HAYLEE~~If the trunk of Alpha Jett’s car counts as a ride in the car, I would say this was my second time in a car. Many wolves don’t see the need for vehicles because it’s a luxury that comes from the human world, and as much as we are cool with humans, we try to limit interaction with them to avoid stirring trouble. But of course, most Alpha King Xalen had a few cars that I had seen many times in the palace’s garage. Also, most Alphas, Elders, Chiefs, and other influential wolves collect this luxury—“So we are thinking about cars to ignore the weird energy looming in this car?” Liya said into my mind, calling me out of my delusion.I mean, I didn’t know what to say to Alpha King Xalen. I could tell he was angry to see me with Alpha Prince Roy, who seemed sweet from what I had observed, but I do have a thing for trusting people easily.What do I say to him? I can’t even tell him how and why I ended up on the other side of the pack and found Roy. He doesn’t know that I went to fi
ALPHA KING XALEN~~“I see you, Haylee, not as a replacement but as you.”I meant these words with every fiber of my being. However, I wasn’t sure that would be enough for Haylee. I could tell she wanted me to wipe Laura out of my heart and mind, but that would take time, even if it was possible.Haylee's eyes twinkled with shock, and they darted around the hallway as if she were scared that someone would hear us, but I wouldn’t put her in danger. I mean, before walking up to her and saying those words, I had made sure no one was within earshot.Regardless, Haylee whispered, “Can we do this in Jodie’s room?”I nodded and walked behind her with shopping bags she didn't seem to notice in one hand. A thought crossed my mind as we drew closer to Jodie’s room, and I shared it with Theo, “She calls Jodie with affection and familiarity. Am I the only one she refers to with fear and formality?”“Huh? I bet it’s you and Allison, so you have nothing to worry about,” Theo chimed, and for a sec
HAYLEE~~I was speechless. His words, his expression, his tone, and the softness of his scent as he spoke to the damaged little girl within me—all of this stunned me into speechlessness and drove me to tears. He wrapped his arms around me so delicately, holding me against his chest. I shouldn’t be thinking about Leo right now, but he was the first male that held me and made me feel safe. However, Alpha King Xalen was the first man who held me, made me feel safe, and made my heart race. Even Alpha Jett couldn’t come close. What was I saying? He never held me or spoke to me softly.“Seriously?” Liya’s voice broke into my mind. “A normal female would be over the moon right now. You are being held by the Alpha King of the territory, Hay. Stop thinking about the lies of Leo and Alpha Jett.” “I have never been happier,” I confessed to my wolf, sniffling back happy tears as I rested my head on Alpha King Xalen’s chest, listening to his heartbeat, which sounded like a melodious rhythm.
ALPHA KING XALEN~~That was cute… And I liked it. Hell, I found myself smiling even brighter after she ran out of Jodie’s room with all the shopping bags. “Imagine her face when she realized she shouldn't have gone with all the bags.” Theo let out a wolfy chuckle. The smile on my face widened not just because I was staring down at my daughter, whom I was beginning to bond with on a deeper level, but also because I believed life was about to get better. Henceforth, I would be making conscious efforts to choose Haylee and put her first. May the goddess help me, and this time, not take my mate from me. “I'm proud of you, Xalen. Thank you for doing this for us. Theo muttered those words to me, causing my heart to skip a beat. I nodded my head, barely keeping my emotions in check as I began to walk over to Sophia’s room, where I sensed Asher would be.“Daddy!” Asher exclaimed as soon as I stepped into Sophia’s room. Sophia also jumped off her bed, racing over to give me a hug. My
ALPHA KING XALEN~~Having worked on pack affairs side by side with Laura, I would recognize that handwritten any day. As soon as I saw the first word on the first letter that I opened, I knew Laura had written them. At that moment, a part of me that I didn’t know was dead came back to life as excitement swelled within me.I thought to myself as I grabbed as many letters as I could, moving to sit on the bed that used to be ours, “This could be it. This could be the closure I have been looking for. Laura must have written these letters secretly for me when she was alive.” I was happy to read it. Heck, I was eager to read.Despite the presence of my kids, I let my eyes run over the first few lines of the letter, my heart racing even though I was sitting down. “I didn't mean for this to happen. I know you are mad, but I couldn't control the urges or stop him. The mate nark and the bond between us make it hard. I'm currently carrying his child, but the good news is, it's a girl. I kno
HAYLEE~~Yesterday was a good day for me. I mean, why wouldn’t it be? Not only did I get clothes from Alpha King Xalen, but I also got to have a peek into his mind after he said those beautiful words to me. Although I didn’t get to see him after I ran out of Jodie’s nursery yesterday, I could feel his words echoing in my mind when I put the kids to bed last night. And it didn’t stop, not even when I fell asleep. His words created some kind of brightness in my mind. The kind of brightness that chased my fears, worries, and nightmares far away from my mind. That explained why I had a good night's sleep for the first time in a long time.“Also explains why you woke up with a bright smile.” Liya chimed into my mind as I got out of bed that morning, reminiscing about the previous day with me.I couldn’t deny it. I was happy. Like genuinely happy—that was rare for me, but thanks to Alpha King Xalen and his decision to step up, I get to experience this rare happiness. Of course, I knew
