RONA'S POV
"Princess, princess. Princess wake up already, stop scaring us" I heard someone calling out to me.
My head felt woozy as I opened my eyes.
"Thank goodness" I saw a young girl, kneeling over me.
What the fuck?
Where am I?
I sat up and looked around.
There were men dressed in guards' apparels and armor, in addition to some girls in costly maid apparel.
It's obvious that they came from a very rich kingdom or pack.
I looked around and saw a body of water stretching as far as the eyes could see.
Wait, I fell into water?
How did I end up here?
Why are they calling me princess?
I looked up at them.
They all looked pissed off at me and resentful.
As if they're being forced to do a chore they hate very much.
"Princess, this is becoming too much. The Alpha king is pissed off at you. We had to search for hours before we found you floating at the lake. What if you had gotten washed into the sea before we arrived? You keep throwing silly tantrums! I wonder why you keep refusing the marriage, when he's the one that should refuse you! He's the most powerful king in the world, yet he agreed to marry you, despite your inability to shift on your eighteenth birthday. Please respect yourself and stop getting us into trouble!" One of the girls shouted.
I frowned.
Who are they?
And why does it seem that they don't respect or love this their princess?
"How dare you talk to the princess like that? Do you want to be executed?" The girl that woke me up roared angrily.
She turned to me and held my hands.
"But leaving again was wrong. See how you look now. If not because I know you wore a white silk, I wouldn't have recognized you from afar. Your clothes are all torn up. You even managed to find a boot to change into, getting rid of your heels" she said, and drew me up.
I looked down and noticed that I was still wearing the clothes I wore before I jumped down.
Nothing changed.
'What the hell is going on?' my wolf asked, apparently as confused as I was.
I followed them to the carriage in confusion.
I can't escape with such a huge amount of soldiers around me.
We soon reached a gigantic castle.
It was very big and grand.
I was stopped in front of a palace and helped down.
We walked in while I remained skeptical.
What the hell is going on?
The servants we met bowed to me, but the look of disdain in their eyes was obvious.
The maid was still holding my hand as she led me down a corridor.
It was filled with beautiful artwork.
I immediately froze at the portrait before me.
My heart immediately skipped a beat.
I saw my portrait on the wall.
Or rather, the portrait of the girl they thought I was.
She looked exactly like me.
Like an identical copy.
It only happens with twins, what the hell?
But wait, if they brought me here thinking I'm this girl in the picture, where the hell is the girl?
Where did she go?
If she suddenly returns, I will be immediately exposed as an imposter.
I will lose my life faster than lightning.
I need to leave here immediately, but how do I do that?
Especially as this place is well guarded.
It's more guarded and grander than any castle I have been to in the past.
This girl's father is an Alpha king, above an ordinary Alpha.
I have just walked into a shark's jaw.
She led me into a very grand room which I guessed was the girl's and sat me on a sofa.
"Princess Erica, you look terrible now. I will run you a bath and clean you up" she said and rushed off.
So the girl's name was Erica.
****
I insisted on bathing myself.
I didn't want my cover to be blown in case she had a birthmark or a different scar.
I also took the opportunity to hide the various things I came with into a tiny satchel I found.
She helped me dress after I wore my inner gown.
The clothes were grander than anything I have ever worn.
The jewelries were all made of pure gold and precious stones.
I sat on the bed while she disposed of the bath water.
Someone knocked and came in.
"Annalise, Alpha King Harvey said you should lead the princess to the hunting ground. He already left with Alpha Aiden and the ministers" she said, and gave me an evil glare.
So the maid's name was Annalise.
But why does everyone seem to hate their princess?
What the hell did she do?
****
We rode in a grand procession with people waving and cheering at me.
I simply smiled and cheered back.
I couldn't help it.
Their happiness and enthusiasm was contagious.
And whereas those in the castle hated the princess Erica, it's obvious that peasants, and those outside the castle liked her a lot.
We reached a clearing in a forest and I was helped down.
It was the feast of the new moon today, I almost forgot.
I lost track of time while running.
No wonder they're going on a hunt.
It was late evening already, everywhere was getting darker.
"They already left for the main hunt. You guys should either sit and wait for them to return and start the main celebrations, or walk around for a while and make yourselves comfortable" a guard said, coming towards us.
Annalise nodded and looked at me with a smile.
I quietly walked into the forest.
Now was my chance to escape.
I walked for a while before sitting down and leaning on a tree.
"You will dirty your clothes, princess" Annalise shouted in alarm.
"It's okay," I replied with a smile.
I pretended to be in deep thoughts.
Annalise tapped me.
"Are you alright?" She whispered.
I gave her a weak smile.
"Can you guys leave for a while, I need space" I whispered.
"No, you will run away" she immediately cut me off.
"I swear not to escape," I said with a frown.
After a series of arguments, Annalise left with them.
I quietly sat there and pretended to be in deep thoughts.
I could notice them spying on me from afar.
I began to undress myself, spreading them on the floor to lie down.
I saw Annalise gasp and lead them away..
I quickly dressed up and began to run.
