Aria's POVThe muffled sound of footsteps echoed faintly across the hallway as I walked down towards the front door and this sound seemed to add to the majesty of the place. The rich aroma of scented woods and lavender filled the air aiding the atmosphere of grandeur the mansion put on. I passed by ornately decorated and carved wooden doors, some of which were open. I took small glimpses into the open rooms as I passed by them and was surprised to see that they were properly furnished. They seemed to be guest rooms. Fancy.As I continued on down the hallway, I could not help but feel some sense of uneasiness inside of me. The calm aura filling the hallway did nothing to soothe the unrest that was beginning to stir up inside of me and the thoughts whelming up in my head only worsened the case.I tried to take my mind off these thoughts by turning to the tapestries hung on the walls of the hallway. As I walked, I studied the intricate designs on these tapestries, one that depicted anc
Aria's POVI arrived at the front door and after taking in a deep breath, pushed the door open. I walked out, the basket of strawberries held close to my bossom as I walked down the front steps. My eyes kept on searching the place for King Ryder as I walked down the last steps. "Where are you?" I muttered under my breath as I clutched the woven basket in my arms tight. I was about giving up and going back into the house to ask for Ma Levine to show me where the Lycan King was when I heard someone shout my name."Luna Aria," I heard the person call again and I swirled round in search of the owner of the voice. I stopped short after sighting the house's butler, John, standing close to the mansions conservatory. He looked excited as he waved and kept on screaming my name.I raised my hands in the air, showing him that I had heard his call as I began walking towards him. Either John didn't hear me or he was just oblivious to my gesture due to his excitement as he immediately left the con
Ryder's POVThe weather was not as cold as I thought it would be. The jacket that I had on was already causing beads of sweat to roll down my face in numbers. I had to take off the hat that I wore and use it as a hand fan to cool myself. It did merely that.I sighed and brought my wrist to my face. I stared at the watch on it, reading the ticking arms. It was already past nine, more than an hour of waiting for the Luna. I brought my hands down and grabbed on to the reins of my horse as I sighed again."Where are you, Aria?" I muttered under my breath as I looked down the path that she was to come from. My horse snorted as it's hoofs clopped on the cement pavement. John who was close by, immediately grabbed on to the horse and began stroking the neck, calming the tender beast down."Can I go get Luna Aria, King Ryder?" John asked as he looked up at me. He shrugged and said, "I am sure her staying late is because she doesn't know her way." "Doesn't she have Ma Levine?" I asked the butl
Aria's POVI felt the air around me tighten as I and John continued on our way to the stable. There was tension in the atmosphere and I knew that John could feel it too. It was written evidently on his face."This dress is very uncomfortable," I said, breaking the unsettling silence that had settled in our midst. I also wanted to do as much as I could to shift our thoughts from the encounter that we had with the Lycan King's brother. "It's uncomfortable?" John asked as he stopped walking. He turned to me and with a concerned look on his face, asked, "how bad is it? Is there any way you can go back to the mansion to go change?""No, no," I muttered as I placed my hands in the neck of my dress and pulled it. "I don't think it's really the dress that's the problem.""Oh," John mumbled, the concern look he had on growing. "What then is the problem? Maybe I can help with it.""Oh, don't worry," I said with a small smile, picking up the helm of my gown. "Let's just continue with the walk.
