Lysander's Point of ViewMother was in the kitchen again. Cooking away. Baking cookies this time. I wondered what Isaac had done now to earn her silence. Her wrath. From the looks of things, he had messed up big time. An exam that he didn't study for, perhaps? She hated baking cookies. But she did it when things didn't go her way. Or Isaac and I messed up. "Good morning, ma." I chimed from the door. Unlike most mornings where I slipped in, I didn't linger. Instead, I sat down at the table. Watched her grind out some cookies onto parchment paper. Her head bobbed in acknowledgment. The most I would get since she was in a mood.The sun lazily flooded into the kitchen window. Cast her apron in glaring red. Her hair glinting lightly. A halo. Fit, seeing as my mother was the closest thing I had seen to an angel. Although, Nerezza now slowly overlapped my mother. Clawed her way to the top.I remained silent long enough for the woman to stop her working. She turned around. Wiped flour on her
Nerezza's Point of View I had barely slipped into the palace before the summons came. Reginald wanted to see me. It was late. Darkness filled most of the halls. Staff had gone home or settled into their quarters. He should have been asleep. Left me alone for the evening to tell Farren and Phaedra what had happened. He had staged the proposal. There were no two ways about it. Every paper in Makatza would have my face on it tomorrow. Of course, the headlines would vary, but they would all mean the same thing. From rags to riches. The new queen of the werewolves. It made me sick to my stomach to think about it. The scent of my mates had been washed off. Replaced by my new clothes. My body wash. Although, if I breathed deep enough, I could still trace them. Feel them. They had comforted me in my time of need. Told me that I was fine. That everything would turn out for the better in the end. Not that I was convinced. Especially seeing as Lysander had responded so horridly to the news. R
Nerezza's Point of ViewDespite our argument last night, Reginald had sent Harold bright and early. Before I could speak to Farren and Phaedra. Before I could even gather my thoughts. After last night's revelation, I was hesitant to follow through with whatever this was. Terrified that I might bind myself to this man for eternity. Because he seemed to care less and less for me with each passing day. I shared the sentiment but at least I hadn't pressured him into marrying me.Something was missing. Unknown to me. I hated it. Hated to know that in this I was one step behind him. Sure, he wanted to keep me around when he passed away. But what stipulations came with that contract? What should I give up in return?I knew what stance Phaedra would take in all of this. It would help our cause a great deal. Give me a solid foundation to build my case. If I was the queen before I overthrew Reggie, people (meaning the upper class of wolves) wouldn't be as enraged. Meaning I wouldn't have a civ
Nerezza's Point of ViewHarold droned on about everything that needed to be arranged. The dresses for Farren and Phaedra. Flowers. Cakes. Who will be invited and who won't. Even if I had no family to bring along, Harold never asked about my side of things. About the family I might have somewhere. I chalked it up to negligence on his part but knew better.This was a political affair. High-ranking nobles would come from all around the globe. Human presidents and dictators who were in on the secret. Alphas with a lot of income and amassed wealth. Not Ciaran and hiss pack, though. Reggie didn't want Ciaran anywhere close to the palace. Harold had said that they were still rogues in essence and would sour the occasion. I knew better.Ciaran wouldn't hesitate to take Reggie on in front of everyone. Most likely beat him senseless whilst the other three men watched. Alvara would have a heart attack but she wouldn't stop him either. He had done too much damage to their respective packs. Hurt t
Lysander's Point of ViewWork was a slump. Code drifted over the screen. I would type furiously, knowing what I had to do by heart. Mundane. Easy. Like any other day. But she kept popping into my mind. What I had said to her. What mother had said to me? It all became one big blur. A movie that bled into each other.After some time, I couldn't distinguish between what was said and what was reality. It was an awful feeling. The feeling of being trapped inside this place. Not just this place but this life and all of the choices that came with it.If I were someone else, things would have gone smoothly. I would have found my mate at the supermarket. She would have been a teacher. Shy. Caring. Soft-spoken. We would have mated within the week. Maybe have children within the year. That would have been ideal. After a while, she would quit her job and I would be the breadwinner. Pamper her until she knew nothing else.Instead, I had ended up with Nerezza. Strong-willed. Fire in her veins and i
Priamos' Point of ViewGetting a fawn through customs was a pain in my ass. Apparently one needed several different papers. Shots for the fawn. A carry-on. Having it in my arms for the entire duration was frowned upon, you see. Having it shit in the airport halls was even worse.People pulled up their noses. Looked at me as if I was a crazy person. I wanted to sneer at them to mind their own business. But they were human. They would never know the value of something's life. Their wars were a testament to that. Lack of humanity even when they were so very human.Nonetheless, Bambi and I traveled through several airports. Bribed and begged where needed. Most of the officials were human as well. I would indicate that he was an endangered animal. That I am going to get rich on his sale. Logically, they would want in on the action. That was when bribes came in. Large sums of money depleting my savings. Fucking perfect.But I was comforted by his presence, oddly enough. I had killed his mot
Nerezza's Point of ViewWhen I had envisioned Lysander's workplace, this was not it. For some odd reason, I had thought it to be in a basement. Secluded. Multiple balding people hunched over screens with sweat dripping from their foreheads. This was not it. Was so far away from it that I might as well have dropped from heaven and landed in hell.With windows for walls on the entire side of the building, looking out over Makatza. Glass desk with several state-of-the-art monitors on it. A swiveling chair. Not meant for an office but more for a gamer, ready to conquer his fantasy world. No personal touches. None. Not even a photo of his mother. Or a plant, basking in all of this magnificent sunlight.Yes, this was far removed from the dark basement. Lysander dominated the space. Filled up the room with his presence. Here, he was in charge. The lord of this domain. From the people slithering away when he looked at them, he was a strict ruler. The boss no one wanted to cross. That image w
Nerezza's Point of ViewThe way out seemed so clear now. So easy. Letting all of this go, my worries would vanish. Yes, people's lives would take a hit because of it. Yes, people were going to be angry with me. But I couldn't do this anymore. The weight of it all was crushing me down. Grinding me into the earth. I was now a fine powder drifting along with the current of people who wanted me to do whatever was in their best interest.Then along came three arrogant bastards. Who pressed me. Pushed me. Pulled me. To be better. Do better for me. No longer was it viewed as selfish to take care of yourself. No longer was it frowned upon. Numerous times, they had begged me to stop. Pause and take a good long look at what I was doing to my heart and soul.Now, I had to give them up as well. The last hope I had beside from finding Conan. Like fucking hell I would.As I had assumed, the guards marched me into the palace. Made a spectacle of bringing me back to my cage. Neither of them spoke. On