..........Evaki ..........I look out the window at the picturesque scenery as we travel down the winding roads of the countryside. We've been driving for almost an hour, and we've now left the city completely behind. I slide down my window, the fresh air invigorating as I marvel at the rolling hills dotted with wildflowers and streams. This reminds me of my village. I enjoy city life, but if I had to choose between city and country living, I would choose the latter. Paris looks at me and smiles, and I return the smile with an even bigger one. "We’re almost there," he says, raising my hand to his lips and leaving a kiss atop it. We drive in comfortable silence for a while before we finally arrive at our destination, and I gape in awe at the opulent mansion in front of us, surrounded by lush greenery and a stable close by."Where are we?" I whisper, my eyes wandering to the stylish patio as we pull into the large driveway, and he says we are home, confusing me. He comes around to my
.........Paris ........."Are you ready?" I ask Eva, and she nods, whispering a yes while the familiar pain stifles my heart as I hear her heartbeat rise with fear. We came back about an hour ago from our new home, and her mood immediately shifted once we got back here. She pretended like it hadn’t, but I could see and feel that it had. I’m trying to lessen the pressure, but it’s not helping. She feels like she’s letting me down by not falling pregnant, and it’s tearing her apart. It’s making her feel unworthy.I let her go and head to the door to let the elders in. They enter and follow me inside after greeting me. She knows what to do since this isn’t her first checkup, so she follows them toward the bathroom. I wish I could be there, but I’m not allowed in, so I head toward the window and look outside. I don't know what I'm looking at, but I'm unable to sit. Eva confessed to me while we were in Arcamia that she went to a fertility clinic with Tory. She expected me to be mad that
...............Stefania ...............I hesitate for a second after entering the palace, unsure if I should see Pari’s parents first or my soon-to-be husband and his beloved wife. But it would look better if I started with Eva and Paris, so I proceed inside and toward their room's direction. I instruct the guards to make my people feel at home and only take one guard with me, the one carrying the gifts. I don't need protection from this point on. I’m safe here."My king!" I exclaim, seeing Paris coming down the staircase just as I turn the corner, looking like he's coming from the direction of his father’s office. He stops and turns to me, saying there's no need for such formalities when no one is around, as I curtsy. His face stretches into a smile as he says that, but I can immediately tell that something is wrong. He asks how I'm doing, adding that it's good to see me, and I tell him I’m fine before asking him. He says he's good, and I compliment him, telling him he looks goo
...............Stefania..............."No, I-I was just wondering," Eva says, and I look away, knowing my face will reveal my intentions if I don’t take a second. I open my mouth after I’ve composed myself but close it again, deciding not to push. I have to be careful. I don’t have all the time in the world, but I will have to find some other way to push; maybe I won’t even have to—maybe the idea has already been planted. After we finish drinking our tea, we chat for a bit, and I tell her I will be going, adding that she also needs to rest since tomorrow might be exhausting. Her expression immediately morphs to one of dread the moment I mention tomorrow. She follows me to my feet, and we share a hug that we linger in for a while before pulling back while I assure her that she’s going to be okay. "Everything will happen at the right time," I add before wishing her luck, and she thanks me as we pull back. She asks if I’m going to be okay tomorrow, and I tell her I have no choice but
.........Evaki.........I nervously sit in the car, watching the passing countryside as my driver makes his way toward the kingdom. Stefania wanted to send her royal guard to meet me at the airport, but I told her not to. We want this visit to remain between the two of us; it’s the reason she didn’t even want me to tell Tory, from whom I never keep anything. So, I felt a royal guard would work against that. Instead of a royal escort, I took a page from her book and only brought Malachy, my trusted guard. I sigh, looking at my wedding band, and my heart sinks very low, thinking of how I lied to my husband. I left him in the throne room after I was done with the things I had to do. After speaking to Stefania last night, she wanted to postpone her meeting with the fortune teller, thinking I wouldn’t be able to make it today, but I told her I would. Before she mentioned the fortune teller, I had accepted that there was nothing I could do except pray, but after she mentioned it, my brai
.........Evaki ........."I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I cannot see into your future," he says, his voice low and serious, and tears immediately pool in my eyes as I ask him to try again. He closes his eyes and opens them again, looking into mine, which are now gleaming with tears again. But he shakes his head, saying it’s blank."You are a seer; you must be doing something wrong. I have to know." I choke on the lump in my throat as my anxiety turns to anger, even though a part of me knows he’s probably telling the truth and really can’t."I’m sorry, Your Majesty. Only time can reveal your future to you," he says, looking at me with compassion in his eyes as I struggle to keep my tears from falling."I want to be alone," I say in hushed tones, and he gets up and bows, saying of course before exiting the room. I don't even wait for him to close the door before bursting into tears. I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe this is happening. I’m still sitting there, crying w
