- Giselle -My mind raced for a few seconds while Father waited for me to say something."That is so considerate of you father," I stated while struggling with the choice of words in my head. "And I appreciate that you want to make things work between me and Xavier. Let's see how it goes."I couldn't make him think I feel otherwise, lest he confirm that I do not want anything to do with Xavier and ask them away. So long as Franklin is still here, I will manage Xavier."That's my girl," my father beamed happily and opened his arms for an embrace. I will have to be tactical with this.- Franklin -I tried to convince myself that I was not upset about the recent development but I couldn't get my mind off it. I wanted to know badly if it was Giselle herself who consented to this. Doesn't she want me? I am sure she felt the bond between us as much as I did. But the little pretty witch keeps running away from me.Bethroted to my son or not, I cannot let her slip out of my hands unless she r
- Giselle -I had not noticed someone was sitting on a stool in the corner of my room."How did you get in here?" I asked, my hands falling to my sides. When his eyes met mine, cold shivers ran down my spine. His countenance was not as soft as before. Standing before him now, I felt just like I would in my life before."You did not tell me if you enjoyed your dinner?" Alpha Franklin asked again, unsmiling. I did not know what to say.He stood up and walked towards the door where I stood, I quickly shifted."Can you leave now?" I said quietly and his gaze softened, sadly."Are you sending me away?" He asked."No," I swallowed hard. "But you shouldn't be seen here.""Why?" While he spoke, he kept moving close to me and I tried moving away till I was against the wall."This is not right," It was a desperate appeal. He was closing in on me."What is not right?" His voice was dangerously low and... seductive!"What if someone finds you here?" I asked trying to say something, anything at al
- Kira -I was worried about everything that's happened. Xavier promised me he was going to stand by me and make sure I get married to him, but that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon.I was tired of people pointing accusing fingers at me, and worse still, I had to serve Giselle, for I am her personal maid.I wanted to be relieved of my duties, but that can only happen when I am official with Xavier. I decided to take matters into my own hands. Xavier had promised to talk to his father but since he was not yielding, I might try getting to him myself.If only I could get Alpha Franklin to approve of me, I would not have to worry about anything anymore.I took my time and prepared a special meal for him. After carefully arranging it in a tray, I went to his room and the guards let me in.He seemed busy on his study table. I let out a deep shaky breath before I approached him."Greetings, alpha," I bowed lowly, noticing the tray shaking in my hands. He did not reply. "I prepared t
- King Marcus -I racked my head while I was seated with the emissaries, royal men from four different packs who had come to me with some matters at hand.I knew they held me with great esteem to have tabled the matter before me; therefore, I wanted to give a befitting answer but was finding it difficult to make a decision.King Franklin and his son were there as well, as my guest. Another reason these packs had come was because they had words Alpha Franklin was around."Greetings, Father," I heard Giselle's voice across the room and all heads turned to her. She was elegantly dressed. She walked in fully to the room and greeted everyone respectfully."The princess is so pretty," there were low murmurings in the hall when I introduced everyone to her, and they nodded their heads with approval."We've heard a lot about the princess," someone commented. "We did not expect any less and she meets it up.""Thank you," I said and returned to the main discussion after the brief distraction.-
Chapter 13- Franklin -"Alpha, everything has been put in place, and your ride is ready for the journey tomorrow," One of my guards told me, and I nodded.Just then, King Marcus walked in."I see you have everything set for your journey," he commented."Yes, I do," I affirmed. "I will be leaving first thing tomorrow in the morning.""I was enjoying your company, really. I hoped you could stay much longer," he said."I wish the same, but something came up which requires my presence. Since Xavier is here, he can cover up where needs be and it will enable him to bond well with the princess.""Well if you say so. I just want to make sure everything you need for your journey is intact.""Yes it is," I replied, looking around."Alright then. Have a peaceful night's rest," he bid me goodbye and headed for the door. I escorted him out and closed it behind him.I was almost tempted to ask if the Princess cared to ask about me, but I was able to hold myself. I walked to the wardrobe to change
Chapter 14- Giselle -What did I just do? I gathered the sheets to cover my bare chest. I allowed Franklin to make love to me...what was I thinking?But despite that, I tried to will myself to feel some shame; I was excited instead. What the hell is wrong with me?"Giselle..." Franklin's deep voice jolted me off my thoughts. "What are you thinking about?""We shouldn't have done this," I said, sounding as remorseful as I could. "This is wrong. What will my father think? What will everyone think?""Hey, calm down," he said, and his voice was the most soothing sound ever. "Look at me."I couldn't, I looked in every direction but his face. He moved his body closer and I felt chills."Why don't you look at me?" He spoke again and lifted his hand to my chin. He turned my face towards him."You're so beautiful," he said. In a few seconds, he was able to deviate my mind from the worry I harbour. I couldn't help the blush. "Your father doesn't have to know about this unless you want him to.
