CHAPTER FOUR
-ANTONIO-
His answer did not satisfy their curiosity, but they knew better than to press on, especially with such a delicate matter. Queen Camilla nodded solemnly, casting a glance at King Rasso who returned the gesture with an understanding smile. They both admired their son's talent immensely.
"Very well," King Rasso said, a hint of resignation in his voice. "Since your performance today was...unexpected," he started, choosing his words carefully, "we won't continue with your other lessons today."
CHAPTER FOUR-ANTONIO-The corridors of the castle were bright yet cold, their vast emptiness mirroring the conflict within his heart. He moved swiftly through the labyrinthine passages, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The marble floors echoed with the sound of his boots, asserting his presence in the lifeless hallways. His heart pounded against his chest, an erratic drum heralding his rebellion.As he rounded a corner, he nearly collided into a small figure clad in midnight blue robes. Startled, Antonio skidded to a halt, barely avoiding knocking the aged wom
CHAPTER FOUR-ANTONIO-The library was dimly lit, casting long shadows between the grand mahogany shelves that were densely packed with ancient tomes. Antonio moved through the rows with a sense of purpose, his usually bright eyes now hard and focused. He knew he had to learn more about werewolves, Wolf's Bane, fated mates.He spent hours engrossed in his studies, barely stopping for food and water. The tomes were full of folklore and firsthand accounts of interactions with werewolves, their pack structure, their mating rituals. Antonio’s gaze lingered over the section on an
CHAPTER FOUR-ANTONIO-Antonio woke to the sound of his chamber door opening and the faint rustle of a servant's robe. "Prince Anontio," a soft voice stirred him from a dreamless slumber. "It is time for dinner. Count Gaius and his family have arrived."The memory of his conversation with his parents flashed in his mind, pulling him immediately into wakefulness."Already?" He groaned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The servant bowed and retreated, leaving Antonio to pull himself out of his bed. He glanced at t
CHAPTER FOUR-ANTONIO-The table fell quiet as the group collectively absorbed what they had just heard. Antonio found himself both amazed by the tale and filled with new curiosity, his mind brimming with additional inquiries. He contemplated the possibility of someday living happily with his destined mate. He pictured a cozy house where he and his mate could relax on the porch, watching their children play in the yard. The thought brought a gentle smile on his face.King Rasso's throat-clearing shattered Antonio's joyful moment, and all eyes turned towards him, "Shall we di
CHAPTER FIVE-WELDON-Several days had passed since Boris had attempted to mate and mark my sister in his office. Despite the many objections and warnings from both Boris and his mother, Dermon and I were able to take Wilhelmina back home with us. A tense, angry silence hung over our home since Dermon and I revealed what had happened. Our father's anger was to be expected, but even more surprisingly, our mother was fuming as well – perhaps even more than our father. It took all three of us - Dermon, Raina, and myself - to stop her from storming into the Gravemaw Mansion. Our father made no effort to intervene in our mother's actions. Wil
CHAPTER FIVE-SEVERA-It was the middle of night. Everyone in the house was asleep, except for me. For the past few days, a sense of unease had been building within me. I tried to brush it off as nerves for the upcoming semester or lingering fears from Boris's ominous warning at the park. But deep down, I knew his words had unsettled me more than I wanted to admit.My phone buzzed. I took my phone from underneath my pillow and saw I had a text from Weldon. What could Weldon need at this hour of the night, I
CHAPTER FIVE-SERENA-In the morning, I woke up to the smell of a hearty breakfast floating up from the kitchen. The savory scent of frying bacon, scrambled eggs and freshly brewed coffee was intoxicating, yet my stomach churned uneasily at the thought of the impending confrontation. Pushing off the covers, I moved quietly to the door, peering out into the hallway. The twins, Bellatrix and Rae, walked out of their shared room clad in their matching pink pajamas, their youthful faces unmarred by the worry that plagued me. They giggled softly, their voices harmonizing in a comforting melody that momentarily lessened my anxiety. Their innoc
CHAPTER FIVE-DERMON-We, Wilhelmina and I, came into this world together, our bond unbreakable from the start. We shared everything - matching outfits as children, the same classes in school, and even a circle of friends. Mina has always been more than just my twin sister; she is my other half, my closest companion. But even with our similarities, there were noticeable differences between us.I bore a striking resemblance to our father, while Mina took after our mother's graceful beauty. She effortlessly captivated everyone she spoke it, charming them with her easy grace an