HAYLEE~~“What has gotten into you?" Princess Allison exclaimed, struggling to tear Sophia off her. Before I knew what was happening, Princess Allison gave Sophia a hard shove, sending her staggering towards the hardwood sofa. Without hesitation, I ran over to catch Sophia before she hit her head against the sofa. But I couldn’t reach her on time. But fortunately, Sophia managed to steady herself just before her leg touched the sofa. One would think she would take a minute to catch her breath, but within a twinkle of an eye, Sophia was on her feet and ready to attack again. “Just put them back, will you?" She snapped at Princess Allison's, whose face was just as red as Sophia’s.“Put what back, dammit!” Princess Allison shouted like she was fighting with someone her age. “What are you accusing me of now, you spoiled brat!” I wanted to interfere. Put myself between the two princesses or do anything to put an end to this madness that sprung out of nowhere. Couldn’t we just enjoy
ALPHA KING XALEN~~“W-why will you do th-that?”My daughter whimpered, her lips quivering as she raised her head to look into my eyes. I didn’t miss the way she blinked rapidly as if she were holding back tears. I knew Sophia. I knew her well enough to know that she was already cooking an explanation in her head, and if I didn’t reply soon, she would assume whatever she wanted, good or bad, and the rest of us would be left to live with her reaction to her assumption.Again, good or bad.But how do I tell my daughter that I took down her mom’s portraits because I couldn’t bear having her all around the house, eyes on me everywhere I turned, after reading just two of the letters I found in her drawer?The letters I knew she wrote because—damn! I don’t want to go down that path again.I walked the path, and I kept walking all night, which explained why I couldn’t sleep, get Laura’s words out of my mind, think about anything or anyone else, and wake up early.“I can’t do this,” Theo gru
Princess Allison’s POV ~~What in the royal pack is happening?The head of the woman who just openly restored my honor fell to the ground, but that one question still echoed in my mind.“What the hell is happening?” I gasped internally, tears rolling down my chin as I played the part that Benita had given me.It was sudden, of course, but I didn’t fail to play my part perfectly. I could feel hands on my shoulders, comforting me, and even though the urge to shake off the flirty hands on me was intense, I controlled myself, crying like a helpless pregnant woman.Benita was dead. Alpha King Xalen was angry. Haylee was stunned, speechless, and frozen in her spot. The pack was in disarray, while I was confused as hell.I mean, why would Benita do that? She told me she didn’t want Haylee to be queen, but why would she sacrifice her life to make sure of that? Why didn’t she mention my name like I knew Haylee and the King expected, even though I hadn’t been the nicest person to her?“Whate
HAYLEE~~I heard her right. Right?She mentioned my name. Benita, the so-called friend who tried to kill me with different kinds of poison, said Haylee put her up to it.The question is, which Haylee?I mean, there has to be another Haylee in the pack. Perhaps her name is spelled differently from mine—Hailey or maybe Hayley. Urgh, fuck!Frustration slipped into my blood vessels because a huge part of me knew that Benita was referring to me, and it was confirmed when she looked my way and spat with so much hatred, “The supposed Queen put me up to this. If I had known this was the game she was trying to play, I wouldn’t have listened to her.”Benita burst into tears, shedding crocodile tears, but they looked real enough to get a reaction out of the crowd. In fact, she pulled their heartstrings even more when she whimpered, “But I am s-simply a lowly servant. I d-dare not say no to the queen.”I couldn’t believe my ears, yet my body shook with the same rage I had tried so damn hard to
HAYLEE~~As much as Xalen wanted me to rest and get a good night's sleep, I couldn’t. All through the night, I was restless, not because I was worried that Benita would get silenced like the guard that Xalen once secretly held in captivity, but because I wasn’t sure she would tell the truth.I was restless because I knew Xalen wouldn’t hesitate to torture her family if she failed to confess and mention Allison’s name. I hadn’t met any member of Benita’s family, but I knew I couldn’t handle watching them suffer when they hadn’t done anything wrong.After all, they didn’t stab me in the back. Benita did.“What can I do to help you relax, Hay?” Xalen’s voice pierced my thoughts, and my worried gaze shifted to him in a second. “I can hear the wheels turning in your head. I don’t like that.”We were both in our bedroom, waiting for Benita to confess or for her given time to elapse. Although neither of us said anything about waiting, I could tell we were doing just that.“What if Allison
