Celine“Ugh, I heard some maid got to be the King’s maid even before the darn list came out! And it’s the hot one, not the other married ones.”The room was in a frenzy as soon as that was said, and I groaned, changing into our evening uniform.The list was out, and almost all the girls hated that they were not assigned to the king and were actively hunting for the girl who was the maid. I hated to admit it, but a part of me was overjoyed that no other maid had been assigned to Kaiden. They were ready to take advantage of the fact that he came without a Luna, and that did not sit well with me.Where was Sheila anyway?And why did Kaiden request I be his maid? Was he suspecting me? Of course he was; he caught me eavesdropping on their important meeting. I just had to make sure I stayed out his way, and found the key before anything. I had to be extra careful with my identity. I could not risk anything coming between me getting my mother back.But how do I handle myself being in the s
CelineThe next morning, i was up and serving Kaiden as soon as possible. The hunting competitin was starting today and it was his first, his brother being the one who used to attend before. I knew this because Anya and i used to be close, before Sheila happened.I knew he might be nervous. He was silent when i entered, and hours after i prepared him for today, so i thought of lifting his spirits with a tea.“Here, your highness,” I said, placing the steaming hot cup of tea on his desk. “This should help you with your tasks for today.”He barely glanced at the cup, focusing on the documents in his hands. “I did not ask for tea.”I almost rolled my eyes, but I stopped myself. “Yes, I just felt it should help. You seem a bit tense, and I thought you might need it.”He turned his attention to the cup, then to me, his eyes searching mine.“Thank you. Seems we have a caring one here.” He said, a ghost of a smile on his lips.I chuckled nervously, sliding my hair out of my face. “No, it's j
CelineThe first competition was The Grand Hunt, the first brutal test of skill and survival.The rules were simple:Hunt down the marked beast before anyone else.Avoid the hidden traps scattered throughout the forest.Outrun, outfight, or outsmart rival competitors trying to take you down.The first to bring the beast’s head to the podium wins.Sounds easy? It’s not. The beast wasn’t just any animal, it was enhanced with magic, making it faster, stronger, and deadlier. The forest itself was enchanted, filled with tricks to throw hunters off course.This wasn’t just about strength. It was about instincts, strategy, and knowing exactly when to attack, or when to hide.Each team of Alphas led by the king were to enter into the forest through three individual entrances, and they were allowed to arm each other, but none of them were allowed to kill.Kaiden stood in front of his Alphas, some changed into wolves, and some in human forms, just like the other kingdoms. Kaiden’s kingdom was
I shot to my feet. My whole body trembled. “Stop—” Tasha glanced at me in shock, before grabbed my wrist, stopping me. “Thought you were immune to his charms but see you at the edge of your seat.” She smirked at me.“I just hate when people cheat that’s all.” “He’ll be fine.” But even she sounded unsure. My heart pounded painfully against my ribs. Kaiden staggered, his breaths ragged. I could see the pain in the way he held himself, in the stiffness of his movements. But he didn’t fall. He didn’t stop. Kaiden lifted his head, his dark gaze locking onto Orion like a wolf who had just chosen his prey. A slow shiver ran down my spine. Orion charged again. This time, Kaiden let him, not doing anything to avoid the attack, making me nervous for what he planned. At the last second, Kaiden twisted, grabbed Orion by the scruff of his neck, and threw him straight into Darius. The two wolves crashed to the ground in a heap of limbs. The arena exploded into cheers, but I barely he
CelineKaiden did not wait a second more as he was escorted out of the arena, but I noticed the pain in his gaze as he struggled to keep moving forward. He was limping on his right side, blood dripping from his knuckles, the wound on his side gaping, soaking through the fabric of his shirt.The Alphas and the healers rushed to his side to help him, but he shrugged them off and did not allow anyone to help him. “He's hurt, and he's not letting anyone help him,” Tasha whispered beside me.The noise of the arena roared in my ears as I watched him disappear through the corner of his room. Without thinking, I pushed the bodies away and followed him.I know I came here on a mission; I know he's not supposed to know anything about me till I succeed in that mission, but I had to make sure he was okay. The hallway was empty when i got there, and the guards in front of Kaiden’s room stopped me from entering, his eyes stern as he looked down at me. “The king said not to let anyone in.”“What?
