An excruciating pain rocked my body as my attacker plunged my dagger down my chest. "Your Highness!" Whoever was under the comforter called and flung the comforter off. I realized that I had been tricked. The man who pretended to be asleep was not Alpha Joash but Beta Derrick.Alpha Joash walked out from the room behind me, cool, calm and collected. His demeanour was casual, he licked his lips slowly, his hands balled up with a murderous glint in his eyes… I knew my end had finally come.He squatted and flipped the hood away from my face. Our gaze met and I looked wildly into his eyes, there was no hiding. It's over I said in my head, quaking. His cold gaze fell as he recognised me. I saw the enormous shock in his eyes."Aha… Vera! Who … Who the heck put you up to this?" He groaned, a little bit shaken. "Just finish me up, pleaseeee… the pain… is … excru…ciating," I lamented. At that point, the effect of the drug in my system had disappeared. Pain rocked my body like never before. A
JoashI had more foes than friends and a large number of them wanted me dead. Knowing this, I had trained my body over the years. I was a god and couldn't be found wanting. I had ingested different kinds of poisons and I was immune to many of them. But the poison laced with the dart that cut me had an unusual effect in my body. My brother must have gotten this especially to take me down.I felt the poison swim in my blood and I knew I couldn't hold it for long, I had limited time. I had to get back to my chambers and ingest all that I had stashed for moments like this. But how? I was feeling weaker and Derrick was gone. Sweat trickled down my body and for once, I detested my decision to send Derrick away.My legs began to wobble and I began to crumble. I went down and I was almost hitting the ground when I heard a call. "Your Highness…." The voice sounded jumbled and unclear and I thought I was hearing things. At the last moment when I was almost hitting the ground, a solid but soft
VeraIt had been a while since I had come around but I pretended to still be unconscious. My attempt to assassinate the almighty Alpha Joash failed and wasn't ready to face the consequences of my actions.Yes, there were consequences. Alpha Joash's wrath and the wrath of the masked men who sent me on this mission. I had blown all the chances of my survival and here I am.What the heck came over me? Who the heck were those people and what did they do to me? They made me think I could take Alpha Joash down when I hadn't even wielded a dagger before. They messed up with my head, but who would understand my plight? First, I was a traitor and now it has got to this. No one will take pity on me.Well, I wasn't completely innocent. Right, I was lured into it, but I also desired it. At some point, I entertained the thought of killing Alpha Joash and getting on the run… he had made my life miserable ever since I met him, and I wanted him gone! But on the contrary, he saved me. What is he playi
Vera"Vera, he is back." A vicious nudge from my wolf rocked my sleep."Who?" I asked as I stirred awake."Mate," she replied simply. At first, my drowsy mind was filled with the image of Blake until I felt the aura- Alpha Joash's aura, it besieged me and my body tingled."Alpha Joash, not mate!" I reprimanded her as I stirred fully awake.As his footsteps drew nearer, his aura hit me harder. I had coped better in his presence than this. Why the pain? I asked Viola. "You are in your weakest state. You are vulnerable," Viola said smugly. I knew she was downcast because I reprimanded her about Alpha Joash. I wanted to address the issue but there was no time. Alpha Joash walked in and right behind him was Beta Derrick.I quickly fell back to my knees. My forehead kissed the floor as I made an obeisance. "Your Highness," I pronounced.He settled on the lone king-sized seat in the cell and I trembled. His nearness made my hurting heart worse."Who were they? How did you know them? And si
A silent Watchman My heart pounded as those words left my mouth. Although I was afraid of what he would do to me, the sincerity and the genuineness belaying my request made me shiver. Yes, I wanted to serve him to prove myself. But more than that, I wanted to serve him to help him and to keep his foes away.What a pathetic fool I was. Nobody, like me, wanted to be a silent wrestler that kept the almighty Alpha Joash safe. The thought was hilarious, but despite knowing how foolish I was, the urgency of the matter burned inside of me. My single experience with those who set me up to kill him was enough for me to know that he wasn't safe. And the other time… Pete said they did something to him. What the hell was that?Why am I acting like this? Am I sired to him? Is it because he saved me? Is it because of the mate bond? Common! He didn't even know that we were fated mates. I groaned inwardly as conflicting thoughts rose in my head.He was already by the door and he had stopped walking
VeraIt's been over a month now and I have been kept locked up in my cell. It was not like I had anyone to check up on me or expect anyone, but there was no sign of Alpha Joash, Beta Derrick and Pete. The familiar stranger also didn't show up either. Only those who came to serve me food and herbs came.No doubt, I had overstepped my lane.For some reason, it felt good that I was locked away. It kept those who wanted to take advantage of me away. Since I was locked away, I was of no use to them.Two days ago, the guard who replaced the dead guard manning my cell, came straight to me. Without hesitation, he said, "You should be prepared for the project ahead… Alpha Joash will release you in a few days. Be ready."Wow! He was one of them. I was too dumb to have missed that. Wasn't he replaced by the familiar stranger? Of course, he must be one of his men. And one more thing, how did they get access to such information? They must have an insider…It was late in the evening, I was sitting
VeraAs I was thrown back into my cell, memories from the past flooded my mind. I remembered the night that I was almost executed on the same gallows. I remembered my parent's execution too and my heart sank.It was a horrible night for me. The gory sight, the blood, and all haunted me and plunged me into a series of nightmares until dawn. At dawn, two guards walked into my cell and called. "Hey! Wake up!"My eyes flipped open immediately as I wasn't deeply asleep. I rose to my feet and followed them out of the cell house.I was led to my room which was beside Alpha Joash's chambers. I put a few things in place and by 6 am I was ready. I requested to serve him again but I didn't know what to do and where to go. With what I experienced the previous night, I realised that I wasn't ready for this… I wasn't sure anymore… I was scared and the cell suddenly felt safer than being out here.Slowly, I walked towards Alpha Joash's chambers. After spending a few minutes outside, unsure of what
VeraI reverted and retraced my steps back into the office. I crumbled to a corner, wallowing in my misery. Why did he take me back when he wouldn't even assign any work to me?Shutting my eyes, I reflected on the discussion between Alpha Joash and his Beta. I didn't know why, but my heart bled for Blake. He just lost his father to the cold hands of death and he is left with a heavy responsibility. He didn't deserve my pity but here I was, hurting. I remembered the day he shoved me out of his presence, calling my father a traitor. Who could believe that his father, Alpha Simpson could be assassinated?But by who? Before I left the Pack, everything seemed perfect except Alpha Simpson's irrationality.With the way things turned out, I was tempted to think that Alpha Joash was on a good course. He had approached Alpha Simpson and wanted to dissolve the pack for its instability. I didn't see his good intentions then but I can see it now. I doubt that Blake would understand him. The Shifte
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