Jaden's POV"You saw her?" That was the first question from Carl through mind link the moment I walked back into the palace, but I couldn't reply to him, so he wouldn't notice how my heart was racing."Are you done using the restroom?" The Alpha smiled at me, but I could only shrug."I am leaving." That was all I bluntly said in reply before turning and leaving just the way I had walked in. Carl left his chair, bowed to the Alpha, and followed me behind."Won't you wait a little longer for my daughter to return and escort you both out?" I heard what the Alpha suggested to Carl, and it forced out a deep grunt of anger inside me."Carl, if you dare agree to that, you are a goner!" Without looking back, I issued a warning via mind link."We are sorry, not today. The prince is eager to leave." Carl responded to him and scurried off, running to catch up with me.Just as I got to the porch ready to leave, Carl asked his first question again, and I had to take several deep breaths before I co
Nana's POV It was so shocking that I initially thought it was a hallucination; even as I felt the burns from his slap, I couldn't believe it was real. He just slapped me because I touched him. Not only that, he drove away. I fell heavily on the ground from the force of his slap, yet he didn't care to check on me.The royal guards around the area rushed to check on me, but I could barely see them. Even as they succeeded in helping me up, I still couldn't say anything as I was totally dumb."What happened? Why were you on the ground?" I heard Ava's voice and turned sharply to see she was also among those who were helping me up, and that couldn't help pumping rage inside my heart."What are you doing here?!" I yelled and winced as my cheeks hurt more. She gave a confused look that irked me very much. The fact that she was seeing my red cheeks made me really ashamed.Had she seen him slap me?"I just came out and saw you on the ground, so I joined the guards to check on you." She replied
My whole body froze as my blood ran cold on hearing what she just uttered. I would have laughed and seen it all as a joke if I hadn't seen her mean face and cold stare."I don't want to die!!" I cried in horror, flinging off the bottle I just drank the poison from. "Then, make Ava kill herself. Greater torture is the only way for her to end her life. Set her up with her father so he will punish her continuously. Imagine how great your life will be when you succeed. Jaden will be yours forever..." She teased, and I could only let out a deep breath, thinking about it all."I know it will be quite hard, so you have the weekend to prepare. From Monday, you can start. Ava won't be able to shift into her wolf, which will make her father hate her more and might even punish her too. Take that opportunity to request for Ava to be your personal slave." Aurora smirked again as she spilled those words."You will really make Jaden mine?" I inquired, recalling she had mentioned it earlier."It's a
Ever since I heard Nana mention the name Jaden, I had felt something strange, which my brain found so hard to understand, and all my heart had longed for was the day I would set my eyes on him. I had heard a lot about having mates and that intense bond that pulls their hearts together like a string, but I had yet to have my first shift, so it was impossible to have a mate.Prince Jaden was someone I had never met before, but his name rang a bell in my head and heart, and I felt there was something about him that my entire being craved.It was so sudden, and I never imagined it would be at this moment. I didn't expect him to come in at this very moment when my heart is shattered in pain and intense guilt for the murder of Eric and Stan. Now that he was standing in front of me, looking straight at my face, I felt something I had never felt before. In my head, I had always imagined how cute he must look, but seeing him in reality made me realize how much I had failed in creating the rea
Jaden's POV"How am I wrong? It is obvious that her kind doesn't deserve to live. She was cursed from birth. Don't you think so?" Nana snorted, her tone sounding so frustrated.I chuckled a bit, and just then, Carl's voice came in through mind link."I don't think it is safe to show any sign of care to Ava now. She is still in their possession and they can cause her greater harm once you make it clear that you like her." He whispered to me, and I nodded, realizing how true he was."I am sorry for interrupting whatever was going on here before I came, and to be honest, the reason I returned was to apologize for slapping her." I forced out those words, gritting my teeth as it really irritated me.Nana gasped and stared at me with her eyes already getting wet as she couldn't believe what I just said."Are you serious?" The Alpha and Nana exclaimed in unison, and I nodded with a fake smile, which made Nana squeak with excitement.My eyes glanced over to Ava, and I could see the shock and
"Prince, I have been waiting for you at the car pack. It is getting darker, or do you plan to sleep over?" Carl fumbled, trying to hide the frustration in his voice."We are leaving now." I responded, turning to him and back to the woman who wouldn't remove her gaze from me. It was just as if she was studying something about me that I couldn't actually understand."Good evening, ma'am." Carl sent his greetings to her in respect, smiling freely and forcing me to stare at him, confusedly wondering why he doesn't feel the same toward this woman."Oh, my son. You must be his assistant. How are you?" She responded with a cheerful tone and a bright smile that still looked pretentious to my eyes, yet Carl seemed totally blind to it as he gave her his response, undisturbed."What were you talking about with my prince that made him forget it was getting late to go home because this pack is quite far from our kingdom?" Carl asked, stealing a glance at me, and on seeing my frown, he slapped his