Princess Allison’s POV (24)~~I have screamed. I have cried. I have broken every breakable valuable in my bedroom—or should I call it my prison, because it was beginning to suffocate me? I have even considered returning home to my father.Yes, he will punish me, but at least he will help me get my powers back. I never knew he would take them away from me. Hell! I didn’t even know he could take them until Haylee made me see the truth.Goddess! How I wished I could blame Haylee and finally find a way to tear her apart with the support of the pack members that had sworn to protect me. However, she was right. My dad had screwed me.Ever since I discovered that my power was gone, I have been thinking. I have been trying so damn hard to make use of my intellect and come up with a plan that would help me defeat Haylee, claim the throne, and make my dad lick my feet.However, I haven’t come up with a single plan. Or, more appropriately, I haven't come up with a single perfect plan.How do I
HAYLEE~~The anger swirling within me was unlike any emotion I had felt before.I had experienced intense sadness, but even that didn’t come close to what I was feeling in that moment as I stared at Benita’s scared but unremorseful face. She was a reminder of every bad occurrence that had marred my life.She was a reminder of how meaningless promises and bonds could be.She was a reminder of the one curse I thought was broken—no one could love me genuinely.Alone in this cruel world, I began to wonder if anyone truly loved me. My heart shattered at the thought that Xalen’s love might be fake too. Flavia as well. What if I were back where I started?Yet I was in a different setting, where everyone pretended to love me, unlike the undiluted hatred my previous circles hadn’t hesitated to show me.“That’s your emotions talking, Hay. You know Xalen loves you. You can feel it through the bond, and the fact that you can converse with Aradia is further proof that he isn’t faking his feelin
ALPHA KING XALEN~~Saying I was angry would be the understatement of the century.These past few months, I have lost a lot of people who mattered to me. Even though Laura turned out to be a snake, losing her affected me, and Uncle Calvin’s death remained a trauma I couldn’t get over as fast as I wanted.And now, Haylee was poisoned by one of the servants in my home?There was no way in hell I would allow her to go scot-free. There was no way in hell I wouldn’t make an example of her!“First, Ghostflower juice, and she still had the audacity to use Ashen venom?” Theo gritted angrily within me. My anger boiled hotter with every step I took toward the one place that smelled like that bitch—her bedroom.I knew she wasn’t there, but I needed to get my hands on whatever was left of the venom she fed my woman. I couldn’t shake off the need to get rid of it along with her. I got to her bedroom, ransacked it, and found vials of poisons laid carelessly within her bedside drawer.To my utmost
HAYLEE~~I could have sworn I died.I could have sworn that death swallowed me the second my lids closed, but somehow, those same lids fluttered open after I almost became best buddies with the darkness of death. I didn’t know how long I had been out.But if I were to assume, I would say I was unconscious for about an hour or maybe two.There was this sharp sound ringing in my head, and I just knew I needed to sleep for a long time; still, I had to ask the two concerned women standing beside the bed, “Did you get it out? How long was I out for?”I groaned as I tried to push myself into a sitting position, hoping that the block Liya placed between my mind and Xalen’s didn’t fall when I lost consciousness. Gasping, I added another question, looking deep into Flavia’s eyes this time, “Has he found out?”She knew I was talking about Xalen. I could tell from the way she looked at me, but what I couldn’t tell was the next words Flavia blurted out: “No, he hasn’t, Haylee. It’s been five mi
HAYLEE~~“I told you so.”If Liya wasn’t trembling with rage within me, I was certain those four dreaded words would be echoing endlessly in my mind. My wolf would have said those words to me, but even though she didn’t voice them out loud, I could still hear her furious voice in my subconscious because, truly, she told me so.Heck! Liya warned me severely.“I knew she was a snake, but I didn’t know she would go this far,” Liya hissed into my mind, frustration coursing through her. “I didn’t like her from the start, but I also couldn’t see why she would want to kill you. Even when I forced you to keep that sample from the smoothie, I was just trying to be thorough and cautious.”Well, thank goodness for that, because how else would I have known that the only person who willingly offered to be my friend when I started living in the palace was, undoubtedly, my faceless enemy?Flavia, who had been quietly working, suddenly gasped, “I can’t detoxify you alone. We either get you to the
HAYLEE~~Flavia barged into Sophia’s bedroom, where I was with the kids, her eyes wide as the sky but also cloudy.I dropped the book I had in my hands instinctively, ignoring the soreness of my body. I assumed I had to get used to the muscle soreness that I had been experiencing due to my training session with Xalen.“Are you okay?” Those were the first words that Flavia uttered, even though Sophia and Asher were trying to get her attention.I could see her fingers trembling as she tried to wrap her arms around Sophia and Asher. The scent of her worries invaded my nostrils, almost suffocating me before I answered, “I am okay. Are the results out?”My eyes were heavy, but just like I had ignored my sore muscles, I had been forcing my tired eyes to remain open because I wanted to read more about the various abilities that each faction within the werewolf community had.“They are, Haylee, and they aren’t good.” Flavia let out a shallow breath. “We should get you to your room. You need