VALERIE When I opened my eyes, a familiar face stared down at me with a cold expression. My belly churned as the previous events replayed in my mind. I quickly sat up, wiping off the drops of sweat that covered my forehead. "What were you doing there?" His voice came out hard and cold, causing me to shiver in guilt. I realized that the creature that I saw before I passed out was him in his wolf form. My eyes widened and a lump formed in my throat as I realized that that was him. He found me in that room— perhaps he never left; he must have hidden somewhere, waiting for whatever was trialing behind him to expose itself, and it turned out to be me. "Uhm…" I was about to come up with another lie when my eyes slowly shifted to the window.My heart constricted when I realized that the hunting must still be going on since it was still dark."Has it been up to an hour that I was unconscious?" I rasped out, breathing heavily.His head jolted back and his eyes dimmed in confusion."Is t
VALERIE I staggered back, my jaws dropped I'm dismay. "She is dead!" One of the ladies screamed in horror and my heart constricted in mortification. I was about to break into bitter tears when I caught one of her fingers move Hope slowly pushed into my shattered heart and I gasped, wiping off the tears on my cheeks I pushed through the woman, rushing towards her. I dropped beside her and grabbed her bloody hand, tears making my vision blurry. "Open your eyes, Jasmine!" I screamed, my eyes twitching in agony. "Leave that place!" One of the women groused, but I ignored her, rubbing her knuckles, which had almost frozen up.I had to stop the bleeding but I couldn't make out what should be done."Don't touch her until the Luna arrives!" Another woman snapped.I raised my teary face and sent a glare that made them back away.I faced her again, staring at her bleeding head.Her once dark, lustrous hair was wet with blood, gluing around the hole in her head.I bit my lips and took in
VALERIE "You should avoid infuriating the Alpha prince," Victoria muttered. We were sitting on a low, wooden bridge, teasing the crystal water with our toes. "Why? I'm not causing any trouble," I muttered, staring keenly at the ripples in the water. "Really? You're already known as trouble just in the first few hours of your arrival. Doesn't that show that you were born to be troublesome?" She muttered. I bit my lips, unable to utter a word of defense. She was right. I'm always known for trouble in the present and here in the past. It wasn't my fault that I tend to fall into trouble and get in the bad books of people after meeting for the first time. I only fought for what I knew was right, and sometimes, the trouble was just brought by my haters, and that included Jasmine. If I had been as rebellious to my stepfather as I was to the Lycan kings, he wouldn't have dared to sell me "My life wasn't like this, it was filled with peace and silent agony. Everything changed when I m
VALERIE The silence that fell in the room made my heart race in fear. I dared not look in the direction of the Lycan king to avoid falling to the ground and losing my hard-earned confidence. I could feel his cold, striking grey eyes on me, his red, slightly cracked lips pursed out in anger at my intrusion."Who are you?" His cold voice pierced the air, causing goosebumps to appear on my skin. I gulped hard before raising my head to meet the eyes that ate me up. His beards were as white as snow with no fickle of a different color and his face glowed in the room, giving off ethereal vibes.In his right hand was a staff that I thought I had seen somewhere in the future."Who are you?" He growled again, pulling me out of the reverie that I was in."I…" my lips trembled, the words refusing to leave my mouth. "She…" I stammered, darting my eyes towards Jasmine. Disappointment flooded her eyes and she heaved loudly, staring at me in bemusement.My heart constricted as I realized that I
VALERIE A smile crept into my face when the staff hit the ground. I spun around and smiled at Renee, my head bent to the side. Her lips twitched up in anger and she clenched her fist in fury. The council of elders stood up to their feet and bowed low to the ground, in respect to the Lycan king's decision."Until the victim wakes up, the both of you will remain the suspects. None of you are allowed to go close to the girl or anything related to her," the lycan prince warned Jasmine and Renee while his eyes were fixed on me. Renee's lips trembled, and drops of sweat appeared on her wrinkled forehead. I grinned and walked towards Jasmine then gripped her cold wrist and began to lead her out. I paused when I got to where Renee was rooted to. "If you are not guilty then you shouldn't be afraid," I whispered. She snapped her head up and gnashed her teeth, glaring murderously at me. I waved her glare aside and began to leave the hall with Jasmine."You!" The Lycan prince's voice ra
VALERIE We walked silently along the path, taking in the fragrance that hung in the air around the garden. Somehow, it felt like I was with Damion. That feeling was still there, that warm smile and eyes filled with longing, the only difference was that the longing in her eyes was not for me.She made me feel comfortable, just the same way Damion made me feel comfortable. I wondered why a beautiful soul like her didn't get the chance to live a longer life. What could have killed her? Sickness?My throat knotted at that thought and I heard my heart make a slight cracking sound as it tightened.I pushed the thought off and concentrated on her being alive. "I love your courage. Standing up against my father is something no one has ever done," she said, pulling her lacy sleeve down even though it didn't need the effort. "I was never born with the gift to rebel against everyone. I got it as I grew up in the darkest time of my life," I replied. She smiled lightly and tilted her head, p
