Jude PovIsolated within the confines of my room, I felt the weight of solitude, a heavy emptiness permeating each passing day. Brenda, driven solely by her selfish desires, became the sole company in this desolate space.As I navigated through these days, the persistent question tormented my thoughts: why did Katherine seem more attracted to my brother than to me? The intricate emotions entwined in our relationships sparked insecurities and a profound sense of betrayal.I could’ve sworn I saw this coming from the first day Jade and I announced that she was our mate. Blinded by love, I overlooked it and now I feel nothing but anger. In the subdued lighting, shadows danced on the walls, reflecting the inner confusion I wrestled with. Despite Brenda's physical presence, there was an emotional breach growing, leaving me longing for a connection slipping away with each passing moment.Within this confined space, I confronted the intricate interplay of desire, loyalty, and the delicate na
Katherine pov"What is going on?" I asked no one in particular as everyone seemed to be busy staring at the pack gate as if to expect an arrival. "Mum and dad are almost home!" Lily shrieked, running towards me and holding my hands. "Hey! Where in the world have you been?" I smiled down at her, realising that I hadn't seen her in a few days. "I've been busy with school Katie, holidays are over now. Pack school ruins all the fun in things. Apparently, I must come out with good grades because of some royalty lineage issues," she rolled her eyes but I still saw excitement in them as she also watched the gate.They all were awaiting Alpha and Luna's arrival. I wondered why they took so long out in the first place but concluded that they needed the break because running the pack had to be an entire workload on them. The moment the Alpha and Luna stepped through the pack gate, a wave of excitement swept through the air. Cheers erupted, echoing the joyous reunion of the leaders with thei
Brenda Pov"How long is this going to take?!" Frustrated as I am, Lady Aurora yelled out, digging through her black waves for hair and pulling on it. "Does everything always have to be in a rush to you?" I rolled my eyes. "You don't want to get what you want—""For us to get away with this, we have to be patient. If we get caught by even the twins we will be dead and this entire thing will be in vain," I explained, keeping my voice low so her family on the inside will not hear a bit of our conversation. "Well, my alpha does not have much patience and you know how he can be. My family's lives depend on it," Lady Aurora's voice seemed more relaxed than when I first arrived. I came in with the pretence of delivering her and her family some good from the pack. They lived at the outskirts of pack territory. I didn't know much about how they were loved by so many packs and still remained pack-less but I knew that Lady Talia had hated whoever had thrown them out. She once told me she w
Katherine povStaring up at the ceiling, I laid down on my bed, unable to move and unable to speak. It was unlike me but saying that I was weak was definitely an understatement. I could move if I pushed myself enough but I felt too tired and dizzy to do anything. It definitely had to be insomnia because I was either haunted by my dreams or the pain from the parasite curse growing in me was stronger than it was in the day. I never told anyone about it because the last thing I wanted was to be a liability. I managed to push through my days with a smile on my face and the nights without sleep. It's why I always wake up late in the mornings. It was almost midnight and I was sure everyone had fallen asleep. I hissed out loud when I figured that sleep was very far from me. So after a few deliberations within myself, I decided to roll myself out of bed and get milk in the kitchen. Father always had one in my room when I was younger and it would always make me fall asleep no matter the ci
Katherine pov I spent the entire day in my room. Too much was going on for me to handle and too much information and mystery was there to uncover. I had almost lost track of having a second chance in the first place. Stupidly, I got so distracted by the attractions of having to be mates with someone else, forgetting that it was in fact my very first mate that got me in the situation in the first place. I spent the hours thinking of how my life would have turned out if Casto had just been a loving mate to me as we lived together with our children. I imagined myself already pregnant with his child or children and ready to give birth too. He got clouded by his hunger to rule and did the most unforgivable things anyone could imagine. For the umpteenth time, I felt tears roll down from my eyes and soak the sheets I laid on. My life has brought nothing but pain for the entire year and it hurt me to the bone every time I remembered how bad things had been for me. I still couldn’t bel
Katherine PovThe starry sky was mesmerising to my sight, the wind was cool and slow and the moon goddess decided to bless the night with a big bright cast of the moon. As I lay on the soft green grass, a sense of calm enveloped me. The night sky unfolded its beauty above, a tapestry of shimmering stars hanging in cosmic harmony. The moon, a serene observer, cast its gentle glow, illuminating the intricate patterns of the celestial dance. I couldn't help but lose myself in the vastness, tracing invisible connections between stars, feeling the weight of the universe above.The crickets provided a soothing soundtrack, their rhythmic chirping echoing in the quiet stillness of the night. Each blade of grass beneath me seemed like a portal, connecting me to the Earth's heartbeat. The cool breeze brushed against my skin, carrying whispers of the night.In that moment of quiet introspection, lying on the ground, I marvelled at the grandeur of the cosmos, contemplating my existence in the va
