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
As they arrived at Magnus's grand domain, Aurora couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with nostalgia. It was the same place she grew up and had always called home before being sent to the Scorpion Zeal pack in matrimony. She had been gone for so long and now she was back, this time with her mate by her side.The feast was in full swing, the aroma of delicious food and the sound of drums and music filling the air. The guests were all seated on mats laid out in a large clearing in the middle of the domain. The alpha Magnus was seated at the head of the table, with his wife by his side. Aurora and Derek were seated next to them, with the other guests arranged around the table.As they ate and drank, Aurora caught the admiring glances of the guests around them. It was clear that they were impressed with her mate, Derek, who was a dashing and handsome man. She smiled to herself, happy that her people had accepted her mate despite the long-standing enmity between their packs.Suddenly, the dr
LAST CHAPTER.The market square was bustling with activity as people went about their daily business. The sound of merchants haggling with customers mixed with the clucking of chickens and the neighing of horses. Suddenly, a hush fell over the square as rumors spread that the king and queen were coming. People started to run frantically around, hurrying to catch a glimpse of the royal procession.As the excitement grew, people began to push and shove each other, trying to get a better view. Some even fell to the ground, but they quickly got back up and continued their attempts to see the royal family; the leaders of their pack. It was clear that many of them had never seen the Alpha king before, and this was a momentous occasion for them.As the excitement grew, people began to push and shove each other, trying to get a better view. Some even fell to the ground, but they quickly got back up and continued their attempts to see the king. It was clear that many of them had never seen the
Gasher's heart was pounding so hard that he thought Ragnar might wake up. Ragnar's guards were nowhere to be seen, and the room was eerily quiet. Gasher took a step closer to Ragnar's bed. He could see the veins bulging on Ragnar's neck, and his chest heaving up and down with each breath. He felt a surge of anger and hatred towards the man who had caused so much pain to his family.As he got closer, Gasher could see the sweat on Ragnar's forehead, and the look of tension in his sleep. He wanted to laugh at the sight, but he knew he had to stay focused. He couldn't let his guard down, not for a second.Gasher raised his sword, ready to strike. He hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should say something. But then he realized that there was nothing to say. Ragnar had brought this upon himself, and he had to pay the price. Gasher looked down upon him with a cold, hard stare, and then he swung his sword down towards Ragnar.Gasher stood in the darkness of the night, sword in hand, rea
"Speaking of the queen, have you heard about what happened between her and Ragnar? I heard she attacked him in his chambers!"The group erupted in laughter at the thought of the petite queen attacking the powerful Ragnar. "I can't believe she had the strength to do that," one of them said between chuckles.Zen, the man who had noticed Gasher's distraction earlier, chimed in with a more serious tone. "I heard that the princess was stabbed by a guard.”Some of them nodded in agreement.“He's still at large, but who knows, one of us might even be the killer,” another added looking at the others with playfully suspicious eyes."But do you guys reckon Ragnar will do if the prince and his wife are eventually found?" one of them asked, his voice shaking slightly."I don't know, but I wouldn't want to be in their shoes right now," another replied.The conversation died down as they continued to walk in silence, the only sounds coming from the rustling of leaves and twigs under their feet. Th
The six rainmakers were travelling through the thick bushes in silence. They had all their ritual tools and materials being pulled in a cart by two men. Fred, who was leading the group, suddenly stopped walking. The other five members of the party looked at him with worry in their eyes as he remained silent, his gaze fixed on something ahead of them.One of the cautiously asked,“Why did you stop? What is going on?”There was no answer from Fred as he continued to look around warily. He then took out a small Dagger from his belt and soon after three more men did the same, taking out their daggers too. The two women held onto each other tightly as they felt fear rising within them about what might happen next. In a flash seven masked men jumped out of the bushes and charged towards them. The two men who were pulling the cart immediately ran for their lives, leaving the other four to fend for themselves. The attackers began slashing and stabbing at them mercilessly as they screamed i
