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 FIVE-DERMON-Mina and I made our way downstairs. Seated in the living room, our mother, father, and Weldon anxiously awaited Mrs. Parella's arrival. Their gazes shifted to us as Mina and I descended the stairs. The worry lines on their faces disappeared upon seeing Mina's now confident demeanor.Our mother stood, rushing towards us with outstretched arms. She took Mina into a warm embrace. "My brave girl," she whispered into her hair."I see you've managed to give her some courage," Weldon remarked.
CHAPTER EIGHT-WILHELMINA-The morning was delightful, with no clouds in the sky and the sun shining brightly. It was a beautiful day. To add the final touch to the fantastic day, everyone was eagerly anticipating the Moon Goddess' Ball tonight. I couldn't contain my excitement.Not only was this my debut as the Gravemaw Hounds' future Luna, it was also a chance to solidify my alliances. Trisha had extended invitations to all the neighboring packs, and even some nobles from the Lycan Empire were expected to attend.A sof
CHAPTER EIGHT-WILHELMINA-It had been a few days since I had confronted Boris about his decision to take Severa as his second wife. I was tired of his selfish decisions. He could do as he pleased with me, but I didn't want him to put another woman through the same pain and suffering I was about to endure.I was well aware that my threats to him were bold, but they were also completely genuine. I was determined to destroy Boris. He would pay for all the pain and suffering he inflicted on me, Severa, and our families.Bei
CHAPTER SEVEN-LEON-Her eyes widened ever so slightly, a tiny crack in her otherwise pristine facade. "A divorce," she echoed softly, the gravity of my words sinking in. "Is that what you believe the solution is?""Yes." I said, standing firm in my decision. "I cannot and will not allow you to harm our children with your twisted ideologies. It ends here, Trisha." The words hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension building between us.A sardonic chuckle slipped past her lips as she turned back to the window, he
CHAPTER SEVEN-LEON-Despite being aware that Hiro would be fully healed by tomorrow, I left him in the care of the manor's salutary. His confession had left me reeling, a whirlwind of emotions spinning within me. Betrayal, anger and fear crept into my heart like unwelcome guests. I had always been aware of my wife's deceitful tactics to achieve her desires, but I never could have fathomed the idea of manipulating her own daughter into a relationship.Why would Trisha do something like this, I thought. She had alway
CHAPTER SEVEN-HIRO-But then, suddenly, amidst the deafening roar of my pain and fear, a new sound punctured through the chaos - a growl. It was primal, animalistic, the sound of a beast cornered and threatened. I thought it was Boris, but then I realized it was someone else. Boris ceased his assault."What do you think you are doing?" It was our father. The voice was like a whip crack in the silence that followed. My father stood at the doorway, a terrifying silhouette against the flickering hallway lamp. His eyes, icy and hard, were locked onto Boris, his tall frame rigid
CHAPTER SEVEN-HIRO-The rough, calloused hand on my shoulder felt like the icy hand of death itself, a chilling reminder of the power my elder brother wielded. Boris's grip was unyielding, his eyes as cold as the winter. My heart thumped wildly in my chest."What were you thinking, Hiro?" he growled, steering me down the corridor with a firm grip. "What did you think you could accomplish, getting in the way of our mother's plans?" His voice echoed ominously off the cold walls.
CHAPTER SEVEN-ERIS-When the dinner was finally over, everyone excused themselves, heading off in different directions. Kinnison and I escaped to the sanctuary of the estate's moonlit garden. The air was thick with the scent of radiant azaleas, blooming roses, and honeysuckles, a perfect backdrop to our quiet conversation.Underneath the glowing moonlight, Kinnison held my hand gently, his touch as soft as the petals of the flowers surrounding us. With each breath, I took in not only the fragrant perfume of the blossoms but also his sweet, familiar scent that was now interw
CHAPTER SEVEN-ERIS-I noticed Boris's sly grin from across the table. His eyes twinkled mischievously as they met mine; he knew something, something I didn't understand. The scent of citrus became stronger, clouding my senses, making me feel like I was floating on an orange sea. Where is that smell coming, I thought.Looking around the table, I met Prince Kinnison's gaze. His icy eyes were no longer filled with unyielding coldness but softened, like the first light of dawn breaking across a frost-laden fiel
CHAPTER SEVEN-ERIS-In less than twenty minutes, the dinner would start, and I had spent the past hour and a half preparing with the maids. My mother checked in occasionally to ensure my appearance met her expectations.The silver-gray dress I was wearing, adorned with threads of gold, was chosen by mother herself. It hugged my figure and perfectly highlighted the dark shade of my hair and the yellow color of my eyes.Each time, her eyes scrutinized every detail, from the dress I wore to the way my hair was sty