VeraWe had just left the outermost boundary of the Moonlight Pack when I realised that we were being followed. The feeling grew with every passing minute and when I couldn't hold it again I jabbed Dale by the side.I flinched immediately as my elbow contacted some of the darts that were stashed within his body. He looked at me curiously and bowed in apology. Well, I had learnt my lesson."Did you sense that?" Dale looked blank and expressionless and didn't respond."Dale?" I called again but he didn't answer. His gaze settled on me and he reared his head towards me, questioningly."Wait. Are you mute or something?" I burst, trying to coax him to speak, but he didn't. Then, I noticed his ears twitched and I realised that he was fishing for sounds and my questions were distractions.I parted the swords hanging down my waists, wondering who our assailants could be. Rouge wolves? Pete? Whoever?!Isn't it too early? I just got out of Alpha Joash's safe wings.Dale and I remained alert unt
VeraI wasn't sure why I came down here, but here I am, stalking Laura.Finding Laura here wasn't sure. It wasn't like I had a rendezvous with her or something.The night when Laura lured me out and captured me filled my head. Memories came tumbling in and I remembered all her words of woes and lies. I walked around and stopped at the point where she slaughtered me. In the bush ahead was the spot where I saw Killan in my unconscious state. What about him? I haven't heard from him since I absconded from the clinic… He wasn't at the mating ceremony either.Slowly I bent over the spot where I died and a dangerous smirk fell out of my face. Revenge is always the sweetest."My lady! I found something!" Dale's voice pierced through the night from a distance. I rose to my feet, following the direction of his voice. He had gone to scout for a place where we could lay our heads overnight.I joined Dale and what I found was amazing! There was a cabin in the middle of nowhere. It was rickety an
Joash "Any progress?" I asked Derrick as I sensed his presence in my office. My back was turned towards the entrance, I couldn't see him but I knew it was him."No, My lord… she couldn't say much before she lost consciousness… she lost a lot of blood before the physician arrived."I clenched and unclenched my fists, images of how I stabbed her, painted my memories and I snarled, "What did she say before she fainted?""The same old stories, My Lord. She was a spy planted by your side from the onset but she had been looking out for you. That was her testimony," Derrick said almost convincingly."When she comes around, you should do a better job. Get the truth out of her, we are running out of time." I patted Derrick's shoulders. "If it takes you to use your charms, use it. It's an order."I had just walked past Derrick when he whispered. "What if she is telling the truth? Her testimony is constant and unwavering.""Derrick!" I yelled from the doorway. "Do your job! Use your head, not y
VeraA cruel laughter escaped my lips as I watched the fire burn. In no time, I expected our enemies to file out in their numbers. I couldn't wait to watch their madness when they saw the cabin on fire."My lady, we have to get away from here. We need a hideout where we can watch and launch an attack. It's too exposed here," Dale advised.Still laughing like a maniac, I rose to my feet and followed Dale from behind."One more thing! Don't snitch on me. This is my revenge, not anyone's. If you mind- link Alpha Joash, I will knock you out.""Your wish is my command." He bowed and brought out a leaf. "Hold onto this, it will conceal our scent," he said and led me into the thick woods.We found a place suitable enough and we hid.A few minutes later, someone came along, riding on a horseback. He checked the situation from a distance and didn't go near the inferno.I picked up my bow and arrows, ready to fire."Not yet my lady, we need to lure them out in their numbers. If we shoot now, th
JoashI couldn't hide my tears this time. I howled repeatedly and allowed my tears to flow as I fumbled with Pete's body.Realising that she was telling the truth made her death too much to bear. I just lost Jenny and now Pete. Both of them died because of my ill-judgement and selfishness. This would haunt me for a long time.I still wondered how Father could brutally murder Pete. I thought he loved her. I thought he doted on her but it turned out that I was wrong. He only saw her as a tool to get rid of me and when she failed in her mission, he took her out. He was a bigger monster than I thought.I will kill him and avenge Pete's. I had run my entire life but it got me nowhere. I didn't want to commit sacrilege by killing him, but what father kills his daughter without batting an eyelid? He isn't a father and killing him isn't sacrilege.Going after him would not be an easy feat, but it's okay. I don't mind if I lose my life, but he must be killed."Your Highness…." Derrick called."
VeraI remained in my hideout, cringing at every sound of clashes that penetrated my ears. I watched Blake and his men cut down the Riverside men and the Alpha King's men in fascination.I was instructed to hide until help arrived. Blake and his men are here, help has come but I was still hiding, cringing, clutching my swords uselessly… I was waiting for someone else.The war raged on but a piercing battle cry stole the air. It caught my attention and I peeped out. My mouth sagged in horror as I watched the scene before me.The Alpha King's men had turned the war against the men from the Riverside pack. They slew them mercilessly alongside Blake's men.Weren't they supposed to be allies? They were supposed to fight as a team, bring Blake down and come after me. But I guess Alpha King Jason was done with them. He would destroy the Riverside Pack alongside the Shifters Pack and the Moonlight Pack. Of course, he didn't need Laura Woods, her father and the Riverside army any more. I wa
JoashI rode out of my comfort, leading my army. I was going out to save Vera but it was essential to know that this wasn't about Vera, it was technically about me. Vera and others were just caught up in my father's caprices."Find Vera and get her back to safety," I yelled over the noise of the horses' hooves. "When she is safe, you can join the fight… Her safety is paramount if we will win this conspiracy!""But…""No buts! Derrick! Just do as I have said!" "Taken!" Derrick pledged and went through a different route. It was strategic for him to keep a low profile until he got Vera.We continued into the unknown but we weren't lucky. We were attacked about a few yards away from the battlefront. It turned out that our enemies had set an ambush for us and were lying in wait.My defence was excellent and they couldn't break through. They were all wasted and with that strength, we galloped into the war zone.My eyes widened at the number of bodies lying on the ground, dead and wounded.
DerrickI didn't have time for Vera's Banter. I had to whisk her away from here and take her to safety. I needed to rejoin Alpha Joash on the battlefield in time.I knew she wasn't going to listen, so I knocked her out and flipped her on my shoulders. Footsteps were approaching. The dead guards must have mind-linked their men. With Vera unconscious, it wouldn't be good if they caught up with me.Like a feather, I moved swiftly and lightly on my feet. I manoeuvred my way and soon I was out of the woods. Luckily we weren't caught. I headed down to where I had reined my horse. I slung Vera on and I mounted the horse. I balanced myself on the saddle just behind her body and burst into full speed.She would wake up anytime soon and I didn't want to be anywhere around here when she did.I had just ridden a few minutes when she stirred awake. I receded and brought the horse to a halt."What did you do to me? Where are we? What about his Highness?" She asked."I am sorry, Your Highness… We
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