VALERIE "What did the Lycan prince talk about with you?" Jasmine asked as she watched a maidservant braid her hair from the mirror before her. "He was upset that I barged in. That was all," I muttered. She dropped the hairpin she was admiring and craned her neck backward, her eyes prying into mine. My heart thumped loudly as I tried to imagine what would come out of her lips. You are lying? Are you trying to take my mate away? I don't believe you. "Thank you for helping me, Valerie. I wonder if I will ever find a kind like you," she muttered in the sweetest voice ever, making my brows raise in shock. Happiness flooded my body, and I blushed hard at her unexpected compliment. "That is so sweet of you," I muttered and she chuckled, shaking her head. "That was so brave of you," she said, lifting the anxiety pressing down on my heart. She turned and faced the mirror again, watching the maid's hands in silence. She was under house arrest and so was Renee."I will go and check on
VALERIE She seemed to be in even greater shock than I was. Perhaps, she never expected to find her greatest enemy in front of her door, wearing an Innocent look on her face. She shot up her head and shifted back, a sneer replacing the shock on her face. "What are you doing here?" She groused, waving her fingers at me. I threw my head back, not surprised at her reaction to my sudden appearance. "I came to talk to you," I said, sounding as calm as possible. She turned up her lips in disdain, scoffing loudly before narrowing her eyes. "If you're here to convince me to take the blame then I won't do it. Let's see how far this investigation will go," she muttered, grinning sinisterly.My eyes dimmed in suspicion at her words. I could tell she was up to something to protect herself. I knew she wouldn't go down so easily, but I had to find out about the Isle of the Blessed before digging out whatever evil plot she was crafting. "I'm not here to talk about that," I said. The smile o
MICHELLE I gasped and staggered back, clinging to the cold wall with my hair springing up. "Damion?" I snapped, heaving loudly at the monstrous face he had on.He slowly got up and breathed out smoke as he marched towards me with a clenched fist covered in veins. I shrieked loudly and jerked my head to the side, closing my eyes at the disgusting mark on his face. "What the hell are you doing?" I growled, wrinkling my nose as the demon's disgusting breath hit my face. "Fucking stop!" I growled in frustration. "Why did you do that? Why did you make Valerie take the fall?" He groused. I scoffed loudly and twitched up my lips in disgust and mockery. "You expect me to take the fall after planning that for Adriana?" I snapped. "You should have thought of a way to escape before carrying out your evil-doing," he fired back at him. Anger surged through me and I gritted my teeth, glaring at him. "Get Damion's face back, you look disgusting!" I spat at him in disdain. My words took h
MICHELLE A gasp slipped out of her mouth when Neil dangled the necklace in the air. She staggered back, rubbing her trembling hand across her neck. She raised her hand and pointed at the necklace before her, her eyes as wide as saucers. "That… that necklace…" she stuttered, her lips trembling. "That is the necklace I sent to you, isn't it?" Lucian snapped, glaring hatefully at her. "I…" Valerie stuttered. Her lips kept trembling as she couldn't find the right convincing words to defend herself with. I smirked, knowing that I had done excellent work by trapping her.I had switched the necklace with a fake one when she refused to wear it this morning. I knew Bianca would persuade her to wear it which she did, but funnily, she wore the fake one while I had the one Killian and Lucian sent to her.My initial plan was to drop it in the ceiling space to trap her but it still came out useful here."Her blood is on it, which means you pushed her," Killian said, sighing loudly in disappo
VALERIE I curled up in the ceiling space, my clothes dampened with sweat. I sighed and checked the time, cursing silently. I bit my lips, wondering why the Pack's doctor would go so far to get the dreadful incense. I had to take my revenge tonight or I would never be able to get a chance to do so.As I sat on the dusty ground, lost in thought, a loud thud on the ceiling space jerked me back to the dreaded reality.I sprang up on my knees, my hands trembling in fear. The thud came again, followed by a hiss. I dimmed my eyes in confusion, staring at the dim light that flashed across the farther part of the ceiling space. I gasped in fear and clasped my hand over my mouth, my heart thumping loudly in my chest. I began to wonder if Michelle had deceived me by bringing me up here. After some minutes, the thud stopped, and everywhere became silent again, but as time passed, a low muffled sound slipped into my ears.I crouched in the dark ceiling space, my heart racing as I listened
