[LAURENT’s Point-of-View]“What are you doing!”I pushed him against the wall so hard that I heard his back thud from the force of it. I trapped him with my arm on his neck, pushing it into his throat, making sure he won’t be able to escape. I pushed him up, his feet kicking desperately five inches from the floor. I have no intention to kill him. Just hurt him. Or maybe warn him. I will never forget that because of his lies, lady Eodelle’s life was almost in danger. “Let me go! You—”“What? You will tell everyone that I made an attempt to kill you so the Emperor could punish me?!” I growled at him between my teeth, my eyes glaring red. I saw him grimace in fear from my unanticipated attack, “What now, Emyr? What are you going to do?!”“Please, Laurent! I don’t know what you are talking about!” he struggled from my tight grip, his hands on my arm but he was too weak for an Alpha like me. My brows deepened into a frown and my teeth gnashed together. Even in the face of a threat, he st
[EODELLE’s Point-of-View]I don’t understand what is happening around me anymore.All I know is the head-splitting pain inside my head. All I remember was my determination to get to Laurent as fast as I could. To stop him from doing what he wanted to do. At first, I thought it was all just a dream. I thought It wasn’t all real. But my back was torturing me step by step inside the corridor while my hands were on the wall as I tried my best not to fall down the hard, bricked wall. I am just glad I was right in time before Laurent killed Emyr.Confused, I have no idea what is going on already. But I felt Laurent put me down on a soft bed as I heard voices that I am not familiar with. There was a commotion inside as one of them pushed me to my side to check on my back. I grimaced and moaned as I felt the indescribable pain all over it, making the rest of my body weak. I wanted this pain to be over and wished that I could recuperate as fast as the others, who have their wolves in them. B
From the corner of my eye, I saw the healer gesture to all her nurse attendants to leave the infirmary chamber. I wonder what made Alpha Aster visit the infirmary after refusing to see me for over a week after the punishment he had to make to please all the witnesses during the ordeal. I wanted to lower my head more, to know I am grateful for his presence. At least he got the concern to let others know that he hadn’t abandoned me completely as his concubine—to let others know that I am still under his protection from their hatred despite what had happened between both of us.I have to be rational about Aster’s decisions and words. I know I cannot trust him with my heart but I can trust him with my life. With what happened, the ordeal has already taken one of my eyes off or cut off one of my hands. But Aster gave a punishment where the council and the people of this place won’t give permanent damage to me. He saved me actually. Maybe not totally, but he did his best to make the least d
It can't be… Aster looked at me with dread on his face but he let go of me and went with the guards toward Helena if the rumor was true. I, on the other hand, froze from the side of my bed, still couldn’t believe what I just heard. As if it was so surreal, the kind of nightmare just like I had with Aster’s g*dd*mned Beta.My mouth was gaping but I could barely breathe. Will this suffering end? Will I ever get a chance to have peace of mind just for a while before the world hits me again with another tragic news?!My head started to fill with rage as I clenched my teeth and screamed, throwing away the pillows and pulling the bedsheet away from the bed, ripping it with all my strength. I could feel the wounds on my back tearing open as the blood dripped down and the metallic smell of blood filled my nose like I almost tasted it in my mouth.The nurse attendants immediately rushed towards me and five of them tried to pin me down to bed, stopping me from doing any more damage to my body.
Meal time is always the time of the day when I wish to just vanish in thin air.I once asked not to attend dinner with them but Helena, who seemed to enjoy tormenting me with Aspen’s presence declined my request. She told me that as the Emperor’s concubine, I had to be always present in every repast to keep the good harmony and relationship between all the concubines and the people that the Emperor wanted him to join with his dinners.I kept my eyes low. The last thing I ever wanted was to catch a glimpse of Aster looking back at me because it will be torture to see him sitting beside Helena while they are discussing something that only both of them could hear. I wanted to eat fast and leave the dining hall as soon as I could but that would be so inappropriate and disrespectful, especially since there are five wealthy and powerful merchants that Emperor Aster invited as important guests of the palace. While in the middle of the dinner, I caught some of them looking at me with shy sm
One more minute and I think I am going to give up.I have been knocking on that heavy wooden door of Lady Marian's room. I know she is aware of my presence because of the small peephole she requested for her door, so her little parrot could check if it is someone she would like to come in or just ignore.And I think I am that someone she had been ignoring for several weeks already.Winter is coming and there are parts of the palace that are too cold that I had to wear layers of coats to warm myself. Unlike other werewolves, my body just doesn’t regulate heat as a normal werewolf does. I easily get cold which makes the other people in the corridor stare at me at how ridiculous I look in my clothes. Layers of clothes are not normal in this place and it makes me look funny in the eyes of others, especially when I was a kid and the other monarch children used to make fun of me. I could remember I was so upset and refused to wear my coats, making others think that I am as normal as them.