.........Paris........."Welcome, my love," I say, trying to sound calm as I take her coat before pulling her into a quick kiss and then leading her to the table. I had all her favorite dishes made and spared no expense in creating the perfect atmosphere for this moment. But as we sit down to eat, my nerves get the best of me. I fidget with my fork and take a deep breath, trying to summon the courage to speak when the time comes. I want her to enjoy the meal first. She compliments the food, but stops mid-sentence and asks if I’m okay, making me realize I’m showing. I quickly try to fix my face as best as I can and tell her I am. I can see she’s not buying it, but she doesn’t say anything. She reaches across the table and holds my hand for a bit. Ever since having the discussion with my father, I haven’t been okay, and I know, as much as I’ve tried to hide it, that she knows something is wrong. I hated doing that to her, but I didn’t know how I would begin telling her what I’m about
.........Paris.........I close my eyes and lean against the door after closing it behind Anton. Father sent him to get Eva and me, but I’m not forcing her to go out there while she’s this broken. It’s been three days since I told Eva what I have to do, and she hasn’t gotten out of bed since then. When we came back from the house, she never said anything to me in the car. I didn’t push her because I knew she needed time. We got into bed because it was nighttime when we got here and I had to go into the office the following day. The following morning, I apologized to her again. I told her that I begged the council to give us some more time, but they only said I had a week to tell her and ask Stefania to have me back. After that, I called Tory to come be with her, and she did, but when I returned to check on her, she said she didn’t say anything and was just lying in bed unmoving the whole time except for when she had to use the bathroom. I didn’t want to leave her, but I had a meetin
.......Tory.......My heart skips a beat and my eyes widen before tears quickly fill my eyes, taking in the breathtaking sight that greets us as we arrive at Antonis' father’s kingdom. I look at him to see a surge of emotions overwhelm him as he looks at me, his eyes mirroring mine, reflecting a mixture of joy, relief, and gratitude. The people have come out in droves to welcome us. The king and council pardoned Antonis, but we weren’t sure how the people felt, especially since they had been under the rule of someone with ulterior motives for so long. Dimitris might not have been the official ruler, but he still ruled, and many were born under his rule.We step out of the car and onto a raised platform, where we can see the sea of faces in the crowd. There are men, women, and children of all ages smiling and waving enthusiastically. I can feel the love and admiration radiating from the crowd, and a tear slips from my eye at the genuine warmth and acceptance we are receiving.Overwh
........................Author's POV......................................................Two months later..............................As the sun sets over the picturesque landscape, Evaki and Paris stand in awe of the serene beauty that surrounds them. They are attending a private wedding ceremony as witnesses, a momentous occasion for the brides and grooms. The couples look radiant, their eyes filled with love and excitement for the future.Evaki is wearing a silver gown with a regal silhouette that exudes elegance and grace. Paris stands next to her in a silver tunic tailored to exude sophistication and prestige, his hand resting on her lower back as they stand side by side. They are honored to be part of this special day, supporting their friends and family as they embark on their journey as husband and wife. Maia looks like the queen that she is in an exquisite masterpiece crafted from the finest burgundy silk, the color of Antonis's house. Kyros stands next to her in a g
........................Author’s POV......................."What’s happening Paris, please? And don’t tell me it’s nothing. Why do you reek of blood? What’s all this?" Evaki bombards Paris with questions, and Paris cuts her off, saying it’s Stefania. Evaki’s heart immediately accelerates, her eyes widening as she asks him what’s wrong with Stefania, her voice trembling with fear. Ever since she arrived, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong, and after her mother-in-law told her she couldn't see Stefania, she became more alarmed. Her mind starts racing. Is Stefania dead? Did she die in childbirth? Did she not wake up from the Lycan process? She starts asking herself but her thoughts are cut short by Paris’s voice, telling her that Stefania was not who they thought, confusing her."What do you mean?""She lied, Eva. She manipulated me; she hurt you. She…" Paris chokes on the lump that quickly inflates in his throat, and Eva cups his face, but Paris quickly turns
