Methis Delis POVHow could he have used me as a replacement for his first love?I felt a surge of pain in my chest, as if someone had stabbed me with a knife. I clutched my belly, where our baby was growing. Our baby, who was the only reason he had married me in the first place.I heard his footsteps coming closer. He had just returned from his business trip. He had been away for a week, and I had missed him so much. I had been looking forward to seeing him. But now, everything had changed.He opened the door and walked into the bedroom. He smiled when he saw me, and his eyes lit up. He looked so handsome, so charming, so perfect. He was everything I wanted, but he didn’t want me.“Hey, beautiful,” he said, as he came closer and kissed me on the forehead. “I missed you so much.”I flinched at his touch, and pulled away from him. He frowned, and looked at me with concern.“What’s wrong?” he asked. “Are you feeling okay? Is the baby okay?”I couldn’t look at him in the eyes. I couldn’t b
Methis Delis POVI was running, as fast as my legs could carry me. But I could feel it getting closer.I could feel HER getting closer. I find myself lost in a labyrinth of shadows, trapped in the clutches of my own fears. The Black Witch, a spectral figure shrouded in darkness, pursues me relentlessly. With each step I take, she draws closer, her malevolent laughter echoing through the air.I fell to my knees, wincing in pain, whispering and trembling"No... Please, no!"Suddenly, I jerked awake, covered in a cold sweat. My heart pounds against my chest like drums reverberating through the night. It took a moment for me to realize that I was back in the safety of my own room.I took deep breaths, trying to calm myself. But as I regained my senses, I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen. Fear gripped me once again, but this time, it's a different kind of fear. The fear of the unknown.I tried to ignore it, tried to lie back down and hope sleep would come, but another sharp jab, sending shi
Jamal Kunis POVI clicked my cups with a random guard. I didn’t even know that guy but we had both been drinking, eating, and exchanging jokes for the past three hours. In fact, I had been doing this with everyone. It was the mood in the palace. Not just the palace, but the entire pack. The celebration of the safe delivery of twins from my surrogate Methis Delis had been thrilling to say the least.I did not fully understand how it had happened but somehow I was in a mood I had never been in my entire life, not even when I had fallen in love with the Dark Witch very long ago. I walked around the castle where male and female, young and old, all gathered together to share meat and mead and to make a toast to the safe delivery of the future of the werewolf world. At least if not for anything, I was happy that my line of succession was secured and that the curse had finally been lifted.I stepped outside the castle. It was dark at night as it usually is but there still were people gathered
Methis Delis POVIt must have been years, decades, centuries even but somehow I did not feel anything at all. I was very certain that not all the blackness I saw was caused by sleep, starting from the very first one: after I had given birth centuries ago, I had a feeling of lousy dizziness and I switched off with the last thing I saw being the face of Jamal smiling broadly as he stared deep into the eyes of his children with loving eyes I had never seen him stare at anyone with before, not even me – that was the first blackness. The second came after I woke up and there was no one in the room. My state of consciousness did not last long as I switched off again, this time still not out of sleepiness but exhaustion, I was very sure I passed out – that was the second blackness. The third came abruptly, almost artificially: I had woken up to meet three doctors in my room. They congratulated me but did not allow me to see my babies or my husband, informing me that I was too sick and tired
Methis Delis POVOn the morning of the next day, I got up early, thinking of my father, thinking of home. I had no intention of staying in the hospital any longer so as quickly as I had woken up, I began packing my stuff. A nurse came into my room.“I see you are in a haste,” she politely said, though I knew it was more of an inquiry.“Yes,” I replied her. “I need to get back to the castle.”“OK. I understand.” She turned to leave.“Hey,” I called her back. “Your service was amazing. I’m glad I went through the procedure here.”“We are always happy to help,” she said.I motioned her over and dipped my hand into my purse and pulled out a sack of gold coins, giving her all of it. She opened it and her eyes bulged open, staring back at me. “It’s a tip,” I said.The tip most has been massive judging by her reaction. Of course, I knew nothing about the currency here so I did not know just how much I had given her. I pulled her into a hug and before she left, she helped me tidy up the remain
Jamal KunisI sit on a seat in front of the round table with five other seats. The four elders sit before me and we discuss pack issues. though by their voice, I can tell that every single one of them is drunk and there was a chance that they all may say one or two things out of line so nothing would bother me today. The party had lasted weeks until the recovery of Methis. A week of nonstop drinking had what it did to the minds of men both young and old and I was surprised that these old men in front of me were still alive after all the mead that they had indulged in starting three to four weeks ago up until today. So with five seats and four elders sitting, leaving one empty, we had already gone through a few talking points and were now discussing the issue of the throne’s succession.“I am delighted Jamal that we have finally resolved the issue of succession in this kingdom,” the Elder in the first seat farthest from mine said. “It brings us great joy that the Dark Witch’s curse has