“What you are doing endangers your life, your Grace… I am afraid for your safety. Lady Marian and King Laurent were right. YOU should leave this place while you still have time, While everyone’s attention is on lady Helena. While she isn’t the Empress of this Empire yet.”Nina dressed me for tonight’s banquet, a congratulatory feast held by the Emperor’s friends for him and Lady Helena. I stare at my face in the mirror while Nina’s skillful hands braid my hair intricately, putting glinting gems on my hair. She is really working hard to make me look wonderful tonight and I love how passionate she is when she’s working with my dresses, makeup, and hair.This time, Aster didn’t send me a gown he preferred me to wear which he usually did. It made me sad for a moment though. I didn’t expect I would miss that kind of affection from him. “I know… but it is not that easy, Nina,” I murmured to her, “I know how much you all care for me but I already decided. I would never leave this place. It
“YOU—-” I felt sick in my stomach when he flashed his devilish smile at me. I squirmed away from him but his hands on my waist pulled me closer so that my body pressed against his. Some of the people are already looking at both of us. I can’t believe how insane this man gets. I almost lost an eye and a hand because of him and here he is, forcing me to dance with him in the middle of the crowd, all giving me a judging look.“Let me go, Beta Emyr!” I hissed at him, my hands pushing him on his chest, trying to get away from his venomous look. The hair on my nape stood with the touch of his hand. I don’t see him as the gentle, kind Beta anymore after he showed me his true color. He is as vile as Helena and both of them are the most dangerous people in Headow Stronghold that I should avoid.“Don’t tell me you are now that scared of me, lady Eodelle… where is that feisty lady? I love how you turn me on whenever I see that fire in your eyes every time you get angry,” he whispered in my ear
“Aster no…”But I couldn’t stop him anymore.As fast as he could, I saw how he killed the palace soldiers one by one inside the Emperor’s Hall and saved Nina. But to his shock, he stopped in front of Lady Marian’s body which was lying on the marble floor, cold and unmoving. He stared at her for a bit with a solemn face like she was some kind of a sister for him and lifted her, and carried her towards me and Nina where she covered her lifeless body with a curtain he took from one of the walls with the insignia of the North Kingdom as one of the allied Kingdoms of the Empire.As soon as he came back to me and our baby, He held me tight once again and looked at the small child in my arms with his gentle eyes despite the agony he must be feeling all over his body. And then he glanced back at Lady Marian's body which made me sob as my heart broke into pieces for losing a great friend.“She is a good person, Eodelle… She helped me through a lot about you and Laurent. She never deserved thi
"MARIAN!!!"My whole body froze as I watched her kneel in front of the red guard who stabbed her. Her face turned dark before she fell to the ground, her body not moving anymore. My nose was filled with the scent of her blood as it wafted all over the place, giving me shudders all over my body. The hall turned silent as we all watched Lady Marian dead on the floor. I feel like my heart and soul were shattered into millions of pieces and it horrified me more when I could no longer hear my child's cry. He also turned silent as fear crawled all over me. "See what you have done, Eodelle... I told you not to fight me anymore. I may be a liar sometimes but you know what I can do when someone upsets me," Emyr sneered while I stood frozen, still in denial that Marian was already gone just like that.Tears fell from my eyes, "What do you want me to do then, Emyr? What do you want from me?!" I tried to contain the anger inside me as my throat ached while I sobbed. My whole body was trembling
It is a call of desperation.I glared at Emyr. He knew from the start that he and Helena won't win this war. That is why he is trying to make some bargain to spare his and Helena's life. But there is no way I could let these two escape after what they did to my son...to Aster. I don't exactly know if he will do his side of the bargain though. But I am getting more desperate to see Aster once again and have my baby in my arms. I know I shouldn't trust Emyr with his poisonous words. I shouldn't let myself be deceived by his lies. But my child's life is more important to me."Show them to me first, Emyr! And then I'll decide!" I yelled at him with confidence in my voice. It is me he is pleading to and not the other way around. I should be the one who must ask for demands. "Sure! Just follow me!" He answered with a grin on his face which made me more suspicious. I know I should be more careful but knowing that I am finally going to have my son back takes all the fear in my head and jus
I immediately went to the officers who were leading a horse for her to use and then thanked them shortly after I put on some new set of clothes and before I hopped on the animal and galloped towards the Imperial City in a route not too familiar for me. I had to take it as per Lady Marian's advice so that no Red soldier wouldn't recognize me on that path where few people take it because it was a little farther than the main road.With gritted teeth, I made the horse run to its full speed. But I have other plans. I know Lady Marian is already waiting for me at the downtown alley where four Talaphatian soldiers are with her. I know she will surely get mad once she finds out I didn't go just as we planned. I have to go alone and never wanted to put my best friend's life in danger just like what I promised King Laurent. She will be safe with her guards.Through the woods, all I think about is Aster and our son. I will go to Headow Stronghold alone and face whatever will be waiting for me t
