Heather's life is turned upside down when she is forced into a marriage with Prince Keith of the powerful Devontae Kingdom, a man she has never met and a kingdom filled with whispered rumors. Determined to resist her fate, Heather braces herself for a life she never chose, only to discover her new reality is far more complicated than she imagined. Keith, the enigmatic third prince of Devontae, is as cold and unwelcoming as the rumors suggest. Bound to his mysterious past and deeply loyal to another woman, he makes it clear their union is nothing more than a political formality. Yet, behind his harsh words and piercing hazel eyes lies a truth Heather never expected, Keith is not the man the world believes him to be. But even with that, everything was pulling them closer because he was her fate and she is his fate.
view moreVeeryl Pack
Heather's POV
I hastened my feet down the stairs heading towards the dining area. I knew I was very late and everyone would probably be waiting for me. Almost tripping on my gown, I took a deep breath, grabbed both edges, and continued with my walk. Anyone who saw me right now would think I was being chased by someone but all I wanted was to get to the dining area on time to avoid my step-sister and step-mother's wrath.
The only person I had always known and referred to as my mother was my stepmother. I never knew my biological mother. I heard she passed away shortly after birthing me. I had never seen any portrait of her and I knew nothing about her. It felt like inquiring about her was a sin of the highest order. No, it was forbidden. Probably because she was my father's mistress; if you could hold having a one-night stand with an unknown woman in such regard. And I was the result of that one-night stand no one expected. As soon as I got to the door, I took in a deep breath and fixed my hair before gently making my way inside.
They were all already sitting at the gigantic table. Father, on the highest chair in the middle, and my step-mother and step-sister sitting by the right two seats away from him.
"Look who finally decided to grace us with her presence," my stepmother said sarcastically.
"I'm sorry I'm late..," I started trying to take a seat next to them.
"Sit somewhere else. It's so hot in here. I need air," she cut me off without glancing at me. I slowly let go of the chair and moved to sit on the left side of the table.
"Do I need to tell you before you realize that you will be obstructing our view if you sit there? As if arriving late and starving us wasn't enough, why do you have to stress me out?" my step-sister asked irately. So much for not incurring their wrath.
"I apologize. I didn't mean to," I replied politely walking towards the right side of the table again and sitting about seven sits farther away from them. I glanced at my father but he didn't say a word.
"Good day Father," I greeted with a smile. He hummed and made a gesture with his hand in response. If it wasn't already obvious, my family wasn't exactly fond of me. My father has always been a bit cold towards me since I was a child. As the illegitimate child that I was, I knew it had to do with the fact that I was a stain on his reputation. A stain he could never get rid of.
As for my stepmother and stepsister, it wasn't their fault that we didn't get along. We had misunderstandings at times but it didn't mean that they hated me. Besides, the backlash I got today was partly my fault. I delayed them from having their meal because the time skipped my mind. The maids began to serve our meal when I settled in my seat.
"I have an announcement to make," Father said speaking for the first time that evening.
"What is it? Have the dresses I ordered arrived from the other pack already?" my stepsister asked excitedly. I grabbed a glass of water to quench my taste.
"Your marriage has been fixed, Debra. It will take place in three days," he said with a straight face staring right at my stepsister. Debra stared at him speechlessly.
"Marriage taking place so soon? To whom?" my stepmother asked coming to her rescue.
"To the son of the Alpha king, Prince Keith of Devontae," he replied calmly.
"What!" Debra screeched. I spat out the water from my mouth in utter shock. Debra glared daggers at me. I shook my head trying to explain that I didn't mean it but no coherent words could come out from my mouth.
"Prince Keith? Are you serious right now?" my stepmother asked in shock. I was just as shocked as they all were. Devontae was a prosperous and powerful kingdom led by the Alpha king who ruled over smaller packs like ours. Anyone would jump for joy if they were opportune to get married into such a family or even become acquainted with them but getting married to Prince Keith? That was a totally different thing.
Prince Keith was the last son of the Alpha and a cripple but despite being disabled, he was rumored to be cruel, useless, and disliked by the king. The Alpha king even had him outcasted to a part of the palace where no one frequented. Father was going to allow his favorite daughter r marry such a man? It was unbelievable.
