AlanaI stirred in my sleep when I felt someone was staring at me. I am even in awe of having such a good night’s sleep. It happened for the first time because I felt safe and secure for the first time too. And the soft bed. It just feels so heavenly. I opened my eyes and the first thing that I noticed was the pair of gray eyes that were widely staring at me, almost in a state of shock as he held my face. “Is this really you, our grace?” he asked in the softest tone that I heard someone use on me. I jumped out of my place and hugged the pillow and immediately backtracked away from him not because I am scared but because of the strange feeling he’s rousing inside me.How could the eyes of this stranger speak so many emotions to me all at once?“I’m sorry,” he said when he mistakenly took my actions as a form of fear coming from me. “I just thought you are someone I know, someone I have been looking for.”My eyes widened when I realized that he has been staring at me for so long. My h
WilliamMy heart is bleeding the way she said that. She is not even imposing. She is just taking a chance at asking me such a favor made out of fear of being left behind here. Leaving her here means she will go back to that damned cell of a dungeon. And her asking me to make her my slave is a pin that struck right into my heart. How can a noble first daughter of a respected luna ever ask me this pitiful thing?My hand itched to hold her but the look in her eyes when I hugged her back then stopped me from doing it again to her. I don’t want to shock her again. “I will gladly take you with me, Alana. And no, I will not make you my slave. You are far too precious for me to do that.”Her eyes beamed and I thought I saw a smile on her face. How can someone tell me she doesn’t know how to smile when she looks this happy? “Really? Then I will be your maid then? Or will you give me up to another family who will make me my slave? Either way, that’s okay with me rather than staying here.”“No
WilliamJust as I was about to enter the hall to deliver my sentence to the alpha and his family, a man dressed in purple robe bowed down before me.“Alpha prince, I bear the message from the alpha king.”My eyes widened upon seeing a familiar face. How did a justice associate from the palace come here?“What are you doing here?” I asked in apprehension. The thought that I am going to be robbed off of the power to hand down my own judgment is killing me off. Justice being delayed for my mate is justice denied for me. “The alpha king sent me here to hand down his ruling to the case you escalated, alpha prince.”“But it is under my scope! I should be the one to judge him for his crimes! I already sent a plea to the alpha king asking him, begging him to let me have this one.”The justice looked up to me with respect. “My apologies alpha prince but I am just here to carry the alpha king’s wishes. You have a year to appeal to the ruling, alpha prince.”And then he entered the room leavin
Alana“Where am I?” I thought in my head when I stirred in my sleep and realized that I was inside a moving vehicle.Is this what they call a car?I looked outside at the view of countless trees and wondered again where I was. That’s when I realized my position. I am comfortably sitting on a lap with a pair of strong arms keeping me from falling.I froze and immediately turned around only to see William soundly sleeping. My eyes went down to his fancy clothes that looked like one of those garments I saw the royal family wearing in a photo hanging on the mansion.“William…” I said not wanting to wake him up but I guess my voice still reached him no matter how soft I spoke.“I’m sorry for waking you up…”He pulled me gently into his chest and kissed my head to my surprise. Why is this stranger doing this to me? And why don’t I feel any tiny protest in my heart? I don’t want to even push him away from me. I want his arms around me because I feel so safe in his warmth.“Alana, from now on
William“Is she settling alright in my room? Is she comfortable?” I asked Lucas after he fetched me in the hall of the alpha king where I talked with my father about the case of Alana.I did not tell him everything and I kept some details for myself until I found the root cause of it. I pleaded with him to retract his earlier decision about Alana’s father but he just dismissed me.Lucas nodded and walked with me on the side. “Yes, alpha prince. As far as I can see, she likes the room.”A smile broke out from my face. I can only imagine what her face looked like the moment she saw the bed and the dresser filled with all kinds of clothes and things fit for a noble lady like her.The thought warmed my heart and I can’t wait to see her sweet little face again. Being away from her for hours is making me feel so cranky and short-tempered.I want my mate to always be by my side no matter what because she is the only one who can cool my temper down.“Did she like how it was decorated? I spec
AlanaI immediately sprung up to my feet to open the door when I heard someone knocking. Is it William? Did he come back to see me? I haven’t seen him the whole morning and something in me is itching to see his handsome face again. I don’t have a name for this feeling but I know it felt more like a need for me to have.But when I opened the door and found a woman in her white uniform, I couldn't help but feel disappointed.It’s not William. It’s not the man I have been wanting to see first thing in the morning.“Excuse me Ms. Alana but can I ask you to please vacate the area please,” the woman said smiling from ear to ear. “We are just going to clean the alpha prince’s room. I am afraid that you are allergic to dust so we will have to ask you to come with me to the garden to get some fresh air.”That’s when I noticed a group of girls on her back with cleaning utensils in their hands.I opened the door and let them in. “I can help with the cleaning. I can do it.”Every one of them gasp
WilliamIt was a tiring day for all of us after successfully taking back a few hectares that fell into the hands of a usurper. With a little bit of intimidation and a lot of diplomacy, we were able to secure back the land into the territory.We arrived at the castle way past dawn and on top of that, I missed the king and the queen who had an early appointment abroad for a new project they were brewing.“Is she still awake, Francine?” I asked my not-so-old nanny who has been by my side since I saw the daylight of this world.She is cursed so her face will not get old but her true age ranges play around a hundred-year-old already.She can’t help but giggle beside me. Francine is just some of the people who know about the identity of Alana. I did not reveal yet to my parents that I found my mate because I want to solve her case first. I don’t want the vultures to come at her throat while she is still adjusting to palace life.“She is not. She is in your bed waiting for you,” she uttered
AlanaWhat a wonderful morning waking up and seeing the alpha prince’s face the first thing in the morning, I thought while staring hard at his handsome face.He ended up sleeping here in the room while earnestly promising me that he is an honorable man and that I have nothing to fear in him.“I am never scared of you, William. I feel more secure when you are around,” I answered him last night which made his face red. I thought he’s running a fever.And now, gazing at his perfectly chiseled face made me wish to wake up every morning with him as my first view. I also want to go to sleep at night with him as the last thing I can see.“You can give him the most precious possession you have to make him happy,” Francine advised me yesterday so I painted him.That was my act of giving myself to him because for me, the only thing nice and clean I could give him is my talent of painting things into reality.He moved in his sleep so I pretended like I was still asleep.“Good morning, Alana,” h
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