However before I could run far enough, two hundred men surrounded me, shocking me.
"We didn't even have to enter their camp to assassinate the almighty princess Erica Miller. She ran straight to us!" The bandits said, smirking.
I was alarmed and immediately tried to summon my wolf, but she was nowhere to be seen.
I was on my own!
They rushed me and I began to fight the best I could.
But without my wolf, I was pretty weak.
They soon overpowered me.
One raised his sword to slash my neck and my heart jumped.
"Wait! Let's rape her first. She's so beautiful" one whispered.
They put down their sword and began to undress before me.
One tore my clothes and I screamed in horror.
They pushed me down and one mounted me, spreading my legs.
Tears streamed down my cheeks at my cruel fate.
"Let me go you dirty monsters!. You cannot bear the consequences of touching me!" I roared, and pushed him with all my strength, but I was pitifully weak.
Where is my wolf?
Just as he tore off my undies, I heard a scream, and the person on me was torn off.
I gasped and cried, feeling pathetic.
I felt someone kneel before me, wiping my tears.
I immediately moved back in horror.
I looked up to see a handsome face staring at me.
His blue eyes were the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen.
His pointed nose and red lips were begging to be bitten.
I felt a strange shiver run down my body.
He was dressed in costly shahtoosh and silk robes.
He looked like a powerful and very rich king.
"Who are you?" I stammered.
"I am your fiance" he whispered, wiping my tears.
He removed his outer robes and covered me.
Wait, this handsome God was Erica's fiancee, yet she is escaping?
Why the hell are some people so lucky?
He pulled me into his chest as I cried helplessly.
"It's okay. You're safe now. No one can hurt you under my watch" he whispered.
He pulled back and carried me up.
I noticed five handsome men dressed in warrior's garments behind him. The bandits were all dead around them, except one which was tied up.
They bowed to me.
Wait, why are Erica's fiance and his men so handsome?
He placed me on a horse and entered behind me.
"Why do you keep running away? I heard you escaped a few times already. I know this is an arranged marriage, but I will treat you with the respect and love you deserve. Or don't you like me?" He whispered, and bent his face to look at me.
"I like you now," I stammered.
"Because I saved you?" He asked.
I nodded and he roared in laughter.
"Our wedding is in two days, and I have lots of enemies who will hurt you to get back at me. Stay in the castle and stop wandering around" he whispered, and licked my neck as the horse trotted off.
I shivered and he intensified his actions, licking my ears too.
I almost fell off the horse while he steadied me.
The horse stopped and I looked up, realizing we were before the palace.
He climbed off and carried me down, he was smiling with mirth dancing in his eyes.
"What's funny?" I asked angrily.
"I can smell your arousal, just from licking your neck. Your body is very sensitive. I look forward to our wedding night" he whispered, making me stagger in shame.
At once, disappointment filled my heart.
I will be long gone before then, otherwise I will be exposed as an imposter.
I saw the entourage I left with waiting for me.
Annalise dragged me into the room.
"You lied to me for the first time in your life. Everyone is right. You changed ever since you failed to shift, into an element I don't know. But I failed to see it. Do you think I will trust you again?" She angrily said, before storming off.
I sighed and went to bed, waiting for my escape.
At midnight I felt someone calling to me.
"This girl hurry up!" I heard the girlish voice say again.
Like one in a dream I got up from the bed, against my will, as my foot took me to somewhere I don't know.
I found myself walking down a dark stairwell. I came into an abandoned garden and entered a cave. I immediately stopped in my tracks when I saw the source of the attraction. There before me, lay a girl that looks exactly like me, seemingly dead. She was dressed in white silk, almost the same design with the one I wore when I got washed up here. "Wow! You indeed look exactly like me" I heard a voice say. I looked towards the voice and gasped. The girl was standing there with a cute smile. However, her body looked semi transparent. "Who are you?" I asked. "I'm princess Erica Miller, daughter of Alpha king Harvey Miller, of the ice flame territories. Wow, what's your name?" She asked. "Rona," I whispered. "Our names have almost the same meaning. Please help me to resurrect. I have been calling for help to no avail. The only one that could hear me was you, because we share a connection. If you help me, I will give your wolf my ice crystal, to stabilize its condition. I will also
CHAPTER SIX EMPEROR RICHARD'S POV I watched the expressions on Erica's face flicker and change into a plethora of different emotions. She had been very happy and excited. However, the moment she looked up at me, her expression was replaced with fear and disgust. Despite my effort to reassure her, she was still staring at me in horror. I passed my mask silently to my Beta and reached for her. However, she took a step back, avoiding my touch. My eyes narrowed in confusion and I angrily caught her arm. "What the hell is wrong with you? Why do you look so scared of me? What the hell is the fucking problem?" I yelled at her. "Your mask is scary. Let go of me, you look scary" she wailed. I looked at the mask in my Beta's hand in confusion. What is so scary about my golden mask? I sighed. She's a little girl who has always stayed locked up in her father's castle. Things that don't mean a thing to me can probably frighten her. I sighed as the realization that I just got myself
