ALANA“Are you happy now? Is this what you really want to happen? To see your own family who nurtured you throughout the whole of your existence beg for their lives back?! Is this what you really want, Alana?!”I just looked at my stepmother from where I was standing in front of the office while she’s down on her knees beside the door.She decided to camp here the whole day starting yesterday to beg me to let Sophia go. She wants all the people in the state to know how hard my heart is by kneeling outside and without anything to eat and drink. I don’t really think she can last for another day given her penchant for fancy food. I heard she also asked dad to beg with her but the alpha cannot take to do that because of his pride.“You did not nurture me, Minerva. You abused me. You, Sophia, and my own father.”There’s a shake in my voice while saying that I am actually pretty handling it well so it’s almost non-existent.Every day that I am trying to get the justice that I deserve with t
ALANA“Cain, take your hands off the ambassadress!”Lucas’ angry voice thundered across the room as I felt my dizziness going away knowing that Cain knew what William wanted to hide in the first place. I blinked my eyes to drive the shaky feeling and to focus my eyes on the two eager men in front of me.Lucas pushed Cain away and looked at me protectively. “Hey Lucas, no need to be harsh. I was just talking with Alana.”I saw Lucas hide me behind his back like what William always does for me. “You are harassing her already! I’m not going to let that happen. She is the ambassadress!”Cain grinned at the beta. “Really, Lucas? Is Alana really just an ambassadress?”His voice holds a lot of meaning in it and I could only surmise about what it is. Pulling up my neckline to hide the mark on my neck, I silently blamed myself. If I was only careful enough, then he would not know about William’s secret.“You are talking nonsense, Cain,” Lucas replied in a flat tone. “The alpha prince has not
ALANAI looked at Cain with a bated breath waiting for his response at William’s direct threat towards him.An array of emotions crossed his face. Anger, envy, and then back to mischief.“Alpha prince, you know I have nothing against you. I just discovered your secret accidentally and I do not intend to tell the alpha king about it. I am not some kind of a kiss and tell man. I respect you, William.”He even smiled at the alpha prince who stood as stoic and cold as him. “But I don’t respect you, Cain. Not at all.”Blinking my thoughts away, I raised my eyes at William who sounded a little too different for me. I always witness him acting all harsh and cruel to any man who comes at me but this time, it’s really different. Like there is something without me in the equation.Cain put his hands on the pockets and chuckled, fueling William’s annoyance of him. “Why? Have you still not forgotten about it? I did not take you as a man who harbors longing and regrets.”He glanced at me as if he
ALANA“I didn't do it. Dad, I swear I did not do it!” I said right away when I entered the alpha’s office. “I can never do that to anyone. I am not the one who poisoned Sophia.”“Why would I believe you when I know you came back here to kill us all!?” He gripped my chin and looked at me savagely. “You are a child without any remorse at all! I raised you up! I let you eat my hard-earned food! I let you sleep in my house even though I do not have the responsibility to do so and now you are going to do this to my daughter! You have no shame, Alana!”“I can never attempt to kill anyone! I am not like that! Even after the abuse I experienced in your hands, I never thought of killing you all. All I want is for you to suffer and to reflect from all the evil things you did to me!” My voice broke along the way. “All I want is to hear apologies from you. Is it really that hard to do that?”I thought his heart will melt, that he will still find it in his heart to understand me but there is reall
ALANAI tossed and turned in my bed trying to find a good position to sleep but I cannot really find it. Finally, when I was exhausted from forcing myself to close my eyes, I sighed and sat down in my bed. There are just so many things going in my head right now.Sophia is still unconscious in the hospital and everyone in the mansion is blaming me for what happened to her. Rumors of me poisoning her circulate in the entire village that even the kids that I always visit in the outskirts are not coming out of their houses to meet me.“It’s okay,” I said to myself. “It’ll all be okay. Eventually, the truth will come out too. For now, I really need to sleep.”Hugging the pillow, I went out of the room silently and tiptoed across the hallway towards the end where William’s room is located.I did not dare to knock. He told me that every night, he keeps his door open for me in case I need something from him or I can’t fall asleep.I pushed the door open and entered the room where I immediate
WILLIAMI let out a harsh sigh before I palmed my face hard and stared at the space. Alana has lost her consciousness during our lovemaking because I was not able to control myself.I did not give her much consideration knowing that she is a virgin. I let myself be selfish because I want her so much that I ended up massively hurting her and now I don’t know how to face her anymore.I can’t even look at her face in shame when Francine and the doctors began treating her in my room that I have to exit.“I really hurt her,” I said in a low voice. “I forced myself with her, Francine.”She just looked at me from the other side of the door in silence.“But I know I did not do it intentionally. I lost my control in bed. I should have been gentler and careful but I still hurt her. We are mates, Francine. Are we not compatible?”She stood up and tapped my head like a drum just like what she used to do to me when I was young when I got frustrated every time I failed to win against my combat instr
