Liam's POV"I can't say I don't understand the wording," Andre said with doubt in his words. "It's just…"I watched him space out with a confused look on his face. He was examining the letter that Hunter sent in my study and I wondered how long that was going to take."Are you sure he wrote that?" I asked. "How would we even know?"Andre dropped the letter on my desk, "I can't say. I thought the warriors all went through very formal education or… did he skip school?"I wondered who he threw that question at. Despite us being the only ones in the room, I was certain that question wasn't directed at me."What does it say?""Well, according to him, everything is fine," Andre said. "He's still investigating Blue Hill trying to gather information. Although, his use of tenses are an eyesore, I can't just seem to ignore it," he faked a gag. "Sorry, I'm allergic to terrible handwriting and bad grammar."I chuckled. That was something Emma could say. Speaking of, "Where is Emma?""You sent her
Aurelia's POV"Alpha Adrian sent me to give you this. His guests have arrived.""Guests," I looked towards the window. "This late at night?""He said they've been travelling far," she said. "I've never seen the Alpha so happy before," she was smiling now and I wondered how important those people were. "He's holding a feast soon.""So I have to attend?" I looked down at the dress she presented to me. "Can't I just stay in my room?" I had no business there."Besides, meeting his guests are not my duties. That's Aria's. I'm not taking her place. Send the dress back-""What?" Her eyes widened in shock."I won't be attending," I walked back to my bed and climbed in, arranging my pillows so I could rest my back on it. I could really use a massage right now."Oh and on your way back, get me something warm to drink-""Aurelia," Adrian barged in. He was all dressed up like he was welcoming a king. He had his hair braided and it looked really nice. For a wicked Alpha, he sure had a bright smile
Emma's POVThat imbecile!"Is he referring to Aurelia?" I heard Adrian question himself. Why didn't I just knock that idiot out when I had the chance?"Aurelia!" he called again with excitement in his voice."Be careful," her eyes snapped to mine at my words. "The next step depends on you," she stared at me cluelessly and severely conflicted on what to do. She was probably weighing her options; whether or not she could trust me but I wasn't going to tell her what to do.Seeing how Adrian had referred to her as a concubine, it was safe to assume that he was treating her well. If she had some sense, she would play along but then again, she could always turn against me which would backfire if she wasn't careful enough.I turned around with a straight face, glancing at Hunter who wore a huge relieved smile on his face and Adrian and Aria who stared at me in confusion."Who said that?" I tilted my head. "Was that you, Alpha Adrian? Did you refer to me as queen?"He opened his mouth to spe
Aurelia's POVI flipped the toilet seat open and almost immediately I threw up the disgust that had stored in the pit of my stomach. I held my hair back as I threw up, tears rolling down my cheek. I gripped the toilet seat hard and once I was done, I flushed the toilet and washed my mouth.The room was spinning as I stepped into it. I held onto the wall to support myself from falling. This couldn’t be happening to me. I wanted to wake up. I wanted nothing more than to open my eyes in my mother’s arms. I was tired of the ups and downs and I needed to rest my heart and my head at once.Was it right to have denied Hunter that way? I never thought I would see him again, especially not like this. It was quite a shock to see him with Emma. I knew he didn't trust her one bit but I too had to play it safe. Who knew what Adrian would do once he found out that I was Liam's mate.I needed to protect myself especially for the sake of my child. And..I could see the unspoken intent in Emma's eyes a
Aurelia's POV"Fine, I'll take you there," Olivia said a few minutes after Emma left my room. I changed into my casual clothes and followed behind her. We snuck all the way there, hiding from Adrian or Aria's eyes but I walked past the guards with my head held high.The guards at the dungeon stopped us, requesting a pass from the Alpha as proof that we had his permission to enter but I figured my way around it."Are you denying me entry?" I asked them with a bold voice. "It's not official yet but I'm sure you've heard the rumours of my soon to be position."I turned the other way, "Fine there. Let's see whose head shall remain on their neck-""W-Wait," he called me back. "You can enter. Please don't report us to the Alpha. We were only doing our duties."I ignored them and walked in, "Wait here," I told Olivia as I walked further into the dungeon. It was a bit dark and that made me extra cautious especially with the fact that Norton was here somewhere.Some of the cells were empty wh
Aurelia's POV"H-How long have you known?" Hunter asked with a stuttering voice as I withdrew his hand.I offered him a little smile and shrugged, "From Blue Hill. About… a week ago." Besides that I'd been eating well since Adrian found out, this still wasn't the safest place to raise a child.My child's life was in danger now that Norton was around and I fear we were running out of time too fast. "I don't want to go back but for the time being, that place is better than here.""Aurelia," he whispered and tried to move a little closer. "Do you know who you're with? You're carrying the future king of the," he couldn't even finish the words. "He would never let you go if he finds out.""I guess I know that… I don't know," I had tried to think about Liam's reaction to the news of me carrying his child. Would he ever let me? Children were what we talked about- Fuck! We talked about starting a family together until I found out he-"But uhm… we'll just have to get out of here first, right?