Jamal Kunis POV“Where have you been?” the doubtful elder asked. “It has been over hours since the council sat and yet look at the time you show up? It is a very foul attitude to display as Beta.”“I’m sorry,” Conrad said but I knew it was not an apology, he was soon about to piss the elder off. “I was busy, unlike you who I don’t think have so much to do in a day except fill the king’s ear with ludicrous thoughts.”“You will take that back right now!” the elder started to say when I cut in.“No one is taking anything back. Conrad, welcome, there has been a lot that has been talked about since your absence so I will allow our friend here to fill you in later on.” I pointed towards the elder Conrad had just been arguing with. I knew both of them having to sit and talk after the meeting was not the best idea but their hilarious drama might be amusing to watch if I was not occupied with some other thing. “I feel I should set the issue of Conrad’s lateness straight here. I had sent him on
Jamal Kunis POV The door opened and Methis popped her head from behind the door. She was in only towels and her hair was dishevelled as a bush that has been tossed about by the wind.“Are you OK?” I asked.“Yes, I am,” she said. “Come on in.”“Oh no,” I said, trying to be gentlemanly. “Maybe I should let you finish up first.”“Come on in don’t worry about it,” she assured me. “You have seen it before, you might as well see it again.”She was flirting now, I thought. I let out a laugh and walked in.“How is leaving going?” I asked.“You mean preparation for leaving?” she laughed. “It is going well.”I stared at her for some time wondering why good things never lasted and only became good in the final moments. When she first came into the castle, she was timid, scared, and looked to be weary of her environment as well as always on guard as if she was going to be attacked from all sides at any moment.“What are you going to do once I leave?” she asked.Conrad had told me she might answer
Jamal's POV"What do you mea....""Don't pretend like you haven't been thinking about me since the last time we met," she said, "I can see the nervousness in your eyes," she added as she leaned her face closer to mine while standing on her tippy toes. I quickly recoiled. Any further, and it'd have been a kiss.Ding!Finally, the ordeal was going to be over. The doors were about to slide open and I braced myself to get the hell out."Stop pretending like you don't want me!" She yelled.Affirmative. She's crazy."I would advise you to get some medical attention," I said as I slowly walked towards the doors which were now sliding open, "You need help," I added as I got out of the elevator."You can't keep it up forever. Your pretence can only take you so........." She was saying, her voice dwindling into a diminuendo as the doors slid shut. Talk about crazy.I walked down the corridor to Methis apartment and then knocked. I could hear footsteps approaching from within and took a deep bre
Jamal POV“I’m doing well, Sir.”“Why are you here? Same reason?”“Same reason, Sir.”“What have I told you in the past?”“That she is not meant for me. But hear this, Sir. I really don’t care what you think about us anymore and honestly it’s been hard for me as well having to see the one who I love reject me so often. So here’s what it is. I’m trying just one more time. Just one. That’s why I am here. To make my peace one last time. I really love her, Sir. I know that deep down you know it. She must have told you about out time during surrogacy. Even though you might look at it as a thing of tragedy which I completely understand, I implore you look at it from the point of I and Methis as well. She really enjoyed it, and so did I, Sir. You can ask for her own opinion. Just don’t intimidate her when doing it.”I sat staring for a while. Thinking if I should go on or just keep quiet. It would be nice to know what he was thinking but from the way Methis’ father kept his countenance, it w
Jamal POVI returned to the shore to see the woman sitting and examining the beast. She gave me a puzzled look.“Where did you come from?” she asked.“My pet wolf ran to me alerting me of danger,” I casually said.“Well, aren’t you a bad master leaving your pet wolf to deal with this thing alone?”“That thing knocked me unconscious that’s why I could not help him,” I lied.“Alright let’s go then. Where is your pet wolf?”“I just buried it.”“Poor thing.” She gave a little sob.We walked back to the boat and made our way back to the city.“What is that thing?” I asked.“I’m supposed to be asking you. You are the one stuck on that island with it.” She gave me a puzzled accusing look. “And a pet wolf.”“Well a different fisherman dropped me there and ran off,” I lied again.“Is it Bob? He’s the coward around here”“How did you see the beast?”“I was out fishing one day and I saw it shoot out of the sewer and I thought ‘What the hell?’ so I went after it but I lost it.”“Why didn’t you ca