Katherine PovThere was slow piano music from a distance, everyone was on their feet. The only thing I had to do was walk the isle, in rhythm to the music and that was where I had a problem Unlike a wedding, I had to walk the aisle alone. Tears stung my eyes as I stared at the enclosed door from a distance. I stood at the entrance of the grand hall, a few steps away from the big brown door that would reveal me to the pack, feeling like I was reliving a really bad day – my wedding. The Luna ceremony was supposed to be a happy moment for werewolves, but all I could think about was the betrayal and horror from before.Memories hit me hard – my almost-husband turning out to be evil, killing the royal family, and even my dad right in front of me. I was scared that history would repeat itself, with a sword at my neck if I stepped forward.I looked good in my ceremonial dress, but it didn't feel right. I wanted to run away, but my feet wouldn't listen. The fear of what might happen if I
Katherine Pov Vampires?!The Luna ceremony hit a sudden pause when someone screamed about vampires breaking into our turf. Panic spread as the news buzzed through the hall. I went from serene to focused in a heartbeat.“Protect our home! Don’t let anyone mess with our unity,” Jade ordered with strength, rising from his seat and telling everyone what to do. The peaceful gathering turned into chaos as werewolves geared up for defence. I, still in her panic gear, managed to follow Sonia and the rest towards the pack rooms to protect the children from the attack. The afternoon erupted with the sounds of paws and clashes as I heard the baked bodied members fight off the vampire invaders.I had heard of vampires from birth but never had I heard that they placed an attack on werewolves, they had lived in peace for several years. I hated how they did not wish for me to partake in the fight. The panic made everything seem rushed and before I could even say a word, I was in a dark undergroun
Epilogue Katherine Pov “You’re going to die with the child in your womb.”I stood stunned as Castro revealed the shocking news – I had a baby growing inside me, amidst the fierce fight raging between us. This discovery hit me like a thunderbolt, as it began to make sense of the mysterious waves of sickness I had been experiencing lately.I had never even thought about the possibility of being pregnant. My reduced sense of smell and sight had gone unnoticed, and not even I or anyone else had picked up on the signs. The realization that I carried a new life within me was both thrilling and worrying, a bittersweet discovery in the middle of our clash.I grappled with the conflicting emotions rushing through me. On one hand, the news of my pregnancy filled me with a sense of wonder and the promise of a new life. Yet, the timing could not have been worse, as I found myself locked in a high-stakes duel with my sworn enemy, Castro.How Castro had uncovered this information remained a myste
Katherine Pov “A holmgang?” Castro raised his brows, laughing out loud for a moment. “Is something amusing to you?” I glared daggers his way. “I refuse,” he shrugged. “You can’t, even the council knows that you cannot do that. If you do, the entire kingdom will by law be forced to turn against you and pick a new ruler by themselves. Your head will be cut off and as will mine but unlike you, both our deaths are a price I’m willing to pay,” I explained, knowing that the consequences were too brutal for him to reject. His gaze changed from a playful smile to a death glare at me. I had fearlessly challenged my sworn enemy to a fight to the death, leaving him with no option to refuse. The stakes were incredibly high, and the outcome would determine both our fates.In my heart, I firmly believed that only two possibilities awaited us: either I would lose my life, or Casto would suffer his ultimate defeat. If I were to fail in the fight, I acknowledged that I had no rightful claim to r
Katherine povSusie.My heart skipped a beat, and I swiftly turned around to locate the source of the sound. However, my joy quickly turned to concern as I noticed Susie's mother hastily covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes pleading with me to stay away. She shook her head and I could have sworn I saw tears cloud her eyes. So I stepped back, I stopped. Seeing Susie brought me a sense of relief, knowing that she was safe, but I couldn't ignore the fear that clouded the expressions of both mother and daughter. It sent shivers down my spine.In that moment, my disdain for Casto intensified. They had stripped these people of their freedom, confining them in a state of constant fear and oppression. The sight reinforced my determination to fight against the oppressive forces that had taken hold of our once vibrant and free community.I lived these few months in joy while my people suffered and even now that I had returned, I was helpless and they remained hopeless. I felt a mix of
