A look of confusion appeared on his face as he looked at me. With a sigh, and in a strangled voice, Alpha Cyrus said. "I can't accept you as my mate."
Three Days Ago
"You can have her." My stepfather's voice was a strained whisper. He avoided my eyes and adjusted his position on the stool he sat on.
My mother said nothing to object; she never opposed anything he did even when it was going to kill her. I sucked in a sharp breath and continued to stare at her, waiting for her intervention.
She looked at me, and then at her feet. "Agnes, please make this sacrifice. For the sake of your siblings."
I always thought I knew what betrayal was, until this very day. The porcelain tea jug I was holding clattered to the ground, hot tea spilling on my legs, and the shards flying about.
"Mother?" I questioned, still not believing it.
My father had been killed when he worked in a coal mine. It was not murder per se, but the working conditions were poor for such little pay. We barely had enough to survive on, and his health began to deteriorate with no money for treatment.
When I was about seven years of age, he passed on.
My mother was relatively young then and age had not kissed her beauty away. She had met Judas a few months later. He was youthful with great ambitions and a rebellious spirit, not following the footsteps of his father in politics but had decided to be a tradesman. Importing around the world.
They got married within that same year and I liked him. He was nice, and compassionate and constantly brought gifts home for me which made me happy. Although, he could never replace my father. Along the line, the twins came. It was a rollercoaster of chaos because Judas's father had died and it was revealed that despite the extravagant lifestyle they lived, his parents were in a load of debt.
Judas used all of his savings to settle his father's creditors to prevent harassment.
Since then, Judas's attitude had changed. At first, it was negligible. I understood he no longer had money for gifts. What I did not understand was why he made my mom work immediately after her pregnancy. He no longer had his youthful spirit and the zeal to trade. He relapsed into a lazy shell; sitting at home all the time and waiting for dinner.
Gone were the days he would be out early in the morning on the market days, and home in time for supper. Gone were the weekends when he made breakfast for the family.
He would simply wake up and sit on his wooden recliner chair, old newspapers in his hand while drinking strange concoctions.
He became needy, asking my mother to make sure she provided certain things for him. One morning he asked her to buy the crossed buns from the bakery and when she said she did not have the money for it, he beat her. After that, he brought out a jewelry piece he had gotten for her and asked her to sell it and then use the money for it.
He apologized for it later that night, but his attitude did not change. If she refused him, he would beat her and then sell her belongings.
Maybe that was the reason why my mother never questioned his decisions or instructions.
"For the sake of your siblings," my mother repeated. "Give them a chance at a better life."
"How long have you had this planned?" My voice broke as I asked the question. "Or is this a shock to you too?"
My mother did not respond.
"Are you agreeing to this because you do not want to offend him?" I asked, tears streaming down my face. "Because you are scared of—"
"You will live a good life. Probably even better than your siblings will if you make this sacrifice," it was my stepfather who spoke. The coward was still avoiding my eyes.
"A good life? As a slave?"
"You are not just anyone's slave," my mother commented wryly. "I have helped you pack your bag." There was finality in her tone. "If the young master is ready to leave, then get your things and follow him."
I settled my teary gaze upon the man. He was relaxed and his expression was unreadable. His black hair was casually tousled back and almost touching his shoulder. He had a chiseled face and incredible jawlines.
"Why are you staring at me?" He asked in a cool voice.
I said nothing in response, allowing myself to be mesmerized by his strange and somewhat scary eyes. They were green but occasionally flashed with an orange glow— it was not humanlike. The aura he gave off was not pleasant. Everything about him screamed dangerous and that I should stay away, but how exactly was I as a slave supposed to stay away from one's master?
"Get your things, I am ready to leave."
With a nod, I walked into the room I shared with my younger sister. Her twin brother was present as well and they both had looks of sorrow on their faces as they gazed at my bags which were truly packed.
"Agnes, mother said you are leaving us."
"It is only for a little while," I lied with a smile looking at their innocent faces.
"I can't imagine what it will be like without you here," Gertrude sobbed. I pulled her into an embrace and wiped her tears. She looked up at me with her hazel-doe eyes, "Why are you leaving with that man? Are you getting married?"
I smiled wryly and ruffled her hair, not answering the question. Won't it have been better if I were sold into marriage? I thought to myself. "I'll see you guys soon."
Picking up my bags, I walked back to the living room where the man stood behind my stepfather. He acknowledged me with a cool smile and a sinister grin. I raised my eyebrows and gasped as he brought out a dagger and stabbed my stepfather's neck. "I don't take it lightly with those who betray their family members.”
