Grant narrowed his eyes on her as she flinched. Had she not already been kneeling, she was sure she knew would have given away by now. “Explain yourself,” Grant commanded. “Your presence seems to affect her, providing the needed relief. I…I think it would be more effective if you were to mate her, your Majesty,” Calista said and closed her eyes tightly waiting for his outburst but even after a few had passed, there was none and she opened her eyes and looked at him.He appeared to be considering it….!? Calista blinked, and then she inwardly sighed in relief. At least he wasn't offended by the suggestion. “That won't do,” Grant spoke. In his arms, Esme shuddered when she heard Calista's suggestion. Her hand gripped his shirt so tightly she thought her fingers must have gone through the fabric already. “She is not ready for that. Do something about the pain,” he added, his eyes meeting those of Calista and the healer. “Make it stop for now. Then I will think of something later,” he
The sound of the door opening jolted Esme awake. Sitting up abruptly, a sharp, unexpected pain shot through her her, from her abdomen upwards. “Arh…” she winced and cried out. Her hand clutched her stomach as her expression twisted.“Be careful. You are not fully recovered yet,” she heard a voice that sounded familiar say, but she could recall where and who she heard it from. She scurried away when he wanted to touch her to check on her. Eyes were filled with fear, and she continued to move back, ignoring the gnawing pain in her stomach. ‘Instinctive reaction,’ He paused at that thought. His expression that had just brightened up at the sight of her waking the moment he came in, darkened. But when he saw the fear in her eyes, he sighed. “I won't touch you,” he said, raising his hands and stepping backward.Esme looked around and took in the unfamiliar room. It was too large to be her own. And thisan right here… it was then that she recalled how she ended up on the room. Her par
“You don't look so good,” Dawson commented with a massive frown on his face. Although he was talking to Ophelia, he never looked at her. Ohpelia clicked her tongue in distaste. She glared daggers at him. Even though he felt her glares, he still didn't spare a glance and sunk his teeth into the steak on his fork. “Why is Esme not here, Dad?” she asked as if she didn't know that Esme was no longer within the pack premises. She wanted to k owing if her family knew about it where she had gone and, most especially, the people who took her. “She ran away,” Dane replied, pausing to look at her briefly before he looked back at the place in front of him. “Eat your food and don't worry about her. She will come back once she gets some sense,” he even waved his hand dismissively as if it didn't matter. “You seem quite certain. Why so?” Ophelia asked. She pulled and picked the plate in front of her and began putting food on it. “The man she went to doesn't seem like just anybody. I saw him,”
Esme walked into the room after having a lityk3 conversation with Alicia and learning that she was doing fine. She looked even happier here in the palace and according g to her, everyone treated her nicely and didn't look down on her because she was an omega.Esme couldn't be happier to see her onky friend happy. It felt great to see her smiling like that.Now, she was back in her room and wanted to rest. Grant was right when he said she had had a long day. Her body needed rest, and after the ordeal of the sudden pain and the knowledge that someone placed a curse on her, everything was just too much for her to handle, and right now, she felt exhausted. She sat on the bed and looked down at her feet. She had new and clean shoes on her feet. Even the dress she had on was new. The clothes they had prepared to take along with them were probably hurt along with the pack, and they also forgot to go and get them while leaving.She sighed and fell backward on the bed. It was sift and warm an
Baby, I don't know what love isMaybe I'm a foolI just know what I'm feelingAnd it's all because of youDon't tell me I don't knowI want the truth‘Cause they call it, You call it, We call it I call it love-------Lionel Richie —I call it love-------************Esme struggled, trying to pull away from his grip, but she never stood a chance. Her weakness reminded her of her helplessness, and despite her efforts to hold back her tears, they slipped out of her control as if having a mind of its own. She didn't want to hear anything that he had to say. They would all be lies like his promise to her. The only thing that was different was that he didn't outrightly reject her immediately. He helped her leave the pack. Her nightmare. That was all. “Let me go, please… I just want to go…” she continued to struggle despite knowing how futile it was. “Esme…” Grant called, but she just shook her head refus8 g to hear the word he would say. His heart clenched tightly, but he wanted to unde
The night was lively as all pack members of the Night Crawler Pack gathered to witness the first shift of the pups who had come of age. Tonight, under the moonlight and before their goddess, they will witness this life-changing event. Children between the ages of five and eight have all awaited this day along with their parents. The night of the blood moon, which comes once every four years, was finally here, and the children couldn’t wait to meet their wolves. Once a shifter gets a wolf, they will immediately be considered full-fledged members of the pack and one who can bring great contribution to the kingdom and realm at large. Esme once experienced this adrenalin that came with that anticipation. How long ago was that again? Yes, that was eleven years at the age of seven when she also stood along with children her age before the goddess to be blessed with a wolf. That ritual had ended, and only she was left standing on her two feet while others walked about in their new s
