Deacon’s POV“Prince Deacon! I, Alpha Bryson, together with General Glenda, greet you! We’re sent here to aid you, feeling honored to be at your disposal,” Bryson said as soon as he came in and kneeled at his one knee, which Glenda followed.I stared at him before I returned his gesture with a curt nod.Upon seeing my response, his face became bitter, but he dared not say anything as he stood back up with Glenda in an attention stance—standing straight, with hands on their sides.As they waited for my words, my eyes shifted to Elena, who was surprisingly not turning around to greet her husband. Instead, she remained standing with her back behind them, and her eyes still focused on the battle map on the table.My eyes narrowed in confusion as I observed her facial expression, which was void of emotion.Did they have a fight? Was that why she was here?It’s clear that they were in some tension, but I could not pinpoint what exactly it was.Knowing only time could tell, I turned back aro
Elena’s POVAt first, I was trembling with mixed emotions of anger, pain, and disgust as I watched Bryson and Glenda support each other, especially when I heard Glenda’s intentional remark, which was clearly intended to put me on edge.And I’d be honest, I almost lost my calm after seeing her shamelessness and audacity to ask me such a question.Thankfully, Prince Deacon came to my side. And like these recent days, his touch seemingly had a magic effect on me that always brought me warmth and comfort and kept me on my toes.Straightening my back, I gazed back at Glenda and let out an unbothered smile.“Well, I find it unnecessary to publicly announce such trivial matters, especially when it is I who…” I gave Bryson a quick glance before I smirked, “rejected him.”Turning my gaze back at Glenda, my smirk widened as I pointed out, “Now, there’s no need for me to be so cruel and further implicate damage to your Alpha’s pride by broadcasting it to the entire kingdom, is there?”Satisfacti
Elena’s POVMy gaze froze as my eyes started to grow red, but as I felt my heart clenching with pain and grief, I saw the slight grin that was about to form on Glenda’s lips.Not wanting her to feel any sense of satisfaction, I clenched my fist tightly and helped myself stay calm despite the overwhelming ounce of fury and grievance resurfacing in my heart. Thankfully, Prince Deacon gave me a glance of worry, which kept me straight upon seeing the comfort in his eyes.I could feel the heavy weight as everyone’s gaze fell on me, waiting for my explanation. Taking a deep breath, I held my head high, calmed myself, and kept my breathing steady.Once the storm in me dispersed, I uttered in an unwavering voice, “The rogues that my father and brothers fought here… They didn’t just claim territories. They went back and… massacred my entire family, my pack… everyone.”Though I had to take a pause now and then as flashes of their dead bodies flashed in my mind, I ensured that my voice would rem
Elena’s POVGlenda froze as her words were caught in her throat upon feeling Prince Deacon’s powerful aura that demanded submission. Like the rest of us, there was no doubt that she felt that chilling sensation that crept to our spine, and hers would have been far worse as it was directed to her. Eventually, she could only look away, silent for once, probably realizing that its futile for her to argue further.“Listen here, and listen well, Glenda. No matter how many merits you gained through war, there’s no amount of merit in this kingdom you could ever earn to have the privilege to disrespect me nor the King!” Prince Deacon uttered in a chilling voice as his eyes turned a glint of reddish-gold that’s a mark of Lycan wolves.“The King… I never…” she stuttered, as confused as I was.Indeed, Glenda was reckless and boldly retorted to Prince Deacon, but I never heard her badmouth the King—that would be like her asking for a death sentence.Abruptly, Prince Deacon grabbed my wrist and p
Elena’s POVThough Bryson and Glenda had their arms linked together, Bryson managed to delay his step for half a second, just enough time for him to cast one last glance back at me.Something in my heart flickered as I saw regret in his eyes before he vanished from my sight.Don’t be stupid, Elena!I wanted to smack and scold myself for feeling a fierce pain jolting in my heart whenever I encounter Bryson.He betrayed me, and I had already rejected him, and together with that was my vow to bury every last bit of my feelings for him. I freed him and myself the second I divorced him, which was why it frustrate me inside whenever I felt pain in my heart whenever I see him.“Of course, whether you want it or not, he became a part of us, and once upon a time, we loved him,” Ava reasoned.I blocked her out without wanting to hear Ava’s logical and truthful explanation.When the doors closed, Deacon approached me, his eyes searching my face with surprising tenderness.Though Bryson and Glend
Deacon’s POVElena and I stayed in that position for a while. I let her cry every single tear she had been withholding back for as long as she had tried to, even at the expense of drenching my shirt.My heart clenched as I heard her cry as if I was as heartbroken as she was. If only I could share half of her pain, I’d do so in a heartbeat. No… I’d even take all of it for her.Once she felt better and loosened her hold on me, I stood up and took off my shirt, not minding that I was now shirtless. After all, it was normal for male werewolves to be shirtless, especially during training.Having six brothers with her as she grew up, I’m sure she’s very used to it already.I opened one of the boxes on the corner of the tent and dug deep for the finest wines in there, along with two wine glasses. Sitting on her opposite side, I filled the glasses and handed one to her.“Thank you… I sure needed this,” she forced a smile after letting out a small joke that was obviously a half-truth.As she s
