17.He stood before his father, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "I don't understand, father," he said through gritted teeth. "Why didn't you send Miranda away? Why did you leave her there, even as a maid? You know how risky it is if she reveals our plan to Aurora."Ragnar, seated on his throne, looked up at Derek with a cold, steely gaze. "You don't understand, boy," he said in a low, menacing voice. "Keeping Miranda under my surveillance is the best option. It's easy for witches like her to send messages even from miles away. And now that her powers have been weakened by you, it's easier for us to watch her closely."Derek frowned, a deep sense of unease settling in his stomach. "But father," he protested, "I didn't go as far as hitting her magic mole just to have her still roaming around in the Royal arena. I thought that would be the end of her interference."Ragnar leaned forward, his eyes flashing with anger. "Don't question my decisions, boy," he growled. "I am th
18. “I'm a night born, I fear nothing,” Miranda chanted the mantra to herself as she took a deep breath, steeling herself and turning the handle. As she slowly opened the door to the princess's chamber, the growling noise abruptly stopped, leaving her in a deafening silence. She pushed the door open fully and her eyes fell upon the most unexpected sight.In the middle of the room, in a huge cage, was a young girl with long, flowing hair and delicate features. She was dressed in a beautiful gown, fit for a princess, with jewels adorning her neck and fingers. Her eyes were fixed upon Miranda, and she seemed almost relieved to have someone to look at.Miranda was taken aback by the sight before her. She had expected to find a wild animal or some other kind of threat, but instead, she found a young girl, locked up in a cage. She couldn't help but wonder what could have led to this.Miranda was bewildered by the sight of Fel, locked up in a cage like some kind of animal. She couldn't hel
19.Carissa's smile faltered slightly before she quickly recovered. "Oh, that's wonderful news, my son! Congratulations! What is her name? What is she like?" she asked eagerly.Derek couldn't help but notice the fake enthusiasm in his mother's voice. "Her name is Aurora, and she's amazing," he replied, trying to keep his own hurt feelings at bay.The Queen nodded, a forced smile on her face. "I'm glad you found someone who makes you happy. You deserve it," she said, trying to sound as loving as possible.Derek looked at his mother and took a deep breath. "Mother, I'm sorry I kept you in the dark about joining with my mate," he said. "It was done in a hurry because only then could we work towards getting the antidote.""The antidote?" his mother asked, confusion etched on her face. "I don't understand. How is your mate related to the antidote?"Derek looked around the room, making sure no one was listening. He then moved closer to his mother's cage and whispered, "The antidote is
They had gathered around the roaring bonfire, the flames casting flickering shadows across the faces of the werewolves gathered there. Magnus, the alpha, had provided a great bounty for the feast that evening. A whole tiger had been roasted over the fire, its flesh sizzling and its scent filling the air.They lounged on furs that had been spread out around the bonfire, their bellies full of the succulent meat that had been cooked to perfection over the flames.Magnus had always been a generous leader, sharing the bounty of his weekly hunts with the villagers that surrounded their pack's territory. The bonfire ceremony was always celebrated with great fanfare whenever Magnus returned from his hunts with such a great prize.The people chattered and laughed, their merriment buoyed by the plentiful supply of ale that had been provided for the occasion. They regaled each other with stories of their own hunts, boasting about the prey they had brought down and the battles they had fought.Th
Masai, an old woman who had watched Aurora grow up as a child, sat at a table near the front of the room, surrounded by other elders from Aurora's hometown. Despite her age, Masai was still sharp-witted and full of energy, and she was a beloved figure in the community.Masai bowed deeply to Aurora, causing everyone to pause and turn their attention to her. "My dear Aurora," she said, "I am honored to be in your presence once again." Aurora stood up from her seat and approached the old woman, embracing her warmly. ""Please, Masai, you don't have to bow," Aurora said, standing up from her seat. "Please sit down."Masai smiled warmly at Aurora and shook her head. "I must show respect to my lady," she said. "But forgive me, my leg has been giving me trouble lately."“Oh my, your leg! Does it still hurt so much? I remember you used to complain of aches. Should I have it checked with the royal physicians? At keast before you return home.”Masai waved her hand dismissively. "No, no, my d
Aurora stormed into her room in shock, her heart racing with adrenaline. She quickly shut the door behind her and locked it, taking deep breaths to calm herself down. Her hands were shaking as she reached up to remove the metal wheel that she had used to veil her face. The wheel had been a desperate measure, but it had worked, allowing her to blend in with the other maids and sneak into the Queen's Chambers undetected.As she pulled off the wheel, her long golden hair tumbled down around her shoulders. She quickly shed the maid's clothing she had been wearing, tossing them into a corner of the room. She needed to rid herself of any evidence that might lead back to her.Aurora sat on her bed, her mind racing as she tried to process everything she had just seen. The image of the queen and princess locked in cages was burned into her mind, and she couldn't shake the feeling of shock and horror that filled her. She had always known that something was off about the Royal Arena, but she ha
Hand-in-hand, they walked…The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the sandstone walls and arches. Aurora suddenly stopped in her tracks and gasped. Derek looked at her curiously, wondering what had caught her attention. He followed her gaze to her index finger, where she had just made a beautiful yellow butterfly sit kn her index finger.It was a delicate and vibrant creature, with wings that were a bright, lemony yellow hue. Its wings were adorned with intricate patterns of black lines and dots, creating a stunning contrast against the yellow background.As the butterfly rested on Aurora's finger, she could see that its wings were thin and almost translucent, allowing the sunlight to filter through and create a soft, warm glow around the insect. The butterfly's body was small and slender, with black antenna protruding from its head, twitching slightly as it sensed its surroundings.The butterfly's wings were slightly tattered, suggesting that it had lived a full life and had
The time finally came wgen Aurora and Derek had to visit Aurora's hometown in her pack per the customs— she had to visit her hometown with her mate and they had to spend a few days with her family, meaning she'd not be returning as a spinster. They journeyed with a few companions with them, who were there to ensure their safety and provide any necessary assistance during the journey. The journey from the Royal Arena to the Blood Moon Pack was long and would take a few days to complete. As they began their journey, they travelled on horseback, riding their trusted steeds through the winding paths and scenic routes of the land. Aurora rode on a magnificent white mare, while Derek rode on a strong black stallion. They rode side by side, their horses' hooves clattering on the dirt road. The scenery around them was breathtaking. Rolling hills and vast meadows stretched out as far as the eye could see, dotted with the occasional farmhouse or small village.Their companions travelled in c