VeraWalking out of the office, I met Pete, she was waiting by the door. Without blinking or greeting, I brushed past her, storming away like a wind."I told you to leave already," Pete yelled."Tell that to your brother who summoned me to resume!" I gritted and walked away without another glance at her.My destination was unclear and I just kept walking. All that I read in the letters was visible in my head as I walked. I began to doubt my father. I tried to think down memory lane, trying to remember if I had any suspicion about him, but it was all blank, there was nothing. He was a trustworthy and loyal servant to Alpha Simpson. The only thing that stood out was his excessive worries about the instability of the pack which was caused by Alpha Simpson's capabilities. My Father usually discussed the susceptibility of the pack to various attacks with my mother. A man of such concern cannot betray his pack.They were all fabricated! There is no way my father will do all of that! I yel
VeraI had a mission; to steal some of my father's letters from Alpha Joash's cabinet. I couldn't sleep all night. As soon as it was dawn, I rose to my feet and began to prepare for the day. Thankfully, I will be the first in the office so it was a done deal.As usual, I greeted the guard stationed outside the office and made my way in swiftly. Without much ado, I went straight to Alpha Joash's cabinet. The first problem was how to unlock the cabinet. I didn't notice the code when he opened it the previous day. But I wasn't deterred.I marched towards the cabinet with determination. Without knowing what to do, I pushed the door lightly and to my surprise, it flung open.I was taken aback but I didn't back off. My father's chest was sitting in a corner of the upper part of the cabinet. The crack on it was still visible. I dragged it forward and lifted the cover. It was also unlocked. The letters were neatly arranged inside the chest.Carefully, I pulled out the chest and flicked out a
VeraI thought I had seen it all. What the heck is he planning to do with me again? At this rate, I might just drop dead. I stopped in my tracks and turned around with trepidation. Hands folded behind, head buried in pain. I took baby steps towards him.I stood in front of him but he didn't give me any attention nor did he say anything. I remained on my feet, hurting badly. My lips began to swell and blood drained slowly from my cuts, staining the floor.Is this another way he wanted to punish me? I wish I could look straight into his eyes and tell him how I feel.I was feeling weak but I remained on my feet waiting for the next order. I was feeling it, I knew that I could slum at any time, but I wanted to see how far I could go. I will see this to the end.Suddenly, the door opened behind me and a familiar voice boomed into my ears."Your Highness. Dr Fred Dante reporting in your presence," the intruder said and I froze. I had felt his scent before he spoke up.Fred walked past me a
VeraThe sun had peaked when I walked out of the office. I grunted and blinked hard as its rays penetrated my eyes and my bandaged lips. My strength was failing and I dangled here and there. I hadn't taken many steps before I tripped. I began to crash down but the guard outside the office held me up. "Are you alright?" He asked as he helped me to a seat. I couldn't answer him as my pain and dizziness got a larger part of me. I became drowsy and it felt like I was in a trance."What the heck are you still doing here!? I told you to get out of here! I don't want to see you!" Alpha Joash's voice boomed into my ears and I sprang to my feet."Yes, No sir…" I slurred."Are you alright? Should I call a maid?" The guard's concerned voice filled my ears and I opened my eyes. I held him and looked around, Alpha Joash was not in sight. I just had an illusion.I sighed in relief and forced myself to concentrate. With eyes wide open, and glittering legs, I ran far away from the office.I was sup
Vera"I am sorry… I can't do…" I slurred but the man grabbed my arm and with an enormous force, he flung me away. I landed a few distance from him and within a twinkle of an eye he was standing before me again."You are sorry because you can't do it? Don't you get it? You don't have a choice here!" The man yelled. He dragged me up again and glared ferociously into my eyes. I knew there was no second chance for me.A rattling noise filled the air. Within a twinkle of an eye, it graduated from a low noise to a loud noise. The man began to shift. I was about to be gored by an angry wolf. I felt an adrenaline rush in my blood, it drowned my weakness for a moment and my energy spiked like liquid hot lava.Either in my human form or wolf form, I didn't stand a chance against him. So I didn't care to shift. I just stood there with his minions closing in on me. Their swords were set before them and I wondered why they were doing this. Just one of them could snap my neck and it would be over.
VeraAs the horse tore through the wild, pain rocked my body and I groaned relentlessly. Despite the pain, I still felt safe to be away from my killers. Although I wasn't totally safe! I was whisked away by strangers! They might be another set of abusers who wanted to take advantage of me. As far as I was concerned, I had become a pawn in a conspiracy that was way beyond me.With my adrenaline gone, I felt feeble like a reed. Fatigue like a fitting cloak descended on me and I could hardly keep my eyes open. Gradually, my vision became dim and I lost control. We were still in the wild when I lost consciousness. When I came around, I was lying on the floor in a familiar basement. It was the secret basement where I used to have my training with Killan and Fred.This is Killan's property. How did I get here? My saviours brought me here? If that was the case, Killan and Fred weren't my saviour. If they were, they wouldn't rescue me and dump me here.As I struggled to rise to my feet, I he
Vera"Just take it cool with yourself. It's a miracle that you are standing on your feet already," Killan warned as I flung my swords without direction. It's been a few days since I had come around and I was going crazy because I had lost my moves. Killan and Fred complained that I was pushing myself too hard but I just couldn't take it. The wounds I had on my arms were almost healed up but they made it difficult to wield a sword and they wanted me to just sit, lazing around."They won't just get better, I have to train with them," I fired back as usual and I was surprised that Killan responded. He had never responded before."You are over-exerting them. Do you think that is rehabilitation? Nah! You could cause more harm than good.""Really? You should have told me earlier," I mouthed and dropped the swords fearfully. Killan chuckled and I charged at him."If you are lying to me, I will kill you," I yelled, aiming to punch him."You are still exerting your arm, stubborn chick," he ca
JoashJenny was not my mate but were childhood buddies together with Pete. She had been a good companion throughout the years. She loved me and stood by me through thick and thin. She wasn't someone I wanted to hurt.I didn't feel anything special towards her but I was devoted to her and compelled to love her. She was gentle, kind and most importantly she trusted me. Since I didn't believe in chosen mate, I decided to go for her. She couldn't refuse my offer as she was already smitten by me.Over the past few weeks, I had come to agree that there was a strong difference between love and devotion. Although I wouldn't admit it, I seemed to have fallen in love with Vera Clams. Not that I wanted to pursue the feeling but it was there. Or how can I explain the searing feeling I began to have after making Vera leave?It all began two days after Vera was rescued. Instead of Derrick, one of my guards came with the report. It was an elaborate report about Vera's abduction.I got to know that s
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