Inside the crumbling and decimated castle, the beast of black and white paced back and forth inside the rusty cage. The huge empty halls echoed with his loud and chilly growl. The beast felt her senses spinning, dizzying and bringing her to close and downright delirium. She pulled her hair as she screamed, disbelieving that she failed to kill Calleb. ‘What will the demon from the west say?’ ‘What will I do?’ ‘What can I do?!’ The sharp tips of her fingernails digged against her scalp, wounding it. As she screamed — Bathal, the beast howled along with her. His claws were sharp and had blood on the tips, the blood coming from clawing himself. "Keep quiet!!" She screamed, tears were streaming down her face as she tried to push the vision of the demon from her mind. Ursula whined and moaned as she cried, trying to forget the song that was circling in her mind. The warning of the demon. The wager. The only reason why Ursula was given so much power. ‘Kill them, kill them all. Bring t
At first, Calleb thought that his mate was joking about saving his father and killing the Wicked Witch when they were relaxing at the cliff. But the moment he saw Accashia picking up the blade from the cave where he left it, he realized how serious she was. Unsure, shocked and baffled was an understatement at that point but he had to wrap his mind around this. Because one, Accashia promised to never lie again. Two, she also did notice the changes in Accashia’s body, especially the trace of crescent mark on her forehead. “What do you mean by that, save my Father — no way? Accashia, are you serious?” He asked with a smile, his voice hinting his disbelief by its rise and fall. How tense he was. “I thought I told you that I don’t want to. That’d I’d rather disappear and build my own Kingdom — with you. And you agreed.” Accashia nodded, pursing her lips and closed her eyes, suddenly looking grim. A bit guilty. “Yes, I did agree. But — Calleb. Shaldan is yours by Birthright. And your fathe
The day before the full moon, Calleb paced back and forth in front of his mate, Accashia. His mouth was dry even though he drank bottles of water. The edge of his lips were foaming, feeling nothing but restless and edgy. His lips curled back in a snarl most of the day. Accashia wasn’t used to the change that was happening to Calleb. Because the two of them had bonded, the beast inside of Calleb became stronger. The beast inside him became more vocal. Before, Accashia could only see the wolf whenever Calleb transforms during the full moon. Twice. And the wolf inside Calleb was a bit more aggressive, always in heat — always had the urge to breed, except for the last time when Calleb promised her to be tame unless Accashia was already comfortable. Now, Accashia could hear the beast snarl even during the pre-shift. It made the young lady anxious. She was sweating bullets and her fingers were cold. She blinked rapidly as she stared at Calleb and the odd mark on his forehead. “Calleb.”
Accashia was riding Pilak as they raced towards the castle. With a fist full of fur in her hands, the young woman clings to the silver beast as he rushes through the castle. They left the house they were supposed to call home the moment Calleb had transformed. The black blade was tucked on the right side of her torso, using the remaining linens she tore from the bed of the old house to make a make-shift sheath. It’s time to attack. The full moon and the stars gave them weak streams of light that guided them through the darkness and thickets of the forest. Pilak growled as he felt they were close to the castle. Feeling the presence of the Alpha in his heart that brought him nerves. With a groan, Pilak speeds up and pushes through the thick grass. His huge paws making banging sounds against the dry ground, his fast pace sounding like a horse on a run. Accashia feels every beat of Pilak’s step, his movements reverberating against her whole body as she clings to him. “Onward!” Accashia
Accashia watches the moon in the sky, taking just a few minutes every night that the sky is clear to see it grow larger. She attacks the shadows in front of her, screaming — letting out a loud battle cry that burns against her throat. The black blade on her hand made a swooshing sound against the air as it connected with the bones of the monsters, crushing them. Accashia attacks and continuously swings her sword until the battlefield is filled with nothing but a pile of bones. The young lady heaves a sigh, letting the air fill her lungs and cool her heated body. She wipes the beads of sweat from her forehead with her arms as she counts how many monsters she has defeated. Her fingers pointed at the heap of bones. She defeated most of them — still, no Calleb nor Pilak in sight. She was worried, heck — she feels close to having a panic attack. But she can’t show her weakness and her fear. Not now. Not when the fight is just about to start. Accashia breathed in the cool air as her grip
Accashia snapped her wrist, and flaunted the black sword in her hand. She could feel Pilak’s presence at the top of the tower — the west wing. The only question that’s boggling her mind is if she would make it in time. If only she could jump that high and the Castle wasn’t so far then she’d be up there minutes ago, fighting alongside her mate. “Die, you disgusting thing!” She yelled as she raised both of her arms, holding the grip of the sword tight and broke the skull of the Shadow that was taunting her. The young woman twisted the blade with a yell, breaking the spinal cord of the boney monster until she pierced the soul. Releasing it. Setting it free. Sending it to the underworld where it belonged. “May your soul rest in peace.” She said in wishful thinking. She wondered how long it would take for her to clear the path. How long has it been since she was fighting. An hour? Maybe even two. But in reality, it had only been a few minutes. The young lady continued to fight. Raising
