HAYLEE ~~ I understood that he hated me for reasons best known to him. But to be honest, I was a victim too. I have been all my life and the way he seemed to enjoy hurting me even though I was helping his kid was making it hard for me to breathe. My chest hurt. But my head was aching more due to the forced connection he– “You don’t speak much, do you?” The young woman Alpha Xalen handed me over to, asked, her eyes on me as if she was studying me. I have learned to be careful around Servants in this Pack since they all considered me beneath them. If my head wasn’t aching, I still wouldn’t speak to the nanny to avoid getting punched– “He wasn’t always like this.” I didn’t ask her but she supplied that detail anyway. “Well, he was hostile when he was younger but became very warm when he met the Queen. Losing her sent him back to his dark days.” I get it. He was suffering. But I have been suffering all my life and he doesn’t see me being a pain in his ass or that of anyone
HAYLEE~~“You do not belong here….” The voice I heard was soft and young, and it was supposed to be innocent and friendly, but it was everything but that. It was harsh and as I opened my eyes to see the small frame boiling with obvious anger before me, My brows furrowed. I could only stare at the little girl before me as I pushed myself off the nursery floor. I must have dozed off while putting Princess Jodie to bed. I thought working with Owen was hard but having a baby who won’t let me drop her for even a minute was harder. The good part was, I wasn’t getting slapped or starved. Aside from Princess Jodie, no one was yelling at me until now. “That’s my mom’s spot. Get up and get out of my sister’s room.” The young girl literally hissed at me. Her mom’s spot? Her sister? “Princess Sophia?” I breathed, Rather than respond, she seethed just like I had seen Alpha King Xalen do, “I told you to leave my mom’s spot and get out of my sister’s room.” I was standing in a cozy corner
HAYLEE~~“I swear to the goddess she was right here.” I had screamed three hours ago, my body trembling as he stared down at me with anger and perhaps worry in his eyes. Clearly, he wasn’t concerned about the way my heart was rising and falling rapidly, not when he was about to growl at me. But before he could, I added, “Princess Sophia showed up. She was furious. She sent me out of the room and I thought it was best to sit here while I waited for her to–” “But you fell asleep!” He shut me up, punching the nearest wall in a way that made me jump backward. “You fell asleep when you were supposed to be watching my kids.”“I didn’t mean to. I swear to the goddess–” I whimpered. “Enough swearing to the goddess, dammit!” He hissed maliciously, showing nothing but hate and disrespect to the goddess. That happened three hours ago and while I was shaken by fear and also been praying that the Princesses would return home, they haven’t and we have all been searching and by searching, I m
ALPHA KING XALEN~~My heart was racing. My soul was threatening to abandon my body. I lost track of time as I walked along with Evan, searching for all three of my kids. I was ready to blame the slave when I found out Jodie wasn’t in the Palace but when I heard her mention Sophia’s name, I knew my daughter was back to be a sweet indispensable pain in my ass. Sophia was a menace. No one would call her this but yes, she is a crazy five years old and Laura was the only person she ever listened to. But now, Laura was gone and she wouldn’t listen to anyone else which was why I had to send her to the Healers even before the funeral because I knew she would have thrown tantrums all through the funeral and create a scene that wouldn’t be good for her reputation–“Somehow, it sounds like you are describing yourself,” Theo muttered despite how weary we both were. “You were a menace and a crazy bastard before Laura came into our lives and now that she is gone, you are back to the old day
HAYLEE~~I still haven’t gotten over the shock of hearing Alpha King Xalen tell Princess Sophia that she would be apologizing to me. I mean, I thought he would cut out my tongue as soon as he caught me reprimanding his daughter.But Instead of that, he asked her to apologize and just as I began to think about his parenting skills, I heard the sassy Princess say to the so-called Cruel Alpha King– a man who was feared far and wide, “I would do no such thing.”My gasp was swallowed by the louder ones from outside the burial chambers. The chambers were built in a way that everyone could see the inside of the chambers even if they were outside and the space was big enough for twenty people to stay by the late Queen’s side. Even in her death, she was loved. As harmless as that seemed, it made my heart hurt but I quickly pushed myself to focus on the scene before me… between the Alpha King and his daughter. Princess Sophia has his eyes but aside from that she looked like her late mom.