Elena’s POVBefore I knew it, I already lost count of the glasses I drank. Luckily, Prince Deacon only gave me a wine, and the fact that I wasn’t drunk after all that made me realize that it only had a low alcohol level.Narrowing my eyes, I looked at him to scold him, but then I was gritted by his dimmed eyes filled with fury and his fingers with stains of blood on them.“What happened?” Panic coursed through my body. Hurriedly, I leaned forward and grabbed his hand, examining his fingers.But when I lifted up his hand, I found that the side of the armrest of the chair he was sitting on was chipped.I was so drawn into expressing my pain and burden to him that I didn’t think of how it might have affected him. He must have been angry upon hearing about all the mishaps I’ve experienced, considering how righteous he was.Feeling guilty, I grabbed my handkerchief and wiped off the blood from his fingers to find that it had already healed. Indeed, he’s a Lycan, healing way faster than wer
Glenda’s POV“This is absurd. We brought these warriors, and now I’m supposed to step back and let Elena lead them. After everything we did to get in her as fast as possible?” I complained to Bryson as soon as we got out of the main tent and got further enough to know the Prince wouldn’t hear me.How come that unworthy, overprivileged, weak she-wolf like Elena would command my troops and me? I couldn’t accept it!If it weren’t for her father and her brothers, no one would even look at her, let alone know her name!“Bryson, say something!” I demanded as I shook his arm when I noticed that he wasn’t paying attention to my words.When he finally looked up, I added, “This can’t be happening! We’ve been through so much in the South, it’s unacceptable for them to just brush us off to the side!”“Calm down, Babe,” he uttered in a calm and sweet voice as he swung his arm around my shoulder and landed a kiss on my temple. “It’s the Prince’s command. We can’t do anything about it. This is the N
Elena’s POVA smile instantly spread to my lips as I shrugged my shoulders. “She tried a little. But it's nothing I can’t handle. Honestly, I found her more manageable than your brother.”Deacon looked at me like I had grown another head, eyes wide open and lips agape. With both brows raised, he spoke, “Manageable?! That’s the first time anyone ever described her that way.”He even let out a small laugh of disbelief.I was about to reply, but a series of honks interrupted me. Looking at the front, I realize that the light was already green. Tapping him on his arm, I pointed outside, “Go!”“Right…” He blinked before looking back at the front and driving, stopping the honks from those behind us.Once we were moving smoothly again, I replied, “She’s… aggressive in her own way, but at least she’s upfront. I respect that more than passive jabs and fake smiles.”Having someone straightforward was easier. I at least know how I should handle them. Unlike King Desmond, whose every move seemed
Elena’s POVWe were nearing the place where our car was parked when Zara suddenly nudged me.“What?” I asked in confusion and followed the direction she was signalling, finding many high-ranking officials gathered in the nearby garden shed with Deacon.“Should we greet him?” Zara whispered as I kept my eyes on Deacon. After a bit of inner contemplation, I nodded my head and started to walk.“Gentlemen,” I greeted, interrupting their conversation.Slowly, Deacon, who had his back to me, turned around with a look of surprise in his eyes. “Done already?” he asked.Laughing a little, I raised a brow at him as I gestured to the time on his watch. “Looks like you are expecting for longer? I even gave Queen Liz a visit.”His lips stretched into a smile as he stared at me with admiration. “I didn’t know my wife-to-be was so capable.”Standing up, he went beside me and waved his hand at his friends before guiding me a few feet away from them.With a bit more privacy around us, I became more se
King Desmond’s POVAfter my talk with my mom, I left the room and went to the rooftop, my hands leaning against the cemented fence as I looked out over the quiet forest in front of me. I watched over the entire kingdom, where there were barely any lights, and tranquillity filled the surroundings.The cold night breeze brushed against my face and skin, its chilly sensation similar to the slow freezing of my heart.A painful smile formed on my lips as I thought about the upcoming marriage between my brother and Elena.I sighed and shook my head to dismiss any unpleasant thoughts that were coming into my mind.I was indeed happy for my brother, and he’d always be my brother, whom I would cherish. But despite all the games I made them think I was playing, it’s true that there’s a part of me that was serious about my marriage proposal toward Elena.The chill in my heart was slowly spreading through my body when I suddenly felt warmth radiating from my side. My mother stood beside me, her b
