A deadly curse was unleashed upon the people of Goldenheart Kingdom after King Ethan's his father slayed a boy during a raid on a weak pack. Thousands of people have died because of the curse. Yet the only way of lifting it is if King Ethan willingly sacrifices his own life or that of his fated mate! He has always avoided searching for his mate because finding her would encourage his people to demand that he sacrifices her life instead of his. The Kingdom is at the blink of collapse when Ethan finds his mate, Emma, a stunning beauty who just ran away from the neighboring pack after being betrayed by her own family. She is wolfless. But King Ethan is determined to protect her from anyone that wants her sacrificed to lift the curse. But what will happen when Emma gets accused of cold-blooded murder? Will he keep protecting his disgraced mate when executing her for her crimes would end the curse and save his life? Emma knows she has never killed anyone and everything that has been said about her is a lie. But how will she prove her innocence when her enemy is the person her mate trusts most? King Ethan has a reputation of being unforgiving to anyone accused of such atrocity. Will the truth come out before she gets executed for a crime she has never committed?
view moreEMMA'S POV
I stand to take a deep breath as my back has started aching. The beautiful lady in the room turns away from the long mirror on her spacious bedroom wall and shoots me a cold glare. I just got done with washing my parents huge bundle of dirty laundry, now I have to clean my sister's room.
She is of course wondering why I am not done already so I can get the hell out of her sight. She will soon be the Luna of our pack and nothing could be more disgraceful to her than having a wolfless, unwanted sister.
I hesitantly resume my work as she makes her way out, her shinny black heels clicking against the hard floor.
"You can come to the party. But you better dress well or my mate will have you thrown out for looking like a beggar." She mutters while sidestepping the mop I am using to clean the room.
I look up with a gaping mouth, wondering if I am really the one she was addressing. Two maids wait for her at the door, ready to escort her to the pack house. She obviously wasn't talking to them.
"Did you speak to me . . . my lady?" I ask, uncertain if my tired mind wasn't hallucinating.
"I said you can attend the party." She affirms in an annoyed voice. "But don't expect to be offered a ride. The future Alpha would be enraged if he heard you had set foot in his father's golden carriage." She adds still striding towards the door without glancing back at me.
"Do I have his consent to attend the party?" I ask in the most courteous tone that my dry throat can yield.
She keeps walking and I start wondering if she heard.
"I already talked to him." She asserts after getting to the door. The maids help her put on an exquisite fur coat over the lovely red dress she had worn. They shower her with pleasant praises as they take hold of the tail of her dress.
"Don't you dare touch any of my dresses." She warns in a stern voice before the maids escort her away.
I let go of the mop in my hand and turn to stare at my reflection on the big mirror across the room.
A smile looks strange on my face, like a warm sunlight in the middle of a cold winter's day. Unusual, but welcome.
I haven't had a reason to put on a genuine smile for a long time. I honestly don't remember the last time I felt happy.
My life has been a nightmare ever since the day I failed to phase.
My parents no longer look at me the same way they used to before. I was never their favourite, but they never used to wish I wasn't their child like they do now. They actually adopted another girl to take my place and I was left to work for them like a servant so they would allow me to stay.
I have been the object of shame and the pack's loser. I carry the title of the unworthy child while my sister is the pack's beauty queen and future Luna. She is the luckiest person I know, because on top of being our parent's golden child, she also found her mate two weeks ago. And the man is none other than the next alpha of our pack.
I don't envy her. She deserves all that despite the fact that she has not spoken to me since word got out that I am wolfless. It's embarassing to be associated with me, I know. And both her and my parents have reputations to keep.
I still bake cakes for them, because they are my family, the only one I have got. I wonder if our parents love me even half the way they used to before. I doubt any of them remembers my favourite colour considering the fact that all their affection is always focused on Joanne, the golden child.
"She will erase the disgrace you have brought upon our family." Dad once said while ordering me to leave their dinner table.
Joanne didn't say a word to console me even when I cried. She has always given my existence a cold shoulder. I don't know why today just happened to be a little different. She just invited me to her marking ceremony and I can hardly believe that this isn't a dream.
I got banned from attending any important pack events a long time ago. The Alpha didn't want guests from other packs discovering that his pack has a weak member.
His son, the future Alpha and my sister's mate, wanted me kicked out of his father's pack. Luckily that didn't happen. But there is still risk that he would have me banished once he is crowned as the new alpha.
Being a lone rogue is the worst thing that can ever happen to anyone. Rogues are hunted down and killed by pack warriors for sport. If the young Alpha got his way I would have been chased from this pack and forced to become a lonely, wolfless rogue. My fear of being cast out has intensified as the crowning ceremony of the new alpha is set to happen the day after tomorrow.
