SYLVIA
After breakfast the following morning Hunter introduced me to his Beta Joffrey and his mate Marcelle. Hunter arranged for us to go to the nearest town, Lyon, to do shopping. I haven’t been to a mall in such a long time that I felt anxious.
Luckily Marcelle and I were of the same built as she had loaned me some of her clothes. I was glad to be rid of that red dress. Hunter told Hannah to burn it.
I felt comfortable with Marcelle and Joffrey. They were devoted to each other, stealing loving glances and smiling frequently. Joffrey, a tall, dark, handsome man and Marcelle, petite and blonde they complemented each other. Joffrey and Hunter were childhood friends, Hunter told me. Joffrey was one of the people he trusted with his life.
Hunter held me close to him in the car. Joffrey drove while Hunter and I sat in the back like two teenagers in love, holding hand
HUNTEROne minute Sylvia walked next to me and the next she ran as if all the demons of Hell were after her.I shouted her name, she didn’t stop.“What the heck?” Joffrey and Marcelle stopped dead in their tracks, staring after my mate.“Should we go after her, Hunter?” Marcelle asked.“No, I’ll get her.” I started after her. I have no idea what set her off. Had she seen something or someone?I followed her scent, it led me away from our parked car. Gods, she could run like a hare. At last, I found her at the back of a dumpster, huddling in a corner, her head on her upturned knees. She made herself as small as possible.I approached her slowly. “Sylvia, Angel? You okay?”A burly security guard appeared around the corner. He m
HUNTERI rushed to Sylvia’s side, but she cowered back from me. I have no idea what she heard, but she saw me lose my temper. Shit! I fucked up!That was the last thing she needed to see. I know what it probably looked like to her.“Angel, it’s okay. It’s not what it looks like.” I tried to explain, but she was having none of it.She backed up to get away from me. I stopped. She stared at me, like I was a monster. My mother went to her. Already composed as if nothing had happened, she went to her, smiling, taking her by the arm.“Don’t worry about it, Sylvia. Boys will be boys. Hunter just had a little temper tantrum which I am sure he feels awful about. He would never harm me. Let’s go have some tea in my office.” She threw me a glare over her shoulder which I knew meant we are still not done talking.They left me feeling like I could break eve
SYLVIAKane, an enormous bald-headed man with tattoos covering almost half his body, followed me out of the castle to where Marcelle waited for me in the rose garden. She grabbed me in a fierce hug and offered Kane a dimpled smile. He didn’t even acknowledge her.“I see you’ve got Hunter’s golem as a bodyguard.” she smirked. “Excellent choice.”Kane growled at her his brows knitted together. She batted her perfectly mascaraed eyes at him. I offered him an apologetic smile.Marcelle unperturbed, grabbed my arm; “I’m starving. We have a marvelous bakery on the grounds. They make the most delicious bagels. Can’t wait for you to try them.” She kept on babbling excitedly about all the pastries and other goods. Kane followed a few paces behind us, keeping silent.My mind was elsewhere. I kept on replaying the scene with Hunt
SYLVIA“Maybe you should consider it.” I said, turning away from him. I started walking back towards the gates of the park.I heard his rapid footfalls behind me. “You can’t be serious, Sylvia. I would never do that to you.”“Why not? Because you love me? Because we are meant for each other? Just because of the Moon Goddess?” Tears stung my eyes, but I willed them away. “Maybe your father is right. You need a strong Luna. One with a wolf. Mine is dead, Hunter. And I don’t even know if I can give you pups.” I was sobbing now. My heart hurt so much.“Sylvia, don’t…” Hunter reached for me. I shoved his hands away. I couldn’t bear it. How could I share him with another woman? I would rather die. But he deserved better. He deserved children to carry on his line. And as much as it would kill me, I want to see him have everything I can’t give
My mind reeled with mixed emotions, anger, disappointment, hurt. But I shoved them down. There was no way I was going to break down in front of this woman. I feigned innocence.“Oh, of course, Your Majesty. It would be an honor.” I fisted my hands against my thighs, my nails digging into my palms, faking a smile.“Oh, do call me Myra, dear. We don’t need to stand on ceremony when we are alone.” She took a delicate bite of one of the teacakes. “Do try one, they’re simply delicious.”I wanted so much to shove it down her elegant throat, but instead I just took one and popped it into my mouth in one go.“Is everything alright, Sylvia? You look a bit flushed.” Those amber eyes analyzed me, missing nothing. I had to be more careful.I almost choked on the cake; my eyes teared up as I swallowed. “No, no, I’m just a little hot from running. Hunter and I went jogging.&rdq
Hunter“What the fuck happened?” I glared at Kane, holding my shivering mate close to my body. If anything had happened to her, I would kill them all.Kane averted his eyes, baring his neck to me. “Alpha, I have now idea how they entered the perimeter. But the intruders are in the dungeon. One dead, the other is critical, his back is broken. He won’t make it. One survivor waiting on your interrogation.”“Kane, you almost had Sylvia killed. Think about what a fitting punishment would be. I will see you in the dungeon in ten.”“Yes, Alpha.” He turned around and left.I took Sylvia’s pale face in my hands. “Are you hurt?”“I’m fine, Hunter. Just shaken and wet. And cold.” She shivered, “Kane was amazing. You shouldn’t punish him. Please don’t.” Her blue eyes gazed up at me, pleading for mercy for Kane.
HUNTER“Poisoned?” I rose from the table. “How? You took him food, Kane?” Anger boiled my blood. I grabbed Kane by his shirt, shoving him into the wall. “SPEAK!”Kane lowered his gaze and bared his neck to me. “I asked one of the kitchen staff to deliver it to him, Alpha.”I released my grip on him, pushed my hair out of my face. It seems we have a traitor in our pack and it made me livid.“Bring me the servant.” I turned to Sylvia, careful not to let my rage show in my face. “Angel, I think you need to go to our room. I’ll be with you soon.” She didn’t need to see this. It could get ugly.Sylvia, wild-eyed and pale, nodded and fled out of the dining room. Myra sat in her chair, unperturbed.Kane returned a few minutes later with a young girl who fell to her knees as soon as she entered, sobbing and wringing her hands.“I
SYLVIAThere was a rose on my pillow when I woke up, a red one. Hunter. I smiled, because I knew what he tried to relay to me. Today King Lucien will be back. I dreaded his arrival, fearing what he might do and what he had to say. Whatever it was I know they would not see eye to eye. I didn’t want Hunter to lose his status. But how could I convince him to take another she-wolf as a chosen mate? He would never agree.Hannah knocked at the door, bringing me breakfast. Hunter’s orders. I thanked her and sat down at the table. My mind kept going over what Myra told me earlier. I didn’t like keeping secrets from Hunter. Although the significance wasn’t lost on me. She said the bastard child of Lucien did not have any claim to the throne. But what if he did? Or was it a girl?If Hunter found out he would try and find his half-brother or sister. Maybe Myra being the ambitious she-wolf she was, would do anything to s