IT WAS past eight in the evening when I received a call from Clyde informing me about Willow and Katriona’s location. I teleported right away; my chest was still pounding.And there, I found the loveliest pregnant woman in the world.Katriona was in a yellow dress that barely reached her knees.God, it felt so nice to see her wearing bright colors again.She was standing in front of our home… back in the North.When she saw me, concern crossed her eyes as she started explaining, “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to leave. I mean how could I? That’s still technically my house. I only wanted to visit this place with Willow for a moment. She teleported us here but we lost track of the time wandering around. I also met the other kids again. They requested me to play the guitar and before I knew it, we were having lunch and snacks together.“When I finally wanted to come back, Willow got dizzy and we had to stay longer. The omegas called the doctor and guess what? She’s pregnant!” Katriona’s eyes
(Alexander) “The moment you open the door and everyone inside finds out what you are planning, there will be war, alpha. Blood will spill.” I smirked when I heard the anxiety in my beta’s voice. And I don’t blame him knowing that if things would go as planned, this would be the biggest war our pack would have to face. I glanced at the castle in front of us. All the lights were on. From where we are, I could hear the loud music playing inside. My brother’s engagement party was a blast. I would bet all my inheritance that Bradley was currently having the time of his life. He had been walking on sunshine for years now. It was time we switched places. “Do you know what kept me alive all these years? It’s this moment, this chance to avenge my mate. I can’t let this pass, Jace. I have waited for this for a long time. And if getting even requires blood, then I don’t mind spilling some.” I turned to Jace and patted his shoulder. “Why do you look like that? Are you doubting your alpha? Do
(Katriona) “Just a warning, Katriona. Alpha Alexander has returned. Because of the brothers’ long-time feud, you could be targeted by him. Be careful. Once he sets his eyes on something, he would go all the way to get it. He would not be tagged as the ‘Northern Beast’ for nothing.” Those words came from Lord Kenneth, one of the members of the Order, an organization which the King ruled to maintain the peace in the Kingdom. Lord Kenneth let out those words when we met in the hallway after I came out of the ladies’ room. Before this, I had only heard rumors about Alexander since no one around me, not even the royal family themselves talk about him as if he was a forbidden subject. I knew about his victories and how he mercilessly conquered several packs until the entire wolves in the North had become under his command. I also heard that the brothers were not on good terms although what happened between them seemed to be a story which no one was allowed to tell. But whatever was the
(Alexander) “YOU are on the verge of losing your right to the throne because of what you did at the party! Are you even aware of that?!” The King’s voice echoed inside the four corners of his office when he yelled at me as soon as the butler closed the door. “If I really gave a damn about the throne, then I wouldn’t have left the city four years ago,” I shot back while I sat on the couch. “Your adopted son could have it. Except from the North, he could rule this kingdom and keep pretending to be the perfect alpha for all I care but I would have my revenge, your majesty.” “What happened four years ago was an accident, Alexander!” “That’s what all of you wanted to think! The proof was right in front of your eyes but you and your queen still refused to believe it!” The King rose from his seat and pointed his finger at me. “So that is the reason why you are throwing away your throne just for one woman?!” “Come again? Just for one woman?” I repeated. I stood up and stared at him. My
(Katriona) I TRIED hard not to cry as soon as I saw my reflection in the mirror. I didn’t want my make-up to smear. I can’t believe that today, I would be marrying the man of my dreams. The preparations were in a rush but Bradley made sure to still fulfill my dream wedding. Lauren, my best friend, was already at the venue and had sent me photos. Everything was so beautiful; it was almost like a dream. “Sweetheart, are you ready? The bridal car is here,” mom announced as she knocked on the door. My smile widened. “Yes, I’m ready.” My face was beaming when I opened the door. “Mom, how do I look?” But my smile vanished the minute I saw Alexander. My instinct screamed at me to close the door and I did, but he easily blocked it with his arm. “Tip number one, princess. You should never open your door to strangers so easily like that.” “Where is my mom? What did you do to her and what are you doing here?!” “Don’t worry, everyone is safe. They are not my target so they will live,” Alex
(Alexander)“YOU are turning the entire kingdom into your enemy by breaking the rules! Aren’t you afraid of the King? Of the Order?” Katriona screeched. The anger in her eyes was palpable as she gazed up at me.My gaze remained hard and cold when I spoke, “Oh, sweetheart, haven’t you heard yet? I’m a rule breaker.”The Order, the lords, all of them had become my enemies the moment they denied me the justice I deserved. As for the King and that blasted royal family, I believed what I did today was a declaration that I was officially cutting ties with them.“You are the most despicable man I have ever met!” Katriona yelled.Even with tears in her eyes, she still looked defiant as if it was her way of telling me that what I did was not enough to break her spirit.How foolishly brave.“Thank you very much,” I replied casually and folded my arms.She raised her hand and slapped me.Tension sizzled in the air as the wolves turned to Katriona’s direction. Loud growls resonated inside the car