- Giselle -I sneaked back into my room to find Kira patroling like a paid detective. I addressed her with a frown."What are you doing here?" I asked and she jumped. She had not noticed me walk in."Good morning Princess," she greeted, her eyes darting around. "I am here to clean your room."I eyed her because it did not seem like it. She seemed to be looking for what was not lost. I walked fully into the room, clutching to my nightwear which was squeezed under the desperate grabs of Franklin's hands.I felt Kira's eyes steadily on me as I passed her. I tried to pretend I did not notice her but her persistent glare made me ask."Why are you looking at me that way?" I wondered."Nothing my princess," she bowed. After a few seconds of silence, she decided she could not hold her curiosity in anymore."My princess, you were not in your room this morning when I came. Did you spend the night somewhere?"I jolted my head up at her question."Where else will I have spent the night?" I threw
- Franklin -My eyes did not leave Giselle when she walked away from the dining, and I found her later in the day in the garden."My pretty witch," I called out as I strolled over to her."Are you stalking me?" She narrowed her eyes at me."No," I raised my hands in mid-air. "Why?""Because you are everywhere," she said. "You manage to find me wherever I am.""It's no fault of mine that your scent is so strong I cannot pretend not to notice when I pass by," I told her, and she suppressed a smile.I took a few paces closer and moved her hair away."What are you doing?" She whispered."Why do you hide my mark," I asked."You are very adamant," she shook her head. "You don't know how my father and the people will take this. What about your son?""When it comes to you, permit me to say I am shameless," I stated and she moved away."We can't be seen close to each other like this," she looked away. "Rumours will begin to fly around.""Well, nobody needs to know," I placed my hands behind my
- Franklin -"Where is my wife?" I asked the question I dreaded."Oh, she is fine," the doctor said. "She and the babies are fine.""Thank goodne..." I let out a deep breath and sucked it back in almost immediately as his words registered in my head. "What did you just say?"He smiled."She had twins," he told me. "A boy and a girl."I couldn't believe my ears and did not know how to react to the news either."You mean, I'm having two babies at once?" I asked, holding out two fingers.I don't know why that sounded funny to the doctor but he chuckled and nodded."In fact, you already have them," he said. I brushed him out of the way into the room and found them. My two gems and lovely wife are on the bed.Words failed me. And for the first time in a very long while, tears gathered in my eyes."Oh my goodness, oh my goodness," I muttered as I moved slowly towards them. Giselle was awake but looked weak. In spite of that, she managed a small smile.I held her hand hands gently and kissed
- Cleopatra -I turned round abruptly, surprised to see him."Franklin?" I called as if I was not sure of his existence in flesh and blood. "What are you doing here? I thought we agreed you were going to wait in your chambers so the doctors can work this out?""I changed my mind," he said. "I will stay here till the end of it.""No you will not," I said hastily before I could stop myself then sighed. "I mean, you shouldn't. We've discussed this already. It's not nice for you to go through this. I will stand in for you. You will only be agitated waiting here.""Don't worry about that, sister," he said with a straight face. "I am strong enough to wait. It is cowardice to leave my wife in this condition and stay in my room. Let me worry about her. That might not even be the problem. I am staying strong where her strength fails her.""But it's not even the issue of staying strong or not," I chuckled. "It's making an environment where these guys can work freely and save her. If you stand o
- Franklin -There was a strange look on the doctor's face, not exactly strange because I could already tell what he was going to tell me was not a good news."Her pregnancy was induced," he told me. "We'd have to take out the baby to save her life.""Her life?" I was able to pick. "And what of the child?"The doctor went mute and looked away. I held his shoulder and shook him."Tell me," I half yelled."I'm afraid we might lose it," he said slowly. I let him go, my heart shredding to pieces. I cannot lose my child. No. Not after all these years. Not again."And my wife? What is the probability of her being saved?" I asked, and again, I feared his response."If I'm to be sincere with you, it's a fifty," he said. "But, I will assure you that we will do our best."I ran my hand through my hair and took deep breaths in a bit to calm myself. I was not thinking straight and I felt extremely cold.King Markus was there with me, looking and watching. There wasn't one amongst us who could com
