XANDER'S P.O.V I sat at the side of the table that held the feast, adorned with decorations in celebration of the just concluded wedding ceremony. The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow on the rich tapestries that adorned the walls of the grand ballroom. The ballroom echoed with laughter and the clinking of goblets as the feast and its festivities unfolded. Noble guests, dressed in vibrant clothing and attires, filled the room, their joyous laughter and animated chatter echoing through the air. It was a night of celebration for them; a night meant to mark the union of two kingdoms through my marriage to the princess of Ravenscroft kingdom. The air was thick with the scent of exotic dishes. Amid the merriment, my gaze remained distant as my thoughts wandered far from the festivities. I ensured that my demeanor remained stoic while my eyes scanned the room without any true engagement. Dressed in a regal attire, I was only playing the part of the groom. My heart was
SERAPHINA'S P.O.V. I sat by the ornate mirror in my chambers, absently staring at my reflection as Leana brushed my long, black locks in front of the ornate mirror in my chambers. The morning sun cast a pale glow through the silk curtains, illuminating the chamber; it filtered through the open windows and painted a warm glow of it's gentle hues on my distressed face. The confrontation with the prince lingered in my mind like an unwelcome specter as it did not disappear with my sleep the previous night. In the pale light of dawn, I'd found myself tossing and turning, haunted by the words that the prince had spoken the previous night. The words he spoke lingered like a bitter taste, unraveling my carefully laid plans for our union. Ever since the prince had angrily slammed the door to his chambers behind him, leaving me reeling with shock and anger the night before, I had become tangled in the threads of my own thoughts. The night had been an abyss of sleeplessness, haunt
SERAPHINA’S P.O.V The stone walls of the palace echoed with my measured steps and Leana’s hurried ones as I made my way to to the appointed room for my studies. On stepping into the thresholds of the room, I was met by the stern countenance of a strict woman with graying hair and an obvious penchant for correction. She was the governess- an imposing figure who had been tasked s with the job of teaching and guiding me through the Shadowmoor Kingdom’s Wolf Pack regulations and traditions. “Good day, Your Highness.” greeted the governess, letting herself drop into the lowest curtsy that her aging body would allow her to. “Good day, Lady Agatha. I hope you had a splendid night’s rest?” I asked, as I watched her stand up, slowly, from her curtsy. “I had adequate rest through the night, Your Highness. I hope you, as well, got more than enough rest during the night. It wouldn’t do to have you doze off, again, during the day’s lessons.” Lady Agatha said. At her indirect
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