King Desmond’s POVAs soon as the door closed behind Elena, I cracked up laughing. Looking at my Mom while pointing at the door, I said, “Did you see her face? I haven’t seen Elena that flustered since we were kids when she fell into the pond!”My mom walked slowly toward me with narrowed eyes before she slapped me on the back of my head. “Mom! I’m the king!”She raised her brows strictly like she used to do when I was being naughty as a kid. With her arms on her hips, she firmly stated, “And I’m your mother.”Frowning, she sat opposite her and shook her head. “She’s not that little girl anymore, Desmond. Don’t keep teasing her. She already endured more than enough with the tragedy she faced.”“I wasn’t being cruel, Mom. I just wanted to see…” My smile widened as I continued, “I just want to see if there’s really a spark.”She shook her head like she had had enough of me and waved her hand in dismissal. “If you’re too bored, go back to your Luna to play instead of playing cupid or wha
Elena’s POVNot even for a second did I question Deacon’s choices during the battle. Not back then, and not now.The trust I had in him wasn’t blind either. It was earned. It was built steadily through everything I’d witnessed, from the way he carried himself among the ranks to the way his soldiers listened to him without hesitation. He was calculating. Fair. A strategist through and through. And that’s one of the many reasons why I admire him not only as a person but also as a leader.And besides, whatever personal disagreements Bryson and I might’ve had, they had no place on the battlefield. In war, we fought as one. We bled under the same purpose.That’s why when the king asked me such a question, where he was obviously trying to find dirt on Deacon, I got irritated a little, which I tried hard to hide. He was still, after all, the King.When I didn’t respond right away, King Desmond leaned back in his chair in a relaxed manner, but his calculating eyes didn’t escape my gaze. He
Elena’s POVQueen Liz and I laughed at Zara’s sudden outburst.“Seemed like I wasn’t the only one triggered by the Duchess’ words,” Queen Liz said, making all of us laugh.Suddenly, despite the scorching heat outside and the torment the Duchess tried to throw at my way, being in here made things feel a bit lighter.“This juice is a lifesaver. I thought my skin would melt on that walk back,” I exaggeratedly said as I gulped another glass in one go.Leaning back to her seat with her head back and arms spread, Zara complained, “Oh, tell me about it, Princess. I can barely feel my legs!”“But seriously, the same woman now dreads your next visit. Elena, you’ve just made life here in this dull palace a whole level more exciting,” Queen Liz uttered before taking a sip of her drink.She didn’t even look fazed by all that was happening to it. It seemed like drama was a normal thing in the palace, and it had now become more like an entertainment than an actual problem, from how often it happene
Elena’s POVMy smile got even brighter as I stared at her innocent eyes and lovely smile. She has that bright sunshine around her like I used to have before. Looking at her was like seeing a walking beam of joy.“What do you mean by fate? It’s not sure yet?” she asked so innocently, making me laugh a little. Shrugging, I smiled gently and teased a little. “It means I’ll definitely be your sister if your cousin doesn’t change his mind.”She giggled at my words before letting out a joking scoff. “He’d be a fool if he did that. Everyone talks about how amazing you are! You’re the most admired general now.”I patted her head and shook my head. She’s so adorable. “What a sweet tongue you have.”Tapping her nose, I added, “I only did what must be done. And don’t tell that to your cousin, he’d be jealous. He’s the best of all.”She pursed her lips and touched her chin while thinking for a bit before shrugging as she gave in. “Well, you’re right, but still, you’re the best female general.”H
Elena’s POVMy eyes shifted to the door just as the Duchess’ eyes did. And there, a girl peeked from the door with a huge smile on her face.Her eyes wandered around first before she stepped fully inside, showcasing her beautiful cocktail dress, styled with glitter on the hem.“Mom, I hear Princess Elena is here!” She came in and jumped in joy as she confronted her mother.She’s about 5 feet tall, and I’d say around fifteen years old from her appearance and demeanour. Her eyes were glistening with curiosity, and she was all giddy, making little jumps in place.Duchess Diana wasn’t even given enough time to reply with all her energy as she turned around and looked until her eyes met mine.She froze for a little while, staring at me like she was starstruck.“Princess Katherine.” I bowed a little and greeted her with respect. Despite our same title and age difference, she’s still a full-fledged princess and deserves respect. Besides, she’s also Deacon’s cousin, so… Might as well.“You ar
Elena’s POVI wanted to laugh at the Duchess’ remark. I didn’t ask her for forgiveness, and yet she felt like I had committed a grave sin that needed forgiveness, and wanted to act like the better person.Going with the flow, she sat, I played with it and bowed my head a little out of respect while keeping my dignity. “Thank you, Duchess Diana.” Looking back up at her, I smile and kindly add, “But about my marriage with Deacon… It’s something the two of us will decide. I am willing to marry him, and should he continue with it… I guess no one else has the right to determine my worth.”“Ha!” Hearing my words, Duchess Diana’s patience snapped. She slammed her hand on her chair as she stood up, looking at me with narrowed eyes.Dripping with disdain, she smirked devilishly and commented sarcastically, “What a humble servant at best, playing a goody-two-shoes act. Mark my words, you insolent woman, once whatever potion you gave my son wears off, he’ll abandon you like he did to others befo