"I will not marry Prince Keith, father. He's the worst out of all the Alpha King's sons," Debra said shaking her head vehemently.
"That's my final decision and you shall obey me," he declared. Debra turned towards her mother in panic.
"Mother, did you hear that? Father hates me. He's going to make me marry a disabled man," she cried out.
"Don't say that Debra. Father doesn't hate you," I muttered softly but she glared at me so hard that I thought her eyes would pop out of their sockets.
"You can't do this to our only daughter. You are ruining her life. I won't allow that s happen," stepmother retorted.
"The marriage has been arranged to take place in three days. Start getting prepared," Father ordered firmly. I was surprised to see him acting so coldly towards Debra. This had never happened before. Debra stood up angrily pushing her chair aside. It fell onto the floor with a loud crash.
"I'm never getting married to Prince Keith. Never!" she yelled and stormed out of the room.
"You have to reconsider this," my stepmum said to my father as she hurriedly followed after Debra. The room fell into total silence. I gently stood up, my chair screeching against the floor.
"I will check up on them," I said before leaving. He stared at me without responding. I quickly walked towards Debra's room. The door was open so I just stepped in.
"Don't worry my darling. I won't let him do that to you," I heard my stepmum assuring her.
"Debra," I called out softly. They both looked up at me.
"Are you okay?" I asked walking towards her.
"Don't you dare take another step forward!" she growled, her eyes flicking between green and a golden hue. Her wolf threatened to come out.
"I was only trying to check if you were alright," I said startled by her attitude.
"You pathetic liar! You came here to mock me didn't you?" she asked pointing her finger at me accusingly.
I shook my head taken aback by the accusation. "Of course not. I would never do such a thing. If this is about my reaction at the dining table then I'm sorry. It wasn't on purpose."
"I bet you are rejoicing deep down. You are happy this is happening to me!" she screamed.
"Sister, how can you say this? I truly came here to console you..."
"I'm not your sister! I forbid you to ever call me that!" she yelled.
"Calm down sister. I understand how you must be feeling right now. You are angry and upset. You don't mean what you are saying," I said calmly. She must still be in shock to speak in this manner.
"I told you I'm not your sister and I can never be! Your mother was a whore and you are nothing but an illegitimate child. We are not related," she spat viciously. Her words stung but I still tried to compose myself. Anyone who heard this kind of news would react in the same way if not worse. I tried to move towards them again but my stepmother stopped me.
"Do not come closer to my daughter. Remain where you are," she warned. I nodded and remained rooted in my spot.
"I won't take a step further if that would make you feel better. I'm sure Mother will do everything in her power to make everything alright," I replied.
"How am I your mother? Your wretch and home breaker of a mother is dead and in hell where she belongs," she deadpanned.
"How can you say such a thing to me?" I asked in disbelief. Were they really that upset that they would both take it out on me in this way?
"That's right. I will make sure you join her soon but before that, I'm going to make your life miserable. Every second you live, every breath you take will be filled with pain and misery," she swore. I stared at her speechless and in shock.
"Did you hear that? I'm going to put an end to your miserable life! Get your pathetic self out of my room!" she growled furiously. I glanced at my stepmother and she stared at me with disdain. I turned around, making my way out of her room slowly. I couldn't fathom what she meant by making my life miserable. Was something going on that I didn't know of?
