With a tissue paper, Harper wiped the edges of the glass where the lip mark of Brayden was left. It was a simple potion really, one that she learned from the books and saw the witches brew in person. Upon wiping the mark on the edge of the glass, she folded the tissue paper and placed it on the side. Now, the brewing part. She only needed a small burner and a clay pot. Upon getting them from the potion room, she locked the door of her room. This has to be brewed for 12 hours so if she needs it tomorrow, she should start brewing it today. She dropped the tissue paper at the bottom of the clay pot and ignited the burner. A half cup of water, half cup of the special incense the witches do themselves. Once it brewed, she poured the purplish liquid. She emptied the vial. Perfect.A little grin crossed her face as she did that. The swirling of colors on the pot, together with the unending dances of smoke. In her mind, she was imagining what would come of it: their stupid combat games to
No one sees farther than what meets the eye. Just in plain view, it was only a dress. Harper kept on checking the small bulge under her voluminous skirt. It was where she placed the vial. It’s still warm from reheating the brew. Feeling the cylindrical vial with her skin, a small smile crossed her lips. She has this small, victorious but fleeting feeling of knowing that somehow, whatever will be the outcome of the combat games, she has gained a little bit of control about it. As if on cue, she saw a server coming out from the kitchen with two glasses of water. Instantly, Harper jumped on the opportunity to come and approach the woman. “What is this? Is this for the men?”The woman’s eyes widened upon being stopped by the wolf queen. “No, my queen. It’s for the alpha and the king.”Perfect, Harper thought. “Let me handle it. I’m heading there anyway.”The woman didn’t agree, but she was quick to grab the tray handle from the former. It’s a good thing that the glasses weren’t crys
The anticipation was killing her. She knows it happening. Harper’s wristwatch tells her it has been 12 minutes since Brayden has drowned the liquid down his throat. She didn’t even blink once, keeping her eyes on him. Every twitch of a muscle, every grimace.Brayden placed his left hand on Asher’s right for support. The latter didn’t notice it as he was giving his last-minute instructions to the combaters. Damon was listening intently. Or so she thought. For the first time in a long time, Damon was thinking on whether he could win this match or not. Unlike the past occurrences, this one’s the finale. All the others won’t matter if he loses this one. “… and when you hear the bell, that’s the signal that the combat is over. Neither of you is allowed to move a muscle by then.” – finished AsherNo more words were left unspoken. The crowd was giddy and excited of what’s about to happen. Harper scanned the crowd for any sign of the other two girls whom she refers to as outsiders. Right t
Damon observed it, too. He has a lot of questions on his head on what could’ve happened. He was just declared as the winner of the combat, the worthy one to be a Redmayne’s mate, the one and only Lycan king who has proven himself in front of his people. Harper stood beside him and pulled out a towel. Speechless, she wiped the beads of sweat from his neck. “I’d like to say congratulations but I already saw this coming. You only gave half of the work.” – Harper said With that, Damon caught her hand. What do they say about fishes and being caught in the mouth? What Harper just said was alarming. Did she have something to do with this match and Brayden’s jelly legs?“What did you say?” – his eyes were looking straight at her, hoping for an honest admission“Yes, I did it.”She was looking straight at his eyes when she said that. She didn’t even blink. Damon’s hand loosened on hers. His eyes flickered with questions. “Why did you do that?” – Damon asked, his voice hushed so that the o
Brayden woke up with a sore all over his body. Everywhere hurts when slightly touched. His arm, legs, chest, shoulders and shins were aching at the very sign of every press. Alora was beside him as he woke up, holding his hand. When he realized this, he snatched his hand away, making the woman jump. “Alpha, you’re awake!” – Alora said, blushing. She was caught in the act.“I am… what do you think you’re doing?” – Brayden frowned. By the looks of Alora’s dress, the day hasn’t ended it. It was still the same day as the combat games. “Making sure you’re okay. That combat didn’t look good on you.”Alora reached for Brayden’s hand. She knows what she’s doing here. Right after the combat, Harper was no longer his. She now belongs to the Lycan king. Because of that information, that meant the alpha has no mate once again. A door that just opened for Alora to sneak in. Who else would he choose anyway? Harper’s now out of the picture. After all, surely she’s the next person in rank to be
“What’s your plan?” – Alora asked, crossing her arms on her chest.She knows she won’t like the next words Shahila was about to say. But then, she remembered the look on Brayden’s face before she walked out of the room. It was something she hasn’t seen in him before. It may be a little too ideal to think of the combat as his mind changer, but it’s seemed like that. Because of the combat, he has started to consider her as his mate. Eliminating Harper from his mind was the only way. No matter how rigged was that combat, it served its purpose… that’s why he shouldn’t know the truth behind it. That’s why. Shahila.“I don’t have a concrete one just yet. I’ll ring you when it’s done.” – she said with a smirk“You got me.” “I know… you have no other choice. If you wish to continue that one-sided love story you believe to be real, you know you have to help me. You know better than not to.”Shahila ended her statement with a wink. The cursed wink, if Alora would like to call it. The wink wa
“What did you say?”Harper heard it, with all its might. Every word, every inflection, every shaking of Damon’s voice. She heard it. VERILY.“I said I love you, my queen. You’re the only mate that matters. You and Hector are my life.” – Damon said, finally letting loose of the words he kept within himself for too long. It’s like a gushing waterfall. Once it’s out, it keeps pouring. He can’t stop himself now. Harper saw his Adam’s apple move when he swallowed and looked down at her lips. Was he waiting for her to say something? An equivalent of what he just said? Is that why there’s silence between them now?“I… I don’t know what to say.” – Harper said, placing her hands down from his shoulders to her either side.“Do you love me?”The question hung in mid-air. Harper felt like she was stoned in her exact position. Like she was nailed so she couldn’t move. “What do you wish to hear, Damon?”“The truth. I can feel it… but I want to hear it from your own lips.”He can feel what? Does
Harper has mixed emotions about what just happened. After that awkward moment, what she did was to tell him to go out of the room. She, now alone in the bed’s mattress, looked at the ceiling with unblinking eyes. They kissed. Not just once, but two times. She cannot deny what she has said and the way she kissed him. She wanted it, too. She enjoyed the kissed. She missed the embrace. What have I done?, she was asking herself. A palm holding her forehead.She loves him. There’s no reason to deny that now. She has been in love and caught up in his whims. Hector, her body, her throne and her heart now belong to him. A knock interrupted her train of thoughts. “Who is it?” “It’s me, my queen. The little prince’s looking for you.”She got up and sighed. It was the nurse-maid, perhaps returning from the tour with the small baby. Harper got the kicking baby from the nurse-maid. It was too glad to see its mother. Harper planted a kiss on the baby’s forehead and it laughed. Day and day goe