This is the day.I feel like my heart is in my throat. My heartbeat pains my ears as the throbbing goes harder, faster, making my hands tremble in fear as we all march towards the wide plain at the border of Northern Kingdom and the Imperial city.King Laurent didn’t allow Lady Marian to march with us. She is waiting for me at one of the darkest downtown alleys for the mission to save Aster, and my child. I can’t wait until this battle march is over. I can’t wait to see Aster again and our son. I pray Helena didn’t do anything to him. I pray he is safe inside the Headow Stronghold and being watched by my ancestors, keeping him safe.The sky is clear and the sun is gentle on my skin as I rode with the three Kings on my side. The North, West and Talaphatian King swore their loyalty to me and the future that I promised to them. The future that we all are seeking is free from greed, violence and self-interest that the Imperial council portrays just to make themselves more powerful and t
The council meeting with the Northern Kingdom and the Western Kingdom was not good. There was tension between the two Kings and I can feel that even Laurent felt a little frustrated about it. King Anthony never liked the arrogance of the King of the West who was Katrina’s father. His grumpy face reminded me of my father and I can’t deny that each time he looks at me with his mouth curved downward and his eyes judging, piercing eyes penetrating through the stoic facade I have been practicing because I never wanted them to think I am scared of them.We are all in a place—a carved cave the northern men use as the council chamber. In the middle is the wide wooden table with the map of the continent carved into it with wooden pieces representing each Kingdom and the Headow Stronghold. King Lauren and Lady Marian never left my side even when we entered the chamber. King Anthony never wanted his little sister to join the war meeting with me but she insisted because she is also part of what
I have to make him believe I have the ability to rule the Kingdom just like a true Wycliffe does. I can feel the blood of my ancestors running through me as my inner wolf convinces me that I am not the same Eodelle who used to fear a lot of things. King Laurent and Lady Marian looked at me with their brows angled upward, worried that I might fail to convince the Northern King to join the alliance. King Laurent cannot guarantee that he can beat the Headow Stronghold after the Southern Kingdom already pledged its alliance with Helena and the Western side was still indecisive about it.“Eodelle, you don’t have to. We all know…” Laurent whispered to me as he stood on my left and Lady Marian on my right. They still have no idea that I have finally had my wolf. But to be honest, I am scared I won’t be able to control myself once I unleash and shift into my werewolf form. It will be my very first time and I am aware I will have to endure a hell of pain once the process of physical change ha
[ASTER’s Point-of-View]Now I understand how terrifying it must be for Eodelle when I threw her into this very dungeon. Dark, cold, stinking… I am a monster for making her suffer the first night we met. What a tragic first meeting we had. I totally hate myself just thinking of it.I promised Eodelle I will bring our child back. But I failed. I underestimated Helena and I was overconfident that I could still have her trust. I never thought that while I was gone, she had lost our child. I should feel bad about it but what she did to Eodelle is beyond forgiveness.I heard someone sniffing not too far from my cell in the middle of my mooring. The voice was familiar to me as I listened to it carefully.“Nina?”The sniffing stopped.“Your Grace? Is that you? Why are you here?” she asked in shock. I don’t know what cell she was in but her voice was clear. She is careful enough not to make it echo inside the dungeon.“Long Story. But can you tell me what happened?”Nina was very detailed when
For two days I have been trying to stand up on my own feet, wishing the effect of the poison that was given to me by that healer would finally be gone. Despite my anger and my demand not to see her again, the healer still comes into my tent to give me an antidote from the poison for my fast recovery. She had been asking for forgiveness for what she did to me and what happened to me and my baby but I refused to talk to her, letting her guilt eat her inch by inch. Without my baby in my hands, I can’t find any sympathy to give her. My heart is just filled with revenge and a huge desire to have my child and Aster back. To save Nina and make Helena pay for everything she did to me and to the people important to me.I have been suffering from a high fever and with the level of dizziness I feel, I could barely get up from my bed. My body feels like I am inside an oven, slowly being cooked into ashes. I am sweating so badly that the maidservants in the camp had to replace my bedsheet thrice