XANDER'S P.O.V. I sat on the imposing throne which stood on an elevated dais that overlooked the vast expanse of the throne room. The room was filled with a tense silence which was broken only by the whispers of courtiers that stood in straight lines along the walls of the room. As the members of the court stood together in the big throne room, their whispers filled the air with a tangible unease. Their eyes darted nervously between each other and their bodies were tense as they awaited my judgement. Prince Xander, they all called me. As the heir to the throne, I was the symbol of authority and power; features that resonated within every pore of my being. The air was thick with tension as I stared at the crowd, taking my sweet time to deliver the sentence. My Beta, Marcus Hawthorne, stood beside me, his eyes never leaving my face as he, alongside all the other people present in the room, waited with bated breath for my decision. The weight of my royal responsibilities sett
SERAPHINA’S P.O.V It was another one of those days. A day in which I was stuck in a continuous reoccurrence of underwhelming lessons. I could not bear another minute of Lady Agatha’s monotonous drone lecturing me, endlessly, on the customs of the Shadowmoor Kingdom. I just could not bear another moment in the stifling confines of the lecture hall, My patience waned and I was nearing on my breaking point. In that moment of unbearable and extreme distress, a plan began to take form in my mind. With a conspiratorial glance at Leana, I raised my hand up. My action succeeded in drawing the governess’ attention to me. “Yes, Your Highness? Might you need something?” She asked. “I feel a bit pressed, Lady Agatha. I would like to be excused to use the lavatory.” I said while putting on an act of fidgeting in my seat. “Of course, Your Highness. You may be excused. We’ll continue with the lessons once you’re returned.” She said. “Thank you, Lady Agatha. I’ll be back before you know it.” I s
XANDER'S P.O.V. As the cool morning air filled my nostrils and lungs, I let out a triumphant howl and reveled in the independence and relief that only being in my lupine form afforded me. The cool air whipped against my fur, invigorating my senses and reminding me of my wild origins. My heightened senses caught every rustle of leaves, every distant melody of the singing birds, and the fragrance of the forest that permeated my nostrils. The morning’s sun slipped through the branches of the trees, and cast its bright rays on my sleek black fur; this illuminated my fur, causing it to glow and shine as I made my way through the grounds. Alongside Marcus, who kept pace beside me in his own brown coat of fur, I sprinted through the dense forest. Our paws pounded against the earth as we strode through the familiar trails of the forest, and while we did so, we fully embraced the freedom that our wolf forms granted us. As we ran side by side, our movements, which were in sync, hinted
SERAPHINA'S P.O.V. As the carriage rolled along the winding road, taking me farther away from the familiarity of my home and closer to the unknown lands of the Shadowmoor kingdom, my mind swirled as feelings of anticipation and trepidation surged through my body. The sunlight streamed through the open window, casting its golden rays across the elegant interior of the carriage. I gazed out, through the window, at the passing countryside, and watched as the lush greenery and vibrant wildflowers whizzed by in a blur. Although my eyes took in the beauty of nature that passed by, my mind was focused on a completely different thing. The fact that my life, in it's entirety, was just a few moments away from unexpected and unplanned change bore on my mind like an heavy weight. As the carriage rattled along the uneven road, my gaze drifted to the horizon as the distant towers of the Shadowmoor Castle came into view. My mind was overcome with a mix of fear and unease at the sight
SERAPHINA'S P.O.V Silence... There was absolute silence; save for Leana's scandalized gasp alongside that of the court. The silence hung in the air and time seemed to still, stretching into an eternity. It was no hidden fact that my statement had stunned the occupants of the room into quietness. I stood before the imposing figure of Jaxon Grimshaw, King of Shadowmoor kingdom. In the grand throne room of the castle, it dawned on me that I must have seemed like a mere speck of dust to the stately King as he looked upon me from his seat on the magnificent throne. This realization furthered the errant pounding of my heart in likeness to a wild horse's hooves against the ground. Finally, after a seemingly endless pause, the King leaned forward with his fingers steepled beneath his chin. His eyes narrowed as he regarded me, while his voice was measured and calm. "What do you mean by that, young woman?" He asked, "Who are you?" The weight of my revelation hung in t
SERAPHINA'S P.O.V. I stepped into Shadowmoor Castle's sacred temple and the hallowed ground beneath my bare feet echoed the weight of my footsteps. The soft glow of the evening's moonlight filtered through the open roof, casting a silvery hue upon the ceremony which was about to unfold. From a far corner of the room, five girls stood around a drum, their fingers beating its surface hurriedly. The girls were clothed in wisps of white clothing and drawings of the moon on their chest which indicated their discipleship to the Moon Goddess and her priestess. Their drumming of a wedding match echoed within the walls of the room as my brother led me into the temple. A figure clothed in a dark blue dress and a matching cloak, the colors of the night sky which only the messengers of the Goddess of Moon were allowed to wear, stood at the very centre of the shrine. It was the Shadowmoor Priestess, ready to bind me to Olivia's former betrothed under the ever watchful gaze of the Moon
SERAPHINA'S P.O.V. The rain fell in heavy droplets, drenching the courtyard. The wind blew past slowly and with it came a chill that whipped through my soaked clothing, causing a shiver to course through my body. I stood at the center of it all, my muscles tensed and my senses alert as I gripped my sword tightly, my knuckles turning white against the familiar weight of the weapon being held by my hands. The rain drops mixed with the beads of sweat that dotted my forehead as I squared my shoulders and readied myself for another round of combat practice. Across from me, Gerald stood with a similar weapon in his hands, and his face wearing an expression of concern. "Seraphina, ease up on your strength," he called out, his voice firm yet gentle. "Remember, it's not always about overpowering your opponent. Control and finesse are equally important." I nodded, acknowledging his guidance but we both knew that I was not going to follow his advice as the urge to release my pent-up f
XANDER'S P.O.V. As the cool morning air filled my nostrils and lungs, I let out a triumphant howl and reveled in the independence and relief that only being in my lupine form afforded me. The cool air whipped against my fur, invigorating my senses and reminding me of my wild origins. My heightened senses caught every rustle of leaves, every distant melody of the singing birds, and the fragrance of the forest that permeated my nostrils. The morning’s sun slipped through the branches of the trees, and cast its bright rays on my sleek black fur; this illuminated my fur, causing it to glow and shine as I made my way through the grounds. Alongside Marcus, who kept pace beside me in his own brown coat of fur, I sprinted through the dense forest. Our paws pounded against the earth as we strode through the familiar trails of the forest, and while we did so, we fully embraced the freedom that our wolf forms granted us. As we ran side by side, our movements, which were in sync, hinted