The six people in white robes stood still, eyes closed, hands clasped together as they waited for Fred to start the eclipse calling ceremony. The burning pyre in the center of the square emitted a warm glow, casting flickering shadows on the ground. Suddenly, Fred began to dance around the square, howling words that were incomprehensible to everyone but him. He walked around, rattling the short stick in his hand, while the others in white robes began to sway to the beat of the music.Gasher watched from the sidelines, his face tense with anticipation. Fred's dance grew more intense, his howls louder as he worked himself into a frenzy. His feet pounded the ground as he twirled, his arms flailing around him.Ragnar watched from his seat, his eyes fixed on the spectacle before him. He was surrounded by Gasher and a few other guards, all of whom looked on with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. As Fred's dance reached its climax, Ragnar leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he watch
92.Carissa stirred from her slumber as she heard the faint creak of the door opening. Her eyes fluttered open, struggling to adjust to the dimness of the room. "Who's there?" she mumbled, her voice hoarse from sleep.A familiar figure stepped out of the shadows, and Carissa's eyes widened in recognition. It was Era, one of the maids who worked in the palace. Carissa struggled to sit up, wincing as she felt the dull ache in her bones. "Era, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion.Era walked towards her cage, her footsteps as silent as a cat's. "The princess asked me to give you this," she said, tossing a key towards Carissa. The princess? Carissa thought, confused. Why would she give me a key?Carissa looked down at the key, hesitating before picking it up. She turned to Era, about to ask her what it was for when she spoke up. "What else would it be for?" Era said, a hint of impatience creeping into her voice. "It's the key to the cage. The princess
The maids frantically packed their belongings, the room filled with commotion. Some were shoving each other, while others were arguing about their belongings. One maid shouted, "That's mine, give it back!" while another retorted, "No, it's not, I had it first!" The room was chaotic, with everyone trying to grab their things as quickly as possible.Another maid was trying to pack her jewelry when she realized that her necklace was missing. She searched frantically through her belongings, but it was nowhere to be found. "Has anyone seen my necklace?" she asked the others, hoping someone had accidentally picked it up. But nobody had seen it, and her panic only grew as she thought about losing something so valuable.In the midst of the chaos, one of the maids accidentally knocked over a vase, causing it to shatter on the ground. "Oh no, what have you done?" exclaimed another maid, irritated. "Can't you be more careful?" The maid apologized profusely, but the others were already rush
Magnus furrowed his brows in a deep frown as he observed the vast plains below. The beauty of the land was undeniable, with its rolling hills and expansive fields, but Magnus couldn't appreciate it in his current state of mind. His thoughts were consumed with anger and frustration.Overlooking the vast expanse of the plains below the beauty of the landscape was undeniable - rolling hills stretched out before him, dotted with verdant trees and grassy fields. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over everything it touched. The sky was a canvas of oranges, pinks, and purples, with wispy clouds painted in hues of gold and silver.But despite the beauty of the scene before him, Magnus could feel a deep anger burning inside him. He clenched his fists tightly behind his back, his knuckles turning white with the force of his grip. His gaze shifted beyond the horizon, where the borders of the Scorpion Zeal pack lay. Hatred for his enemy burned within him, fueled by a desire for ve
One of the men, engrossed in the task of cutting down the tree, noticed a faint movement in the distance. He squinted his eyes, trying to make out what it was. Suddenly, he realized that it was a woman walking towards them. He called out to the others, "Hey, look over there, a woman is coming!"The others stopped what they were doing and turned to see for themselves. They chuckled amongst themselves, joking about who the woman might be and whose type she might be."Maybe she's into tall, dark, and handsome," one of them said, eliciting a round of laughter from the group."Or maybe she's into strong, silent types," another chimed in, earning a few nods of agreement.She appeared to be weak and disoriented, barely able to stand on her own two feet. Her movements were slow and unsteady, as if every step required all of her strength.Her hair was disheveled and fell messily around her face, which was pale and contorted in pain. Her dress was torn in several places, and blood had soaked t