HopeToday was the day of the Blood Moon. But everything was weird. Things were too peaceful. It was like the calm before the storm. From morning till this very evening, there have been no reports of rebels, attacks, riots, or anything.However, that didn't mean that things were fine. Light might as well be bidding her time until the Blood Moon was fully out. From the room's window, I stared at the red moon hanging on the dark night sky that was shrouded with dark clouds.It was seriously ominous, to the point where I got chills just by looking at it. However, if things went according to plan, I would be fine. And I would also carry out a personal plan of mine.Soldiers and guards were stationed all round the kingdom and this very castle. We were prepared for anything. Yet, I still felt like we were missing something.I couldn't place my finger on what exactly it was, but I knew that something was wrong somewhere. If I could bring this to Darius' attention, maybe he would do something
Hope After receiving the report from Orion, everything happened so fast that I didn't get a chance to understand anything. One second, Darius and I were sitting next together, the next, he was locking me inside my room for protection and leaving the castle with a large army of soldiers.My heart was in my mouth, I couldn't breathe. Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum.I could feel my heartbeat in every part of my body. Why was I so afraid? Why did I feel there was something terrible waiting for me? I managed to get myself a glass of water but it did not calm me down a single bit. I looked out the window. The army who had been waiting around the castle on standby were no longer there.They had been moved to the scene of action. As for the few soldiers remaining to protect the castle's gates, I couldn't make them out as they were too far away from my line of vision.I knew that this castle was safe, but I still felt like there was trouble lurking around. "Darius isn't here anymore." I told m
PrologueAt the dawn of the year, fourteen hundred, the Lycans came out of hiding and brought war onto Humans. The Lycans were powerful and skilled in combat, unlike the humans. They conquered the Humans and ruled over them. The Lycan King of that century was cruel and turned every Human into a slave or a sex worker.After two hundred years, from the human slaves came a man with the name Vitalis. He despised the werewolves and their rule, along with some other Humans. They secretly learned combat skills from the Lycan army. Once they became strong, they led a war against the Lycans.They were strong but not as strong as the Lycans. They fought well and slew one-fourth of the Lycans, while their numbers remained less than half. The Lycan King decided to end the war by bringing forth a proposition.He offered a treaty for peace to reign, he wanted to ally with Humans. In exchange for peace to reign, he would marry the first daughter of Vitalis, whom he thought was beautiful. Vitalis was
Chapter 2HopeDarius looked like he was in the mood for killing. Killing me. I gulped down on my saliva as I stared at him, not knowing what else to do.My parents had rushed to my aid, trying to create a barrier between the King of the Lycans and myself."Your Majesty, never mind Hope. Light must be playing somewhere around the castle. You know that, don't you? That she plays a lot." My Father said with a rushed tone, then added a nervous laugh. He sounded nothing like how a person who bore the name 'Vitalis' should sound. Then again, for the past few hundred years, the Vitalis' had not upheld the glory of the name. My Mother also let out a nervous laugh, supporting my Father.Darius regarded them as specks of dust. He walked right past them and stood a few paces in front of me. His red lips were pressed into a thin firm line as he looked down at my short figure. Compared to his six-foot-seven height, I looked like a child. Hells, every Human who stood next to him looked like a chi
Chapter 3HopeMy entire being froze up. I could not believe what my ears were hearing and my eyes were seeing. My fingers started to fiddle on their own as my breathing turned uneven. "I don't approve of your suggestion. This daughter of yours has nothing to offer," Darius glanced back at me, his eyes raked across my body from my head, down to my toes, then back up to settle on my breasts. He didn't look interested in them the slightest bit, only curious.He turned back to my Father. "I want Light and no one else. That was the deal. Find her and get her to return the Morati knife to me." Darius said with a firm tone.My Father trembled on the spot as he racked his brain for another suggestion. My Mother was ahead of him, she threw herself in front of the Lycan King with desperacy written all over her features."Your Majesty, Hope is a fine young lady. She will bring you no trouble. She is beautiful, well-mannered, and most important of all, quiet. She is very quiet." My Mother spoke
Chapter 4HopeI was married to the Lycan King. Everyone started to stand up from their seats to leave the wedding scene. I looked around me, searching for my parents but I found them nowhere among the dispersing crowd. My throat felt dry.Were they going to leave me all alone?I looked at the Lycan King—my husband—and he bore no expression on his beautiful face. He gripped my wrist once again as he started to yank me away from the scene. I tried to free myself, tugging my hand away from his grip.Once he noticed it, he stopped yanking me. "What?" he spat in annoyance and I gulped down on my saliva."My parents. I have to go bid them farewell and…" I trailed off as I saw the angry look on his face."They do not wish to see you. If they did, then they would have been the ones to seek you out instead of you going to them." He said, and I hated the logic behind his words.He started to move again, and I stopped him once more with a whimper. "My things. They haven't been packed yet. I c