Aria's POVAs I approached the Lycan King, I could not help but feel at unease. Walking began to feel heavy with every step that I took. I brought my eyes down to the ground to avoid the Lycan King's gaze but I could still feel his eyes bore into my soul, the heavy weight of displeasure that it carried weighing me down. I could not understand why he was angry. I could not understand more why he was angry at me. I knew that I had come late but the last time that I did so, his reaction was not this severe. I felt the air suddenly become thin, an earthy scent and the smell of hay filling the place. The sound of horse nickering and the trampling of hooves added some kind of serenity to the troubled atmosphere and it gave me the courage to finally lift my head to meet the King's eyes. I immediately regretted doing so not more than a second after.King Ryder jaws clenched as my eyes met his. I noticed his shoulder tense, his commanding statue faltering for some seconds as he blinked. It
Hudson's POVThe smile I wore immediately disappeared after I turned away from Aria. As I walked towards the mansion, my gaze could not help but dart occasionally towards Aria's retreating figure. John, the old butler, caught me during one of my glances, giving me a knowing look before pulling the Luna towards a turn behind the conservatory. From the direction that they had taken, I was sure that they were both headed to meet my step-brother. "Hmm," I grunted with a small smile as I raised one of my brow. My step-brother really was going through with this stupidity of his. With a soft grunt, I turned and continued with my walk towards the grandeur of the mansion I called home. Hands in pockets and head raised to the building, I proceeded with careful steps, running the events and happenings of the day and the day before as I approached the manor.Something told me that Elder Parker had already gone to the dead Elder, Hugh's, home yesterday. I was sure he did so immediately after I
Hudson's POV"Hello, father." I closed my room's door behind me and walked over to the large picture hung on the wall above my bed. I looked at the man who had been painted on it and smiled. "Happy to see me today?"'You still speak to him?' my wolf, Agor, said. 'After all that he did to you?''Yeah, I do,' I mind-linked back at my wolf as I walked to the study table that stood close the fireplace in my room. I took a long drag from the cigarette in my mouth before removing it from in between my lips and dropping it on the study table. As I puffed the smoke out, I said to Agor, 'he did me dirty before he died by handing the throne over to my step-brother. He thought that I was going to amount to nothing.' I chuckled. 'That doesn't explain why you still talk to the old man,' Agor replied and I could sense anger in his voice. 'The old wolf might be dead but speaking to this painting of him looks like a reverence to him when you should be trampling it under your feet.''No,' I muttered
Aria's POVMy body had slowly grown accustomed to the feeling of the soft texture of my clothe fabric as it rubbed against my skin. The sun high up in the sky though became another problem for me as it casted it's heat rays down upon me as we rode into the town. "Here," I heard John say behind me and I turned. He had ridden his horse a little bit close to mine. I looked down at his outstretched hand and saw that it held a hand fan. He must have probably seen my discomfort from the scorching sun. Or maybe it was the evident beads of sweat that rolled down my forehead. "Thank you," I said to him with a small smile as I collected the hand fan from him. I turned back to my front, holding tight the reins of my horse as my saddle shook. I looked up from the reins and saw that the Lycan King had had his eyes turned to me. "Feeling hot?" he asked as he looked down at the fan that I held. I slowly nodded in response to his question. With a small grunt, the Lycan King turned back to his fro
Ryder’s POV“Hudson!!!" I growled as I stood from my hiding place. My voice boomed across the valley, echoing off the cliffs as I emerged from our hiding place, my daughter cradled safely in my arms. "You're fucking doomed." Hudson's expression twisted into a mix of surprise, anger and confusion as he saw me. The reality of what was happening then hit him as he saw my warrior wolves jumping out of the shadows and rushing out towards he and his guards. It took a lot of fighting and the loss of some of my warriors but we were finally able to bring down all of Hudson's wolves and also subdue him. As they chained him too, I walked over to him, holding my daughter close to my chest."Hudson," I said, my voice filled with disappointment as I stared at him. "All the while you showed me evil, I trusted you like a brother. Only to have you betray me by attacking me and kidnapping my daughter." Hudson didn't give me a reply as he glared at me with rage in his eyes. I could see that he had no
Ryder's POV"I.. I actually am happy that you've finally coke back to me," Aria said as she smiled for the first time since our son's adoption. I still marveled at how perfect her teeth were. "And I am happier that you took my back," I replied, extending my hands to her. As I caressed it, I stared into her eyes and smiled. "I really, really am happy." The entire room seemed to be light up as Aria softly laughed. It was a sound I so much missed.Suddenly, her smile dissipated, a slight frown replacing it. I squeezed her hands softly and scooted closer to her. I didn't need anyone to tell me why her mood had changed. "Do not worry, Aria. I would comb the breadth and depth..." I was cut short by a loud knock on the door. Laying kisses on her forehead, I got up from.the bed and walked to the door. "Who is it?" I asked, a hint of frustration in my voice as I placed my hands on the doorknob. "It's Harold, Prince Ryder," came a familiar voice. I grunted and opened the door to see who it w
Desiree's POVI quickly collected the horse from Jason, ignoring the questions he was asking me. Quickly, I mounted the horse and whipped the reins, causing it to sprint out of the compound. I quickly turned my horse down the path that I knew led to the small shed Hudson had gone to. I kept on whipping my horse, not wanting to waste any time. I needed to get there fast if I really wanted my plans to work.It didn't take too long for me as I finally took notice of a familiar row of sunflower along the pathway I rode. It has been planted a year earlier by some servants as instructed by Hudson. It had started drizzling, but the ray of sunshine remained firm and colourful. I recalled the stores told to me when I was little that when such was happening, it meant the moon goddess was punishing a pack for sins that they had committed towards her. I didn't believe sigh anymore. I finally reached the small gate leading to the shed and saw a guard standing by it. He sighted me and quickly wi