ALANA“Ambassadress, Madam Sophia has been discharged already from the hospital. Are we going to lock her up back into the basement?”I tapped my ballpen on the desk while trying to make sense of what happened last night. According to my research and Francine, something must have gone awry in the process. It was supposed to hurt but not really to hurt it like that as if I was being stabbed in my heart.“No,” I shook my head. “It was just not nothing. I shouldn’t be thinking about it that much.”“Ambassadress?” the woman asked again.I gasped and looked at the waiting servant. “Sorry, what was it again?”I was too distracted about my thoughts that I forgot that I was talking with someone.“Madam Sophia has gotten out of the hospital already, ambassadress. What do we do with her? Should we get her to bring her back to the basement?”“No, just let her be for now. Where is she?”“She’s at her room now, ambassadress.”I stood up. “Take me to her.”I did not enter her room and just looked a
ALANAI almost dropped the phone from my hand when I heard that.My mate, the alpha prince is already getting married?I gasped for air and I leaned on the seat to afford some courage for myself. I felt my heart breaking into pieces at the sudden news. I wanted to cry this instant but I am concerned about what these people around me would say and react. I don’t want any more rumors about me to encircle the mansion anymore.And so, I sat there and acted like I was not shook inside but I know Francine already caught about it. She knows that something is wrong already.“I will do what I can do, alpha king,” I replied in a flat tone.“Thank you, Alana. We had a truce with that young man. If he does not find his mate this year, then we will be the one who will find a wife for him. We already found one for him because he is not giving us any hint that he has found his mate. The alpha prince has been aware about it right from the very start. I’ve already given him the invitation and the gues
ALANAI am tightly clutching the hem of my white wedding dress in front of the mirror staring at my own reflection.A woman of substance full of happiness and fulfillment stared right back.Lifting a finger, I caressed the reflection and smiled at myself. “You have come a really long way, Alana. Tonight, your dream will happen. William is really going to make true of his promise.Before his proposal, we had traveled the world together seeing things and places that he wanted to let me witness. Every word that he told me he would, he did for me.“Mother, father, I just wish you were here with me to see how happy I am,” I wished and hugged myself. “I wish you were here with me to walk me down the aisle to be married into the most wonderful man in the state.”As if on cue, a gust of wind blew and hugged me right then and there.I closed my eyes and savored the sensation. The wind whispered love and sadness but the love overrode the other.“We are so proud of you, our daughter,” said the co
WILLIAMThe moon is high above the clouds in the night sky bursting into the clearest lights as if it’s also getting married to the sun illuminating the palace down where a great wedding is happening.I kept on wiping off the sweat on my brow and clearing my mouth because it’s as dry as the desert.I was full of nerves and I can’t think straight anymore. I kept on asking the staff if Alana is still in her room just to make sure that she will be really marrying me. I’ve been here in the venue which is the beautiful garden in front of the great statue of the moon goddess three hours earlier just to make sure.“William, what the hell are you doing here this early?” My mother asked in confusion, still in her robe.She just got down here to oversee the whole preparation, to make sure everything is perfect.“The ceremony will start three hours from now. Please go back to your room now, William.”But I firmly shook my head at her. Being in my room only made me more nervous that is why I came
WILLIAMMy nerves are killing me but I am more determined than ever to pop her the question. Wiping the glistening off my brows, I looked at the mirror practicing what I am going to say.This is the most nerve-wracking moment of my lifetime. Not even those battles and wars I have been to could be compared.“Alpha prince, Ms. Alana is already awake. And the cake is ready too.”Swallowing the lump in my throat, I glanced at myself in the mirror before heading out to the kitchen to take the cake that I baked last night and asked the soldiers to guard all night so no one would be able to compromise its safety.“Okay, William. You can do it. You can do it! No!”I tripped on the cable and stone on the ground and before I knew it, the cake flew to the air and ended up on the ground.Smashed. The dirt eating up the white filling and the words on top of them being buried into non-existence.“No!” I growled, my eyes wide in bitterness and sadness.The cake suffered the same fate as the balloons
