Novel-novel oleh Udoh Glory

Kendrick sat alone in the training yard, tossing a stone between his hands. The moonlight touched his face, but his thoughts were heavy.Rowland hadn’t spoken to him for days.Since that night outside the shed, things had changed. There were more guards around Rina now. She was given more work. Less food. And she had been moved to the room right opposite Rowland's Kendrick knew his brother was angry. But he didn’t care. He also knew his brother was being unnecessarily wicked to Rina and he didn't understand why. He couldn’t stop thinking about her.Inside the Alpha’s hall, their father, Alpha Simon sat at the long table, watching his two sons in silence.Rowland spoke with the warriors. Kendrick stayed quiet.Simon leaned toward his Beta. “Something is wrong between them,” he said in a low voice.The Beta nodded. “It’s about the ginger head girl, I believe.”Simon didn’t reply. His eyes narrowed slightly.The next morning, Rina walked through the halls, her basket full of laundry.S

The shed smelled like dirt and old wood.Rina sat on the cold floor, arms wrapped around her knees. Her dress was torn. Her back still ached from the long ride and the heavy chores.There was no bed. No blanket. Just a pile of hay in the corner. Alpha prince was as cruel as the rest of her tormentors had been. He had mentioned that she would have better living conditions, but he didn't care. He didn't want to make her life any easier. He just wanted a servant that he could experiment with. This life was much worse than anything she'd ever had. She was in a strange place, far away from lands she was familiar with, and with equally cold people who were complete strangers to her. A rat ran past her foot. She didn’t move.Her voice was dry when she whispered, “Mel… are you still there?”A soft voice echoed in her mind.“I’m here. I see your inner battles and the hurt…and I see all the pain.”Rina closed her eyes. “I want to go home.”“You have no home there anymore.”Tears rolled down h

"Who is she?" Rowland asked.The servant bowed his head. "The girl with the red hair, sire?""Yes. The one in the gray dress.""Her name is Rina. She’s a servant. A slave, actually."Rowland frowned. "Why does she look so… different?"The servant hesitated. "There are stories. Some say she has powers. Others call her cursed. The rumours about the powers are because of the hair. It grows more rapidly than the hairs of other werewolves. But she's weak, sure.”Rowland’s eyes narrowed. "Cursed?"“She was born during a pack invasion. Her mother died that night. Her father was hanged for treason later.”Rowland folded his arms. “So she’s alone.”“Yes, sire.”Meanwhile, Kendrick stood by the window of his room. He watched Rina from a distance as she swept the courtyard. They had come to discuss things regarding pack alliances. But this girl was taking his mind off the main reason he was in the Sauna pack. Her movements were slow. Her back slightly bent. Her dress still stained. He wondered

“Rina! Wake up! You’re late again!”The sharp voice made her eyes fly open.“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, sitting up. Her back throbbed where the whip had hit her last night. The room was barely lit, save for the moonlight that sometimes served as light. On some nights, she had insects crawl from under her straw bed on to her clothes. Sometimes, they bit her and left spots. “You think ‘sorry’ is enough?” the woman snapped. “The feast is tonight. Get moving, rat.”The door slammed shut.Rina sat still for a moment, breathing slowly. This was the life she knew. She didn't have to be beautiful. She just needed to keep away from trouble. Then she touched her head and froze.Her hair—her long, ginger hair was back.Rina was more shocked than she was delighted. Since Leah had Started cutting her hair, assuming it was just the hair that made her beautiful, the hair had not ceased to grow back only after a couple of months. This time, she'd woken up to her hair full and back at its former

The whole pack had gathered in the square. Rina stood in the front, her small hands shaking. She was only eleven. Her feet were bare, her clothes thin. But her eyes, wide with fear, were fixed on the man about to be hanged.“Papa…” she whispered, her voice cracking.The man had kind eyes and a soft smile, even now, as ropes were tied around his wrists. He was once a respected guard of Alpha Glint of the Sauna pack. He had protected the pack for years. He had never done anything wrong.But now, he was being called a traitor.“He gave our secrets to the enemy!” someone in the crowd shouted.“He let them in!” another voice said.“It’s not true!” Rina cried out. Her small voice was drowned by the crowd’s anger.Alpha Glint stood high above them all. He wore a dark robe and his face showed no pity.Rina ran to him, pulling at his sleeve. “Please, Alpha! My papa didn’t do it! He’s loyal! He never betrayed anyone!”Guards pulled her away.Alpha Glint looked down at her. “The evidence is clea