Chapter 5HopeMy lips parted as I tried to assimilate Darius' words. Consummate this marriage? My throat felt dry and a scary shiver ran down my spine.I watched as Darius took a step into the room and locked the door behind him. My heart dropped at the act. He ambulated towards me like a predator going for the kill. Once he got to me, he gripped my wrist, raising it to his chest, and I gasped at the sudden act."Strip." He commanded, my heartbeat race sped up."Your Majesty, I can't—""I will not repeat myself one more time. Strip." He boomed with a loud voice, and I flinched. My heart was racing. I couldn't do what he asked of me. My chastity was all I had. If I yielded, he would taint and destroy me. Moreover, I was not supposed to be his wife, Light was. "King Darius, please. My innocence is all I have. I have never been with a man before." I explained, looking into his dead eyes, hoping to find some shred of sympathy in them but I couldn't find any.His eyes gave nothing of em
Chapter 6HopeI was terrified. I felt myself shrink that instant as Darius glared at me. I wanted to ask what made him so upset but he spoke up before I could do that."It's like you don't know where you are. You are in Moratia. The Lycan King's castle. You will learn to behave yourself while you reside here." He said with a no-nonsense tone and I wetted my lips unconsciously.He was still agitated about the meal incident. I had no idea that telling them the truth would be such a huge thing. I wasn't supposed to eat eggs and meat, what was so disrespectful about that?"My Mother—" I started to speak, but the look he threw my way caused the rest of my words to die down inside my throat."I do not want to hear any of that; anything about those spineless parents of yours," my lips parted but words refused to come out to defend my parents. "Since finding your sister has proven to be a challenge, I don't want to keep wrapping myself up in all of your useless family drama." Darius contin
Hope After receiving the report from Orion, everything happened so fast that I didn't get a chance to understand anything. One second, Darius and I were sitting next together, the next, he was locking me inside my room for protection and leaving the castle with a large army of soldiers.My heart was in my mouth, I couldn't breathe. Badum. Badum. Badum. Badum.I could feel my heartbeat in every part of my body. Why was I so afraid? Why did I feel there was something terrible waiting for me? I managed to get myself a glass of water but it did not calm me down a single bit. I looked out the window. The army who had been waiting around the castle on standby were no longer there.They had been moved to the scene of action. As for the few soldiers remaining to protect the castle's gates, I couldn't make them out as they were too far away from my line of vision.I knew that this castle was safe, but I still felt like there was trouble lurking around. "Darius isn't here anymore." I told m
HopeToday was the day of the Blood Moon. But everything was weird. Things were too peaceful. It was like the calm before the storm. From morning till this very evening, there have been no reports of rebels, attacks, riots, or anything.However, that didn't mean that things were fine. Light might as well be bidding her time until the Blood Moon was fully out. From the room's window, I stared at the red moon hanging on the dark night sky that was shrouded with dark clouds.It was seriously ominous, to the point where I got chills just by looking at it. However, if things went according to plan, I would be fine. And I would also carry out a personal plan of mine.Soldiers and guards were stationed all round the kingdom and this very castle. We were prepared for anything. Yet, I still felt like we were missing something.I couldn't place my finger on what exactly it was, but I knew that something was wrong somewhere. If I could bring this to Darius' attention, maybe he would do something
Kyle "This is all your fault!" I accused Thomas, cutting off his air supply.To this, he smiled maniacally, but there was a hint of regret and guilt in his eyes. He didn't hide them well."You're a fool. Did you expect me to blindly follow your commands and help that queen of yours?" Thomas spat.I tightened my grip on his throat. "Don't you dare!"Thomas coughed and said, "I did my best. She wanted to be stabbed. So I stabbed her. What are you getting so worked up about?" I wanted to kill the fool right now. But I couldn't. At the end of the day, it was all my fault. I flung him away and turned my back to him.I shouldn't have asked him to be the one to fake stab the queen. I should've done so myself. I should've obeyed and sealed my feelings to myself. Instead, I'd done something stupid—placed my trust on a fool and betrayed the trust of someone dear to me.Fuck!I kicked the air, not knowing what to vent on. I heard a mocking scoff from behind me. I was forced to turn around and