ALANAWarm arms enveloped me from the back as his scent embraced me.“What are you thinking? Hmm?” William asked, nuzzling his nose against my bare shoulder.I was on the balcony, enjoying the fresh breeze on a full moon night, my mind wandering towards Francine.After William came back to life, the alpha king and the queen luna threw a feast which was still ongoing in the entire palace while William chose to pull me into his room to have his own sweet wicked ways on me.Not that I am complaining though. This is what I want. To be with him and to savor each second of our lives together.I intertwined our fingers on my stomach and tilted my head to my side, leaning into his chest on my back to give his mouth a better access to my neck.Love making is not painful anymore and the remnant of the monster inside me is almost gone, especially when I am in William’s arms. Controlling anger seems to be easier now. The feeling of seeing red in my eyes is also gone now.Everything seemed to be f
ALANA“Alana…” he called my name with his raspy low voice as if trying to figure out if I am real or not.I just stood there, in so much awe at the truth that he is finally back to me. William is alive! William has come back to life. He is back to me! William has come back from the dead for me.With trembling hands, I placed a hand on his cheek relishing the warmth in it. I am trying to convince myself to believe that this heat is going to be there for years while trying to forget that for once, I held his cold body in my arms.“You are back to me, William,” I said in a trance, my mouth breaking up into a smile of relief. “William, you have really come back for me!”In a split of a second, I pulled him ever gently in my arms, careful with his limbs, scared that once I blink, I would just wake up from this dream. “Alana?” he called for my name but I did not respond.Burying my face on his neck, I inhaled his scent. It’s warm and intoxicating just like all the moments that we have been
ALANAI gazed at Francine and felt shiver run down my spine. Why does she look so happy as if she’s been anticipating death all her life? Sure, there is pain but the happiness in her face is remarkable.“Come on, Alana,” she urged me again and put my hand on top of William’s. “Child, you are going to do me so much favor if you are just going to listen to me and do what I will be telling you. Call for William’s name over and over again. He already heard you. You already took his attention and now it’s time for him to go back to you. Do it, Alana. Please, this old maid is begging you.”My mouth downturned because of emotions pouring in as I clenched William’s hand.“But if I am going to do that, then I am going to lose you, Francine,” I said as my voice crackled.She just laughed it off and wiped the tears on my face. “But you are going to gain back, William. He is going to be alive again, Alana. He is going to fulfill his promise to you. You are going to get married and have lost of ki
ALANAI clenched my hands around William’s when I realized what was happening.My tears fell but I did not open my eyes and continued calling for William’s name.“My love… William, it’s me, Alana. Please, come back to me, my love. Please, fulfill your promise to me.”The stench of more fresh blood coming from Francine assaulted my senses but I continued shutting my eyes even when all I wanted to do is to stop it all.“Alana, do not stop calling for his name. William needs you now. Please, I can almost sense him. I can see him now. Please, call for his name again.”I let out a sigh and called his name over and over again. The hand for which I am holding ever so tightly started to have life again.My heart leaped, rejoicing because maybe, he is finally going to be alive again but all of that happiness went away when I heard the grunt of pain in Francine’s voice.It took all of strength in me and mental fortitude to let go of William’s hand and opened my eyes at her.Truly enough, I coul
ALANA“But your William is different. Way way different from all of them, Alana. He is the single person I met who can easily surrender his precious life for someone he loves. Back when he was a child, I doubted if he could ever do something for you because he tended to be selfish but I was wrong. He magically changed for the better when he began yearning for his mate.”She slowly rose up from the floor and offered me her hand with a bright smile on her face. “Alana, that’s the precise reason why I was here in this world. That is my purpose for living. I could live on and on for hundreds of years looking for someone like you and William and now is the perfect time. Child, you both did not disappoint me.”I accepted her hand while staring at her face, disenchanted by the happiness in her voice.She slowly led me to William and held the white cloth to remove it.“Francine!” I stopped her from doing what she intended to do. “What are you doing?”But she just smiled at me and assured me w
ALANA“Ahh!” I let out a growl as my tears and pain drowned me again.“Tell me, Francine,” my voice croaked as I tightly held her hand. “Am I really worth it? Does someone like me, an abandoned person who was hated by everyone I know, deserve someone like the alpha prince who’s loved by everyone? I should have been the one who died! It should be my body lying cold there because my existence in this world is abominable! It should have been me! Why does he have to save me when I am the monster that should have not been born in the first place!”Gentle hands wrapped around my face, wiping my tears slowly. “Alana, you are not a monster. You are asking me if you are worthy enough to be saved by the alpha prince, then it’s a yes, Alana. William did not hesitate to save you because he loved you. Sacrifice is the most noble thing a man can do to his woman.”She smiled at me and cupped my face again. “It’s a life worth living for him because he has met and loved you and you loved him back. He