VALERIE A mine?! I am allergic to smoke and everyone knows. Well… everyone aside from the people who I had come to meet recently. I shook my head and stepped back, glaring at the thick dark smoke in horror. “I can't… I can't go in there!" I snapped, heaving loudly. Bianca tilted her head in confusion at my behavior. "Why?” She asked. I shook my head, taking a step backward. "I can't go to a mine; I just can't,” I muttered, and she scoffed. "Well… you can't do anything about it. It is the Alphas' order,” she snapped a reply, narrowing her eyes in disgust. I sighed and shrugged, helplessly accepting my fate. She glanced ahead in the direction of the smoke and waved her hands forward. “Take that path, you'll find the underground mine," she muttered and spun around, trotting away. “If you need any help, call out to the man who will take you to the place allocated to you," she muttered, cranking her head backward. I nodded, unable to respond. I stood rooted at
VALERIE The sunlight that streamed into the room forced me to snap my eyelids open.I groaned loudly and snapped my head to the side, slamming my eyes shut.“How do you feel?" A voice muttered and I fluttered my eyes open again.I stared at Bianca's pale face and a lump formed in my throat.I couldn't remember how I got to the bed as all I could hear in the back of my mind was an explosion and a yell for help, a voice that I recognized after a while as mine.“Bianca? I'm not dead?" I whispered as she forced a smile into her face. She shook her head and strode towards me, then sat down at the edge of the bed before clasping her hands in mine.“No, the miners were able to get you out on time; it's all thanks to Miranda; she noticed your disappearance and alerted some of the miners," she replied, and my brows raised in confusion.Miranda? Who was that?I parted my lips to ask the question when the door opened and the grumpy girl sauntered in. She looked up and her feet froze.“Oh… she i
VALERIE I dropped the mop in its rightful position before sighing loudly, my body aching with tiredness. My eyes were heavy, screaming for a short nap or if possible, a nice long sleep. But unfortunately, none of the two options was possible. “Done with the cleaning?" Julianna's voice growled behind me and I felt my heart twitch in fear. I gulped hard and spun around, forcing a smile into my pale face. “Yes," I replied. She narrowed her large owlish eyes, chuckling loudly. Her chuckle made her sagging breasts and protruding belly bounce and quiver. I snapped my eyes away from the unattractive sight, wondering why she would work around like that giving off orders and declaring what a tyrant she was. “Alright, come with me!" She hissed, waving her large hands ahead. “Don't be sluggish," she added as she forced her fat-filled legs to move forward. I trudged after her, silently enduring her annoying words and sneers. As we walked along the large passageway, my gaze fell on the
VALERIE My lips opened and slammed shut, I batted my lashes, my heart twitching in pain. Her eyes narrowed intimidatingly around my body and she chuckled. “Who are you?” She asked and my brows raised in surprise. “Huh?" I stammered, wondering if I heard right. Who am I? Has she forgotten me? I felt relieved and grateful that she didn't remember me. “Oh, me?" I stammered and gulped hard before glancing up at her beautiful face again. “I'm a maid. Julianna sent me over to have your room cleaned up," I said and bowed, making sure to sound as polite as possible. “I don't like it when people bow before me, so stop it," she muttered, and I snapped my head up in surprise. “Huh?" I mumbled again in confusion. I felt confused by her strange behavior. She wasn't acting like the girl I met earlier in the hallway. She sounded different; she smelt different, and she acted different. I parted my lips and spilled out the perturbing question in my mind. “Who are you if you don't mind?” I
VALERIE I slowly turned with my heart in my hand. My eyes widened in dismay as I stared at the Luna of Blood Moon Pack, the vicious and feared queen of the wolf kingdom. From what Bianca told me about her, I could tell her power, aura, and wickedness were full of evil.“My queen," my voice quivered as I bowed low to the ground.“You called my daughter a bitch and a peacock?" Her authoritative voice made my throat knot.I wanted to defend myself but couldn't. No matter how hard I tried, my lips wouldn't part or move.No, Mother, there is–” She raised her hand, shutting Arlene up."Take her away!” She ordered and soldiers trooped into the room. My heart sank as I stared pleadingly at her."Please, have mercy, my queen. Please have mercy!” I finally found my voice and screamed out as they dragged me out of the room.I watched my whole world crumble before me as they dragged me off to an underground. The sound of the steel doors pulling open made my heart leap. I was roughly pushed in by
VALERIE I blinked and stepped back but ended up pushing down a thin, dirty-looking boy to the ground. He cried out in pain, and I spun around, enveloped in guilt.“I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry," I muttered, trying to pacify him as I helped him up and patted his head.He looked up at me with rheumy eyes that pleaded for freedom. The same freedom that I sought for.I couldn't believe that they had a little innocent child locked up in here for a crime his Alpha might have unintentionally committed. I wondered how long he had been in there for an offense, he did not know of.“There, there. Consoling your kind, huh?" Her stinging voice came up again and compelled me to turn around.“You think you've won?" I wanted to stop myself from replying to her curt words but I couldn't. I wasn't weak; neither was I dumb.She frowned and snapped her head back. After the fading of some seconds, she shifted her gaze back to me, her lips stretched out in humor.“Well… have you then?" She muttered, showing