Esme rushed to her room to clean up, and that was when she realized how much blood she had lost. Her body felt heavy and eyes dizzy. Rest was an order, but she knew she couldn't have that. The guests were still around, and the pack was still in a celebratory mood. If she sleeps now, then she is only courting more punishment and public humiliation. She stood before the mirror, although covered in cracks. It was all she had. The dimly lit room illuminated only by a few candles was her not so safe haven. Now, before the mirror, she could see the crimson stain on her snow-white hair. A sharp contrast to the rest. Her clothes were also ruined, and although they wouldn't be considered worthy of wearing anymore, she would wash and sew them because she didn't have much to throw away anything. “It'll be midnight soon,” she said to herself, a gentle reminder of her eighteenth birthday being only minutes away. Many girls find their fated mates at hours like this. A girls eighteenth bi
Dane sensed the gaze of Esme directed at them, and he frowned. Searching for her, he found that she was indeed staring at them. No, to be more specific, she was staring at one of the youngest alphas of the kingdom, Julius Carter, alpha of Midnight Pack. His frown deepened when he turned and found Julius staring at her with curiosity brimming in his eyes. But he could also see the conflict brewing within them. It was not hard to tell what was going on when he knew that the brat down was of age now. Tonight. A small smile crept up his lips at the realization. He didn't need to do anything now. His deal with Midnight Pack would become a reality now. The girl has truly proven useful after all… Who would have thought? “Shall we join…” Dane began but was interrupted by Julius, whose gaze was still on Esme. “Who is she?” He asked. The scent of chocolate and vanilla had him surrounded, drowning out every other scent, and his sole focus at the moment was her. Everything around him se
Baby, I don't know what love isMaybe I'm a foolI just know what I'm feelingAnd it's all because of youDon't tell me I don't knowI want the truth‘Cause they call it, You call it, We call it I call it love-------Lionel Richie —I call it love-------************Esme struggled, trying to pull away from his grip, but she never stood a chance. Her weakness reminded her of her helplessness, and despite her efforts to hold back her tears, they slipped out of her control as if having a mind of its own. She didn't want to hear anything that he had to say. They would all be lies like his promise to her. The only thing that was different was that he didn't outrightly reject her immediately. He helped her leave the pack. Her nightmare. That was all. “Let me go, please… I just want to go…” she continued to struggle despite knowing how futile it was. “Esme…” Grant called, but she just shook her head refus8 g to hear the word he would say. His heart clenched tightly, but he wanted to unde
Esme walked into the room after having a lityk3 conversation with Alicia and learning that she was doing fine. She looked even happier here in the palace and according g to her, everyone treated her nicely and didn't look down on her because she was an omega.Esme couldn't be happier to see her onky friend happy. It felt great to see her smiling like that.Now, she was back in her room and wanted to rest. Grant was right when he said she had had a long day. Her body needed rest, and after the ordeal of the sudden pain and the knowledge that someone placed a curse on her, everything was just too much for her to handle, and right now, she felt exhausted. She sat on the bed and looked down at her feet. She had new and clean shoes on her feet. Even the dress she had on was new. The clothes they had prepared to take along with them were probably hurt along with the pack, and they also forgot to go and get them while leaving.She sighed and fell backward on the bed. It was sift and warm an
“You don't look so good,” Dawson commented with a massive frown on his face. Although he was talking to Ophelia, he never looked at her. Ohpelia clicked her tongue in distaste. She glared daggers at him. Even though he felt her glares, he still didn't spare a glance and sunk his teeth into the steak on his fork. “Why is Esme not here, Dad?” she asked as if she didn't know that Esme was no longer within the pack premises. She wanted to k owing if her family knew about it where she had gone and, most especially, the people who took her. “She ran away,” Dane replied, pausing to look at her briefly before he looked back at the place in front of him. “Eat your food and don't worry about her. She will come back once she gets some sense,” he even waved his hand dismissively as if it didn't matter. “You seem quite certain. Why so?” Ophelia asked. She pulled and picked the plate in front of her and began putting food on it. “The man she went to doesn't seem like just anybody. I saw him,”
