The path to the Frost wing of the mansion stood lonely and tall, filled with a lot of rare trees and fruit as torchlights lit the pathway for illumination.Astra strode along the hall, her jaw aching with fury. The earlier humiliation still raged through her veins. The guards' refusal to obey her, Wayne's denial, and the bystanders' shock.And on top of it all was Darius's rejection of her, that stung more. She relived the moment again and again, with each memory sharpening her anger.She needed to see and speak to her father about everything that had happened, so she pushed open her father's double doors without knocking and walked in. "Father, I need to speak—"But her words were cut off when a hand met her cheek with a cracking sound in the air.Astra's head whipped sideways from the force of the slap with heat radiating across her face. It left her sucking in breath for a moment, before her hand flew up to her face, eyes wide with shock and unreadiness."F-Father…" she gasped. "Wh
Wayne stormed out of the training grounds with his chest filled with pain from the blows, and his pride in shreds. Darius words still echoed in his head like a wild and sickening hammer. His jaw kept tightening and his eyes darkening like a wounded dog.Dust was still on his face with sweats oiling his temples, and the laughter still rang in his ears like butterflies. “Never enough,” he muttered under his breath, fists clenching as he strode through the corridor toward his room. “Never worthy, never going to…,” he paused, slamming his fist on the nearest wall. “Fuck! He knew I’d lose. He wanted me to lose—”His voice broke off when his shoulder collided with something soft, yet solid and firm. He stumbled back, muttering, “Watch where you’re—”The words died in his throat as his gaze snapped to a tall woman in loose grey silk, her dark short hair pinned high with jewels that sparkled with dawn sun. Her pale, hard green eyes that stab through the heart, swept over him in disdain.As
Wayne didn't like how Darius watched him like he was a little kid that needed to be put in check at all times. His shots from the matron were over, and Darius got the go ahead order to look into Wayne's training. In the matron's words “His wolf needed air, and an environment that would challenge it to come out.”She also confirmed that a ritual would be carried out for Wayne if the training strategy doesn't work.Wayne had only scoffed at her words. He didn't believe he needed any rituals, because the last one had done nothing but failed. Mariam had served breakfast but not on Wayne's usual spot; in Darius's dining room where lots of servants stared at Wayne like he was a freak. He moved with caution as he took in the scent of the food. The servant moves meticulously arranging foods, fruit, vegetables on the huge dining table.“Do you eat this much?" Wayne asked softly as a maid placed some bread on his side, he thanked her without removing his gaze from Darius' face.“Hmm" Darius h
“Your body is doing really well closing up the wounds from the inside. This will be the last shot you're going to take, and I'm happy for you truly. Not most young wolves have the courage to come everyday for it,” the matron announced as she leaned down closely towards Wayne.“Was that supposed to be a compliment?” Wayne asked with a tight smile. The matron didn’t respond right away, her focus fixed on what she was doing. When she finally spoke, her tone was oddly cheerful. “The shots are painful, but you haven’t flinched once since we started. Bravo!” she said, clapping her hands together. Her wide grin revealed a noticeable gap between her front teeth-so wide it looked like it could hold a spoon without letting it fall.“The healing has been slower than you expected," Wayne said, sitting up from the settee. "But it doesn't mean I wasn't healing at all without taking the shots.” The matron only laughed at his naivety. “You were infected with a lot of bacteria and some would have ca
“I never knew that I would be forced from my own will to do something again" Wayne muttered as he tried to get out of bed. The past few days had been nothing but hell for him. Everyday, he goes to the matron for shots and also checks on his wolf spirit. And each day he comes back feeling down because his wolf isn't fully responding to the treatments.It was confirmed by the matron that he will be forced to do more training if his wolf doesn't respond after today's checkup. It sounded like a joke in Wayne's ears. Forced to do hard labours to bring his wolf spirit back is sickening. Pushing the drowsiness from his eyes, he entered the bathroom and allowed the cold water to hit his skin, drenching him from his head down to his leg before he used the sponge to scrub away the thoughts that ran through his veins. He drifted back to the memories from the first night he shouted at Darius because of his protectiveness, and his demands to make him strong. He was clueless and didn't understand
Wayne laid facing upwards with his emotions empty as the matron injected some fluids into his vein. He stirred slightly, his other hand tightening around the white sheet as the pain stung him. His brows furrowed and he shut his eyes, and evidence that the fluids has entered his body. The matron's house smelled faintly of herbs and sterilized metal, and the odd mixture twisted Wayne's stomach, making his body itch. After a little tap, he sat on the edge of the bed and held the swap on the blooded cotton. Darius stood in the corner with his arms crossed without saying a word, watching closely and intently. The matron–an older she-wolf with silver hair tied neatly at the back, adjusted her glasses as she finished jotting down some notes. She looked so much like smoke-beard that it made Wayne feel relaxed. “Your body is healing well. And thank the moon goddess you came here early or else who would have known that certain worms are living in your body. The forest is known for those bloo