VALERIE My heart thumped loudly and I slowly turned. I felt my heart skip a beat as I stared at Lucian's uptight face.“What are you doing in here?" He snapped in a rugged voice as he ran his eyes over my crouched body in suspicion.“I… I…" I gulped hard, unable to find an answer to his question. My mind reeled, and different suggestions ran through my head, but none of them made sense like the last one.“I came to thank you and your brother for standing up for me," I blurted out, hoping he didn't catch a glimpse of dishonesty in my eyes.“Oh… really?" He muttered in a calm voice and stepped fully into the room, shutting the door behind him.My heartbeat increased as I watched his steps, wondering what was going on in his mind. His face or eyes didn't dare give his thoughts away. I clenched my fist as he got closer, hoping he didn't get to fish out the piece of paper hidden under my ass.I shifted uncomfortably, cranking my head back to check if a peek of the paper was in view but s
KILLIAN A slip of paper caught my eyes as Lucian talked. I squatted down and picked it then flipped it over. My eyes dimmed as I read the names written on the paper.“Wasn't this paper on the table?" I asked, extending it towards Lucian.His lips slammed shut as he narrowed his eyes at it.“And?" He muttered grumpily, slipping on a sapphire ring on his finger.“I found it on the floor," I replied and he snapped his gaze towards me in confusion.“I kept it right here," he tapped a space before him.I glanced down at the place and then at the paper.I saw him put it there and I was sure that this paper didn't fly down to that pace on its own.“What was that girl doing when you got in?" Lucian tilted his head, trying to understand who I was referring to.“What girl?" He asked, settling his gaze and attention on the ring strapped around his finger.“That girl, what is her name?" I snapped my head back, hoping that I'd remember her name.Lucian looked up at me with an amused look on his
VALERIE I sprang up, glaring back at Alexander who stood outside the cell. "Are you here to take us away to be killed?" I snapped. He remained stiff, not saying a word as he watched us."You won't say anything?" I snapped, gnashing my teeth in anger. I expected Jasmine to stop me from yelling at him but she did nothing. "What are you going to the Isle of the Blessed for?" He asked after a long stretch of silence. My throat knotted and I blinked severally in surprise. Jasmine jerked up in surprise, hovering behind me. "The– the Isle of the Blessed?" Jasmine gasped, tugging on my sleeve. "Tell him about it quickly!" She whispered. I slowly slipped back into reality and parted my lips to speak. "I have to get the antidote kept in the dark tower of the Isle of the Blessed," I said. "Someone that I love is dying. I have to save him."His lips twitched up in disgust and he scoffed, narrowing his eyes."You are doing this because of a man?" He groused, disdain scrunched up on his
VALERIE The fire spread so fast across the tunnel, causing panic to set into my body. I cried out in fear and cringed back to where Jasmine lay.I gripped her hand, panting heavily, my eyes still glued on the spreading fire that had lightened up the dark tunnel. "Alexander?" Jasmine's horror-stricken voice waved into my ear, forcing me to swerve my attention away from the fire. A knot formed in my throat as I stared at the face that glared down at us. "What are you two doing here?" He growled in anger, causing me to shiver in fear. I exchanged glances with Jasmine, both of us expecting the other to speak up. "I can't believe this," the lycan prince whispered, swerving his head. "The two of you are under arrest for breaking one of the most important rules of the Pack! He snapped and bent over, reaching for our wrist. I snapped my head in Jasmine's direction, alarm laced against my face. She had the same expression too, and her skin was as pale as that of a ghost. I had to do
VALERIE The knock on the door sounded soft and almost silent. I jolted up from the bed and brushed my hair back, before getting out of the bed. I shuffled to the door and with a heavy heart, I pulled it open. Jasmine raised her head and tugged on the hat on her head before sliding into the room. "Are you ready?" She whispered like there was someone else who would hear us. "Yes," I replied. She sighed and pulled off the hat, slumping down on the stool at the foot of the bed. "My heart isn't ready to lead you to the Isle of the Blessed," she muttered in a quivering voice. I could tell that there were tears gathered in those eyes hidden in the darkness of the room. Only aided by a little stream of moonlight, I shuffled to the box of clothes and pulled out the shirt and pants that I wore to the Pack. I untied the rope of the gown I wore and slipped it down my body, shivering as cold air from outside brushed against my bare skin. "I don't think I have seen anyone ready to sacrif