MICHELLE I gasped and snatched my hand out of her strong grip."Why… why are you like that?" I snapped, filled with shock. She glanced around as if searching for someone before gripping my hand again. "You have to help me hide away from the Pack's doctor!" She snapped, her eyes filled with fear and desperation. I looked around the empty hall and then back at her, raising my brows in question. "What are you talking about? Why in the world will you be afraid of that doctor?" I scoffed.Her blood drained and her eyes got wider as dread clouded her eyes."She has an incense that could bring out a demon fully. She knows that I have a demon in me!" She blurted out.My jaws fell and I swung my head around, wondering what I should do. If the Lycan kings find out that I helped her hide, then it would be a disaster for me."I'm sorry, but I can't help here," I muttered, trying to shake her grip off my wrist, but she held on tight, glaring at me."You won't help me?" She snapped, sinking he
MICHELLE I stood at the edge of the crowd, forcing a smile as Adriana danced with her sister, Arlene. My heart would always skip a beat every time she turned to look at me with an evil glee in her eyes.I needed no one to tell me that she planned on exposing me, but what I feared was the time she planned to do that.The music stopped playing and the Luna Queen grabbed a glass of wine, hitting a spoon against it.Everyone stopped what they were chattering about and focused on her.The Luna Queen smiled so happily, making my heart bleed. Whenever I saw her on that podium, I would always be reminded of the sadness on my mother's face before she died. That should have been my mother's throne, that should have been her place.If Luna Jasmine hadn't killed my mother back then, perhaps everything would have still been right. I wouldn't have to be intimidated by her mannerless daughter."It is time for the cutting of the cake and the announcement of a new age!" She announced and a loud ovat
VALERIE I walked into the large grand hall alongside Bianca, holding my head up high. A gasp slipped out of my lips the moment I stepped into the hall. It gave a charm that noroom had ever given. The ballroom stretched wide, its polished marble floor gleaming under the light of massive crystal chandeliers. Ornate gold-trimmed walls rose to meet a vaulted ceiling painted with delicate frescoes, while tall arched windows let moonlight spill across the room. Velvet drapes framed the windows, and soft classical music floated through the air, echoing the elegance of the atmosphere."Bianca, why does this place look so lovely?" I whispered, my eyes gleaming.She chuckled and nudged me playfully, a smile on her face."This is the grand hall of the Blood Moon Pack where every royal ceremony and gathering is held. Perhaps in the future, you and the Lycan kings will get married in this hall," she muttered and the smile on my face dropped."What?" I gasped.Her brows raised in confusion and
KILLIAN I walked down the dark hallway, swinging the blade in my hand and a cigarette stuck between my lips. I reached a door and punched in the passcode. The door rolled open and I walked into the room. The lights turned on, and my lips stretched into a smirk when my eyes fell on Alpha Cameron, who was struggling to remove the tapes tied around him. "Alpha Cameron, long time no see!" I laughed loudly, waving the blade in the air. He murmured but his words weren't delivered due to the gag on his mouth. "You want to say something?" I asked, grinning. He nodded his head, his eyes pleading. I chuckled and covered the spaces between us, then tore out the gag. He gasped in relief and sucked in some air, muttering words of gratitude. "A low-ranked alpha like you tried to step up to me? That is crazy!" I said, huffing loudly. He panted, refusing to say a word. I took a long drag at the cigarette and bent down, grabbed his hair."Tell me, who sent you?" I asked. He raised his eyes
MICHELLE "Your bath is ready, my lady," my maidservant said as she trudged into the bedroom. I smiled lightly and got off the chair that I was sitting on then shuffled into the bathroom. "Any news?" I asked her as I dipped my body into the warm water. "Did you prepare my gift?" I asked. "Yes, my lady," she responded. I smirked and took the body scrub, lathering my body with it. I would give Adriana a kind of gift that she would never forget. Not just her but everyone that would attend the birthday party that would be held tomorrow evening. "Your dress for the birthday ceremony has been delivered, my lady," the maidservant poked her head in and said. I smiled lightly and hummed in response, dipping my head into the water. Perhaps I could fulfill my mother's wish of finishing what she started and still be with the ones that I had always dreamed of being with. That would be killing two birds with a stone, and that was a method I had always been perfect in, even when I was a ch
ADRIANA My eyes batted in confusion and my lips trembled. "How can I argue with a dead woman? That's crazy!" I blurted out, unable to understand her words. Noah leaned closer, his eyes fixed on Diana. "Look here, Diana, I don't think it's the same woman. The woman behaved like every normal living being, she isn't—" "Hold on!" Diana said and took the phone, zooming the video. "Here, do you see that mole? That woman had that mole," she muttered, pointing at the small mole on the woman's face. "Who is this woman to you?" Noah asked while I replayed the video, searching for clues that would prove Diana either right or wrong. "She was my homeroom teacher in middle school. I attended her funeral with my parents," she muttered. "What killed her?" I asked. "Influenza," she mumbled. I peered closely and finally realized something strange about the woman. "Why is her skin tone different?" I muttered. Noah and Diana stopped talking and swerved their head in my direction. "What?" I