Liam's POV"How will we know the sign?" I asked again for the hundredth time or even more. They spoke of a go-ahead sign for Hunter but I was getting too impatient."We'll know when," Mira assured me."You better not hide anything from me this time," I warned in a hasty tone."We won't, your highness," Carlos said but that did nothing to calm me down."Andre, it's taking too long. When did the previous letter arrive?" I was pacing my study and with each minute, I was increasing my pace the same way I grew impatient."A few hours earlier, your highness," Andre replied. He must be getting tired of me already. He had been answering the same question since this morning."It's late.""That's because he's probably already in the Wild Rose Pack," Andre explained… again. "It would take longer for him to-"There was a knock on the door and Andre rushed to it faster in a heartbeat. He stepped outside and I tried to hold myself back from listening in on the conversation."Any news on Emma?" I as
Adrian's POV"Emma… what is he-- what does he mean by that?" I looked back and forth between a cackling Norton and a speechless Emma. Her silence only increased the anxiety in my stomach and I felt my wolf on edge.The look on Aurelia's face was enough to make me believe that information but applying logic to it.. It proved impossible. How could she be the King's mate?Even worse, she carried his baby? That would only mean that she had met the King on more than two occasions and surely he knew she was his mate. Then… why did he let her go or perhaps did she… did she run away from him too-Wait. Was that where she was running from when she wandered into my Pack? She had deceived me! I thought I held the upper hand here but if what Norton said was the truth then trouble was an understatement."Is that why you're here?" I turned to Emma who still stared at Aurelia in shock. "Answer me goddammit!""Yes," she blinked at me, turning her head with such calmness that only stepped on my nerves
Aurelia's POV How long has it been? "Your highness," I smiled at the guards as I walked past, feeling a bit self conscious at their greetings. I thought I would've gotten used to it now… well I was trying but the thought that everyone in the Pack knew my name and my title, was a bit terrifying. The Castle had been rebuilt as well as the properties that had been destroyed in the war. "Your highness!" Mia called in a sing-song voice. She rushed over to me with Glenn and Olivia by her side. It was nice to see them again. After the mating ceremony two weeks ago, I had sent a few guards to search for them and luckily, they were alive and well. I wish I could say the same for Casey. She fell alongside the Wild Rose Pack. "I've set everything already," I paused. "Well, the maids did. Let's go?" they nodded eagerly and we headed straight to the tunnels where everything came to an end. With the breeze in my hair and the laughter of my friends, I felt relieved. I never thought I could be
Aurelia's POV"Stay back!""Let go of her, Emma!""If you take one step closer, I'll kill her!" her voice was breaking like she was in tears but there was still a hint of fear and panic in her tone."You've done enough already! Do you really want to add this to your sins?" This voice belonged to Emma. She was probably grinding her teeth in anger. She sounded like she would explode any minute.I was slowly regaining consciousness and strength over my body but I kept my eyes closed. The chain was no longer around my neck but her arm instead and she held me so close to her chest."I did everything for you!" Emma screamed. That meant that Liam was close by. "Everything! I gave my whole life to you. Everything you did, I did it too just so you wouldn't feel left out and alone-""You assumed all of that," Liam was sounding surprisingly calm. I didn't expect that. I wish I could see the expression on his face; would it be blank like a sheet or worried like a true lover?"Ha," she gushed out
Aurelia's POVThere was no more than needed to be said. Emma had chosen her own path a long time ago. What was I thinking trying to show her pity? After all she had done, the only thing she deserved was death."I'm sick of this," Mia said beside me and started to walk towards them. "I'm going to beat her to a pulp and make sure she's hanging from a tree." She increased her pace and charged towards Emma.Just then, a few rogues in wolf form jumped out, attacking Hunter and Mia dodged quickly and surrounded me, keeping their eyes at the rogues that continued to increase.We were surrounded and from the look of things, it would take a miracle for us to get out of here alive."They killed the boss," Emma said, pointing in our direction. "I couldn't do anything because of this," she tugged at her chains. "Where is the key? Release me at once-""The key is with the Prince," someone answered her."What? Where is he? I can't wait that long? What if they kill everyone and come after me too?" S
Aurelia's POVIt wasn't even up to thirty minutes and one group had been annihilated. How did they-"Are you the real Aurelia or are you actually a fake?" they sneered and I recoiled to my corner while Mia shielded their evil eyes from me. I could feel their murderous intent and the hard pressure of their gaze."Sorry," the smile in Mia's voice gave off a psychotic vibe that made me shiver. She was having a good time. I had almost forgotten that Mia had a thing for trouble."They are increasing!" one of the guards yelled from behind. "We can't stay here any longer. We'll be trapped-""Idiot! We're already trapped here. We either go back to the Castle or we go out there but either way, we're gonna have to fight and some of us are going to die and it's not gonna be me because his highness told me to live!" She grabbed my arm and pulled me towards them."Keep your face down!" she yelled as she pulled me further into the tunnel. I could only stare at the floor as the guards fought their w