“What the hell?” I exclaimed, rushing at him. My stepfather lay limp on the chair, blood gushing out of his neck in a mad frenzy. He held my hands which had been raised to attack him. “Let us be on our way.”He began to drag me away but I resisted, looking behind me at my mother who still sat, her eyes emotionless as she stared at her husband's dead body.“He has children,” I cried as we stepped out into the open. My mind was a chaotic haven for emotions I could not recognize. I did not even know how I felt about the death of someone who betrayed me. Judas had been good to me once upon a time and I was not going to forget it. “He doesn't deserve them,” the man said coldly. “They need their father!” I exclaimed, exasperated. “How do you think they will react to seeing their father's dead body with a dagger to his neck?""I did not leave my dagger in his neck." This man has the guts to flash me a smile. "This is pure silver, too expensive to be left in the body of filth.""You are un
There was only one probable explanation. I was living in a dream, a funny and terrifying one. "N-n-northern wolves?" "Yes," Cyrus said, then acknowledged the man in front. "Theo, has the crisis been averted?""Considerably so. We reached a compromise.""They should know better than to mess with us," snarled Cyrus. "Greedy pests," he hissed."Who is she?" "Ah, my new slave. I paid a fine price for her.""Again? A fine price? For a human? Those lowly backstabbing creatures?" He asked with raised eyebrows."Yes.""You have an obsession." The man named Theo gave a tight smile and let out an exasperated breath. "Let's hope this one survives," he whistled then turned to me. "And you are?""Agnes." I ignored the hand he had out to shake me. "What do you mean by your statement?""What statement?" He asked, his hands still hanging out, waiting for a handshake that was never going to come."Let's hope this one survives?""Oh, it was nothing," he responded airily. "And it is not polite to lea
"Oh please," I scoffed. "The job was done. You had your tea the way you liked it. Why should it matter who made the tea?""I am telling you that in future, I will not tolerate such." It was when he said this, that I noticed he had taken off his tailcoat and his shirt was unbuttoned. I looked away quickly. "Oh, how nice!" I exclaimed, my voice laced with sarcasm. "Maybe in the future, you should get someone to train me to do certain tasks that I am not used to doing.""What have I told you about respect?" He stood up coolly and walked to my front. I took a step back and he moved forward. "I am the Alpha of this pack. Your master," he hissed. With shaky legs, I moved backward until I was against the wall. Previously, I had a comeback for everything he had to say but suddenly, his aura felt too intimidating and I could not respond. He leaned against me, his angry eyes boring deep into my soul, daring me to defy him. I whimpered slightly, trying to shrink into the wall behind me. His
Agnes POVCyrus did not return until hours later. At first, I had been bored to death and roamed around the palace, trying to explore places of my own. I had initially considered escaping from this place but it was not worth it. We had spent two days on the road and I was sure it was not a journey I could make on my own if I intended to return home. From what I had speculated, there was no safer place here than the palace. The neighboring city belonged to the Southern Wolves and that zone was not human friendly. Stepping one foot in there meant I was going to die and never see my siblings again. They were the only family I wanted to return to. Midway into my wandering, I stumbled upon a large building that happened to be the library and I had picked up a book that told the story of how werewolves came to be. I had been so intrigued by reading about their history, culture, and ceremonies that I did not notice how much time had gone by. One thing that intrigued me the most about the w
Agnes POV I was taken aback at first but it did not take me long to recover. Mate. But that was not possible. That much I knew he was right about or at least from the books I’d read in the library, we could not be mates. That only happened between werewolves of which I was not. I looked at him and I could see that his confusion was genuine. He could feel something deeply that I felt only vaguely. “Leave, Agnes, Leave!” He barked but I could not bring myself to. Everything around me felt like a haze. It was as though my body was not mine and it refused to believe that I had just been rejected by an Alpha. “I I want to… I can't…” I struggled to say. He looked at me alarmed, cleared his throat and I saw him try to stand up from the bath but he could not either. It was as though a force stronger than us was pinning us down. Whatever it was, we were powerless against it. “You're a witch. That is the only explanation and I swear…” but he could not talk and in panic, I rushed forwar
Cyrus POV I could not comprehend what had happened to me just last night. There was no explanation for it. I could not even get one because I was the Alpha. I was supposed to know everything. The only people I could confide in were perhaps the priest and Theo but even at that they were still my subordinates and my ego could not suffer injury. However, I had never read in any literature that the moon goddess would gift a werewolf, especially an Alpha, a human as a mate. I was in a fix. The only explanation I could think of was that Agnes was a witch; she had to be. But still admitting that a witch could cloud my senses and pretend to be my mate would be exposing a weakness and I could not let that happen. “Your Majesty? You are very distracted about something, do you mind sharing?” It was Theo at our daily meetings in the morning. I had ruminated about the possibility of Agnes being my mate or a witch all night and I still had no answers. “What? I… I am alright Theo. I think