Hope The baby was fine? How could the baby be fine? I had taken an abortion tonic. I had also gotten stabbed in the stomach. How could the baby still be fine after all of that??"The baby's fine? Did a physician check me and-" "Don't worry, Hope." Darius said with soothing tone, placing a hand on my shoulder to comfort me. "The physician checked. I even had other renowned physicians check as well. The baby is fine. Everything is in order. You shouldn't worry so much."This child is a royal Lycan. Nothing can harm him. Everything will be fine." A royal Lycan. The kid growing inside of me was a royal Lycan. I had forgotten about that. How could that important fact slip from my mind?This child was not a regular child. It had the Moratis blood. The only thing that could end its life was the Morati knife.And that was in Light's hands! Shit!"What happened? What's wrong? Are you hurt?" Darius quickly came closer, questioning me with a worried tone.I must have worn my disappointment an
Hope I was still alive. Barely. Surprisingly. But still alive. As soon as I opened my eyes, I let out a sigh of relief. Pain was not fun at all."Your Majesty, you're awake!" I heard someone say.I didn't have the strength to sit up from the bed yet and look at the person. I could only shift my eyes. I saw Kyle already down on his knees on the side of my bed. I instantly managed to find a way to frown."Did you plan to kill me?" I asked, my voice was void of anger and sadness. My intent was to show annoyance and anger, but I didn't have the strength to portray those emotions. "Of course not, your Majesty. The person I hired to... do it, did more than I instructed. But I've disciplined him very well and ensured never to-" "Are you mad?" I cut Kyle off.His throat bobbed, he didn't respond."I ask again, are you mad, Kyle Arsen?!" "... No, your Majesty." Kyle said after a beat."Then why did you let another person in on the plan!? Weren't you supposed to be the one to stab me?! Why
HopeDarius and I stopped the carriage at a place referred to as the 'Land of many Legends.' He had said that it was the most magical place in the Moratian Kingdom as it captured the essence and statues of past heroes, both humans and Lycans.It was also an attraction sight that had many different things displayed all around it. A perfect place for sightseeing Darius said.But he had no idea that I had already been here and seen all that there was to see. Twice, even. There was no way to tell Darius about my night outings with Kyle while he was away in a manner that he would be able to digest them without getting angry. Or worse, getting disappointed.A disappointed Darius was harder to deal with than an angry Darius. I knew this very well. So my night outings were forever going to go as an untouched secret.Darius led me out of the carriage and the other visitors of the Land of the Legends had to stop and pay the utmost respect to their beloved king and queen.Ever since I became que
HopeI was in a very good mood today. I woke up early feeling refreshed. Maybe it was because there was no longer a creature inside my stomach draining my energy. I freshened up and sent a maid to tell Darius to meet me for breakfast at the dining table. By the time I reached the dining table myself, I was surprised to see that Darius was already there.And an even more surprising thing to me was that I saw the head of the dining table now had two throne-like chairs placed side-by-side to each other.Darius was standing behind the chairs with a stroke of uneasiness on his expression. I walked over to him and said, "Good morning." "Good morning, Hope." Darius said back to me, then his eyes bounced and landed on Kyle who was close behind me. I could sense the hostility in Darius' gaze as he looked at Kyle. It made me want to frown. Was this foolish husband of mine jealous of the same bodyguard that he had hired to protect me?I almost facepalmed myself at the thought. But since I was
Kyle "S-Shut your mouth." I said with a stutter."Why should I? Everyone knows about your unrequited love for her. It's honestly pathetic, but to think that you would go against the kingdom for her. You've become so soft and stupid-"I tightened my grip on Thomas's hands and forced him to shut up."I've said what I wanted to say. Stop making a fool of yourself and keep quiet. This has absolutely nothing to do with you." I spoke with a deep and threatening voice.Thomas didn't say anything again, but it looked like he had something to say."And if you think about telling anyone about tonight, remember that you were also in that shop." I added.It meant that Thomas also wanted to purchase something that was not appropriate. His eyes widened as he understood what I was talking about. Then they narrowed into slits."Fine. Whatever." He finally relented with a reluctant tone.I slowly let go of him and backed away. "What were you there for?" I asked him.Thomas glared at me shamelessly a
Kyle My hands were trembling. Ever since I left the castle, my entire body has been shaking. Would I really be able to do this? Betray my kingdom... Betray everything I serve, everything I believe in. All for the very person that I serve, the person I believe in, the person I love. Could I really do that? What was I thinking? I was already doing it. I was already close to a hidden tonic shop. There was no time to regret my actions or turn back. I had already promised my lady that I would do everything for her. Including this. And I very well knew why she wouldn't want to give birth to the next heir. She was human, damn it! And she wanted to remain human. She didn't want to turn into us... me... It was still clear that she held resentment for the Lycan kind. Abortion tonics were not exactly illegal. From time to time, people would come to order them. Not everyone had to bear the heir to the throne who was important and ending their life in a womb was a sin. And also, this par