Desiree's POVMy heart raced as I rushed through the compound gate. I needed to inform Ryder about my findings.I quickly surveyed the surrounding path, and after seeing no one, I moved towards the palace. I had not notified anyone about me leaving that mansion and I knew if Hudson was to learn about that, he would be suspicious of me. I didn't want to drag any attention to me so I reduced my pace, walking stealthily into the mansion. It wasn't until I overheard a maidservants telling the other that Hudson had ridden to his shed in the woods that I finally relaxed. As I walked, I thought of what would happen once I told Ryder the good news I held for him. I wasn't too concerned about what he would do though. I was much more concerned about what Aria would do. She had promised me that she would pack and leave the moment her stupid child was found and that was what I expected from her. If she did, I'd finally have Ryder to myself. Upon arriving at the palace, I received the referenc
Desiree's POV"We were ambushed and... they kidnapped my daughter," Ryder explained to me, his voice cracking a bit. I could hear from his tone that he was pained and angered by what had happened to he and Aria. Why wasn't he thinking about me? Aria and Ryder had arrived not up to an hour ago and Aria had retreated to her room to cry her eyes out. Ryder had decided to come to his study to think and luckily, I was waiting for him. His conversation though was not one I was expecting to be having with him. "Do you know who took her?" I asked, pretending to be concerned, even though deep down, I was filled with anger. "Was there any clue left behind by the wolves that may lead us to her?" "I... I don't know," Ryder admitted, frustration evident in his voice. He grunted and ran a hand through his hair as he shook his head. He looked down at the drink I had brought for him and I could see in his eyes that he wanted to take it. "But... but I have to find her. I lost Aria once. I can't be
Ryder's POV We had long begun our journey in silence, the only sound filling the air being the sound of our horse's hooves trotting softly against grass and the racket our carriage wheels made as it made it's way through the forest. The children too added to the list as they played and laughed loudly. Apart from all these, the carriage seemed silent. My gaze turned to Aria, a sense of guilt filling up within me as I stared at her. She had turned to the window and was staring at the passing trees. It was obvious that her mind was somewhere else and I wondered what it was that she was thinking about. Was it me? Was she having regrets?I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. I just didn't know what to say. Taking in a deep breath, I turned from her and began tapping my feet on the floor restlessly, trying my best to muster my courage."What is it?" I heard her say and I quickly turned to her. Her gaze had not left the window."Look, Aria, I'm... I'm really, really sorry," I sa
Ryder's POVThe morning came as quickly as the night went by and the rays of sun did more than wake me up, it also brought back bad memories. Memories of how I had treated Aria when all she had ever done was care for me, memories of how I should have heard her out a bit more, or protected her regardless of not knowing the origin of her pregnancy. I was nothing without her and her leaving ended up being undoubtedly detrimental to me. How did i not see that until now? But then, i probably did and decided on being more in denial. Due to the fact that it was already late yesterday, Alpha Kael had asked that I slept in before leaving with Aria. It wasn't something I wanted as it itched me to take Aria back home but I couldn't say nom He had taken me to my room, insisting that I don't sleep with Aria. I couldn't blame him. He was her father after all.I slowly sat up from bed, my right hand travellimg to my eyes as I began rubbing them to get them free from the haziness that had ensued th
Hudson's POVI walked out of the mansion and turned towards the path that led to the stable at the back. Sure enough, I found Jason there, attending to the horses inside. He was so focused on what he was doing that he didn't notice my presence.I made to enter the stable but then stopped as I sighted a a clump of horse dung at the front. I looked down at the ground and saw that there were a lot surrounding the area. I wasn't sure I wanted to have my shoes get stained with any. Taking a step back from the stable door, I called out to Jason from outside. "Jason," I shouted as I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jean trousers. "Jason," I called out again after seeing that he had not heard my first call.Jason looked up, startled, and turned to the cabin door. He sighted me standing outside and immediately wipes his dirty hands on his jeans before walking slowly to the barn door. "Alpha Hudson," he said as he bowed his head low. "Is there any problem, alpha?" I gave Jason a small n
Aria's POVRyder stared at me for a few moments before rushing towards me. I dropped my kids to the ground in fear, thinking he was going to attack me but, to my greatest surprise, he enveloped me in a tight hug the moment he reached me. I didn't know what to do so I just stood there motionless as he began whispering words of apology. "I'm sorry, Aria," he whispered as he placed his head on my blossom. "I really really am so sorry." I didn't know what to say or do at that moment. What was he sorry about? And what was he even doing here in the first place? I heard the shuffling of feet behind me and turned slightly to see my father stand from his throne and begin to walk towards I and Ryder. He was confused but had not reacted to Ryder's sudden hug. I assumed it was because I wasn't protesting that he kept cool. "What is happening here?" he asked with a frown on his face as he paused at the last step of the podium on which his throne sat. "Prince Ryder," he called out to Ryder and I