“And why should that cause problems?” I asked with a raise of my brows. “Well… he is the son of Lord—”“I heard you clearly the first time,” I told Theo in a cool voice. “Are you trying to tell me to pardon him because he is a Lord's son?”“Not at all I—”“You know what this tells me? His father needs to be investigated too,” I said, cutting him off. “After all, the apple never falls far from the tree.”“I understand your point Cyrus but what I was trying to convey is that the people love Lord Salmon, doing that to his son—”“Conduct an investigation on the Lord and prepare a trial. It should be held by this evening. Make sure you have secured all evidence against the governor.”“Which one should be held this evening? The trial only right?” Theo asked to be sure. "Yes!" I said in an exasperated tone. "If you'll excuse me, I have things to do.""We have other matters to discuss—""Save it for later!" I snapped, striding away towards my study. From just a few meters away, I could perc
Agnes' POV"What the hell have you done to me? What dark powers are you using on me?" Cyrus' eyes no longer held a burning desire for me. I could see unveiled hatred and rage in his eyes. They had become a violent storm of green gradually changing into a bright orange colour."What the hell have you done?" He roared, grabbing me by my throat. "I-i" I began to stammer, too flustered by what went on minutes ago and too stunned by his sudden change in attitude. "I shan't repeat myself! Answer me!""I don't know what you're talking about," I finally managed to say. He stares at me in a deadpan manner and suddenly grabs my wrist, dragging me away from the table and towards the door. It didn't take long before I found myself being led through a musty corridor that had moldy walls which was dimly lit by torches. I could hear screams of anguish in every direction making fear to grip my heart. "Where are you taking me?" I managed to ask. He ignored me and he finally stopped in front of a
It had been two years since Cyrus and Agnes got married in the enchanted garden. Their love had only grown stronger with each day. The palace was always filled with laughter and joy, all thanks to them. This morning, the sun shone softly, making everything look golden and magical.Agnes, with her big pregnant belly, was relaxing in their bedroom on a comfy chaise lounge. She was gently rubbing her belly, feeling the little kicks and movements from inside. They were both so excited to meet their twins soon.Cyrus walked in and immediately noticed Agnes. Despite her being tired from the pregnancy, she still looked beautiful. He went over to her, knelt down, and kissed her belly tenderly."Good morning, my love," he said softly. "And good morning to our little ones."Agnes smiled, her eyes sparkling with love. "Good morning, Cyrus. They've been really active this morning."Cyrus laughed quietly and put his hand on her belly. "Seems like they're eager to meet us."He gave her belly one la
The day of the wedding dawned with a golden glow, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a warm, ethereal light over the palace grounds. The garden, which had been the site of Cyrus’s heartfelt proposal, had been transformed into an even more magical place. An archway covered in climbing roses marked the entrance, their petals a delicate blend of white and blush pink.Rows of chairs draped in ivory fabric lined the pathway leading to the grand gazebo, which was adorned with cascading flowers and soft, billowing curtains. The air was filled with the intoxicating scent of jasmine and lavender, mingling with the sweet fragrance of roses. Lanterns hung from the trees, their light flickering gently in the morning breeze, adding a touch of enchantment to the setting.Inside the palace, Agnes stood before a full-length mirror, her heart fluttering with excitement and nerves. The seamstress had outdone herself with the gown, creating a masterpiece that made Agnes fe
Cyrus has decided he was going to propose to Agnes and this time not as Agatha, but for who she really was; Agnes. Every detail had been meticulously planned. The garden, a secluded and serene spot within the palace grounds, had been transformed into a romantic haven. Lanterns hung from the trees, casting a soft, golden glow, and a pathway of rose petals led to a small gazebo draped in sheer, white curtains. The sound of a gentle stream nearby added to the enchanting atmosphere.Cyrus made his way to the garden, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Theo, walked beside him, offering silent support. They exchanged a brief nod before Theo slipped away, leaving Cyrus to await Agnes's arrival.Cyrus had informed Eunice, Adrianna, and a few other ladies of his decision. So the ladies had deceived Agnes there was going to be a tea in one of the palace gardens. Only for those with high class. Eunice had told Agnes that she was only heading the other slaves in prepari
