ELORAEver since I turned a slave back at Alkarod, peace and quiet became impossible for me and my family. If I wasn't beaten up, I was escaping beating and humiliation. Chaos was the order of the day and I expected it. I adapted to it and sought out seconds of quiet. Usually, I enjoyed being chained up in the cellars just because of the privilege to hear my thoughts and to remember the life I had before father was labelled a traitor.Our life then had been filled with laughter as we were a close knit family. Father would go out hunting and return with the fattest deer he had found and we would have a large feast while mother played skilfully on the pianoforte. She was usually happy as long as she followed her tight routine. We loved mother despite her living with her peculiarities understanding that that was how best she could express herself. Every evening we would sit together just outside our mansion, curled up under a blanket listening to the chirping of birds. It was on those ev
ELORAWhat?How did this happen to her?She was always so extra careful not to step on anyone's toes. The image before me triggered a lot of memories from Alkarod. Then I was weak and couldn't fight back but now I felt my body buzz. I couldn't help it.There was a spiky ring on the Lycan devil's finger and as she slapped Lucy the spikes dug into her soft skin and ripped it. I could imagine the pain she was going through."You piece of shit! You're too dumb to follow simple instructions! What did I say about raisins in my dinner? I only eat raisins during breakfast!" She gave Lucy a slap at each word.I ran as fast as I could towards them and pushed Lucy out of the way."I'm sorry, Your highness. She is dumb as you said! I'm really sorry concerning anything she has done. She is clumsy and innocent!" I cried.I felt it wiser to beg the Lycan than to defend myself by fighting. I didn't want to harm a Lycan thereby threatening my stay at the castle. That would ruin everything."You don't
ALKAROD"What did the Lycan say?"Alpha Rasmus whipped his head in the direction of his distressed wife. Her eyes were wet and puffy from uncontrolled tears and her voice hoarse from sobs."What do you expect a Lycan to say?" He snapped.The Alpha's temper was short. They had no cure yet and his son's condition was getting worse as the days went by. They spent most of their time in the infirmary set aside for the Alpha and his family.His wife sniffed again as she placed a hand on her son's frail arm, hoping he would suddenly jerk back to consciousness. It was long since he said a word. His small eyes were most times closed except times he would blink occasionally when given medication. His skin was pale and his formerly round, smooth face was sunken and riddled with sores. The cabinet beside him was filled with various medication bottles either to give him strength or to dry up the sores on his body. The Alpha continued pacing. His stomach churned as he was irritated by the medicati
HANAERUM"His Majesty, King Rome of Bale!" The Court herald announced as Rome appeared at the doors to the large circular chamber. Trumpets followed and the members of the court stood up as he walked in. "You may be seated," Teriel said once the king sat in his rightful position in the courtroom. The king's hair was styled back, not one strand of ginger hair out of place. His midnight blue suit was sharp and tailored exactly to his taste: tight around his arms but just enough to move. On the suit were the usual royal emblem and several gold emblems displaying his prowess in combat and warfare. The members of the court sank into their seats quietly knowing what to expect at this meeting. The king had promised that he would reveal his mistress and some of them had even bet on who he would pick. The atmosphere was tense and even in the quietness that would follow, they could feel the tension. "The meeting will start now," Teriel announced.Kain, seated in the front row just beside h
ELORAMy heart beat a frantic rhythm as the day’s activities caught up with me. How had everything gone bad so quickly?Just when I was happy with my life, getting used to my work at the library and the beautiful nights I spent with Lucy and my siblings.Deep down, I had not expected to have a normal life as the child of a man labelled a traitor but I didn’t think the problems I had escaped from in Alkarod would come back to sting me.The king's cold words rang in my ears as I followed to my new chambers in the Royal wing of the Castle. I had been very wrong to assume he would be different from all the other men I had experienced.I gave a shaky breath as the King’s Advisor slowed his steps, willing my burning face to cool. My hands were clammy with sweat as fear of what the night would bring flooded me. It seemed I had traded one prison for another."As the King’s new mistress, you will have to do all you can to please him.” Teriel’s voice came breaking the silence I had come to fin
ELORAOverwhelmed, I collapsed on the bed without getting out of the dress hoping that at least I could forget my problems if I napped, unfortunately the quiet of this wing made it hard to fall asleep, I tossed and turned and even counted sheep but eventually gave up as I was too disturbed to sleep. I couldn’t help but note the difference between this side of the castle and the servant’s quarters I’d stayed in with my siblings.Instead of the regular chatter down at the staff quarters, no sound could be heard except the occasional rustle of what seemed like wind moving through the flowers. The sky looked clearer from the large clean windows on the far side of the wall, in a beautiful shade of midnight blue. From my position on the bed, I had a fantastic view of the stars through the large window as they twinkled, teasing me.At least, they didn't have to worry about duties as the king's breeder.I sighed turning over, my aching as I thought of my mother back at Alkarod. I wondered ho