CHAPTER THIRTEEN-WILHELMINA-From the window of Weldon's car, I observed the plane taking off in the distance. Severa was leaving with Maria, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Arnet. It would be some time before I saw them again. Weldon had suggested that I go with them, but I quickly shut down that idea. I was done being a helpless damsel; I would fight my own battles, with or without men by my side, even if one of them happened to be Antonio.Boris and Trisha were my adversaries. It was their actions that led me to this predicament, and now it was up to me to find a solution. A
CHAPTER THIRTEEN-BORIS-The arrogant Lycan actually believed he could steal my woman away from me! Who did he think he was? Just some pompous prince? That didn't mean anything to me!I stormed through the halls of Gravemaw Mansion, my fists tightly clenched. The servants wisely stepped aside as I made my way past them; they knew not to interfere with my seething rage."Boris," a familiar voice called out from around the corner. It was my mother. Her expression was unreadable as usual. "Follow me. We need to tal
CHAPTER THIRTEEN-SEVERA-Thorin kept his promise and brought me back to my family's home the next day. The drive there was quiet, both of us lost in our thoughts. I knew he could sense my anxiety.Thorin looked at me, his brown eyes softening. "Severa, you'll get through this," he murmured, placing a comforting hand on top of mine that was clenched on my lap."I know," I responded, trying to smile at him.My gaze dropped to his neck, where I had le
CHAPTER THIRTEEN-WILHELMINA-Maria and Severa stood close together, their arms locked. I stood before them like a shield, savagely determined to protect them at all costs."What do you want, Remus?" I asked.His laugh was a cold echo in the room, chilling me to my bones. "You're not naive, Wilhelmina," he chuckled. "You understand why I'm here. The Alpha demands the return of his fiancés.""We aren't going anywhere," I said, my voice low and threateni
CHAPTER THIRTEEN-WILHELMINA-It had been roughly a week since we uncovered that Trisha was responsible for the manipulated feelings between Prince Kinnsion and Eris, utilizing a Potion of Charm, while also pressuring Estrada into creating said potion.Antonio, Weldon, and Thorin had confronted Boris and Trisha about their criminal activities, sparking the beginning of an investigation. Antonio had also revealed our mate bond to them during the confrontation.Antonio warned us that there were spies from the Lyca
CHAPTER TWELVE-ERIS-We were now aboard a plane, en route to the Lycan Empire. The group consisted of myself, Hiro, Princess Alina, Kinnsion, Nora, and Estrada. The tension inside the aircraft was palpable, the air felt thin and suffocating, the silence echoing louder than the hum of the plane's engines.Hiro had originally been sitting across from me, but he eventually moved to sit across from Princess Alina. The two of them were now murmuring quietly to each other.Nora and Estrada were situated far from us, each engr
CHAPTER TWELVE-ERIS-Exhaustion consumed me. My head throbbed and my body felt like it had been run over by a truck. Even my emotions were worn out. It had been two days since Mrs. Arnet cured both Kinnsion and myself of the Potion of Charm. I could still remember the sensation of being cured so vividly.A cooling wave washed over me, erasing the shimmering illusion that had once trapped my mind. I remember looking into Kinnsion's eyes, seeing his love for me dwindle. Our love wasn't real. It was manufactured by a potion, by magic, nothing more. It left a hollow feeling in my heart
CHAPTER TWELVE-HIRO-Prince Antonio then turned to me. "Hiro," he said in a more gentle tone, "could you please explain how you came to be in the basement of the Alpha's Estate?"A slight chill ran down my spine as I nodded in agreement. I took a deep breath and began recounting the events that unfolded, starting from our mother's order to Eris and I."It all began a few days ago when Prince Kinnsion and Princess Alina came to visit," I explained. "Our mother commanded us to use the Potion of Charm to make them fall in
CHAPTER TWELVE-HIRO-Glancing around, I could feel the tense atmosphere in the room. Everyone seemed to know something that I didn't. I turned to Eris. She seemed uneasy, her usually flushed cheeks now drained of color. "What's going on?" I asked, bewildered by the sudden shift in mood.Eris remained silent, her gaze fixed on Prince Kinnsion. Her eyes glimmered with pain and sadness.Prince Antonio let out a heavy sigh, then turned back to me. "This could mean your father is involved in your brother's and mothe