"Don't wish a curse on the Lycan! This girl is a cursed child, and we have to stop the Lycan from seeing her because she brings a curse to him! Have you forgotten what she did at birth?" I yelled, breathing heavily as it seemed like my nightmares were coming to reality."We can't fight fate. I resent her so much, but if things turn out that way, we will have no choice because she will not be a curse anymore, but a blessing. Many packs out there are doing everything possible to make the Lycan prince find an interest in any girl in their pack, because anyone who succeeds will be the most powerful and would rule others!" The Alpha was explaining all this to me, but I wasn't listening to the rubbish he was spilling.I can't just believe my ears. I can't believe that in the end, Ava might be the one to get his heart. Prince Jaden was soft on her, and even without saying it, everyone here saw how passionate he suddenly was.Aurora was right all along.I have to make Ava kill herself."I wil
"Moon goddess, please help me this once," I prayed silently, and just then, the door was opened. I looked up to see three Omegas walking in with plates of food and anger on their faces."You better shift today after all these good treatments." One of them scoffed as they dropped the plate for me, walking away hastily as if I would kill them if they stayed any longer.I could only sigh. *******NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON...I was sitting on a chair in the square with my head positioned to enable me to see the moon clearly.A crowd was around me. The Alpha and Nana were also sitting on the upper ground beside me, watching me. The sounds of drums and sparkles of fire were also illuminating the whole place.Every single werewolf in the pack above the age of 18 was all looking at me in anticipation.I saw as the moon finally turned full round, and at that moment, all drums seized, leaving everywhere dead silent.My heart began to hammer so hard and loudly inside my chest that I was sure anyon
Lucas I watched her sleep though it had not been induced of her own accord. Ryker had shortened her breath and brought her to me in my room. At first, when I saw her, I thought she was dead because of how limp she laid in his big arms. However, after he explained the lengths he had to go to ensure he returned with her, I took her from him and placed her where she belonged; beside me in my bed. Since then, sleep deserted me, rendering me a guard over her. I threaded her hair between my fingers, combing gently and letting the soft tresses slide away. Her scent was light as she was unconscious but once she was awake, it would fill the air with its mouthwatering vanilla aroma. Her clothes were dirty from wherever she had been, dry clumps of dirt gluing to various areas of the dress. It was ruined for sure and eventually, I had to take them off her to prevent her from developing a rash. Undressing her came with its own difficulties. She would sigh occasionally in a sensual manner and my
“I can't believe you chose Lucas over your freedom, Miatta,” Addy kept saying over and over again after I had sent Ryker away. The pesky bodyguard had seen me on my back from the path and had suggested that I came with him. “No,” I had said to him, not taking more than a minute to make up my mind. “The festivities are over and he no longer has a reason to keep me cooped up in his room. It will be best for all if I returned to the slave room where I belong.” He was not convinced by my act of martyrdom but knowing Ryker, I was confident that he would not force me to do anything I didn't want to. He respected me not just as his master’s mate but as a person. He waited to see if I would change my mind but instead, I walked around him and continued on the route I had earlier set out. Lucas would not be pleased with him but I tried not to think about how Lucas was feeling. Bringing my roaming thoughts to the present, I saw disappointment boldly written on Addy’s face. I was disappointed
Miatta “You can't be serious, Miatta! You want to turn back now? Think about what you are about to do!” Ramona admonished at the top of her voice. I pulled her into the shadows and slapped my palm onto her mouth. “Unless you want to be caught and dragged back to that land of bondage, I suggest you lower your tone and listen to me!” She swallowed twice, her eyes damp and became calm. When I was sure she would not break down in tears, I lifted my palm off her lips and gave her my back. I couldn't explain the feeling I was having but I just couldn't leave Red Bone Pack. My heart was there, lying asleep in the woods while my body was planning on leaving. It just didn't seem right. “Once I get you over the mountains, you will go on without me. Don't look back, don't think about this land, about Addy or me. I will be fine. Stick to the shadows and when it is dawn, run as fast as your legs can carry you. You are a wolf and you can easily find your way once you channel your senses in the