KAIN replayed the humiliating incident he had had with the king earlier in the day. Rome had embarrassed him right in the presence of the council members and worse still, he had raided his brothel and shut it down because of dealings with under aged girls.Was the King that stupid?Of course, any reputable brothel employed the services of younger girls as the patrons wanted variety. Some enjoyed older girls but many others favoured the younger girls while others didn't mind having either.Rome would have to pay for what he had done even though it would be difficult now to punish him. This would be the last time he would be a step ahead of Kain, king or not.Kain paced about in his spacious living room – one he fondly called his throne room remembering how some of the council members had had the guts to snicker as the king humiliated him.Oh, how they would pay! He thought, chest was aflame with anger.He paced some more, clenching his fists as thoughts of the previous day infuriated h
ROMEIt was a slow, quiet evening for the king and it was soon approaching what seemed like the appropriate time for him to retire for the day. As advised by the royal physician, the king, even though being a Lycan royal and seemingly all mighty, needed enough rest to rule his territory. The last thing Hanaerum needed was an unhealthy king.The physicians had advised this on multiple occasions but it mostly fell on deaf ears. Rome felt the need to bury himself in work, work that could have been easily delegated, anything that wouldn’t have him feeling he wasn’t involved in the running of the country like his father hadn’t been. "Skye." He called, looking at her where she perused a document on the table set up in his study for his Hand.The only person that kept up with his unhealthy work routine was his sister and that was because she had too much free time. Her words. She was the only person that was in sync with him in most things. Perhaps the blood of their powerful ancestors burn
SKYE AND NAURU“You know. This is our wedding night.” Nauru complained, staring at his bride who was swinging a sharp blade in just her underclothes and corset, painting an erotic image that his body appreciated most ardently.The woman’s eyes flashed angrily at him but she sent him a smirk and flipped her hair behind her shoulders.”Are you scared I’m going to beat you?” She asked in a sing-song voice.“Oh I know you’re going to beat me.” He told her. “You’re a Lycan.”“You should have thought about that before challenging me.” He didn’t exactly challenge her but he didn’t want to point that out to his stubborn wife.A lesser man would be intimidated by her strength but he was only turned on by the thought that she could snap a man in two without breaking a sweat. It had been love at first sight for him when she’d come marching into his court with her brother, the King. She’d caught him staring at her and lifted a brow at him and when they’d met later that night, they’d fucked hard a
ROME & ELORATHREE YEARS LATER“Damian you come back here this instant!” Rome laughed as he watched a heavily pregnant Elora chase their two year old son who’d taken to running bottomless around the palace much to his mother’s dismay and his father’s immense amusement.Her glare turned on him and he raised his hands in surrender.“I did warn you that I was very uninhibited as a child.” He told his wife catching up to her and placing his hands around her waist, pulling her as close to him as her belly would allow.A soft thump from her belly told him that the twins they were expecting in a month were more than eager to be free of their confinement. He laughed as Elora slapped his shoulder.“You see what you’ve done to me?” She complained. “I’m surrounded and invaded by savages.”He laughed, kissing her forehead, then began a slow journey to her lips. She sighed and wrapped her hands around his neck, burying her fingers in the hair at his nape. Even after two years the passion between th
ELORAI stared at the large double doors leading to the training room, frowning down at the floor. The king had written me a letter that while it indeed gave me insight to his true feelings about me still made me feel afraid to see him again.How could I get over the fact that he had only slept with me because he wanted to rid himself of me?How could I move on from the thought that I had trusted him to be different from all the males that had only wanted to use my body and degrade me but at the end of the day, he was exactly like them?I turned, backing the door.Why had I even come?My body warmed as I remembered how passionate the kings declaration of love for me was but he hadn’t even said the words I so wished to hear.I find that I’m absolutely enthralled by the feelings you have managed to evoke in my wounded heart. I am sure that I want to spend the rest of my life wrapped in the beauty that is you. Even now, the words touched me softly.He had talked about things I hadn’t no
ELORAI stared shamelessly at the king as we sat in the aftermath of the laugh we shared while talking simultaneously. He still wore his travel clothes like he hadn’t had time to change since we arrived at the castle this afternoon. Dark circles were under his eyes and his hair were rough as if he’d been running his hands through them.He looked ethereally handsome now but ruggedly so, unlike the usual clean shaven well dressed king he usually was. His dark hair curled and fell over his forehead in an unruly mess that had me itching to run my hands through it recalling how soft his hair was. I pressed my thighs closer together as my body responded to the memory of the scenario that had had me running my hands through his hair.I felt a hot blush climb upwards from my neck. I truly hoped he didn’t notice.“Has Noel been to see you yet?” He asked suddenly breaking my train of indecent thoughts.I nodded, unable to speak for fear I’d say something to embarrass myself.“How…How are you?”