ALPHA KING XALEN~~A new lunar month without my Laura. I couldn't even hold her cold body anymore as she was buried last month and I have been living under the same roof with the girl the moon goddess sickly assumed would replace my Luara.I was staring at the moon and somehow, it was mocking me. “We usually do this with Laura,” Theo whispered into my mind, causing my heart to clench painfully. Would I ever get over her? I hope not. I hope I never forget how much I loved her and still love her. I hope she remains a part of my life for as long as I live.“She would have tried to count the stars a million times since we got here,” Theo mentioned another core memory. I smiled despite the ache in my heart. “And she would have called Sophia and Asher to join us. I would be rubbing her belly and speaking to Jodie…” I mentioned, describing the beautiful past without missing a single detail. Nothing about the present was beautiful. After Sophia ran out of the burial chamber last mont
HAYLEE~~It all happened so fast. One minute, I sighed, realizing that it was a bad idea to wait in the living room for him after putting the kids to bed. I should have been sleeping but I waited because I couldn't continue to live as I had lived for the past month. I mean, I had gotten used to holding Jodie’s weight, hearing her cries, and also taking care of the two other royal babies that had been trapped in a world without their mother. However, I haven't gotten used to the unexplainable pain on the inside of me. The pain has been growing ever since we left the late Queen's burial chamber that night. It was almost as if that night marked the birth of some kind of magnetic force between the Alpha King and me and each time he pulled away, tugging at the force, I got to feel the pain tearing me from within…. I didn't want to live like that anymore. It was too painful and even Liya was losing it gradually. I could lose my wolf and myself all because of the cursed bond between
ALPHA KING XALEN~~“What did you just do!” Theo exclaimed, groaning right after as raw pain consumed us both even though the slave had stopped talking.My body trembled as shock shook my core, making me wonder. I mean, how on earth did this happen? How is that possible? While I tried to fathom what just happened with the slave, Theo yelled at me again, “What did you just do, Xalen?”“I knocked her the fuck out. That’s what!” I groaned, my entire body aching with no explainable source of pain. “Why would you do that? You were this close to killing her.” My wolf lashed out at me, snarling within my mind.“I wasn’t even trying to kill her and why are you blaming me when I just saved us from feeling any more pain!” I growled right back, looking down at the slave’s unconscious body. A few seconds again, she had fallen into my arms but I was quick to drop her as her skin burned mine like a hot rock.“Knocking her out doesn’t help. We can still feel the pain and as soon as she wakes up
ALPHA KING XALEN~~“I get that you are smitten, Xalen, but this isn’t logical,” Roy grumbled as we left the palace, walking side by side.“I am smitten but see no reason why this isn’t logical,” I responded as I opened my mind, finding the connection between my mind and Wyatt’s so I could ask him to meet Roy and me on the northern border.Haylee’s words echoed in my mind even though I had just left her in the palace with my overly excited kids and Flavia and Allison, but I wasn’t worried because I knew Haylee could defend herself.“Be careful out there and don’t involve anyone you can’t trust, Xalen. I need this to be true, not just to prove to the realm that you are a reliable King but also to confirm that I am not going insane.”Those were Haylee’s words. Even though I didn’t understand why she mentioned insanity, I knew better than to trust just anyone with the possible location of my traitorous uncle.Roy scoffed, snapping me out of my thoughts and taking my mind off Haylee. Sad
HAYLEE~~That was unexpected.Allison choosing to walk away instead of picking to create a scene like she always does was unexpected, but I didn’t think much about it because I assumed she was still in shock.“She would never have thought you and Xalen would show up marked. Did you see her face?” Liya let out a wolfish chuckle in my mind, making fun of Allison as she walked away.I did see her face, and it was so damn funny.I was prepared to stand up against her and drag her through the mud if needed, but she had to ruin that for me by choosing to walk away. However, knowing her, I would most likely get more chances to pay her back with the same coin of humiliation that I got from her.After Allison left, Xalen settled at the head of the table, and he was served breakfast by one of the servants. They were all looking at me or at least sneaking peeks. I could perceive Maeve, Orla, and Benita in the hall even though I wasn’t looking at them.I was certain Benita would find me after
Princess Allison’s POV~~“You dare not, Allison! You dare not accept defeat,” Nala growled within me, seizing the wheel as soon as she sensed me giving up.It was safe to say that Nala had to become the authoritative wolf she used to be before we agreed to work on this together… before I asserted my dominance over her.As my body trembled, I queried, “What am I supposed to do now, Nala? If he could mark her even after I showed him the damn results, what could I do that would stop this craziness?”He would make her his queen.It was crystal clear that nothing I did would change Xalen’s mind. How the hell did she even come to terms with the fact that I was carrying her mate’s child? If I were in Haylee’s shoes, I wouldn’t let Xalen touch me or even breathe the same air as me.But somehow, Haylee forgave him, and they completed the bond.Dammit!I could see tears trickling down my cheeks in a minute because my eyes stung painfully as I watched Xalen pull out the chair opposite mine an
