Luna's Pov
I turned to look at the man who had spoken. I recognized him instantly from his role in passing judgement on us. Just like the first time, he was sitting down which prevented me from seeing just how tall he was. He still seemed pretty intimidating though as his eyes blazed, commanding respect. I remained at the door from where I had been admiring the room but even from here, I could feel his displeasure washing over me in waves. I shuddered subconsciously as I noticed that not only his but all the eyes in the room were focused on me. Us, I had forgotten Jamil was still standing beside me until he grabbed my arm and pulled me into the room. We arrived before the Beta at the head seat and following Jamil's lead, I bowed. "You are late." Up close, his voice sounded deeper and more intimidating. "You didn't tell her that we do not condone lateness here?" He asked and I raised my head a little bit only to return to my former position when I saw that Jamil was still bowing. "I am sorry, my lord but the tour ran on for much longer than we thought. A lot of time went past without us realizing it. It will not happen again." "That is no excuse you know?" He boomed and I very nearly raised my head to tell him to buzz off but I managed to keep my cool. The last thing I wanted was to get Jamil in trouble and give that white eyed bitch more reason to chew my head off. "I know my lord and I apologize. I promise to make sure it never happens again." Silence reigned in the room for what seemed like forever before the Beta finally spoke again. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get on your seats. The food is starting to get cold." He grumbled. "Thank you uncle!" Jamil nudged me as he made his way around the table. I was about to follow him when the Beta cleared his throat. I frowned as I stopped in my steps staring back and forth between Jamil and their leader. When none would speak, I started to go after Jamil again when the annoying sound was repeated. I was about to throw away all reservations and walk up to the man to whack him upside of his head when Jamil signaled me to go to the other side of the table. I frowned but his eyes told me that was the only way we were going to have peace. Sure enough, when I turned round to the other side of the table, nothing stuck in the throat of the Beta. I cursed the craziness of this place and its inhabitants under my breath as I made my way past a broad, brown haired figure who looked familiar as he hunched over his empty plate. As large as the room was, (and by that, I mean large enough to swallow The Haven whole and still have room for two more), there was no one else sitting on the left wing except the guy and now, myself. On the other side of the room, the first seat was empty, like it was waiting for someone who was yet to arrive. The second was occupied by Ulo, followed by Luna and finally, Jamil. A very large number by all standards, you would agree. A room that could seat over a hundred people being used by six people. Wasn't that just perfect? I took up a seat opposite Ulo. His hair was combed slickly and he looked dapper in his black robe. He spared me a glance that was fit for a fly before returning his face to the plate like he was receiving a message from the gods in it. Maybe he was. Heavens knew that these people needed a divine message on hospitality. I mean, I had only been here for what? 2 days? And I had already gotten into more trouble than I had ever gotten into in my entire life and that was saying a lot. And to think that I wasn't even all that big a troublemaker. Beside him sat Luna who had her long hair tied into a pony tail. She wore a plain white dress and her makeup appeared shabby, barely hiding her eye bags. She didn't seem to have changed since I had seen her this morning either which was rather unusual for her, at least from what I had gotten to know about her. Unlike Ulo, she spared me more than a glance. Each look she shot my way bore enough venom to burn an army to dust. Someone really ought to tell that girl to get off my case because I really am starting to tire of her tantrums. Finally, there was Jamil who smiled at me. I smiled back. It sure was great to have a friendly person in the midst of people who all seemed to not be able to wait until they could eat me alive. Someone tapped on the table and as if on cue, several feet pounding against the ground became audible. Soon enough, about six people in maid uniform, a simple black and white dress came in bearing trays. They spread these on the table between us, filling the air with mouthwatering aromas. It was at this time that I finally saw the face of the only other person that sat on the same row with me. It suddenly made sense why I had found him familiar. Looking at me with a deep scowl etched on his face was anchor man, Leon. I suddenly recalled what Jamil had told me about him being the son of the Alpha. I also recalled the warning to stay away from him but I wondered how that was possible if we always managed to run into each other. I peeled my eyes from him and almost got drowned in Luna's swirling pools. Nope! Luckily, the maids placed a plate before me at this time and started to dish out the food. I sighed as I stared at it, my instincts telling me that this was going to be a very, very long day.Luna's PovIf there was anything worse than serving people who hated your guts, it was eating with them. Knowing that malicious eyes are following your every move is a sure recipe for a loss of appetite. I managed to force down some food which went to sit at the bottom of my belly like a couple of bricks. After that, I just turned the food in my plate, my cheek propped on the other hand as I stared at it like I was looking for something that was embedded deep within it. "Ahem!" I was pulled out of my revelries by the Beta clearing his throat. I looked up at him, blinking as I tried to come back to the present. "Breakfast is over. You all can leave now." My heart soared with joy as I rose to my feet, the chair skittering noisily. Great! Another reason to make them hate me more. Already, I could see them pinning their gazes on me as if to say, "we get the point. You are dumb. Now, could you stop making it so obvious?" "Not you!" My heart plummeted to the bottom of my belly about as fa
