid of the mess, but my eyes were still sore. They hurt so bad that I could hardly keep them open or close. Apart from my eyes, my body ached badly and my heart bled. Seeing Blake and Laura together broke my heart into a million pieces. The memory of my rejection and scorn replayed in my head, it hurt like it was just happening. Tears flowed freely down my eyes, and I regretted my decision to appear at the hall. I wanted to impress someone but I got battered instead, I should have remained in my room. If I had stayed in my room, I would have avoided the heartbreak.As I dozed into oblivion I overheard the maids' gossip. It seemed that the meeting didn't end well and I wondered what could have gone wrong.I was already asleep when my door flung open. Before I could open my eyes, two strong arms grabbed my shoulders. They jerked me off the floor and began to drag me out.My sleepiness vanished and I 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