Prince Keith The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was Heather. Her face, softened by sleep, was turned towards me, her dark hair scattered against the pillow. Sunlight, filtered through the curtains, cast a warm glow on her skin, making her look like a painting. My heart swelled with happiness and contentment.I couldn’t fathom how I had lived before her, gently, so as not to disturb her peaceful sleep, I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her hair, inhaling the faint, sweet scent of her. She stirred slightly, a soft sigh escaping her lips, but remained asleep. I pulled back walking towards the window, pulling back the curtain to let more light stream into my chamber. Thirty minutes later, I heard a gentle knock that was enough to stir Heather. I quickly sat down in my wheelchair and turned it towards the door, I opened the door and it was one of the maids who came in with my breakfast. “Good morning, Your Highness,” she greeted.“Morning,” I replied, my gaze briefly flick
HeatherAfter we were done eating, the weather was getting too chill and we decided to return to our chambers. Keith sat down in his wheelchair and I helped him back to his chamber, I stopped in front of his door and he turned his wheelchair to look at me, "Goodnight," he mumbled and I smiled "Can I join you?" I asked before I could stop myself, Prince Keith's eyes went wider as he didn't expect such a question from me."Are you sure?" He asked and I shrugged "I...I can just go back to my room, you don't have to feel pressured," I said quickly, feeling embarrassed for what I said. "I want you to come with me Heather, I only wanted to be sure you are okay with it," he replied and my smile widened. He went closer to his door and turn the knob, the door clicked open and we both stepped inside. I closed the door behind us and as soon as the door was closed, Keith stood up from his wheelchair. He looked at me, a soft, questioning expression on his face. "You... locked the door?"My ha
Heather I walked beside Prince Keith, my hands lightly resting on the push handles of his wheelchair, guiding him forward. My mind, however, was not entirely focused on that. It kept replaying what just happened at the royal mausoleum, the raw, unguarded emotions I had witnessed from him. The devastating grief that had wracked his body, the unexpected tears that had streamed down his face... and then, the kiss. A kiss so tender, so full of unspoken feeling, that it had left me speechless and trembling.Who was this man? The stoic, often reserved Prince I thought I knew had peeled back layers I never imagined existed, revealing a depth of sorrow and, impossibly, a flicker of something that felt like affection directed at me. It was disorienting, thrilling, and utterly confusing.We turned a corner as we made our way towards the gardens. I wondered what we were doing in the garden, Had he come here to cry since no one would really suddenly step into the garden to look at him, I was con
Prince Keith I finished having my bath and got dressed up, After that, I sat down in my wheelchair and made my way to Heather's room. I reached her door and gave a gentle knock. The door opened and Heather welcomed me with her smile. "Ready?" she asked, her voice soft.I managed a small smile in return. "As I will ever be, I suppose. Though you still haven't told me where this mysterious outing is meant to take us."She chuckled, "Patience, Prince Keith. All in good time."She stepped out, closing the door quietly behind her. She moved around the chair, her hand resting lightly on the handle. "May I?""Please," I said and she began to push the chair forward, I noticed we were heading towards the older part of the palace, Several thoughts ran through my head and I wondered where she was taking me. I was so lost in my thoughts that by the time I looked up, we were in front of the Royal Mausoleum. My breath hitched immediately it but I said nothing. Heather pushed the doors wider an
Prince KeithI couldn’t help but fist my hands in rage, the king knew what he was doing, he was intentionally provoking me to see what I am going to do, I am not going to give him the satisfaction he wants though, I have something far bigger, far better than getting angry about my parents remembrance. I sat in my room trying to work but each time I held a file, my mind went back to everything he had said and I couldn’t bring myself to work. A sudden knock on the door jolted me from my reverie and I tilted my head towards the door, “Come in,” I muttered and the door was pushed open, One of my guards stepped inside. "My apologies for the interruption, Your Majesty," Raugh said, then turned slightly towards me. "Prince Keith, the garden decorations are complete. They are exactly as you specified for... for the celebration."I had found out that the date of the anniversary of my parents' deaths was also Heather's birthday. I didn’t want anything that is going to stop Heather from celebr
HeatherI leaned my head against the wall of the window frame in my room, watching the moonlight and stars in the sky. A small, inward smile touched my lips. Everything was as it should be, precisely as I had worked to ensure it was. The commemorations for the late King and Queen will also take place, regardless of crowds or not. Prince Keith didn't need anyone else to pretend they understood or cared before he mourned his parents. His grief was a sacred and also of personal space, which is what mattered most. I was drifting in that pleasant half-asleep state in the soft armchair when a gentle knock sounded on my door. Before I could fully rouse myself, the door creaked open, and Lucinda's cheerful, slightly off-key voice began singing."Happy birthday to you..."My eyes fluttered open, and I blinked against the sudden brightness of her smile. She stood there, holding a small plate with a generous slice of cake atop it, a single candle flickering merrily."Lucinda!" I laughed, a genu
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