The moment Beltza saw Accashia standing behind the window, the wolf of black and white tensed his shoulders. Teeth bared, his shoulders moving and was preparing to lunge at her — to attack. He growled at the young woman. Pilak saw that his father was about to attack. With a whimper, he struggled to sit up. The beast howled. ‘Accashia.’ His voice cracked as he connected with his mate. The beast was glad that his mate made it just in time. His arm was bleeding a lot. The Silver Beast tried to stop his father from attacking, but he fell on his side. ‘Accashia. They’re too powerful.’ Beltza sprang towards Ursula. As if it was practice, on cue — the Wicked Witch lifted her arm. Her fingers ran against the soft — matted fur of the bigger beast. She gripped then caressed it, as if the King, the Alpha was her pet. Dry vines crawled and slithered against the cold floor. The thorns dig against the cracks of the stone floor, sinking in like a hook. It settled until Accashia’s feet felt the st
Ursula had always been a free soul. She loves to run with the wind while riding on the horse. She loved the smell of burning coal. Ursula had always admired the strength of those who are strong and pitied those who are weak. It’s one of those qualities why she was chosen to be the yellow Shaman by the mother. And Luntian, Luntian was anointed with the power of the Black Shaman. The Shaman who is directly linked with the spirit world. Luntian wondered where it all went wrong as she watched the Vision of the past. She watched the old Ursula. The one with a smile on her face. The one who loved to smile and the one who loved to ride horses. ‘Where did it all go wrong?’ She asked herself. Different kinds of questions clouded her mind. ‘Is it me?’ ‘What could it be?’ ‘Was there something I had failed to see?’ ‘What is it? What is it?’ The moment the Black Shaman was pulled from the visions back to reality — it’s as if all her strength was pulled out of her body. “I think my neck and
Accashia must have fallen asleep while the two Alpha’s were interrogating the old Shaman. She sits up straight and there's a blanket across her body until her chest. She pulled the covers up, bringing it up to her face. The young woman inhaled, smiling wide right after. It smells like her mate, warm wood and a hint of musk. Calleb’s scent reminded her of sunrise. It smells a little like her too. Accashia was not the type of person who always wakes up on the right side of the bed. Before, she’ll wake up with Luther’s face right in front of hers. Her older brother would always taunt her. Tease her, borderline torment her. Somehow she wishes he could erase it. The memories. "Why the long face?" Calleb appeared out of nowhere, shocking Accashia. Her soul almost left her body, and became a bit grumpy because of it. “Calleb!” She whined, screaming his name as she did. “You know that I startle easily! Don’t sneak up on me like an animal!” The Alpha grinned. “I am an animal though.” He wa
"Ive heard Galathea saying she heard the song of songs, whisper of whisps. But not a cry of a child." The King stared at Accashia’s ghostly pale face. The Luna was still in shock. She was only wearing a thin bathrobe, contrasting the dark thick cotton robe that enveloped Calleb’s body. "A shrill cry. A woman singing an eerie lullaby. I’ve heard of that before. But not from a newborn child —” He looked at his son, then smiled. “None, except from you, son. The day you were born.” "Maybe we should have the Castle blessed?" Calleb had asked. "Before being rebuilt, this place was heavily guarded by Shadows. Dangerous skeleton-like creatures who are brought back to life by Ursula’s power. They carry an ember of soul in their chest. Lost souls." Bathal shuddered in the memory. "I remember. Maybe the Castle needs to be blessed." "It’s not a soul." Accashia opposed. A frown on her face, disliking how the two Alpha’s are dismissing what she heard. "I know a soul when I feel one, see one. When
"I’m not hallucinating, Calleb! I heard a loud cry of a child!" Accashia paced back and forth after pushing Calleb away from her. The cry of the newborn sounded terrible against her ears. “I must find the baby — it could be lost, or worse — it might’ve been abandoned by its parents!” The Alpha sighed as he pinched the area between his brows. It feels like he’s wiggling out of a tightrope and he’s bound from his wrist down to his ankles. “Maybe it’s just your imagination, Accashia. You’re carrying my child after all. It may be the cause of your hallucinations.” Accashia was heading towards the door when Calleb’s spoke. She spun and marched towards her mate. By the looks of it, the young lady was deeply offended. “I know the sound of a crying child when I hear one, Calleb. I’m the one who took care of Jill when she was a newborn. I’m familiar with the cry of a wailing child looking for his mother — Calleb.” “And I’m not dismissing your judgments, Accashia.” Was Calleb’s calm reply. T