Luna's PovOutside the tall rooms and passageways of the palace, the world looked large, golden and endless under the touch of glowing sunlight. Or perhaps, it was just my happiness at being free that was tainting my vision. Outside the palace, the courtyard sprawled before me, all a glowing shade of white. Apart from the three main buildings that took main focus in the palace, there were a couple other buildings on the other end of the enormous courtyard. Smaller and less impressive but beautiful nonetheless. Most were honorary buildings, only ever used when some guests visited, Jamil would not tell me who. Others though were used by the part of the army that was not stationed at the borders, a fancy term for palace guards really. "I see you are finally out and would you look at that. You are in one piece!" My eyes widened as I wheeled into Jamil who seemed to have materialized out of nowhere. "What are you doing here?" I hissed breathlessly, the breath knocked out of my lungs from
Blaire's PovI was sitting in my favorite spot in our hangout spot. A swing that was made with a log of wood with two long ropes running out of both sides of it which were tied to one of the tree's sturdy branches. I sat on it, gently swaying it back and forth, my eyes seeing nothing as I wandered in the world of thoughts and worries. I still could not get the horrible condition Indrik was in out of my head. "There you are!" A voice that sounded like it was coming from somewhere deep within the tree called. I was slow to respond, partly because I was still lost in thought and partly because I did not want to speak to the owner of the voice. "Scoot!" He ordered but I ignored him, treating him like he wasn't present. "Hey!" He called again, snapping his fingers before my face. Seeing that there was no way I could send him off with the silent treatment, I stopped the swing and gave him the coldest look I could muster. "Have you seen Ulo around? I couldn't find him in his room." Jamil
Author's PovBeta Green wandered around the dining room long after the girl had left. First, he stood behind Indrik's chair, then got into his seat, then walked round to the other end of the room, pondering his discussion with the girl. He stroked his cheeks over and over as he wondered what he was missing. Indrik might be impulsive but he was not crazy. There was no way he would just choose to bring a random girl into the pack unless there was a reason. That was what he had to find out.He recalled the time he had asked her the reason why Indrik had brought her. She had told him she didn't know but before that, there had been a slight hesitation which was more than enough to confirm his suspicion."Beta Green?"He turned around as fast as lightning, having been startled out of his wits. The new arrival was lucky to not be within arm's reach or he would have hit her when he spun. "Gamma Victoria!" He sighed when he finally recovered from his shock. "My gosh, you startled me." He exhal
Indrik's Pov"Hey, dirt bag! You think you are better than everyone else that is in here, don't you?" A voice yelled from far up the row of cells. It was soon lost in the crowd of voices that cried in its wake."Don't waste your breath on the fool. Let's see if he is still going to be so cocky when we tell the guards about the romance he has going on when they are not looking." Another voice growled, the voice echoing so much that I could not figure out exactly where it came from. Again, murmurs rose in the corridor."That is the problem with all of these royal dogs. They think they are superior to the rest of us. Damned imperial piece of shit." A voice cursed from somewhere close by."Wait, royal? That can't be true. Whatever would a royal be doing here?" Another voice questioned."You had better believe it. That girl from earlier? I would recognize her anywhere. She is the daughter of the Gamma. And this moron here, I heard her call him Indrik, is the son of the Alpha. Little spoilt
Blaire's Pov"You are still here?" A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts and I raised my head. I feel disoriented as I look around, trying to figure out where I am. I am still sitting in the swing, with it swaying back and forth. Looking up at the sky, I realize that the sun is sinking into the sky in a brilliant mix of colours very quickly. I turn my eyes to the owner of the voice but am unable to see the face very clearly. Still feeling very lost and confused, I peel my eyes off the person and focus them on my laps. "Tell me you left earlier and came back." Jamil exclaimed then whistled as he came closer and picked some leaves out of my hair. "No, you did not. Did you turn into a tree for a while then?" My eyes finally clear as they settle on him. My eyes fill with tears as I recall what I had just seen."Hey! Hey! Are you okay?" Jamil questioned, alarmed at the tear drop that rolled down my face. He covered the distance between the door where he is still standing and the swing
Blaire's PovJamil did not like the idea of us breaking the rules because despite the fact that he was the most outgoing of all four of us, he also happened to be the most rigid. Weird combination, right? But with the two of us on his case, he had no other choice than to join us in our prison raid. I had returned my mother's bunch of keys before she would notice they were gone but that was only after I had removed the keys to the dungeon. With their help, I had been able to secure more supplies which was more extensive because Jamil insisted I bring a gift or something as an act of goodwill to the other prisoners. According to him, bringing something for one prisoner, especially when it was against the rules, would make the other prisoners mad which might make them pick on the prisoner or worse, report the prisoner just to spite him. The simple cure to that, is to bring something for them as well. They would be pleased with the thoughtfulness and voila, all would have been saved a lo
Indrik's PovI had been hoping that Blaire would take my advice and not return. So, what if my fellow prisoners had made their threat good and informed the guards? They had no proof to show that it really was her who had come. I could easily have convinced the council into buying that it was someone else. At worst, they would have worsened my punishment but at least, she would have been saved. But all of that went flying out the window or in this case, iron door as I looked up at Blaire, her tender face framed by the flickering flames. "You shouldn't have come!" I groaned, knowing that there was no escaping the clutches of the prisoners now. Obviously, I was not the only one who realized this as they all started to speak at the same time. As expected, they had all made illogical requests. Like asking me to help break them out of prison or to help them speak to the council to offer them some leniency. Like I would be here if I had that much power. I told them as much and they had pai