CelineKaiden did not wait a second more as he was escorted out of the arena, but I noticed the pain in his gaze as he struggled to keep moving forward. He was limping on his right side, blood dripping from his knuckles, the wound on his side gaping, soaking through the fabric of his shirt.The Alphas and the healers rushed to his side to help him, but he shrugged them off and did not allow anyone to help him. “He's hurt, and he's not letting anyone help him,” Tasha whispered beside me.The noise of the arena roared in my ears as I watched him disappear through the corner of his room. Without thinking, I pushed the bodies away and followed him.I know I came here on a mission; I know he's not supposed to know anything about me till I succeed in that mission, but I had to make sure he was okay. The hallway was empty when i got there, and the guards in front of Kaiden’s room stopped me from entering, his eyes stern as he looked down at me. “The king said not to let anyone in.”“What
Chapter 118Kaiden “You should have killed that bastard Orion once and for all, King Kaiden!” Van protested the minute he and the other Alphas under my kingdom stepped into the dining room to see me and discuss the next competition.There was a day interval between each competition for instances like my injured waist to heal before another tsking competition. However, thanks to Lina's wound-treating skills, I was healed the minute I woke up this morning. I appreciated it because it was a sign of weakness to be injured as the king, and these Alphas were ready at any minute to take up my post and to show they are superior to me the minte they see me down.Lina. The maid I could not seem to figure out. Her similarities to Celine were overwhelming, but I did not want to dwell on them for too long. It seems that I was just missing Celine, and it would be wrong to move on with someone who only reminds me of her, and not someone I care about for herself. So pushed her away to the back of
Celine“Kaiden wait.” An alpha called out and my heart jumped out in shock as i felt their presence just feet away from me.I knew Kaiden was headed to breakfast with the alphas. And the minute i heard, i snuck bak into his roo to search the whole place carefully. But i realized it was a waste o time, and i was going to have a better shot finidng whereever the key ma be from the meeting they were having, so i hid behind some flowers in the garden close to the dining room to listen.But all i could see were egotistic alphas that only craved power. But as Kiaden tood up abruptly and left before i could run away, i just had to hold my breath aand hope he doesnt find me.Last night was strange… After Kaiden slept off, his hand in mine, all i could think off was or conversation. Kaiden thought i was dead. Yes i knew the possibility of them thinking i was dead was high since i disappeared out of nowhere was high, but i thought since Sheila was in power, he wouldnt care if i was dead or not.
CelineThe first time it happened, I brushed it off, pushing the eerie feeling away. Yea strange flicker behind my eyes every time I close them, it was like candlelight dancing in an empty haunted room and the feeling haunted me as I dozed off and fell asleep. I remembered resting against my mother’s side as I wrapped my hands even tighter around hers, her brushing was steady and it was enough to calm me down even though my mind kept going back to what had happened.My mother was still alive, rebating normally but I couldn’t help but worry about how long she would remain unconscious and how long we could hide her in Kaiden’s room without raising any suspicions.My mind went back to Kaiden, the way he had looked when I told him how I felt about the first alpha king calling me his mate, the look in his eyes like I was his salvation and at the same time, the only thing that could cause his ruin. But as I let go of my thoughts and let the arms of sleep tightly around me, the dream began
Author’s POVThe lake waters that had been raging in waves were still once more and its surface was calm like it had but just crashed the cave down. The ripples from the collapsed cave had now faded into memories and disintegrated into the air but even though everywhere was silent, there was trouble stirring beneath. In the deepest path beyond the lakes where light could not reach and where nothing but darkness resided. The waters slowly churned before they queerly parted as if it was obeying an invisible force. Then from deep within the cold lake coldness, he rose and one step at a time, elegant and unhurried, emerged a man of royalty and power. His golden hair clung to his skin and his eyes as blue as the skies glowed dimly under the dark water until they emerged from underneath. Charles, the First Alpha King had returned.He was regal, handsome and dangerous. His movements were fluid, it was almost unnatural and filled with grace. Water dripped down from his regal clothes like
CelineThe cold was gripping and goosebumps had spread all over my body from how wet I was as we burst out of the cave and made it to the opening. My gasps were swallowed by the amount of water that was crashing into the cave around us. Kaiden’s hand was tightly wrapped around my waist as he held both me and my mother above the raging water as we fought to get to the edge of the hidden passage that had led us into the underwater cave. We had only barely made it out. I looked down at my mother—the woman who had gone against all odds to have me and had risked her life just so I could be protected. She was no unconscious in my arms from the exhaustion of running after only just waking up. Her dark hair was soaked and it clung to her face and I couldn’t help but stare at her and acknowledge just how beautiful she was. I had never thought I would meet my mother or a woman who truly loved me but now, having her in my arms was the best thing ever. “Hold her,” I said as my lips trembled,
