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
Joash"Your father was innocent, Vera… he wasn't a traitor!" My voice came out choked, and I looked passionately into her troubled eyes.Her face contoured and she looked pale. A confused smile spread over her face and she broke into a derisive laughter.She laughed, straining her chains and hurting herself again."Vera!" I called her name, trying to calm her down."Don't touch me! Back off!" She bared her fangs and my eyes widened. "Vera!" I tilted back, calling her name. She couldn't look at me. Her claws broke out and she howled.Breathing hard, she pulled the chains tightly, wrenching them against her body."Guards! Get me the key!" I yelled."Vera… Can you hear me?" I called and her head snapped up as she looked at me. Her eyes were dilated and her gaze was unstable."You are hurting yourself," I cooed. Like she didn't hear me, she spread her claws into her hair, pulling out a chunk of it. "Goodness! What have I done… I shouldn't have dropped the information on her carelessly…
VeraWhen I woke up, I was still in my shackles and on the bed in the room where I was confined. The room was empty! Alpha Joash was gone!I remembered his proclamation earlier and I chuckled. That bastard! How could he stoop so low? If he wanted to make me stay, he should have done it more sincerely. I shut my eyes and felt a pang in my stomach. I was exhausted and I felt hungry. When will the maids bring in dinner? Looking around, my eyes caught a pile of documents sitting at the edge of my bed.Curiously, I rolled over and picked them up. "Ouch!" My wrists and some parts of my body hurt badly. I must have hurt myself during my outburst earlier."You are hurting yourself!" I recalled Alpha Joash's concerned tone. Gradually, a series of derogatory words that I said earlier came back to me and I grimaced.Slowly my eyes settled in between the lines of the documents in my hands. They were written in my father's handwriting.I blinked hard and my eyes widened. What the heck is this?
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