RONA'S POVJasmine led me upstairs.I looked around.It was even more grand than Erica's palace. No, this place was a castle.A mighty one at that.We drove past numerous palaces before we got here.The street walkways were paved with marbles, there were also gardens neatly arranged along the roads and in the palaces. They were filled with exotic flowers, fruit trees and herbs. There were also exotic animals and birds in the gardens. But for some reason, they never leave the garden space to enter the streets. There were also lamps in the gardens and walkways, probably to light up the castle once it's nightfall.The gates were made of gold, brass or bronze. I could see carts filled with goods and products, driven by horses.There were also luxurious carts that had expensive curtains and leather chairs, driving around the castle.I guess they are the powerful nobles in the immortal Heaven Court.However, I'm yet to see anyone with sacred beasts or heavenly beasts or even magical vesse
RONA'S POVI walked into the room and almost gasped out loud. There was a sweet fragrance in the air.The room was wide with sofas, rugs, and pink silk curtains. The bed was very huge and had pink princess curtains which were drawn back and tied to the bedpost.The bed was well made with white and pink sheets.There was a table close to the bed with a lamp stand which was supporting a pink crystal light orb glowing softly. The table was made with expensive wood, some poetry scrolls, ink, inkpad, writing feathers and paper fan was on the table.There were paintings of natural landscapes on the wall. There was an expensive urn containing lavender flowers, there was a golden incense burner, golden lamp stands, the reading chair accompanying the table was cushioned with soft furs and was padded.I touched the pillows and realized they were stuffed with soft feathers.There was a huge mirror on the wall close to the reading desk. There was also a table between the two sofas."Do you like
RONA'S POVI followed Annalise around the dressing room as she admired the array of expensive clothes in the clothes section.I touched some of the fabrics, feeling impressed."Girl, his majesty didn't spare any expense on your wardrobe. He's determined to treat you right. You're blessed by the moon goddess. Even though you didn't shift, he still found you so beautiful and attractive that he left all others and chose you. Meanwhile, other average wolfless werewolves never get a mate or husband. Even their fated mates reject them sometimes. You're damn lucky!" She said with a smile.I smiled sadly.I'm anything but lucky, same with Erica.I lost all my family to Richard's cruelty while Erica lost everything to me.She should have been lucky, but a monster took it all away.I'm probably another monster like Richard."Look at these shoes, just see your shoe rack. They are the most expensive shoes In the world. Your boots are made with sacred beast leather. Wow! Come to the jewelry sectio
EMPEROR RICHARD'S POVI heard the room go quiet and frowned. Normally my men and the rest of my ministers turn to chatterboxes at the dinner table, sharing some views on whatever topic interests them.I immediately perceived the sweet fragrance and followed the eyes of the rest to the doorway.My heart immediately skipped a beat.It began to beat wildly, frightening me.There in all her glory, looking like a royal queen stood Erica.She was smiling shyly at me.She seems to barely resist the urge to twist her fingers.Why am I so excited to see her?Don't tell me I'm falling in love with the little bird!Impossible, I have never felt so attracted to a woman before.I could feel my manhood go rock hard for the first time in decades.I swallowed my saliva. She looked at me shyly, as if waiting for some kind of approval.I smiled brightly at her and stood up.Before I realized what I was doing, my feet were already taking me towards her.Her maid bowed before me and offered me Erica's ha
ERICA'S POVI sat down on my bed feeling excited.If he's gay, I will finally have a trump card to destroy him.Although I was taken aback when he prepared the ceremonial wine, I took it anyway.If he wants me to remain empress after killing him, he can be my guest then.I'm not interested in any other guy either, so why not? I didn't mind that brat's insult on the dining table nor the disapproving murmurs when he sat me on the luna's throne.Why will I?I have a more important mission tonight.I sat down on my bed still waiting patiently.It's been thirty minutes, yet he's not yet here.I'm already feeling smug.Once I confirm he's a gay, goddess help him.This is the first step.By tomorrow, I will start wandering around the palace and making new friends, to enable me discover any important secret. Also, I need to explore and find a secret route out of the castle.It will come in handy at some point.Besides, if I plan to kill Richard and take all he has, I might as well learn how
EMPEROR RICHARD'S POVI pulled her back as she's trying to lie down, her smug smile was immediately replaced with confusion.Why was she smug?Did she think I would not take my rights tonight?I pulled off her outer robes and her eyes widened in shock, I drew her up and stripped her with swift movement, leaving her in her transparent silk gown.She gasped and tried to shield herself, her face turning red.I smirked.She suddenly looks shocked, embarrassed and fearful.That calm expression of eagerness which she had at first has disappeared.I gently sat her down on the bed and stared at her delicious lips.I wanted to kiss her and never stop but if she's not a virgin, I will feel so disgusted and cheated afterwards.I'm someone that values sexual purity. I don't sleep around despite my status, so I expect the same from my wife.I slipped my hand into her cloth, gently caressing her thighs.Before I go further, I need to confirm if she is indeed untouched.The fact that she didn't want