Lydia’s POVI looked up, startled, as Lily slipped into the library.“Shut the door!” I whisper-yelled in alarm.“Okay, Okay” She chuckled and shut the door behind her. “I thought you were going to wait for me… but apparently not."I smiled uncomfortably “Well, you did run out of the palace yesterday and respond to my sixty anxious texts and call with an ‘I’m fyn’ So forgive me if I assumed you wouldn’t be coming to the palace today."Lily’s cheeks pinkened and she adjusted her glasses and walked towards me.“I’m sorry. Yesterday was just…”Worry filled me as I watched the sadness in her eyes. “What’s the problem? Don’t you like Amari?”“No, it’s not… “ She shut her eyes tightly “It’s just… I don’t want a mate."I blinked in surprise. That was the last thing I expected to hear. ]“Lily, all you’ve done for the last two years is fantasize about your mate,” I deadpanned and crossed my arms."Yeah, well, I changed my mind." She hissed in irritation. This makes no sense to me. “But Lily–
Chapter 35Darwin’s POV“Your Majesty,” The air hostess bowed as she unlocked my seat belt. “We’ve arrived,”“Thank you,” I gave her a nod as I got to my feet and followed behind her out of the jet.As I walked down unto the roof of the Lycan’s palace, the loud sound of the Jet’s rotating blades made me cringe and I squinted as the wind from the blade made my hair whip about.“Wclmme yur mmjssy” A man dressed in a suit bowed before me but I could barely hear him over the sound of the Jet’s blades.The sound of the Jet’s blades dimmed as he led me away from the roof down into the building.****“No. Going to the ball would be a bad idea. Lorcan can not know we’re working together,” Dimitri shook his head lightly as he stopped tapping with his pen and waited for my reply.“Look.” I sighed in irritation “It’s a masked ball. A masked ball,” I repeated for emphasis.“You would be there to help but your face would be masked. Because—““It’s a masked ball,” Dimitri chuckled “I heard you the
Chapter 36Lydia’s POV“Don’t put too much,” I bit my lip worriedly as I watched Lily’s hand tip the vial and release a stream of truth serum into the glass bottle.“Relax, a bit more than needed won’t harm him. All it’ll do is send him to the toilet... He certainly deserves it anyway,” Lily murmured under her breath as she finished lacing the drink and capped the vial back.“I don’t want any suspicious activity. If he suddenly gets explosive diarrhea the same day we give him some food, Margery will breathe down my neck,” I complained as I finished arranging the plate set on the tray.Lily raised the glass bottle to the light and shook gently “You don’t have to worry. She won’t,”***My heart thundered as we walked into the prison cells carrying two different trays filled with food and, of course, the bottle of orange juice we had specially prepared for the occasion.“Right there,, Miss.” The guard leading us pointed to the last cell near the wall. “He’s isolated from other inmates.I
Chapter 37Lydia’s POV“Ly, do you know what this means?” Lily’s voice was excited as her hands laced through me.“Hold on, hold on,” I said to her as I shook my head in confusion. “What do you mean, Fae blood? How then did Alpha Mike and the alphas before him make the elixir? There were all werewolves so this doesn’t make any sense."“FFfffe immmmrtallll,” Wilson droned as his head lolled backward and a snore escaped him.“No.” I shook my head hysterically as I put my hands through the cell door bars and took hold of Wilson’s shirt. “No no no no no no. Wake up!” I shook Wilson angrily. “Wake up!”“Lydia, let him be." I vaguely heard Lily’s pleading voice but I was too absorbed in waking Wilson up to make sense of my surroundings.“Wake up and give me an explanation right now!” I snapped as I cracked a slap across Wilson’s face but his eyes only fluttered open for a second before they closed right back.“Wake up Dammit!” I raised my palm to slap him again when a screech froze me.“WH
Lydia’s POV I tossed in bed that night, with the name Lyssandra on my lips. Who had she been? She was Freya’s mother but that was all I knew of the late woman who Darwin had loved fiercely. “But then she broke his heart. Even before their mate bond was dissolved,” Drusilla cut through my thoughts snarkily. “He’s ours now,” “Stop it!” I snapped at her, but internally I was pleased. My phone beeped with a text from Darwin. It was a picture of a duvet and pillow set up on the floor, just like I used to do it. Along with the caption, “Not used to sleeping alone so I made your bed to pretend like you’re here,” So sweet. My heart was going to burst with happiness. With a chuckle, I took a picture of me in bed in his shirt and sent it to him. So what if Lyssandra had been a terrible wife and left Darwin with psychosis? As I drifted off to sleep, only one thought was clear. I don’t know this Lyssandra woman, but I’m grateful to her for giving me Darwin. ************* “What did y
Lydia’s POv“Instructions to deliver this much food?” I asked sceptically as I surveyed the trays of food the workers carted into the room.“Beats me if I know why,” Margery sighed “but you’re to be fed, looked after and we’ll cared for for the duration of his trip,”I turned to look at Lily, with surprise on my face.Sure I know things have been good between us recently but I’m still his servant.“Well then, we better get to work,” Lily smiled as she got down from the bed and pulled me up too.Margery and Lily forced me to seat down on a chit and despite my protests, they force fed me several dishes of food.I took a quick bath and several workers stood with me in the closet as I dressed. Offering to zip up here and close a button there.It rubbed me the wrong way to let them do such mundane tasks so I shooed them away and dressed up on my own.******Several hours later, Lily and I took a stroll in the garden since I was officially banned from doing any work and constantly had my gu
