All Chapters of Werewolf Destiny Unveiled : Chapter 11 - Chapter 18

The night of the ball, every light in Aconitum Hall was lit. Tonight, it’s mostly dark. It’s not as inviting; the towers loom sinister and mediaeval over the city, blotting out the sky rather than polluting it with added light.I take a deep breath as I step out of my car. Mother and Father refused to let me take the driver and I’m not sure where one parks at a royal palace. My shoes crunch on the gravel of the small parking area beyond the front porte cochere. I head in that direction, my heart beating in an unfamiliar and worrying pattern. The door opens at the top of the steps, and I expect to see a thrall butler there. But it’s Orion.Orion just opened his front door. Like he’s a person and not a king. I freeze in place. He does, too. It’s a strange moment; before, the undeniable attraction between us was insulated by the presence of others and the etiquette demanded by our society. It felt like if only we were alone, nothing would hold him back. Now, it appears we are alone, and

The Blackwoods' family motto could easily be "if it's uncomfortable, ignore it."My meal with Orion last week is currently causing my family the most distress, and their refusal to speak to me about it is such a blessing that I virtually glow on the way to brunch and my ceremonial dress fitting.My emotions and mind are still at odds. While I desperately want to believe Orion can break us up, it's not as simple as "I'm king, I can do whatever I want." He'll face the wrath of the pack as well as a nightmare of red tape. No way are Ashton and his family going to allow someone walk all over them like that.And I've never met Orion. There's no guarantee that what he says is true. Maybe he's that enticing and seductive to every woman he encounters. There could be any number of prospective mates in the pack that he's contemplating; there's no reason to think otherwise, especially given the rumors that he's in love with the former queen.Still, if he's serious, the termination of the mating

As I rush to Aconitum Hall, I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm not sure if Nathan will be there or if I'll even be able to see him. But he's the king; I don't have his personal cell phone number or anything.Then maybe you shouldn't show up at his place unexpectedly. My rational mind is correct, but my panic brain wins. I'm not going to his place to confess my feelings or beg him to be my boyfriend. He's the pack leader, I'm his subject, and I'm in need of assistance.At the main entrance, there's a gatehouse manned by a thrall who looks up from her book with a dubious expression as I approach. Before she opens the window, she reaches for her hip to deactivate the safety on the revolver in her holster.Aside from hunting, I've never seen a real gun in person. That makes me wish I had given my actions more thought before rushing over here."Name and purpose of visit." Her voice does not rise towards the end. It's not a question, but rather a warning that I shouldn't be here unless I ha

Orion fails to contact me for a week.My mating ceremony preparations have reached crisis proportions. Mother, Clare, and Cynthia are concerned about the morning-after party. Everything from the guest list to the centerpieces must be flawless in order to remove the stain of What I Did.I do my best to engage, if only to maintain the illusion that I'll be married Ashton.His threats continue to haunt me. Nightmares of desperately attempting to flee him only to be dragged back to the pack kicking and screaming have me waking up in a cold sweat every night. People are noting that I am constantly weary and on edge."The bags under your eyes," Mother remarks one night at dinner, making a low tutting noise instead of finishing the phrase."I haven't been sleeping very well." Because of you and what Father consented to. Because of the pack and because I'm a prisoner.“Ma’am?” Hudson enters the dining room, followed by two thrall soldiers wearing Kevlar vests with the royal seal embroidered o