Theophilus stood at the edge of the clearing, observing the scene before him. The war had left this part of the kingdom in shambles, but now, with peace restored, the arduous process of rebuilding had begun. The air was thick with the scent of earth and freshly turned soil as workers unearthed the entrances to the underground shelters where the people had sought refuge during the conflict.He walked through the village, greeting the townsfolk who were emerging from their subterranean hideouts. The once desolate and war-torn area was now a hive of activity. Men and women toiled side by side, lifting beams, hammering nails, and repairing the damage. Children, their faces smeared with dirt, played amidst the construction, their laughter a hopeful sign of better days to come.Theophilus paused at the entrance of one of the larger shelters, admiring the ingenuity and resilience of his people. The structure, hidden beneath a thick layer of earth and foliage, had provided safety and refuge d
Lady Asher's screams echoed through the dimly lit chambers of the southern palace, the sound waves reverberating off the stone walls. Sweat drenched her body, soaking through the linen sheets as she clung to the bedposts, her strength waning with each contraction. The midwives hovered around her, whispering words of encouragement, their hands steady and practiced as they guided her through the agony.The air was thick with the scent of herbs—rosemary and lavender—mingling with the coppery tang of blood, a primal smell that signaled new life. King Ares paced outside the room, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and anticipation. His footsteps echoed down the corridor as he awaited the arrival of his heir. The southern palace was bathed in moonlight, casting an ethereal glow over the proceedings.The night air vibrated with tension as the kingdom held its breath, awaiting the cry of the newborn prince. And then it came—the final cry, piercing the night. King Ares rushed inside, hi
The days passed in a haze of stolen moments and whispered promises, each encounter between Ashlynn and Ares leaving her breathless and yearning for more. Her heart ached with the weight of her secret, the burden of hiding her true feelings from the world.But on a day before she was to return to Ghysem, she realized something was amiss. Her monthly blood flow had not come, and a subtle queasiness had taken up residence in her stomach. Her heart pounded as she sought out Ares, her feet carrying her to his chambers with a sense of urgency.She found him poring over maps and documents, his brow furrowed in concentration. The scent of parchment and ink filled the air, transporting her to a world of ancient tales and forgotten lore. He looked up as she entered, a smile lighting up his face, illuminating the room."Ashlynn," he said, standing and crossing the room to embrace her. His arms wrapped around her, warm and reassuring, holding her close as if he'd never let her go."What brings yo
Lad—Ashlynn,” she said in a shaky voice, her words little more than a breath. She originally had meant to say her title, Lady Asher, but there was something about the warmth Ares was giving her that made her change her mind.Ares' eyes were shown in delight. "A beautiful name for a beautiful young lady!" he exclaimed, awed by her queenly form. Her midnight locks flowed down her back like liquid ebony, highlights of chestnut shimmering in the light. Her emerald eyes were so deep, it felt as though they could look into his very spirit.Their talk had flowed along easily, as water flows along a gently inclined plain. They had said nothing for hours.Not only did Ashlynn possess ravishing beauty, but her intellect, her passion for art, and the gentle strength she exuded intrigued Ares. Her laughter was music to his ears.Ashlynn was intrigued by the layers of Ares’ personality- his intelligence, his underlying kindness beneath his mantel of dominance, and the faint glimmer of vulnerabilit
A sad smile graced Lady Asher's face. She took in a deep breath and then wiped a nonexistent tear as her mind floated back to her younger days.The tension of the war that had separated the North from the South had eased up a bit. It was not forbidden for citizens of Ghysem to venture into the South or vice versa. It was during the winter, and Lady Asher Ashlynn's husband had been sent on an errand by the king.Life was beginning to bore her, and she did not want to feel like a burden to her friend, who was queen. Usually, she would spend her whole day with her best friend, but her friend had duties to attend to, and she often felt like she was in the way.Ashlynn had seen the whole of the North, and her curiosity often made her wonder about the depths of the South. When she was a teenager and the war had happened, she had lived in the North all her life, and her dreams of visiting the South were crushed.She did not have any children, so there was nothing to stop her. It was the perf
Soldiers had been dispersed all over Ghysem and the south which has now become a part of Ghysem. They had sent word to other neighboring packs in the West and East so there was no place for Lady Asher to hide. Each day was spent in anguish and constant nightmares for Cyrus. He kept seeing himself hanging from the ceiling with a black veil on his wrist. Other times, he would see Agnes; her face contorted in pain as she swung from the ceiling, a black veil tied around her wrist and anytime he cut the rope, trying to save her it would be too late.He would end up bringing down a lifeless body.Then he would wake up, covered in sweat and panting heavily like he was fighting a physical war. Tonight was one of those nights Cyrus was drenched in his sweat. His breathing was ragged and then his hands shaky with fear. He felt around the bedside table for a lantern and a match, then struck it to flame the lantern. He sat up properly this time and looked towards where Agnes lay, to be sure she