.........Evaki.........Confusion clouds my thoughts as I struggle to comprehend what's happening. My brother is supposed to be dead, buried in the ground, and yet here he is, standing in the flesh before me. My thoughts spiral into a whirlwind of questions while my heart pounds in my chest, echoing loudly in my ears and causing my hands to start trembling. I stare into the eyes that mirror my late brother’s. The same unruly mop of blonde hair, the same sharp jawline, and the same mischievous smile that used to light up our childhood memories. It can’t be."Everett?" I whisper again, my voice barely above a whisper, and my eyes wide with confusion as he takes small, cautious steps towards me, his eyes fixed on mine. His hand reaches out slowly, tentatively, as if afraid I might disappear if he moves too quickly."Hello, sister," he says, his voice choking with tears as I lean into the familiar touch. "My name is Kyros. I never met our mother, and I just found out that she never tol
.........Evaki ........The grandeur of the palace looms before us as we step out of the car, and my eyes widen with a new sense of wonder. My transformation into a wolf has heightened my senses beyond anything I could have imagined, making me see the world with a clarity I have never experienced before. The colors are richer, the textures are more defined, and the scents are incredibly distinct. I can even identify the faint scent of humans, which surprises me as they are nothing like what I imagined. Wolves can always tell when a person is human before they even see them, and I thought that meant humans had the same scent, but it turns out they don't. Humans have different scents, with the only common denominator being the strength of their scents, which are very weak compared to those of wolves. Everyone smells good, but Paris smells divine and intoxicating. I even found myself sniffing him on the plane.I look at him as we make our way toward our quarters, and my brows furrow
........Tory .........I look back as we enter the forest, even though I know the house is sealed and the baby is safe. I also have a monitor and will be able to check on him if he wakes up. I didn't want to bring him out here, but I couldn't miss witnessing this very special moment as my friend joins me on the supernatural side. Paris sets her down, and the elders walk up to check on her. We are outside in a clearing in the forest at the back of our place. The gods need to witness her first change and release their blessing upon her, so she had to be brought out here and make her first shift under the moonlight that is shining brightly above us, as though also celebrating with us. It's also the only source of light.I take a deep breath, the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves filling my nostrils and creating a sense of contentment deep within me. I love the fresh and earthy smell of the forest. I was terrified when Paris arrived with the two elders since Eva began this journe
.......................Author’s POV .......................Dimtris is still standing by the window, his mind racing with thoughts of his elaborate plot to usurp Veseleios, when the room's door clicks open. He turns, quickly fixing his face as he does, ready to shower Veseleios with a fake compliment about something he saw in the fields, but his breath catches in his throat when his eyes lock with Maia's.He doesn’t even register the uncannily Evaki look-alike next to her until a second later. "Daughter," he mumbles, his body turning cold, the look on Maia’s face sending shivers down his spine as it screams his worst fears. He wasn't kind to her the last time he saw her, and he knows she killed Charon.He quickly composes himself while thinking of how to get out of this. Charon was supposed to mark her and tell her who she was. His eyes quickly trail down to her neck, and she doesn’t have a mark, which means he didn’t mark her, but what about the truth of who she is? He can see in he
...............Stefania...............My heart races in my chest as the elder leads me to the room, and I look at my father, who's being escorted by the king to another room. He nods at something the king says, carefree with no worry in the world, while I'm dead inside. My mind is a whirlwind of anxiety, fear, and pain—the pain of losing my brother and mother. They never wanted any of this, and now they are dead. I only asked my father what killed Charon because I didn't need to ask what killed my mother. I already knew that losing her son killed her. He said he didn't know; he's waiting for the guards he sent to Red Lake to get back to him. But I knew he was lying to me. He knows because he said we can't let their deaths be in vain, which means my brother was killed doing his dirty bidding for this stupid plan that has now ended our family."This way," the elder softly says, gesturing for me to go down the stairs, and I can feel my palms growing sweaty as I clutch onto my skirts,
..........Paris ..........Antonis's voice booms over the phone. His eyes are burning with urgency as he barks orders to the guards, telling them to close all exits and stop King Dimitris and Stefania from leaving. My father and I stand frozen in shock, listening to him."Antonis, what's going on?" Father demands again, walking up to him. "Why are you closing the airport? What madness is this?" Father grabs him by the shoulders, stilling him."He's a traitor. All this time, he's been planning to kill us all. He wants to become a Lycan," he says, shocking us and Father asks him what he's talking about."You are not making sense; what are you saying? Who told you this?" he asks, now cupping his face and Antonis says it's the maid's daughter, Stefania's adopted sister."How? When?" Father asks, and I ask if she was the one mind-linking him, since this is all happening after the mind-link. He says yes, confusing us even more. Father demands that he sit down, take a breath, and then tell