Princess Allison’s POV (16)~~When I found out from Benita that Haylee wasn’t in her bedroom, I immediately knew she would be with King Xalen. At first, I was furious because I slept peacefully, believing that my pregnancy result would stomp on any conflict resolution those two were working on when I walked in on them last night.However, I saw an opportunity, and I seized it.Of course, I didn’t know what had happened between those two while they spent the night together, but I didn’t think much about it because I assumed that their so-called bond wouldn’t survive the night.How I wished I knew just how wrong I was.But I didn’t know. However, I did consider the possibility of the duo finding their way back to each other, which was why I ruffled Sophia’s feathers the second she and Asher walked into the dining hall with Flavia, who I found out was Roy’s mate.As far as Flavia and Roy were concerned, good riddance to bad rubbish.I didn’t care about them, and even though they caught
ALPHA KING XALEN~~What a night!I thought to myself, holding Haylee even closer while she snored softly. She was still asleep, but I was awake but couldn’t get myself to move out of bed or take my hands off her.It was a miracle that I hadn’t woken her up, in fact.When I went to find her yesterday, I didn’t know the day would end this way. I didn’t know we would be lying in bed, naked as the day we were born and completely tied together like the soulmates that we were.As I closed my eyes for the millionth time since I woke up, I thought to myself, “This is worth fighting for, and I will fight for us for the rest of my life.”I knew Haylee wanted to fight for the throne and for everyone in the pack, but I wouldn’t hesitate to stop that fight if it posed a threat to what we had here. This beautiful thing we had going on for us.This was peaceful and—A loud bang on my bedroom door smashed the peace I thought I could enjoy for another hour or two. Fuck! I jinxed it, didn’t I?I was
HAYLEE~~If I thought what Xalen and I did at first was lovemaking, I was wrong because with the mate bond completed, every feeling intensified tenfold. Every touch had me whimpering for more, and I lost count of the number of orgasms that I reached in that single night.Each sensation coursed through me like a live wire, electrifying every nerve within me.The world around us faded quickly, leaving just the two of us tangled together, our breathing heavy and synchronized.Xalen’s hands roamed my body like a map, exploring every curve and dip that I never knew I had, as if he were discovering uncharted territory. With every kiss, every whisper of his name, and every slow, precise thrust of his waist, I felt the barrier I’d built around my heart melting away, leaving me vulnerable yet incredibly alive.The completed bond was palpable, igniting a fire within Xalen and me—a fire I never knew existed. It felt as though we were merging into one, our souls intertwining in a dance that wa
ALPHA KING XALEN~~In whatever form it comes, rejection kicks harder than a million warriors.I would know because it seemed like I had been rejected by Haylee even though we just shared a very passionate and intimate moment. I tried to pour my emotions through the bond while I made love to her gently because I believed that was the only way I could share what I was feeling with her.I believed she would heal fully and finally admit or confess that she loved me, but that didn’t happen.Instead, she couldn’t say it back to me when I muttered, “I love you,” to her.And just when I thought time was all she needed, the mark I bit into her neck practically faded into thin air. Not even a small scar was left behind. Yes, she asked me to mark her, but even though I was against it at first, I gave it my all.The idea of her standing before the elders, wearing my mark, felt so damn good.But I guess that wouldn’t happen, not when her body wouldn’t keep my mark.“Seriously? This is what you
HAYLEE~~It felt so good.Xalen’s body on mine and his arms around me felt so good. His scent invaded my nostrils as he lowered his lips to kiss me deeply, and, goddess, the taste of him! I could feel his masculine, musky taste on my tongue.My needy moans blended perfectly with his deep, growl-like groans.I had no choice but to be vulnerable in Xalen’s arms. He was bigger and physically stronger than I was, and even though I had this dangerous energy source within me, I still felt like a woman in his arms.He was soft and careful, but even his soft touches didn’t prepare me for the sharp pain that I felt when Xalen tried to push his length into me. He was a very big man, and I was a tall, small woman who had never been penetrated before.“We don’t have to do this tonight, Hay,” Xalen muttered into my ear, holding me tightly.Hell, no!I wanted this. I was soaking wet. In fact, I was dripping, and the pain was inevitable. “We have to because I want to, Xay. Make me a woman. Make m
HAYLEE~~What difference will that make?Maybe I would have stopped to ask myself that question if my core wasn’t throbbing in ways I have gotten accustomed to, all because of Xalen. Meeting him, living with him, accepting the bond, sleeping by his side, and having his mouth all over me has ripped off the seal of my sexual self, and I loved it.Although the act of bathing Xalen wouldn’t change a thing, I wanted to do it for the sake of my sanity. I couldn’t perceive Allison on him, but bathing him would help me wash my mind off the heartbreaking scene that had decided to make my mind a home.As long as my mind keeps taking me back to that moment, I won’t make it past holding Xalen's hands before I pull back.And I couldn’t let that happen, not if I wanted his mark.Anxiety and desire mixed to become one strong emotion within me as Xalen led me to his new bedroom. I noticed the room was plain and almost empty when we stepped into it, but it wasn’t surprising because Xalen hasn’t bee