(Katriona)ALEXANDER’S warriors, who seemed to be hiding behind the trees, appeared all of a sudden, blocking my mate and the rescue team. Their number was equivalent to the warriors sent by the city.It was easy to spot Alexander’s subordinates. All of them had tattoos on their backs. Alexander also had tattoos on his chest and arms. They seemed to be symbols which were all unknown to me since no one had them in the city.Alexander purposely commanded the driver to slow down. He was clearly taunting me and the rescue team. Letting me watch how Bradley and the knights shed so much blood just to save me was breaking me. I felt like my heart was being ripped out from my chest.How could the most beautiful day of my life turn out like this? This was a day for me and Bradley, a day to celebrate our love and happiness.By this time, we should be in the reception hall filled with flowers, drinking with our family and friends, and having our first dance as husband and wife with the guests wh
“SON-““No! You do not get to call me that anymore! You have no fucking right to address me like that after the hell you put me through!” I interjected. Fury flashed in my eyes. “This is all on you now, Augustus. If you only became the kind of ‘king’ and ‘father’ that I needed four years ago, this would not have taken place!”“Behave yourself, Alpha Alexander! You are talking to the King!” Ulric exclaimed and pointed his finger at me. “This is treason, a crime punishable by death!”I felt the last bit of my patience reached its peak. Ulric, the Queen’s older brother, was still as arrogant as before. In a blink of an eye, I was already standing in front of him. I put my hands between the iron bars. I broke Ulric’s fingers, grabbed his neck, and lifted him in the air with one hand. His face and neck had turned red. He struggled to free himself but I did not let him.The ever merciful and compassionate king wanted to interfere but one look at him and his legs weakened.The same thing hap
IT WAS past eight in the evening when I received a call from Clyde informing me about Willow and Katriona’s location. I teleported right away; my chest was still pounding.And there, I found the loveliest pregnant woman in the world.Katriona was in a yellow dress that barely reached her knees.God, it felt so nice to see her wearing bright colors again.She was standing in front of our home… back in the North.When she saw me, concern crossed her eyes as she started explaining, “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to leave. I mean how could I? That’s still technically my house. I only wanted to visit this place with Willow for a moment. She teleported us here but we lost track of the time wandering around. I also met the other kids again. They requested me to play the guitar and before I knew it, we were having lunch and snacks together.“When I finally wanted to come back, Willow got dizzy and we had to stay longer. The omegas called the doctor and guess what? She’s pregnant!” Katriona’s eyes
(Alexander)“DID you see that, Xander? I won!”My smile widened when I saw Katriona’s eyes shone after beating a former warrior in chess. I loved to see her win and it was precisely because of this smile. Everyone in the room was just watching her as she stood up to greet me as if it was the most natural thing to do.I looked at the chessboard before smiling at her. I kissed her forehead. “You did great, love.”After Dane’s death more than a month ago, I thought I would see Katriona waver. She didn’t. She had only let herself mourn for a day and the next day; she started exploring knowing that her father wouldn’t like to see her wallow in misery.She drove around the city and in the nearby provinces all by herself. But of course, I was right there, following her secretly from afar. She had no problems still doing anything she wanted to do because she was naturally strong. It was just two weeks before she gave birth now but her little bump could pass as only five months.She traveled a
MY STEPS slowed down when I finally saw him again. Today, he was no longer in that custom-styled suit. His leather shoes had been replaced by sneakers and he looked untidy for the first time. Gone was his regal aura.He didn’t look like a king anymore.But a lost old man.He was rocking himself back and forth while holding his mate’s photo as he stared at the clear sky from the window.I had always doubted his wife. And I’d already rehearsed about what I would tell him after I was able to show him her true colors. But it turned out that there was no need for that anymore. Beatrice had shown him all her darkness and this man bravely and foolishly accepted that darkness.I no longer had to ask if his black heart was finally breaking at last and if he was feeling that same agony that he put me and my mother through.Because it was already showing. His eyes had become swollen with tears. And the photo he was holding was already soaked with those tears.Now that I think about it, maybe Aug