ROMEAs they crossed into the gates of Hanaerum, bells tolled in the lower city alerting their presence. As of their party was one to be ignored.Citizen’s stared open mouthed in shock as the large army rode through, some of them with scars and others, albeit healthy, with menacing expressions brought about by fatigue. Long had the thrill of their victory faded leaving behind exhaustion and muscle soreness.Rome was not immune to this phenomenon and wore his scowl even bolder than most because he’d not been given time with Elora at all during their trip.Skye worried he might scare her off with his intensity since his emotions were still high and besides the girl needed rest after the ordeal she’d been through.The doctor he’d ordered to look over her reported she was in excellent health and that the baby was doing fine but until he got to the castle and got Noel’s report, he didn’t think he could relax.Looking up at the grim castle walls, he couldn’t help but think that so much woul
ELORAI snarl as I stared down Alpha Rasmus' wife feeling stronger than I'd ever been. Whatever this remedy was that Gael had given me had not just helped with the pain but had somehow imbued me with more power than I'd had.I swiped my tongue on my snout still feeling the blood of that bastard on me. His death had been quicker than what he deserved but I was satisfied he'd no longer have the power to hurt me or my siblings again.His wife snarled at me as if to say: I'll kill you for murdering my husband. But even then I could see thee fear in her eyes.I felt the king's gaze on me but I didn't want to be distracted now.I'd been denied my revenge long enough.I spied Gael out of the corner of my eye, his look one of begging like he still wanted me to come with him.I felt sorry for the broken boy but my mind had been made up long ago and if he was wise he'd make sure the king didn't see him. Even though I understand that he didn't have much of a choice, I knew the king wouldn't be a
ROMEFeeling like he'd just woken up after a long night of drinking, Rome opened his eyes and took in his opulent surroundings which was a far cry from the dungeon he'd been in before he'd passed out.Speaking of the dungeon...He startled upright, struggling against the binds on his arms.Elora.He growled out his anger, straining even harder but the binds only seemed like they were getting tighter.What were these even made of?Those bastards had hit her. She looked nothing like the woman she had been in the castle but even if the bruises left her unrecognisable, his heart knew.He could smell her the moment he had been captured.It had taken all of his willpower to not kill those guards and grab her out of there.And that bastard...He had been standing right there.It was his fault that she had had to suffer like that.The second he freed his hands, the man would..."There's no point struggling against your restraints, boy king." The elven leader smiled walking into the broad cham
ELORAHelp! I wanted to yell out. Help me!There was black everywhere. I couldn't see anything.I tried to lift my hands but I couldn't. I couldn't feel my body.I was floating in a seemingly endless pool of black."You promised me they wouldn't hurt her!" A voice yelled at the edge of my consciousness.A small ray of light started at the edge of my vision becoming brighter and shocking me out of that empty plane."You promised me father!" The voice came again but this time I could recognize it.The bed beneath me felt harder than anything I'd ever felt but perhaps it was because I'd been floating for God knows how long.I tried to lift my hand but couldn't, they felt too heavy.I wanted to open my eyes but pain had me shutting my eyes again."Nggh." I groaned as pain raced through my system the further I regained consciousness.I groaned rolling to the side, looking for a position that would make it stop."Shhh. Stop Elora." Gael's voice came as a warm hand pressed softly on my shoul
ROMEThe ride to Alkarod flew by faster than anyone would have expected but Rome was grateful for the brevity of the journey as he didn't think he could bear to spend any more time away from Elora. It had been only a day and half since her capture but it felt like it had been ages.His beast had gone through a range of emotions and had settled on sadness now, whining constantly inside of him and setting him on edge. He had snapped more than once at the captain of his Elite but the Lycan, already used to his antics, showed no grief or frustration.Shouts went up at the Darwin pack gate tower as his riding party approached. He knew that the dust they kicked up must have made them look like bandits plus their lack of armour and his angry look wouldn't help matters."Stop!" A guard yelled just as they rode through the gates. "Who..."He didn't give the man the benefit of an answer as he plowed past him, nearly running him over with the horse. His eyes were on the pack house of Darwin Pack