Celine“I-I am… I…” I started to say but I was at a loss for words, I quickly raised my hand to my face and wiped my tears away. “That doesn’t matter for now. What is more important is getting you out of here.”“Where are you taking me—“ she started but didn’t let her finish.I stood up straight and gestured for Kaiden to move closer to me. We helped her stand and though her limbs were weak from being unused, we could manage with it. She stumbled but Kaiden caught her and I steadied her, Kaiden looked away from us and towards the other coffin. “What about the other coffin?” He asked as he slightly nodded his head towards it. “It belongs to King Charles and he was the first alpha king. No one has dared to touch it for centuries.”My ears perked up at his words and I couldn’t help the curiosity that flickered inside me. “Let’s check it out,” I said as I looked away from him and stared back at my mother who was now standing by herself. “What if there is something important in there th
CelineOut of nowhere two guards walked closer to us, their steps far and their boots silent against the rocky floor of the cave grounds. I was scared and I hid behind Kaiden almost immediately even though my mask was still hiding my face but my body was exposed from the torn parts of my clothes and I couldn’t risk it.The weight of everything that had been happening pressed heavily in my chest and I couldn’t wait to see all that was hidden beneath the surface of the cold and possibly cursed cave. Kaiden walked away from me and the guards stood at attention as he addressed them. I had no idea what they had discussed or the other he had given them but with a single wave of his hand, the guards bowed and turned away without a backward glance.He walked over to me and flashed me a bright smile. “I told them that I had important things to do here and being the one in charge of the key to the cages, they didn’t question it,” he said in a soft tone, slightly gesturing towards the inner are
Celine “So you have superpowers?” He asked as he couched an eyebrow at me. I shrugged in response. “I mean… it’s not like I can fly or anything but I can tell when something is wrong. I can feel the lies in someone’s words. Turn into a ghost and walk past people without being noticed and many more. It’s not what I expected but I was more than happy to discover them.”“That’s not fair,” he said under his breath, pretending to be angry and offended. “I only just got better at swordplay and being part of a team.”I laughed, really laughed, hard and aloud. Then he grinned like he hadn’t seen me smile in forever and he was happy to see me smile again. And honestly, he hadn’t. Then, the smile slowly faded from his face and his voice became quiet once again. “Anya. What really happened between the both of you…”I nodded as I let out another sigh for the umpteenth time. “Like I told you, I have powers that I didn’t understand then and that time she put my life at risk so the soldier that
CelineThe sun was starting to set and starts were beginning to litter across the night sky. Kaiden hadn’t let go of my hand ever since we sat down on the blanket he had placed on the rooftop. And I didn’t want him to, not yet. Maybe not ever. He kept stealing glances at me like he couldn’t belive that I was real or even alive. Maybe I couldn’t either. After everything that had happened, being here together in the quiet after the raging storm felt like I was waking up from a nightmare and walking into something that felt peaceful and out me at ease. I still couldn’t believe that not only had Kaiden sent the dress to me, he had also planned out a picnic for us to bond and talk. I owed him the truth. All of it without holding any bit of information back. “I hve to tell you everything now,” I finally spoke up, my voice that was barely above a whisper slicing through the quiet and silent night air. “No more lies or hiding.”His hand tightened around mine, squeezing it reassuringly. “I
Kaiden“Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear what I was saying?” Lucan barked. I didn’t listen to him, I couldn’t hear him over my raging anger. “Let’s go,” I said as I turned to Celine, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her towards the door. I paid no attention to him, not his bedding, not his cursing nor the malicious words he spat out as we walked out of his room. Nothing mattered to me except the woman whose hands shook in mine. Her breath was coming out in soft shallow gasps and the beautiful mask on her face was out of place with her dress torn. Seeing her so silent and shaky broke my heart into a million pieces. Lina. Celine. She was real. Alive and in my hands. And I had almost lost her again to the stupid man. I barely knew where I was headed nor did I notice the staircase that we stepped on as I led upward—past the chambers set aside for kings and alpha, the meeting halls and through a hidden door that no one else but me knew existed. It was a shortcut I had used to esc
Celine I ran away from the ballroom breathlessly, bumping into anyone who stood my way as I turned the corridors, wanting to get as far away as Kaiden as I could. “I’ve always loved you and had hoped you were still out there…”His words echoed in my head and no matter how much I tried to stop it, it didn’t. My heart was pounding and I was terrified, Kaiden knew. He had known all along even when I had tried my best to hide it. And worse than that was the realization that the time that I thought I had was slipping out of my hands. Stop! Focus Celine, you have to get the key before we’re exposed, the tiny voice at the back of my head echoed. I stopped running, my heart was still racing as I tried to catch my breath. I had run as far away as I could and I needed to remain level headed and calm for the next step in my plan. There was absolutely no reason for me to barge into Lucan’s room out of breath and anxious, he would definitely think something was up and I couldn’t risk it. I