- Jason -I instinctively placed a hand on my stomach, waiting to feel any slight pain."Did you poison me?" I asked him. The seriousness dropped off his face, and he laughed. Morgan laughed long and hard, doubling over. He hit his fist on the table while he laughed, and I watched him, dumbfounded.He finally struggled to control the laughter with a wheezing sound, tears in his eyes."Gosh, you need to see the look on your face," he said. "I did not poison you, silly."I let out a deep breath I had not realized that I was holding."Now, why will I want to kill you and choose to do it by poisoning your food?" He asked, taking a cup of water from the table. He gulped it down and shook his head at me. "You looked so shaken. Are you that scared of death? For someone like you, poisoning is a disgraceful way to die, for even if I wanted to kill you, not that way."He laughed again."Morgan, that was not funny," I had to say."You think? You looked like a wrung chicken. You looked like your
- Jason -I had just finished speaking with Alpha Sheka about very important matters of the pack and was about to leave when he called me back."That reminds me," he said. "I need to invite you to a banquet tonight. I was going to tell you earlier but I skipped. Also because of the matters at hand you know.""I understand alpha," I replied empathetically. "Where'd we get the invitation from now?""Oh it's not far," he said with a suspicious movement of his lips that could pass for a smile. "It's from my son.""Oh, that's interest...what!?" I was saying before my brain registered what I heard."Yes, my son, Morgan. He arranged the banquet specially made for me and you," he repeated and I still could not believe my ears."Did he say he wanted me at the banquet?" I still asked because I could not make sense out of it yet."He made a special request for you to be there. You are surprised, aren't you? Well, I am too. I hope you don't mind the banquet. I've always thought you two were...uh,
- Jason -It took me a few seconds after I returned to my room, to notice someone was there. I turned around with a displeased frown on my face."What are you doing here, Morgan?" I asked him."It's Prince Morgan but yeah, I think I can let that slide since it's you and also seeing that you'd always stress me with having to correct you all the time," he said with a grimace."What are you doing in my room?" I sighed."I'm here to talk," he replied with a shrug. "Can't I talk to you?""What are we talking about and why in my room? Official meetings are not held in the bedroom.""That's it," he snapped his fingers. "Because this is not an official business.""I cannot tell when we began to have an unofficial relationship," I stated and he laughed."Maybe if you were paying attention more, you'd remember that I did mention it.""I don't want to be acquainted with you, Morgan," I said to his face. "I am fine the way we are.""Come on Jason, don't make this hard," he said, relaxing his back
- Cleopatra -I eyed the greedy man and scoffed."What do you mean by this is not enough? Do you want four generations' wealth before you're okay?" I scowled at him."My lady, you know what it caused us to be able to cover up for you. And I have other people to settle and keep their mouths shut. You will have to remit more."I sighed tiredly."Okay fine. I am going to give you some more but that will be it. You must not complain nor ask me for anything after that. And you must not try to contact me because we can never be seen together. Do you understand?""Clearly," he replied."Good."I was able to handle him without anyone finding out about it, and I hoped it remained that way. Anna has promised to keep her mouth shut and only say what was agreed on if Giselle finds her, but I couldn't trust her.How could I hold her to her words? I looked into her eyes and saw the fear. Such a person can be easily l
- Giselle -I was very eager for the reports, but I was disappointed."There were no prints," the experts told me. "The old lady poisoned herself to death.""You're trying to tell me she took her own life?" I asked for clarity even though I heard them. I felt like asking them why, but knew they wouldn't have an answer to that.The midwife was well, according to the reports given to me hours before I went to see her, and then she poisoned herself?This doesn't make any sense to me."There has to be a reason why this happened," I said thoughtfully as I paced around the room. "Why did she take her life? What made her do it?"I lifted my head, and Franklin was barely paying any attention to me."What do you think about this?" I asked, and he looked at me."I don't know," he said with a shrug."You don't think she'd take her life for no reason, right? What must have made her do it? Did someone threa
- Giselle -"What?" I asked, my eyes following the direction of his hand. There was something at the edge of the bed, and I walked towards it.An old woman, obviously the midwife, was lying dead on the ground in the corner."Oh gracious heavens," I muttered, placing a hand on my chest. One of the guards moved close and picked up a bottle lying beside her."Looks like a poison," he said, lifting the bottle to his face and observing it. She had foam all over her mouth, and her body looked fresh like she could have died just a few minutes before we arrived.How did we not even notice all this while? And I looked all over the room. There were no signs of death anywhere.Gosh, I was this close to getting her, I lamented."Looks like murder," Another commented, what was going through my mind."What do we do now?" They asked me after moments of staring at the cold body beneath.