What it all boils down to is a simple thing. Human beings, creatures and beasts alike are all sentimental beings. Filled with empathy. Love and affection. And in turn, are always seeking for it. The first time Luntian laid eyes on her sister was after Amihan had just given birth to her. The little one had a head full of black hair, and had this blank stare. Ursula would cry from dusk till dawn. It was thousands of years ago, but her sister’s shrill cry would still resound in her nightmare. The idea of having a sibling was one of the things she wished for in life, though at times she wished her mother would shove the thing back to where it came from. Luntian loved Ursula, but there was something about her that she didn't like. She doesn’t like the crooked smile on her lips. The oddly long nails. The dark, dark cowl on her head. And the odd paint on her face. She was a yellow Shaman, but did not act like one. Not even a little. Had it been the way she talked or the things she said? O
Bathal remembers his father with his head back, soaking up the heat like a plant. At dusk, his wide gray eyes go half-mast, and he yawns and stretches and puts his arms around people who he thinks will lead him back to the right home. Banaua is solar-powered, a self-sufficient sun. And his mother Hiraya was like the moon — the Luna catches the excess light of the King until she could light up on her own. He wonders if Accashia and Calleb would be the same. For his son and his mate reminds him so much of his late parents. And now there they were, going up in front of thousands of people. He thinks this is a must, for this will be Calleb’s future once he passes on the power. His son is the next King and an Alpha. Calleb will be the next ruler of this Kingdom, and the people will follow him. They will love him and be loyal to him whether they want to or not. Once, when his father was still alive he'd asked Bathal a question. He'd asked, 'What do you feel after seeing the humans, the B
Bathal comes back after a long meeting with the Shaman of the nameless Village. It was time for the Betas and Omegas to live within the Castle. For them to go back to the way it was before the ‘Great Downfall’. The King was wearing thick black longsleeves made of cotton. A white cowl covered his head, partially covering his beautiful long hair of black and white. Usually he wouldn’t be riding a horse if he was to go alone. But because he needed Luntian’s wisdom to negotiate with the Shaman — he opted that it was for the best. Bathal preferred to transform into his beast. He’s not the type of ruler who radiates glitz and glamour, crowns and jewelry. As a matter of fact, the King had always liked to be with the Betas and the Omegas. The soldiers, as the late King Banaua calls them. They liked him for his smile and his strong sense of leadership. Everyone called him awe inspiring and charming. While his son Calleb… Luntian often wonders where the Prince, the son of Bathal, Calleb, get
Ursula shut her eyes shut, not wanting any more of this inhumane torture. She was deemed to be facing sudden death, more like she begged for it. Impregnated and treated like an animal. This was beyond humiliating. What she hated the most was how her body betrayed her at times. How the demons take her and fuck her until she cries and begs for mercy. She hated herself from feeling good. It almost felt good. Almost. Until she realized that the birth of the demon child would mean the coming of a bloodshed. Death in amounts no one could fathom. The woman laid her head on the makeshift pillow Kieran had made for her. Kieran was laying down beside her, the demon was caressing the bulge on her stomach. “Just leave already.” Ursula whined, lifting her head up upon the request. “I want to be alone.” Kieran laughed, then held up a thick leather strap in his other hand. It was studded with spikes, like everything else. A spike that would slam against Ursula’s thighs or arm, whichever part it w
The Kingdom of Shaldan has changed, and with a few more refurbishments, the Kingdom will be standing in all its glory once again. Almost two months had passed since they banished the evil Witch from their land. Bathal and Luntian sported a wide smile on both of their faces while greeting the Hunter’s village and the Betas and Omegas. The news of Accashia’s pregnancy gave them a new kind of hope for their Kingdom’s survival. She was four months pregnant, and in a few months their bundle of joy will see the world. Days have turned into weeks and weeks turned into a month. But instead of being happy after receiving the news of her pregnancy, the young lady became jarded. She became quiet and barely spoke to anyone. Anyone except her mate. Everyday Accashia would go to Calleb’s room and she’ll tell her mate what is going on in her everyday life. Whether it’s exciting news or just a mundane day. She does it as a routine, hoping that her mate would wake up. Even if it's about the changes
Luntian leads Bathal and Accashia towards the room where the sleeping Prince was kept safe. A few Beta’s and Omega’s lurked around the Castle, fixing the interiors and fixtures. All needed to be done to bring the ruined Castle back to its glory. The sound of nails and hammer hitting and banging against the wall resounded as Luntian closed the door of Calleb and Accashia’s chamber. Bathal, who was standing next to Accashia, told the Shaman to lock the door, to make sure that no one sees them. Even though his influence is scattered throughout the Castle and its borders, it does not mean that everyone is on their side. A King can never be too complacent, Bathal learned that the hard way. “It’s locked.” The Shaman announced with satisfaction in her eyes. Once they were free to move, the old woman foisted something from her pocket. A mixture of minerals, and once she’s satisfied with the ingredients on her hand, the old Shaman crushed them with their bare hands. She turned them into powe