Aurelia's POV"How serious is it?" I asked for the umpteenth time but every time I did, something strange happened."Should I braid your hair?" Mia asked with a cheerful smile- more like a forced one. "I learnt how to braid when you were away."Whenever I asked about the war, someone would change the subject. It was too obvious they were avoiding having to answer, especially when they answered with something completely unrelated."I know what you guys are doing," I leaned back on my pillows, staring at all three of them. "You don't have to do that. Just say you can't tell me or that it's confidential."They glanced at each other before Carlos spoke up, "Wouldn't it be strange to tell the future Queen that a war is happening in her own land and she can't be informed about it.""Really?" I rolled my eyes. "Yet, no one is telling me anything.""We don't want you to worry," Hunter said as he stood by the door with his arms folded and his eyes closed. He was probably paying attention to so
Liam's POVMia closed the door behind her, leaving me and Aurelia in our bedroom. I didn’t think she would have still been awake. It was a shock to hear her giggling from the hallway with Hunter, Carlos and Mia.Now she was swinging her legs while she sat on our bed in a silky thin strap night dress that covered her knees."I have never wanted to make eunuchs out of my warriors so bad," she gasped at my words with a smile on her face. "Tell, my dear, am I wrong to think such things? You're practically naked.""I'm wearing something," she said in her defence."Yes. I see your point," I folded my arms and kept my gaze on her boobs. It took a while but when she understood that, she threw a hand over her breasts."It wasn't like that a few minutes ago" she looked away. "My body only ever malfunctions when you’re close by." she blushed."So you’re saying even when you're next to my grave, you're ready to-""Liam!" She covered her face. "My goodness!" she shook her head aggressively with a
Liam's POV"You gave them twenty four hours?" Andre repeated."That's 16 hours left," I pointed out. I had spent a great deal of time with Aurelia, exploring her body like it would be the last and enjoying our mate bond. The minute I stepped into the room filled with my commanders, everyone could smell the mate mark on me.Their faces lifted up and they were all in high spirits. They couldn't wait to get the war over and done with so they could hold a feast and celebrate that their king had finally been mated."We should ready the warriors soon," Commander Rhys said, staring at the map. "I'll lead my team to the southern part. We should have all four entrances blocked and have them surrounded. I have heard some pretty dark rumours about Norton.""Me too," Commander Denice replied absentmindedly with a hand stroking his chin. "The number of rogues he controls are," he trailed off. "If they all defend Red Valley, we may have a hard time penetrating.""But it's not impossible," Commander
Liam's POVWe arrived with my beast in no time. Even the guards by the border didn't see us when we passed. They only felt the gush of wind and I saw how they all panicked, calling for backup immediately and some chasing after us. They alerted the Castle through the mindlink and once we arrived, I heard the footsteps of a hundred men, rushing to protect the land.I set Aurelia on her feet who clutched my hand like she would lose balance. She smiled up at me and despite the fear on her face, she had been thrilled by the ride. Her heart was beating loudly and I placed my hand on her stomach, hoping that wasn't too rough on our child."We're fine," she said, putting her hand over mine."We have you surrounded!" Andre yelled and stepped forward. "Surrender now or-" his words disappeared when he came a little closer and he recognized who was before him. His eyes moved between Aurelia and I with tears in his eyes.I saw the burden lift up on his shoulders and he turned to the others, "Someo
Liam's POV"What do you mean by that?""The Beta families suffered an unfortunate fate! It is a sensitive topic-- how dare you bring it up so casually!""Unfortunate fate?" I repeated the word and glared at the woman who had said that, ''how disgraceful!''She flinched at my gaze but refused to back down. Her eyes were bloodlust and I saw through her boiling anger-- thanks to the file of course. She had lost a dear friend too but the case was swept under the rug for very obvious reasons that were oblivious to them."We will not allow you to speak about our dead-""What investigation was carried out?" I asked them. "Were the perpetrators even brought to justice? You tell me you honour your dead yet you all failed to produce the killer.""Your visit here is about my son," Alpha Hector chipped in. "I have promised to scold him so refrain from-""I have evidence," I took out the papers from my robe. "Evidence that Norton is behind what you termed an 'unfortunate event'.""Such wild accusa