VALERIE I stared at the crescent moon that hung in the sky which shed light and shadows on the earth. There was no sign of stars in the sky, just the moon. I had just a few hours left to leave for the Isle of the Blessed. In a few hours, I would be left alone to face my fears, just like the lonely moon in the sky. I felt a familiar presence on the rooftop and swerved my head to the side, shifting my eyes away from the crescent moon. Jasmine smiled from the door and waved her hand before trudging fully into the rooftop. She sat down next to me and folded her hands under her knees. She followed my gaze to the moon hanging above and stared at it too. "You must be nervous," she muttered. "Yes, I'm about to go and face death in the next few hours," I muttered. She sighed and gripped my hand, kissing the back of my palm. "I trust you will return," she whispered, smiling lightly. I sighed, my throat knotting in pain. "I don't know if I will get to return to the Blood Moon P
VALERIE "Huh?" I gasped, my heart constricting. His frown deepened and from the corner of my eyes, I watched his fist clench. "What are drops of blood doing on your chin?" He snapped, almost making me jump. I raised my hand to my face and grazed my fingertips over my chin which seemed to be swollen. The moment I touched it, the memory of the Luna Queen sinking her nails into my chin flashed before my eyes. I gulped hard and avoided his questioning gaze, finding it difficult to tell him that it was done by his mother. "You won't answer?" He groused, huffing loudly in anger. I surreptitiously glanced at Victoria, still confused about the situation. Shouldn't he be telling the entire Pack about my betrayal and lies? Why does he care so much about the bruise on my chin? "It's that witch, Renee, isn't it?" He spat. My throat knotted when he referred to her as a witch, making me wonder if he knew about the secret she was hiding from the world. If he knew about it, she wouldn't st
VALERIE My heart skipped multiple beats and my hands began to tremble. I was doomed, I needed no one to tell me that whatever meeting the Lycan prince was calling was for me. He was going to call me out in front of all the women in the manor and have me either thrown out or killed. I shivered at the thought and gasped loudly, bringing my despair to Victoria's knowledge. Her brows raised in surprise when she darted her eyes towards me. She moved away from the window and rushed towards me then took a seat beside me. "What is wrong? Are you scared of going to the Isle of the Blessed?" She asked, her eyes filled with concern. I shook my head, still trembling in fear of what the Lycan prince could do to me. I swerved my head in Victoria's direction and gripped her hand. "Do you… do you think the Lycan prince will have me killed after finding out?" I asked. Her jaws dropped in dismay and she clasped her hand against her mouth, gasping loudly. "He knows about it, right?" She mutter
VALERIE I swiftly turned around, my eyes widening in horror. Jasmine stood by the door, her hands on the wall as she stared at our faces in confusion. "What secret are you two talking about?" Jasmine asked as she walked fully into the room I darted my eyes from Victoria to Jasmine, thinking of a lie I could tell to cover up my secret. Jasmine should be the last person to find out about what I had told Victoria. "Valerie is thinking of going to the Isle of the Blessed tonight," Victoria spoke up and my eyes widened. That wasn't what I planned to say to Jasmine at all, but I didn't know what to say to her either. Jasmine's jaws dropped and she huffed loudly, disbelief flashing across her eyes. "You promised you wouldn't go there!" Jasmine snapped, making my heart skip a beat. "I didn't promise, Jasmine," I replied in a calm voice. She scoffed loudly and shook her head, tears gathering up in her eyes. Did she feel betrayed by me? "There must be an important reason for her to g
VALERIE There was no lie about it. I would leave the Pack the moment the Lycan prince steps out of his chambers. What was worse and terrified me the most was the judgment he might pass on me. Perhaps, death? I slipped down to the ground and dropped my head into my wet palm, thinking of ways to escape death and also get into the Isle of the Blessed. The only idea that crept into my mind was to run off before he caught me. I bit my lips, knowing that would be the only choice even though it was a dumb idea. What would happen to the girl and Jasmine? Renee would use my disappearance as an opportunity to kill the girl and have Jasmine take the fall. A step out of the Pack will lead to uncertainty of finding the Isle of the Blessed. I scrambled to my feet and began to sneak out of the hallway, still pondering the thought of running away. I had to make up my mind as soon as possible if I wanted to survive. I made for my room, my feet shaking violently as Zelda's words echoed in my hea
VALERIE My heart froze the moment the words left her mouth. I couldn't believe that the devil was asking me to commit a fucking murder! "Wait, what?!" I gasped out, breathing heavily. She tilted her head to the side and narrowed her eyes, a deep frown on her face. "Why? You can't do it?" She snickered, disdain laced in her voice. Anger welled up in me and my fist clenched. I felt like bashing her head on the rough wall behind her. "Not everyone is as vicious as you are!" I snapped, shaking my fist at her, my teeth clattering against each other in fury. She smiled unapologetically and folded her hands under her large breasts, leaning back. "Oh… does that mean you won't do it?" She asked. I leaned closer, hitting her face with my fiery breath. "I'm not a murderer like you!" I spat. Disappointment flooded her face but she quickly covered it up with a smirk. "Alright then… you won't be able to sniff the air of the Isle," she whispered. I chuckled and got up, straightening my