But I think I can now relax because my sister just confirmed that he is okay with me attending their marking ceremony. He wouldn't allow it if he still loathes me so much. Being mated to my sister may be the reason he changed his mind about casting me out. Joanne doesn't like me much but I am exhilarated anyway.
I will never be treated the same as everyone else, but at least I won't be forced to become a rogue. I can survive being looked down upon and treated worse than a servant for the rest of my life. I am so used to it already. It is a lot better than being hunted down and killed by warriors or other rogues.
I quickly finish up mopping Joanne's room and carry the bucket and mop to the store room in the basement which also serves as my room. My mattress and box of clothes are on the floor at the farthest corner. The rest of the room is occupied by tools and all kinds of old stuff that my parents don't want to throw away.
I lost my original room when my parents adopted the new. She was a twelve year old orphan with a round face like Joanne's. That's probably the reason they chose her, because she looked a little like their favourite daughter.
It was disheartening to move out of the room I had spent all my childhood days in for someone deemed more worthy to take it. I was only allowed to take out my mattress, blankets and clothes because they were old and smelled of me. My parents redecorated the room for her and she happily accepted to take my place.
She gets a tiny slice of their attention compared to Joanne. But she has everything she needs unlike me.
I have made peace with being the unworthy, despised child. I know things could be worse, so I have been grateful that I am allowed to stay.
I wish I have time to shower anew in the servants' bathroom. But I worry that I will arrive at the party too late and it will be viewed as an act of insolence. Like Joanne said, no one would willingly offer me a ride to the pack house. I will walk the four kilometres, perhaps run half of the way because there won't be enough time.
I hurry to my box of clothes and pull out the sleeves, yellow dress that I haven't worn for years. It's old but still looks decent enough for a lowlife like me. I haven't worn my pink sandals for years as well. The two won't match but I can't care less.
I take off the dirty, oversized dress I was wearing and slip on the yellow fabric. I pull off the boots I have been wearing everyday and put on the pink sandals. If I had enough time I would run back to Joanne's room to check what I look like in a mirror, but I am already running out of time, I think.
I run my fingers through the thick strands of my hair before gathering them up in a high ponytail. I have no makeup or jewellery to put on so I take a deep breath and head out of my parent's house. I will definitely be tired and sweating by the time I get to the palace. Good thing is no one would care to check if I look elegant or not, I am a stinker so I am allowed to look as pathetic as a street beggar.
I hold up the hem of my dress so it doesn't sweep dust as I hurry down the road. I will probably be the last to arrive at my sister's marking ceremony, and no one will be thrilled to see me.
EMMA'S POVI move my thick hair sideways as Ethan places the most stunning of necklaces around my neck and clasps it at the back. The mirror in front of us reflects my adorned neck and the shimmering necklace makes me look like a refined, noble woman.I have never worn jewelry before. I don't plan on adding more as that would make me look overly spangled like many royal women. The necklace has a unique design, three diamonds shaped like three stars and a crescent moon hang at the front while the rest of the beads are made of silver and are quite tinny. I think I can always wear it, with any dress. "You look stunning." My mate compliments as I turn around to face him. I believe his words, but guess who always looks more breathtaking . . . him. He never needs to wear anything or style his hair in a certain way to look like beauty personified. "Thank you for this. I am not a fan of jewelry, but I like this one." I say with a genuine smile. He has given me more gifts since I arrived h
ETHAN'S POV I feel strangely more refreshed than usual after spending the night sleeping beside my mate. Her heavenly scent was so lulling that I couldn't resist the urge to pull her closer and bury my nose into her neck. She was fretful at first, but she slowly relaxed and slipped back to sleep. She seemed grateful that I was there despite our infelicitous past. I imagine the nightmare had left her shaken, her body was quivering as I settled in the bed beside her. I was relieved when she managed to fall back asleep on her own. I watched her beautiful face for half an hour after waking up earlier than usual to make sure she has a personal servant that we can trust to prepare her breakfast. We will soon be parting ways because I need her to be somewhere safe before the day of atonement. And I want her to have someone truly loyal and caring by her side. The woman I chose used to be my nanny when I was a child, I felt closer to her than to my parents. I am sure she will care for Emma
EMMA'S POVI wake up huffing and puffing, my body sweating from the terror of the appalling nightmare. Turns out laying on a King size bed and being surrounded by gold isn't a guarantee to peaceful sleep. I have had terrifying nightmares before, but none was as chilling as the scene that jolted me awake from my sleep. My heart is still pounding hard from the frightening dream. It felt so real. I can't help worrying that it may be a warning of what I will happen to me in future. I know it was just a dream, but I saw my life being taken to lift the curse. My arms and legs were bound to the wooden table I was laying on so that I wouldn't escape. Ethan's parents and my sister stood aside watching. They all grinned deviously as a soldier with a ruthless look stepped forward, a sharp, shimmering blade in his muscular hands. I let out a scream as he raised it high up in the air then brought it down on my chest. I am quite relieved to see that it was a dream, but I may have actually scream