The sound of the door opening jolted Esme awake. Sitting up abruptly, a sharp, unexpected pain shot through her her, from her abdomen upwards. “Arh…” she winced and cried out. Her hand clutched her stomach as her expression twisted.“Be careful. You are not fully recovered yet,” she heard a voice that sounded familiar say, but she could recall where and who she heard it from. She scurried away when he wanted to touch her to check on her. Eyes were filled with fear, and she continued to move back, ignoring the gnawing pain in her stomach. ‘Instinctive reaction,’ He paused at that thought. His expression that had just brightened up at the sight of her waking the moment he came in, darkened. But when he saw the fear in her eyes, he sighed. “I won't touch you,” he said, raising his hands and stepping backward.Esme looked around and took in the unfamiliar room. It was too large to be her own. And thisan right here… it was then that she recalled how she ended up on the room. Her par
Grant narrowed his eyes on her as she flinched. Had she not already been kneeling, she was sure she knew would have given away by now. “Explain yourself,” Grant commanded. “Your presence seems to affect her, providing the needed relief. I…I think it would be more effective if you were to mate her, your Majesty,” Calista said and closed her eyes tightly waiting for his outburst but even after a few had passed, there was none and she opened her eyes and looked at him.He appeared to be considering it….!? Calista blinked, and then she inwardly sighed in relief. At least he wasn't offended by the suggestion. “That won't do,” Grant spoke. In his arms, Esme shuddered when she heard Calista's suggestion. Her hand gripped his shirt so tightly she thought her fingers must have gone through the fabric already. “She is not ready for that. Do something about the pain,” he added, his eyes meeting those of Calista and the healer. “Make it stop for now. Then I will think of something later,” he
“I….I dont…. I am not…” The healer fumbled with her words, which only aggravated Grant's anger, and once she felt the temperature in the room drop, she knew she had already messed up. “I have never seen anything like this before, my King. The child, she.. is not ill. I can't find the cause of the pain,” she quickly said, knowing she had to say something despite her stuttering, “Then what good are you being here, alive?” Grant stared at her, his beats prowling just beneath the surface. It was as mad as he was that the healer they kept around had proven to be useless at the time she was needed the most. The healer staggered back, her heart accelerating at the king's words, knowing that if something wasn't done, then she was done for. “Please your Majesty, let me try again. I know I can…” she said, trying as hard as she could to do something before her life came to an unwanted end. “Take her away and find someone more capable,’ Grant ordered, and the healer slumped to the ground. Her
Esme had never felt anything this before. This pain, it was as if her insides were being pulled at, and her heart squeezed painfully. It was excruciating. She couldn't even hear her own voice despite how loud she was shouting. She felt like stripping of her clothes, doing anything that could take the pain away, and then suddenly, she felt a pair of arms curl around her frame. She couldn't discern what was happening or but she felt the spark that traveled through her body. It was Grant. Even though she didn't want to get any closer than she already was, being in his arms did make everything feel better. She could breathe unlike before when breathing was also a difficult task to do just a few seconds ago. Wanting relief, she clung to him, her soft and delicate body clinging to his harder one. It felt just perfect. She sniffed him, and strangely enough, that helped too. She rubbed her face on his own while her hands curled around his neck as he lifted her off the ground. Gra
At the NightCrawler Pack,Dane stood in frustration. Not only has he lost his pack, but he has also lost the last Hawthorne. A pureblood blessed one. His aura reek menace and everyone who came close instinctively drew away, not wanting to get caught by in the Alpha's wrath.“Why did you let them take her, Father. You know what a great loss that is,” Dawson snapped, stomping towards his father. Ever since his injuries healed and he learned that Esme had been taken away, all he did was make a fuss. Regretting why he listened to his father and not slept with girl when he wanted to. Now, the so-called king has taken her. Even he couldn’t ignore the blessed bloodline. “We have to get her back,” Dawson stated firmly. His fists tightly clenched at his side, and his teeth gnashed against each other out of anger and irritation. The very idea that she was gone and no longer within their grasp rubbed him so terribly badly that he didn't care if the one who had taken her was the king.“Watch yo
Several hours later, Esme and Alicia were within the palace walls. The grand palace of Lyrria stood majestically before them. The air was refreshing, and the knowledge that they were finally out of the NightCrawler Pack offered them another sense of relief. Running from one of the cars, Alicia happily approached Esme. “My lady,” Alicia called, smiling as she looked ahead of them, her hands clasped together and her eyes brimming with happiness. “We are finally out of there,” Esme said, and Alicia nodded her head. “Yes. And it's all thanks to you, my lady,” Alicia said. She looked at Esme gratefully. She was still shocked that Esme was mated to the king, but then, she knew Esme deserved only the best the world could offer. The NightCrawler Pack and Alpha Julius just didn't see her importance and value, and now, someone else had seen it. The goddess smiled on Esme. Their lives would take a turn for the better.For the first time since the incident, Alicia smiled. She appeared rejuven