JADE PovMy blood boiled with anger as I watched the council's woeful display of decision-making. I couldn't fathom how they could be so blind to the consequences of their actions. Standing there with my brother and Jasmine, I had to endure the painful ordeal of hearing the council members' proposition.They callously suggested that we should return Jasmine, tearing her away from our side, and take back Katherine in a misguided attempt to avoid war and mitigate further loss. The very idea left a bitter taste in my mouth. How could they believe that sacrificing one person for the sake of appeasement would bring any true resolution?I clenched my fists, feeling an overwhelming surge of indignation. The council's incompetence enraged me. They failed to see the bigger picture, the human cost of their decisions. They were willing to play with lives, treating them like pawns on a chessboard.Jasmine stood beside me, her eyes filled with apprehension and vulnerability. I couldn't bear the th
Brenda Pov“Stop! Guys! Hold on!” I yelled at the top of my lungs, running after Jude, Jade, and Grey who seemed to be engrossed in a conversation and did not hear my cry from a distance or most likely chose to ignore me.“What the hell guys?!”My eyes shot wider when I heard him scream. “She has something to say,” Nathan added, his voice probably louder than mine. I felt a blossom inside me and wondered if this was what people referred to as butterflies in their bellies. However, I had no time to think about how Ethan made me feel. “Oh, apologies. We were too engrossed—”“They have her!” I remembered how much I was gasping for air from the shock and fear I got from panicking. “Katherine!”My words were broken down, but I believed they understood the message I was trying to give because right one cue, Jade and Jude dashed right past me, towards the direction of her room. Grey stayed behind though, his eyes widened in horror. “Who has?” He was the only one logical enough to get mo
Katherine povAfter what felt like hours, I finally reached the door. Stretching my hands out, I reached for the handle but instead of drawing closer, it drew farther away from me. It was being opened on the outside. “Well look who we have here!”I froze on my steps, chills running up and down my body knowing I was caught even before I could attempt to escape. The door to the barn had swung open and I just stood there in shock and fear of what might happen next. “I actually believed it was just a rumour that you were alive,” James said. James. He was one of the palace guards when my father ruled, he was always so quiet but there were times I heard him make funny jokes. “Is she awake?!” I heard someone yell from outside. “Yeah!” James yelled in return. I was caught already, I was done for. “Do as I say and play along if you want to live Katherine.”My eyes shot open in hope when I heard him whisper in a lower tone to me. Meeting him, I believed he had join forces with Casto a
Katherine povYou lied to me…You betrayed me…wake up.They’re all dead…You murderer, I’ll never forgive you….“Wake up!”I jerked my body out of the trance I was stuck in for a moment. It was a dream, a nightmare even. Like my entire life flashed before my eyes, every of the tragedy. My head hurt, banged at every corner of my scull. It felt like I was knocked out by a boulder. Frey was the one who dragged me out of the nightmare, it felt like it went on for years. Something was not right but I could not pin point it. I could not even open my eyes fast enough because of how bad my head felt. Eventually, my surroundings started to come into view and it looked nothing like my room or anywhere in the pack house. It reeked of shit, literal poop and that was the first sense that hit me. My sense of smell. It was horse shit and it was disgusting. Unfortunately, I was covered in it and there was nothing I could do about it at the moment. I tried to move but I couldn’t, not just because
Katherine Pov7:39 pm…I was being watched and I could feel it at the bottom of my belly. No one was in sight but I knew something or someone was following me. Every once in a while, I would swiftly turn around but the sensation vanishes once I look towards the direction. The commotion from this morning had come to an end before it was even noon, everyone had gone back to their daily lives, and the victims were admitted to the hospital. To my surprise, the council had not called for my attention concerning Jasmine but I believed Jude and Jade had something to do with it. Once again, I abruptly turned on my heels, trying to catch the made-believe stalker by surprise but I still ended up with the same result. Nothing. “Are you okay?” Sonia questioned for the umpteenth time and I nodded in approval. It was going to raise false alarms if I had called attention to how I felt at the moment, especially because the entire territory was on its toes. She was due in about a week or earlier t
Katherine Pov “Jasmine left the house in the middle of the night.” I blurted out, hoping to distract his attention from trying to seduce me. “Excuse me?” Jade raised a brow, retracting his hands from my waist and taking a step back. “Brenda and I found out last night and followed her into the woods,” I explained further, watching every bit of his expression, hoping he believed me. “You what?!” His eyes shot open and eventually turned into a glare. “You don’t need to get mad-”“What if something happened to you?” Jade crossed his arm before leaning against the wall behind him. “We did not leave the pack’s territory. Plus she just vanished into thin air and by the time we all woke up this morning, people lost body parts. Permanently,” I retorted, mirroring his glare, disappointed that he was more worried about my whereabouts than the safety of the pack. Jade went silent, staring blankly into the abyss as he got lost in his thoughts. I could almost not read his expression, but I k