EMMA'S POVI may still have little love for my family, but I never wanted to see any of them again. Joanne looked like a shadow of the lady she once was. It took me several seconds to recognise her face without makeup. Unlike me she was loved by our parents and her mate, why would she run from all the sweet attention and show up here looking like the old me? I had enough troubles to deal with before, but she had to show up here pretending she is sorry. I know better than to believe her pretences, because Joanne can never regret anything she did to benefit herself. Did she find out that I am here and thought that she can come live in a bigger palace? King Ethan didn't look like he wanted her and neither do I. I wonder if she saw the sick people on her way here and still thought that this is the kind of heaven she seeks to live in. Has she also heard that I am likely to die to lift the curse? She should take her greed back to Silver moon, because she won't find the extravagant life s
ETHAN'S POV"You got banished by your husband?" I question and the Luna shakes her head. If she wasn't banished then she run away. "Did he harm you?" I ask even though I don't feel that concerned."Not physically. But he broke my heart in the worst way possible. I can never go back to him." She answers, her eyes filling up with tears. "Does this have anything to do with finding your sister?" I ask and she shakes her head once more."No. I stopped searching for my sister because he was extremely angry after that time I spoke about her in presence of our wedding guests." She responds and I feel disgusted by her selfish thinking. How could she stop searching for her sister simply because her stupid husband doesn't like it? "So what went wrong then?" "I found out that he has been having fun with other women. He didn't deny it when I confronted him. Instead he brought one of his mistresses home and introduced her like it was the most normal thing to do. When I complained he got furious
EMMA'S POVThis ornate royal structure was definitely built to convey wealth and grandeur. I imagine there is no other palace of any pack that has pieces of precious stones hammered into the wall surrounding it's massive guest hall. I am awed by the plush decor, but it's still hard to happily smile like I am home.It's true that no one seems thrilled to see me. The groups of servants we have bypassed stared and whispered amongst themselves, but their faces bore no sign of friendliness. They in fact look displeased to see me.I don't mind as long as no one is yelling out insults at me like the time I was getting dragged to the courthouse and everyone was confidently calling me names. "Don't mind their stares, they are just astounded to see you survived all the anguish and still look healthy." Lilian comforts. I nod even though I know they are staring for a different reason. They are wondering why my mate has chosen not to sacrifice me instead of his own life. He is obviously the most
EMMA'S POVI hate being in this room even when he isn't here. The shimmering gold doesn't take away the hate I have for the person that slept here before. I wonder how she feels being in a cell now after sleeping in an incredible little heaven like this. She must be devastated, because if she succeeded no woman would have been greater than her. She would be the beloved wife of the powerful King Ethan. But somehow things fell apart when she least expected. I really wonder how Ethan found out she was fooling him since she seemed quite in control of the situation. I thought since he adored her so much he would not punish her for anything, turns out he is truly unforgiving.I hear the door click open and turn my nervous gaze in that direction. Before Ethan left he said that he would send someone here to keep me company and show me around the palace if I wish to take a break from staying in here. I was however not expecting that person to be an excited, smiling Lilian.She looks pretty in
ETHAN'S POVI knew from the start that she would not agree to return here with me. But I could not leave her out there, not when she was already left locked up in an empty room to starve to death. I imagine no man of this Kingdom has ever endured the amount of physical and emotional pain that she has been through. I turned on her when she needed me most, now there is very little time left for me to mend everything and leave her with a good memory of the person I am.I used my blood to heal her wounds. But that's something too small to repay all the suffering she has endured because of my mistakes. I want to make things right, if only there is enough time. The curse can't wait another year to be lifted, not when over a hundred sick people have already gathered outside the gates of my palace, hoping that I can do something to save them from their pain.I wonder if my mate will ever think of me after I am gone. I would feel honoured to be remembered by her. She would definitely be happ
ETHAN'S POV "I understand why you don't want to be here. I am sorry I said so many awful things to you and I failed to protect you because I trusted the wrong person. You however won't safe outside the walls of this palace." I say in the most gentle voice I have ever used. But I can see that she is too scared of me that she wouldn't believe a word I say. I don't blame her. I have put her through hell so nothing I can say will convince her that I am not a monster."I would rather be out there than in here." She responds in a shaky voice. "This is your room, right?" She questions, once more gazing at the gilded furniture and the eye-catching drawings on the walls. "No. This one is yours. I thought you would like it." I say, trying to get a positive reaction from her, but she scoffs. I feel worried because she still seems weak. She yawns and I instantly remember what her talkative friend had said. She has not eaten for days! She must be starving."I will go get you something to eat."
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