NICKOLAS I held the glass of wine in my hand firmly while I watched and paid attention to everything that was said in the meeting. "Don't you think stripping out Sam's title was too much?" Ragnor asked as prominent lines appeared on his forehead. I glanced at Ragnor, then at Magnus, who nodded his head in affirmation at what Ragnor was talking about. They seemed to be worried about him, and I understood that. "No, it wasn't. He lied to me... he made me look like a fool." My voice echoed throughout the hall. He should have at least told me that Valeria was his daughter... I thought he only had one child because Emilia was the only one he introduced to me. "I understand, but you can't just pull out his title because of that. He has been beta ever since you were growing up, and he has been doing his job so well." Magnus paused. "You have to reconsider your decision." "I have made my decision, and that is final. He shouldn't have made such a mistake. He i
NICKOLAS I had no idea what Brutus wanted... I was gradually going insane. Everything that had been going on weighed me down one way or another. Not only that, I had to be careful and treat Brutus well. I needed to get on his good side so he would be satisfied and leave without causing any drama for any of us. Most importantly, I hoped that he wouldn't end up asking for my pack. It took me quite several years to build this empire to where it is now, and I would never give it out to my friend turned enemy. I walked past Giselle's room, and at that moment I realised my responsibility. I paused between my steps and walked back. I stood by the door and watched her play around with Xhafer. It didn't mean anything, but I always got jealous whenever I saw those two together. She had always been close to Xhafer. "That's because he's always been there for her as a friend. He is, most importantly, the father figure in her life." My wolf made me remember the facts, a
VALERIA Ever since I came into the castle, I made sure Nickolas never skipped any of his meals. I ensured to make his meals myself and made sure he had it all. We visited the hospital again, and I was happy that his condition was no longer critical. He was now on the safe side, and all he had to do was continue with the way I had been treating him. I walked into the kitchen, and my eyes met Miss Sophie's. I couldn't explain the joy I felt in my heart. I heard that she had travelled for some traditional rites some weeks ago. I hastened my steps and hugged her from behind, saying, "I missed you so much." My voice was barely above a whisper. Miss Sophie turned around and cupped my face, her lips curving into a bright smile. "It feels so good to see you again. I thought I'd never see you again." I could feel the eyes of the maids on us while we spoke. I had been the talk of the town ever since I returned. Most of them still couldn't believe that I had become t
VALERIA I've been avoiding Brutus all my life for the past few weeks, and luckily I never ran into him. To some extent, I assumed that he wasn't around the pack. As I strolled through the garden, the words of a stranger flashed through my head again. "Do you want to know about your mother?" I turned around upon hearing the voice to know who it was. I wondered how someone would ask me about that when I had no idea who my mother was. My eyes met with a man... he stood tall behind me. His eyes bore into mine. "Excuse me?" "You will find answers to your question at your father's house." The man responded. I had always wondered what made the man tell me that—how was he aware of that when I wasn't? Was he a friend of my mother? I walked into the hall where the meeting was held. Ever since I became Luna, I have been attending a series of meetings just to pick up where Emilia stopped. Even though we had our differences, she did a pretty go
VALERIA "How's Nickolas doing now?" Miss Sophie asked as I slumped into the chair. "You look worried. This is unlike you." I had tried to hide away my worries ever since I came back from the hospital. Miss Sophie had known me too well... even on my saddest days, I was certain I didn't look as worried and tense as I was at the moment. My eyes were fixed on the wall as my thoughts drifted far away. My eyes stung so bad, but I tried my hardest to hold them back in. "It's just as if we aren't putting in effort." I placed my elbow on my lap. I lowered my head as I used my palm to support my head. "Everything is going down the drain." "Don't say that... you've tried your best. I am proud of how far you've gone, so don't feel less of yourself." Miss Sophie leaned closer to me and caressed my head. I felt and heard her heart thud loudly in my ears... she was scared and worried as well. All we wanted was for Nickolas to get better, not worse. According to what the doctor told me, I saw no
SAM I had no idea which one was the worst—was it sitting in front of my daughter and having no idea what to say to her, or was it not being able to speak to her because of how evil of a father I have been all these years? I couldn't take my eyes off of her... I wondered how I was so nonchalant about taking care of her. I knew she already hated me so much, so I had no idea what to say to her. "You must share a good relationship with Giselle," she began, setting up the mood of the room. I was surprised... that was the question she asked me first. I was really surprised. I never expected it. I took a deep breath as I lowered my head. "Yes, I do. I realised how bad of a father and grandfather I was. I wasn't sure if I could contend with it anymore." I could feel her eyes travel all around my body, but I looked away. Why wasn't I owning up to my mistakes? I have never hidden from my problems... I had always worked on my problems. I hated this so much... I hated that I was in this situ
EVE I intentionally stayed back and didn't give Lucian his meal. I had been avoiding him for weeks, and then what happened? I have been asked to serve him a meal. I just couldn't do that. I strolled back to the kitchen after hiding around for the whole day... It was enough for him to stay away from me. It was tiring. I walked into the kitchen, and everyone was busy, so I sat by a corner. I was so lost in my thoughts that I had no idea when Miss Sophie walked up to me and stood behind me. She placed her palm on my shoulder and said, "You are finally back," and I freaked out. I stood up and stood in front of her. "Mum, yeah," her eyes bored through my soul. "Where have you been all day? You didn't even serve Lucian." She dropped her palm on her waist. I knew this was going to happen, but I didn't expect it to happen so soon. "I was avoiding him." "I don't understand... You should serve him, and you're saying you were avoiding him, Eve?" Miss Sophie asked inquisitively. "I just do
EVE My eyes widened. "Lucian?" Tears streamed down my face. How was he everywhere I went? I always stayed away, but one way or another, he always found a way to show himself to me. For a moment, I wondered why my life was so complicated. Here I was, running away from him, and then he turned out to be my mate. Or didn't I just hear it well? "How?" I whispered. "Why? Why do bad things end up happening to me? I don't want any of these, please." I felt so frustrated and tried to pull myself away from Lucian's grip, but he wasn't letting me go. His hands were wrapped tightly around me, and his eyes were pinned to my face. "Have you seen where the sudden attraction came from?" He asked, and I melted into his arms. I got subdued in his eyes. "Please, let me go." My voice was barely above a whisper. "What if I don't? What if I just want you here by my side?" He swallowed as his hand slid down my waist, and he carried me in bridal style. I whimpered like a child in his arms. Even if I e
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y
Camilla pushed some chairs out of her way as she rushed to Sam. Her eyes fell on Sam, sipping wine as he scrolled through his phone. Her ears flared up. "Sam, what's going on? Why aren't you saying anything? Why are you quiet, like we are not part of the family?" Camilla rested one hand on her waist and the other on her forehead. Sam didn't say a word; he didn't even look up at her. He remained engrossed in his phone with no atom of emotion written on his face. "You sat there while that stupid girl humiliated me and our daughter. You watched her slap me, and you did nothing about it." Camilla kept on ranting. That was all she could do. She couldn't fathom the fact that Sam remained quiet and wasn't saying anything. Or was he part of everything that had been going on? She had doubts about it but hoped it wouldn't be true. Sam adjusted his glass, turned off his phone, and placed it beside him on the couch. He looked up at Camilla and crossed his legs. "Camilla, y