DIEGO'S POVAs much as I detested what I had to do, I had no choice. Lisa has left me with no choice.Sitting on the throne in my judgement room, I turned to look at Fibi. She was seated beside me, clutching Lana like the little girl could help her get through the trial they were here to watch. Maybe she could.I faced the pack elders that had gathered. The room was alive with their murmurs and speculations. I cleared my throat and everywhere went absolutely quiet. Even the air held its breath.“Lisa, repeat what you said about Mandy's involvement in your plot, let everyone hear you.” I demanded.She tried to rise from the ground in the middle of the room, but the chains pulled her back down. They were securely anchored to the metal collar around her neck, leading back to the hook on the floor. She protested hotly, “I told you, it's not even my plot! It was all Mandy's idea. She was the one who came up with the plan, she was the one who found out where Fibi…”I snapped, “You will refe
DIEGO’S POVThe dungeon was colder than usual tonight. Maybe it was just me, or maybe it was the weight of the judgement I needed to make that was making the air so thick with ice, pressing down on my shoulders like chains heavier than any iron.I've always hated having to condemn my subjects. It's just a shame that certain evil werewolves would always force me to decisions like this.Lisa knelt in chains before me, her hair which was always perfect was now tangled, her eyes were ringed with shadows. But even in her humiliation, she tried to sit tall, to pretend she had some shred of dignity. But I could see her fear as solidly as if it was hanging in the air in front of me. When she lifted her eyes to mine, what I saw in them was not even remorse, it was desperation. “Diego.” Her voice trembled, but she managed to force it into a low annoying purr. She must think it sounded seductive. “My King.”I did not move. I did not speak. I let my silence answer her, because silence was the o
FIBI’S POVThe enormous white gate loomed over me, looking taller and even more intimidating than I remembered. The golden adornments and the diamonds glinted as they were bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun. For a heartbeat, I froze, clutching my daughter closer to my chest. Her soft breath tickled my collarbone, tiny and innocent. She gurgled, the sound piercing my chest with tenderness and fear at the same time.This wasn’t just a palace. It was something that could easily become a cage dressed in jewels.I swallowed hard and forced myself forward. My legs moved, but my heart resisted. Every step closer to Diego’s world felt like surrendering a piece of myself. My bitterness burned low in my belly. Sure, he was right, the safest place for our daughter was here, under his roof, within the protection of his guards and walls. But what of me? So I was just meant to be tossed to and fro, according to his mood?The grand doors opened into the palace hall, and the familiar scen
FIBI’S POVDiego’s roar was still echoing in the room several minutes later. My pup burrowed her tiny face into the soft comfort of my chest, and I rocked her gently, murmuring soft shushes into her ear. However my eyes were locked on Alpha King Diego.His face was carved from stone, jaw clenched so tightly that I thought his teeth would shatter. “Guards!” He thundered. His voice rolled through the walls like a storm. Within seconds, more of his men surged into the chamber, bowing low but tense, as though they already knew death orders were about to be given.“Take her away!” he ordered coldly. “Find Lisa and arrest her too. They'll answer for their crimes in my judgement room, but for now, take them to the dungeons at the palace.” His eyes flicked to Fiona who had returned to the room with the others, his glare was hard and unyielding as he added, “Arrest her too.”The words struck me like a slap. “No, not Fiona! She's the only reason both me and your daughter are alive right now.
FIBI'S POV I went mad with pain. In the twinkle of an eye, Diego was standing over me. A familiar scent tickled my nostrils but I wasn't in the frame of mind to try and place it.Then he touched me.As soon as he placed his hand over my bump, our pup reacted. It was almost as if it was also trying to reach out its own hand. I gasped. “It's coming out!” The healer flew into action. In just a few minutes, my pup was wailing in her hand while she clamped and cut the cord that linked her to my body. As suddenly as it all began, everything hurting in my body just stopped. I could already feel myself healing from my ordeal.“I want to hold her.” I said.When the healer put my little girl in my arms, my heart swelled to twice its normal size. She already had a full head of hair, white as the glow from a full moon. This made me remember the dream that I had on the day I found Fiona. Had it really been more than just a dream after all?I pushed that thought to the back of my mind for now. M
FIBI'S POV I ground my upper teeth harshly against my lower teeth, all in an attempt to hold the pain in. A sharp cry burst out from between them when another wave of pain washed over me.lI could barely feel the coolness of the napkin that Mother used to mop up the sweat from my forehead. She whispered reassurances that my brain refused to interpret.My eyes were clamped shut, and I was still reeling from the impact of the last contraction, when all my insides clenched up again. I groaned miserably.“Should it be this painful?” I queried no one in particular when I regained a thin slice of my voice. When I got no response, I peeled my eyes open. Mother was still sitting by my side. The healer was just heading out with a pan in her hand. I turned weakly to Mother who was trying, and failing, to stifle her own sobs.She forced her lips into a smile when she noticed that my eyes were open.“Where's Ethan?” I asked.“Uh, he stepped out not long ago. I'm sure he'll soon be back.” Mothe