Tell me we all know what's going to happen in the next chapter...đź‘€
Sophie's POV: Why? Why why why? How could fate be this cruel to me? The worst thing that could happen to a girl belonging to the South is to have a mate who is from the North. I mean, I had seen the consequences with my own eyes, right? All my life, I waited for my fated mate. Unlike my best friend, I had always romanticized having a mate, the person who was specifically made for me, the other half of my soul. I never thought that when I'd finally find him, it would go like this. I watched Ember running toward Ms. Stacy and I was just about to follow her when the door behind me flew open. What halted my footsteps was a rich and intoxicating scent wafting in the air. It wrapped around me like a warm blanket. I had never been attracted to someone just by the mere scent of them but this was something else. My wolf flared to life and declared in my head, "Mate." My whole body went rigid at that one word. My heartbeat quickened and I slowly turned around to find a pair of the most b
Darius’s POV: Nicholus and Alexander continued their heated argument. I listened with great interest as the former enjoyed grilling the latter when, all of a sudden, I felt a weird tugging at my heart. I was confused as my mind tried to process the sensation I’d never felt before. I didn’t know how to name it, but it was something raw, strong, and tempting. It felt like some melody was calling me to it. Before I knew it, I was already on my feet. Toward where? I had no idea. My feet were moving on their own as if drawing me closer to the call whispering to my soul. I was moving toward the door. And the closer I got to it, the wilder my heart started beating. The voices of the duo still arguing behind me faded in the distance until I could hear nothing but the erratic beating of my heart. My stomach did a quick flip-flop as I grabbed the door handles and flew it open. The very next moment, the world stopped moving around me. My heartbeat halted completely, my breathing slowed down
Ember's POV: As soon as the doors closed behind me, I rushed toward the stone railing. Taking a deep inhale, I filled my lungs with much-needed fresh air. My mind was still processing what had just happened inside those closed walls. One minute, I was trembling under Father's gaze. My mind refused to go against him. I feared disappointing him, but then, as soon as I read that damn document, fire coursed through my veins. I had never felt so much anger ever before. Even thinking about that right now, my breathing ragged. I couldn't believe that, finally after years, I stood up for myself and my rights. A part of me wondered what was going on inside. I listened for the sound of a crash, fighting, or whatever because the Kings of South and North at one place...? That too peacefully? Huh, laughable. But as the hall was soundproof, I decided to stop fretting and over it. To be honest, I had achieved my purpose of visiting and now that I was done with that, I decided to spend the rest o
Ember's POV: I leaned my back against the chair, my composure now finally calm and collected as I stared at Father boringly before shifting my gaze to the file, "So, you're really asking me to sign, out of my own free will, to this document that states that I want to renounce the throne?" The exact words written in the document swirled in front of my eyes once again, "I, Princess Ember Valdez, of my own free will and clear mind, do hereby renounce all claims to the Throne of the South and its inheritances, choosing instead a life of peace and distance from affairs of the kingdom." I tilted my head to the side and pinned him with a malicious glare, "Why are you doing this?" He shrugged, "It's my empire and I'll do whatever the hell I want with it without needing your approval or giving you any justify..." Before he could be done with his bullshit, I blurted out, "Let's just jump to the point, shall we?" His eyes literally widened to the size of saucers at my interruption bu
Ember's POV: Father waited until the click of the door echoed in the otherwise silent room before turning his gaze back to us. I resisted the urge to squirm under his revolting glare. He was eyeing me as if I was the worst thing ever happening to him. The loathing burning in his eyes was evidence enough that he had never wanted to see me again.I resisted the urge to coil back in on myself as his upper lip curled and he grumbled, "Why are you here?" That's it. No greetings were exchanged, no pleasant words echoed in the air, not a speck of happiness at seeing his only daughter after almost a year.Only hate, malice, and animosity directed at me. My heart clenched in my chest as if his words were a poisonous vine twisting around my heart tightly, cutting off the blood flow to the rest of my body. I willed my mouth to be open and answer him. I willed my body to straighten with confidence. I willed my chin to lift and willed my eyes to look him straight in the eyes. But I was unabl
Ember's POV:Anger. Rage. Exasperation...all were small words to describe Father's reaction.He was adamantly, vehemently, and maddeningly furious after Nicholus revealed our purpose for the visit.___________As soon as we climbed down the jet after it landed in South territory, we were swarmed by half the South army, to say the least.Father was playing a very mastermind game with us. Accepting our offer to meet us only so he could avoid Council's involvement in whatever wreck he thought we were about to unleash. And then sending his warriors to greet us, another tactic to show us that even though he had agreed to host us we weren't welcomed in his kingdom beyond the political reasons.The presence of dozens of warriors irked me, especially because of the way they were eyeing me as if I were a traitor.Noticing my frustration, Nicholus channeled warmth down our mindlink and whispered, "Relax. It's just a start. Do not let him affect you the way he is intending to."He was right. Fat