Miatta By the time I returned to the path, I was exhausted from running all the way. My lungs were screaming at me for exercising that hard and I had to stop myself twice from falling on my face. I was still far from the secret passage and I pushed on, using my honed abilities anywhere the moonlight could not reveal to me. My conscience stabbed at me with every step I took and I starved it by thinking less of what I had done and more on what I was about to do. I would be home sooner than I ever anticipated since arriving at Red Bone Pack and I wasn't going to let my nosy, star-stricken wolf ruin it for me. Suddenly, I heard a mild rustling of leaves from somewhere behind me and I froze in place. My mind raced to conclusion that perhaps Lucas had not been sleeping after all and had trailed behind me. I gulped through a tight throat and held my breath, crouching into a squat. Whoever it was, I was determined not to be discovered. The footsteps drew closer and I peeped from where I was
Miatta Lucas dropped into a crouch, bones snapping and rearranging within him. His shifting phase looked painful yet intriguing, drawing attention to the spectacle. Thick sheaves of hair grew out on his neck and back and he howled long into the night. It caused shivers down my spinal column as I marveled at his animalistic beauty. Suddenly, he leapt off the ground, somersaulted in mid-air and landed gracefully on all fours. His clothes were in shreds at his feet and I stood in quiet adoration. His wolf had ink-black, almost oily fur, covering him from his head to his powerful paws. He sniffed at something in the air and turned his head towards me in expectation. His eyes were darker and mystic, compelling me to do anything he asked. In either form, he was a sight to behold and I was proud he was mine, all mine. As shifters, our eyes represented the colour of our fur. The eyes were the window to the soul and our animals were our soul. Without them, one was condemned to a unfulfilled
Miatta The festival night was heated and the excitement filled the air. Mated couples sat next to each other, necking and flirting openly while the single ones hoped for a match from the Goddess. Slabs of meat were served starting from the royal household and later, it was distributed amongst the pack. Even the slaves got a bit of everything though it wasn't in large amounts like those of the freeborns. Lucas gave me no excuses to leave his sight and was super clingy throughout the night. He decided he wanted to feed me himself and I obliged him to take any suspicions off me. He was charming and the little he knew, the better for both of us. However, I couldn't help searching the crowd for Addy. It was almost time for the free run and I had not set my eyes on either she or Ramona. My wolf was itching for action and I could feel her nipping at my guts. The lunar sensation was getting to her and I had to get away before I was pushed off by her. Our empty meal bowl lay at my side and
Miatta My visiting hour was up and I escorted Addy and her group back to the dark room. She pulled me in for a final hug and whispered shortly in my ear: “Do not forget your promise to me.” She had asked for my word and I had given it selflessly. Addy had never asked anything of me in the past and now that she had, I didn't want to let her down. Ramona was coming with me by nightfall. There was to be a wolf run and during that period, every shifter was free to do what he pleased, slave or freeborn. Many found their mates on the day of the Moon Festival while others just mingled sexually for the fun of it, a one-night only orgy. It was at that time when everyone was distracted that I planned to leave with Ramona. On my way back, shadows had fallen along my path, protecting me from the harsh sunlight. The weather was not hot however as chilly winds clashed with each other. Goosebumps were aligned on my upper arm and I rubbed my relatively warm palms along them. I mentally made plan
Mood SwingsMiatta “You bathed the Lycan Prince?” Ramona exclaimed, her eyes large in wonder. I grimaced, attempting a shy smile while Addy burst into laughter. “Well, he didn't give me a choice!” I retorted, wanting to defend myself. They were on garden duty but I sat with Addy, reminiscing the past events of the week. They were on garden duty but I was in a shade, discussing with Addy from there. Ramona chopped unevenly at the flowers, reminding me of the first time I had done the job. Lucas had come to my aid but then, he had been Luke to me. Subconsciously, a smile grew on my lips, my protest forgotten. “Someone is thinking of someone special,” Addy teased, using her shears skillfully like they were an extension of her arms. She was just so capable at everything, the shifter version of perfection. She juggled her brows at me, not losing sight of the shrub she was trimming. When I nodded in Ramona's direction, she twisted her neck at her understudy and gasped in horror. “Ramona
Miatta After my bath with Lucas, I began to give more thought to returning home. I loved Lucas truly but I loved my family first. They meant the world to me and I had to see them again even if it was for the last time. Lucas was uncharacteristically quiet, giving me more time to ponder my plans. “What do you think about Beta Logan?” he suddenly asked, taking me by surprise. I didn't know why he was asking me about the sneaky lycan and so, I was unsure of what answer to give him. Personally, Beta Logan made me uncomfortable in my own skin but I couldn't tell Lucas that because it would lead to him asking more questions. “I think he is very loyal to your father.” With my back to him, I heard rather than saw Lucas approach me from behind. He tugged on my arm, pulling me onto a stool. I didn't resist him, going along with whatever he wanted. He pinched the bridge of his nose, meditating on whatever he was about to say. “Cut the crap, Miatta. I asked you what you think of him as he i