Lydia’s POVI barely had time to scream before a trickle of blood rolled down the side of my head and a loud pounding started in my skull.I gasped in shock and pain as I spun around to face my attacker.“Lily!” I yelled in fear as I spotted her doubled over on the floor with her hand clutching her stomach.“Get back, bitch,” A man growled as he wrapped his hand in my hair and pulled me back roughly.I went crashing to the ground as a foot kicked me in my stomach.Anger rushed through me. I raised my head angrily and I just pushed myself to my feet when the man holding Lily, picked up her purse and fled with his patner running after him.“Lily,” I gasped as I rushed over to where she laid on the floor struggling to breath.Four palace guards arrived at the scene in panic.“Miss, are you okay?” “Is everything okay?” “Where did they go?” My head spun from all the questions and everything went black.********Before I opened my eyes, I heard noises everywhere. Someone was talking. Wait
Chapter 41Lydia’s POV“Promise me you’ll never do something that reckless again?” Darwin’s voice shook from the other end of the phone.My fingers tightened around the phone “I promise,”“Okay, I won’t punish your guards,” Darwin said reluctantly as a bright feeling swelled in my chest.Drusilla purred and I shook my head at her silliness.“Alright, I have to go back in the room now. Byeee,”“Bye Lydia,” Darwin whispered as I ended the call and took in a deep breath.When I opened the bathroom door, from the expression on their faces, it was obvious that both Margery and my guards had used their hearing to listen in on my conversation with Darwin.“Why did I even bother going in the bathroom?” I shook my head with a chuckle as Margery’s cheeks tinged pink.“Thank you Miss. We’re really grateful,” I stood in surprise as Alexei and his two partners bowed before me.“Really, there’s no need for all this fuss,” Margery protested.I ignored her and walked closer to the guards with their
Epilogue “Lydia! Hurry!” Lily waddled to my side with her hand on her stomach. She paused and stared at the scene before her with a smile on her face. “Just how many people are walking you down the aisle?” I chuckled and looked from Vren to Serena and Freya “Well you can’t fault me for having three people to walk me. Besides this is my third wedding,” Everyone chuckled and Lily rolled her eyes. “Enough of all this. Everyone in the hall now! Before Margery comes and here and catches this scene,” “Sorry guys,” I laughed as the palace guards opened the hall doors and they shuffled away in a file. “Not you Vren,” Lily called out at the last minute. “ I mean, your highness? What am I supposed to address you as?” Lily bowed with a chuckle. “Nonsense. That’s not necessary, especially in your condition,” Vren shook his head, making me smile. In the last four months I spent in Thoranelle learning the ropes, we had grown incredibly closer. Yes, you read that right. Vren stepped down f
My vision blurred with tears and I made to run to him when Lyssandra stepped in front of me and shook her head.“Uh-huh,” she chuckled. “If you belong to me now, you cannot go running to them at the slightest provocation,”A humorless chuckle left me as my tears spilled down my cheeks. She had been married to and mates to this man. How could she be so heartless?“Then call them off. Call of your guard dogs,” I whispered pleadingly.“Of course,” she purred and snapped her fingers.Like as though we were in some sort of trance, the entire palace went silent.The only sound was Margery’s soft groaning from where she lay on the floor.My eyes found Darwin and relief rushed through me as I saw he was still standing but he was losing blood and fast.I tried to move to him but the hall swam before my eyes and I paused.Lyssandra chuckled and picked up the bloodied knife from the floor.“You belong to me now,” she smirked as she lifted the knife to my throat.I swallowed. This is it, she’s fi
Chapter 113A still calm seemed to come over me as I moved back from Lily and staggered to my feet.Blood was still flowing from the wound in my hand. My legs shook as I stared at Margery on the floor.She had her hand on her stomach where blood was pooling fast.Her lips were white as she groaned softly.Vren was here. What? How?My shock was replaced by fear as Vren screamed in pain and crashed to the floor beside Margery.All around me, the people I loved were hurt and in pain because of this woman.Drusilla growled in anger and my entire frame trembled badly. I knew she wanted to shift and take over and I wanted to let her. So badly.But Margery needed my help, I moved to Margery’s side as quickly as I could and pressed my dripping palm to her lips.“W what?-“ Vren raised his crazed eyes to me but I didn’t have time for that.I couldn’t focus, not when this woman had control of all the pack members.My head swiveled, searching for Lyssandra and where Darwin had gone.“Shit!” Amari