Jamal POVI could not believe I was about to do this now. I was about to wrestle this large snake. I could feel my hands sweat as I made my way to the edge of the island. I stopped just beyond the water and took a deep look into the water. From here, I could see its massive outline looming deep beneath the blue, casting a dark shadow in the sea. If that thing truly did swallow the key, then it must have digested already. Either way, today was the day I made my biggest hunting kill. The only problem is unlike other animals I have hunted, this one seemed to have some sense of reasoning. So maybe I could use that against him. I usually did not like to strike first in a fight so maybe I could make this snake strike first. I’d egg him on.“HEY!” I shouted from the edge of the island. “I am ready! Let’s go! Let’s fight!”The beast circled around the water, creating little waves that emerged on the top of the ocean and splashed on the island. I was beginning to question the sanity behind thi
Xander POVI had been chatty at work for some time now. I talked often, perhaps more often than I realized because I was getting more compliments like "What made you start talking so often?" or subtler ones such as "You look to be in a good mood recently." One time, a young lady working with us asked me what had happened during the time I had first begun working here till this moment. They all thought I had received good news that carried me for a long time but in reality, I was the saddest I had ever been in my entire life. I had not realized I talked more often until all the compliments came pouring in. But somehow it all made sense.I was talking more often so I distracted myself from the pain I was feeling. My subconscious mind was trying desperately to find a new connection to forget the broken one o had with Methis. In the past few weeks, I had experienced pain that hit harder than hammer, pain that cut deeper than sword. It was more than a heartbreak. A heartbreak was not the k
Methis POVI woke up the next morning, a pounding headache threatening to split my forehead into two and tossed it in the bed next to me.Again, typical. The practice of waking up with another problem bothering me had almost become routine so I wasn't really surprised.Nevertheless, I dragged myself out of bed and prepared for school. Irrespective of my feelings, life had to go on right?The first few classes were boring as hell, and I was extremely uninterested, which made the ring of the bell for lunch break a very welcome development.I walked into the cafeteria and almost immediately, my eyes fell on her. Sophia, sat alone at a table, picking her food, a bored look in her eyes.It made me feel like shit, she was alone because of me. I was her best friend, we did everything together including lunch and now we were fighting she had to suffer the discomfort of sitting in the cafeteria and eating alone, with nobody to talk to.I had to fix that.Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my tray
Jamal’s POVI woke up, already feeling exhausted and drained, I allowed my body to revert to its human form as the involuntary transformation subsided. I lay there for a moment, the gritty sand beneath me a stark reminder of the ordeal I had just faced. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a warm glow across the island.As evening descended, I woke from a restless slumber. My surroundings were eerily quiet, except for the distant murmur of the ocean. Pushing myself up, I took stock of his situation. The city lights shimmered in the distance, a connection to my realm that seemed both distant and unattainable.My exploration of the island unfolded like a surreal odyssey. The air was thick with the scent of salt and untamed nature as I ventured into the heart of the unknown. The landscape revealed itself in layers — dense clusters of foliage, rugged terrain, and mysterious, hidden corners.The island's interior held a complex tapestry of life. Vibrant flowers bloomed in patches, th
Jamal’s POVThe dark witch, a shadow from the recesses of his past, cast an ominous pall over my thoughts. Her malevolence, the catalyst for the arduous journey through the realms, loomed as a reminder of the trials I had faced. In the face of this formidable adversary, I found the strength to swim against the currents.With a newfound surge of determination, O pushed against the encroaching darkness. The thought of Methis waiting, of my cubs growing up without their father, of the pack relying on my leadership, propelled me toward the surface. The image of the moonlit realm, my sovereign domain, beckoned as a distant haven.Yet, the cruel reality of physical exhaustion proved insurmountable. As my limbs strained against the water, the weight of my shifting form, soaked and weary, became an anchor dragging him into the depths.Then, everything went dark.* * *I woke up to a sound.Vaguely aware that I was lying on the floor, in the pitch darkness, my vision swimming around me, I groa
Methis’s POV“You know if you keep at this you won’t ever heal. No one is above problems. Not even me the counsellor.”“Well go deal with your own problems instead of mine!” I blurted out. All he needed to do was raise his eyebrow at me and I realized my mistake. “I am so sorry, Sir. I did not mean it that way, Sir.”“It’s fine, Miss Delis we all lose our cool occasionally.”“Please just call me Methis.”“So what’s the issue here Mehtis?”“It’s my best friend. I think she hates me now.”“Why would assume that?”“Well, I went to talk to her today and she snubbed me. A friend of mine and her brother had a fight earlier so she is mad at me for it all.”“Understandable.”“What do I do?” I asked.“Just talk to her. Keep aside any friendliness. Talk to her like a new person. Like you are meeting a stranger that you want to make your friend but this stranger has some prejudice about your race. Just imagine that sort of scenario. Then apply it in real life. alright?”“Alright. I have a test t