TO MY SURPRISE, there were more wolves who jumped down the gates and joined our pack. Half of them were the members of the Order. The others were the royal family’s warriors themselves. Alexander and I glanced at each other and nodded as we led the pack towards the mages.Clyde had blocked every spell thrown our way. The mages may possess strong powers but without them, their bodies were like those of humans. Compared to them, the shifters were still faster, especially me and my mate. And with Clyde blocking the attacks, we were able to charge forward.I sank my claws and teeth into the body of the first mage I saw and tore his arms apart before slamming him onto the wall before I proceeded to another mage.“Katriona!”I wouldn’t have stopped until I heard that voice.It was Rhodora.She stood a few meters away from me. But what caught my attention was the sword she was holding. Alexander had told me about it. It was the missing sword. The Legacy. The one from my ancestors.“No one hu
(Katriona)R HAD one mistake. She may have been successful in masking her scent from my wolf but she left a drop of her blood on the floor. She was injured when she came here to spy on me herself. Her latest victims must have tried fighting so hard for their lives before they died in her hands.When Alexander called Clyde over, the mage did not waste time to prove himself. He still felt guilty for failing to cure my father and he was too eager to offer help in any way possible that tracing the owner of the blood did not take him much time.He was also inspired more than ever now since Willow was back on his side. I heard that they got separated after Willow decided to marry the man her parents had chosen for her who was also a shifter. It happened years ago. She was so afraid that her parents would disown her that she chose them over her own heart. Unfortunately, her husband sold her to the high-ranking mages. Since then, her life had fallen apart.Now that they were back in each oth
Fifteen years ago…‘THAT’S ENOUGH, Johann! I’m begging you! Just hit me, okay? I would take it all! Please spare our son! Bradley is still too young for this!’ Beatrice screamed as she struggled to crawl on the floor to reach us.‘No, mom! I’ll be fine,’ I mouthed and tried to smile to reassure her despite the blood dripping in my head. ‘This will be over soon. Just please... look the other way for now. I can still take it.’Tears streamed down her cheeks. She could barely open her left eye after Johann made her his punching bag again last night. Her right cheek was swollen, she had cuts on her face, and bruises all over her body. Each time I would see her framed picture in the living room, the only picture she had before she married my father, I couldn’t believe that it was her.No one would be able to recognize her like this anymore.Beatrice looked thinner and smaller now. Her bright smile from the picture was replaced by sheer agony, by her tears that I see every waking day of my
(Alexander)I BREATHED sharply and braced myself for the worse. I could still remember how the King and the Order looked at me like I had gone insane when I rejected the crown. They must have been expecting some good news when they saw me in a flashy suit after a long time.They must have thought the suit was for them.Hell, no. It was exclusively for this interview.Duke, the oldest in my pack, happened to also be the only one among us who had a social media account. He saw the post, took a screenshot, and sent it to me last night. I shook my head. I could still imagine him grinning as he tried playing cupid for the first time.I never wanted to be a king. I only considered it when I thought Katriona wanted to be a queen.But she didn’t.Everyone has been failing to see it but she only wanted to be herself.She had lost herself for too long that there was no other role she wanted than to finally be the real Katriona Aldana. She was still in the middle of rediscovering herself, of re
I COULD not tell how long I had been running. I just knew I needed to escape for a while and calm myself because I didn’t want dad to see me have a meltdown in front of him once he woke up. I didn’t want him to worry again.I was sure he would already worry about breaking his promise to me again.I ran and stopped only when I was in the middle of the woods. I howled and howled until my throat burned, until the nearby wolves had awakened and howled with me.Clyde’s last words were still echoing in my head.‘We found two kinds of poison in your father’s body. I was only able to get rid of the one affecting his wolf. It was no doubt the poison your wolf had detected. The second poison, however, seemed like it had been in Dane’s system for years. It has already spread in different parts of his body. I’m sorry but you need to prepare yourself, Katriona.’‘How much time do you think we have left?’ I asked, my voice was shaking.Clyde sighed. ‘To be honest, I don’t think your father can make
HIS SHOULDERS shook.Dad had always been a proud man but tonight, he looked defeated, like somebody had taken all his hopes and dreams away. I clenched my hands.My expression hardened when I spoke, “What did I do this time, dad? Where did I go wrong again? I’ve manifested as the wolf you had always wanted me to become so why do you still look like that? Is it because of Chantal? Look at me and see who is here for you right now! See me for what I am! I am your only daughter! Chantal is never going to come back! I will not allow someone who tried to kill you to ever step foot into this estate again!”Dad looked at me and my stomach twisted at the agony in his eyes. “I had hurt you so much, didn’t I?”“Yes, you did.” My voice cracked. “And I want to hate you so much for it, dad.”He lowered his head. “I’m so sorry.”“I tried telling you about it, dad. You didn’t believe me. You lied to me. You said you would be my protector. You swore to be there to chase away the monsters under my bed.