Chapter 112Lydia’s POVI staggered out of the lab, my leg aching a bit, where I had repeatedly hit it against the door to force it open.From the hallway, I could hear sounds and what seemed to be screams. What the hell was happening?!Fear rushed through me and I flew down the hallway at lightning speed.“Lydia?!” Dimitri called my name a second before I went crashing into him.He held me from falling “What happened?! Where were you?! I thought you were on the aisle then next thing—““You thought I was on the aisle?! They were two brides?!” Shit! Lyssandra planned to pose as me.“Yeah and—“I paused Dimitri and listened in fear again as more loud shouts carried over to me. They seemed to be intensifying.“What the hell is going on?!” It sounded like protests Dimitri and I broke into a run as pack members began to flood into the palace.“Shit!” I swore under my breath.“Your majesty, over here!” Alexander and my guards covered Dimitri and me as the pack members yelled.The sounds o
The Wedding.“And you're certain this plan will work?!” Dimitri asked for the hundredth time.“Shut up and get out of my head,” I hissed impatiently. “We don’t have a choice. It's too late to make adjustments. We just have to carry on and hope for the best,”A knock sounded at my bedroom door, I got to my feet slowly and turned around as the door opened and Margery filed in with a team of beauty professionals.“Good morning Your Majesty,” she chirped happily and clapped her hands. “It’s time for your wedding!”Her good mood was infectious and my lips tugged up in a smile too.“Morning Marge,” I smiled.“Your Majesty,” A worker passed me a cup of tea.“Thank you,” I took it and blew gently on the steam.“Okay, everyone let’s get to work,”I took my seat as they began. Within the next two hours, they worked on my nails, styled my hair, did my makeup, and helped meInto my dress.“You have impeccable taste,” I smiled at Margery and patted my hand down my white lacy dress.“I can’t decid
Chapter 110I burst into laughter, clutching my stomach as I finally sobered up.I looked from Wilson to Freya to Margery but they had straight faces.“Wait,” I sobered you and looked at them incredulously “You’re serious?!”Freya rolled her eyes and turned around to face the mirror. She uncapped a lipstick and began to scrawl on it.“Look, we've approached it from several different scenarios. I know Lyssie. She would never tell us how to break the enchantment so that’s out of it,” she drew a red X on one part of the mirror.“We can’t kidnap or hold her in some cell. Dad and I tried, we released the news she was dead and kept her incapacitated for years.She found a way to make him go crazy so he bought her the elixir,” She drew another X“She definitely won’t be repenting and turning a new leaf anytime soon, and she has started manipulating the pack members,” She drew an X with a sigh.“Manipulating the pack?” I looked at Margery. “What is she talking about,”“His Majesty requested w
Chapter 109“Thank you, Alpha for having us. Our stay at Silver Streak was memorable,”I smiled at Serena softly. Her eyes watered and to the shock of everyone around she enveloped me in a hug. I froze for a beat then gently brought my hand up to enclose her.“Thank you, Lydia. I hope everything goes well. If you need help, call me and I’ll definitely be showing up for your wedding,” Serena whispered as she stepped back with a small smile.She turned to Dimitri and I didn’t fail to notice the look that passed between the two of them.“Lycan,” Serena bowed. “Alpha,” Dimitri repeated her motion with a chuckle. I rolled my eyes in amusement, he’s never serious.“Momma!” My eyes went straight to the beautiful silver haired little girl coming our way. Anastasia held on to her hand but she was bustling full of energy and ready to bolt towards us.Of their own accord, my feet carried me a few steps toward her until we stopped before each other.“Your Majesty” she chirped and gave a cute
Chapter 108I sat beside Claire, my hand on the little heart who stole my heart with one grey eyed glance.“She’ll be fine. She’s a fighter,” Serena gave me a hopeful nod and wiped Claire’s brow with a towel.“What happened?” I voiced the question that had been eating at me since I first saw her sick frame.Serena sighed and sat up fully to look at me. “A fall,”“Pardon?” I was horrified. Just look at her, she’s tiny, how could she have fallen and just where did she fall from?“Yeah,” Serena chuckled humorlessly “My reaction exactly. She was four, a few days before her fifth birthday. She said to me— Momma can I play in the garden with Papa. I said yes,”A small gasp left me. Since she was four. That was two years ago.“They played on the trees and he left. Dave left my little girl up there alone. She fell and has been sick ever since,”Horror and blind anger rushed through me.“Oh I know,” Serena read my face and shook her head. “I wanted to crush him with my bare hands. I was so blo
Chapter 107I staggered back a bit in shock.“Your Majesty,” The servant girl dropped the bowl of water on Serena’s lap and I watched as Serena put the towel in the water, wrung it, and gently sapped her daughter’s head.Slowly, my feet carried me towards the little girl. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was even. I placed my palm on her head to feel her temperature and her eyes snapped open.“Claire?!” Serena whispered in excitement. She dropped the towel and held her daughter's hand tightly. “Claire baby,”The workers in the room began to murmur in excitement and I even saw a maid hurry off, presumably to call a doctor or nurse.Claire had her eyes open but she wasn’t staring at her mother. The baby girl was staring straight at me. I blinked in surprise.She could see me? I gave her a shaky smile and waved at her. Her eyes lit up a little and her lips moved.She mouthed two words. “Save me,” Then she closed her eyes.Her mother clearly heard her. My heart broke as Serena’s ey