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
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
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 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 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
KILLIAN I had thought for a second that she was Valerie but when I peered closer, I realized that she was just someone who resembled her.Her chestnut eyes traveled around the room with fear and tears gathering in them.I could tell from her behavior that she was still a new girl from the club which meant that her audition could be announced that night.She swept her head to the side as she danced slowly to the beat. Her hips swayed seductively while her long smooth legs slid around the stage.Her hand reached for the sparkling red gown she wore and ripped it open, revealing the pair of gem-covered cropped top and thong.She swept her hair back and gripped the pole in the middle of the stage, running her nails along it, a false smile on her young, beautiful face.She wrapped her legs around the pole and arched her back, running her hand along her thighs as she twirled on the pole.She unwrapped one of her legs from the pole and spread it, showing off the molds hidden behind the thin
KILLIAN "Should we go over to the VIP section?" He asked as he wrapped the bandana around his neck. I hesitated, feeling a need to leave the cave after the discovery of the mark on his neck."No, I didn't book a reservation. I will leave—" "A man of your caliber doesn't need a reservation. You always have one waiting for you," he laughed and hit me playfully. I maintained a straight face, not blinking at his jokes. "If you still feel like leaving because of the reservation then don't worry…" he paused and swung his head around before moving closer. "I booked two seats," he whispered, and my eyes dimmed. "Why two?" I asked, getting suspicious."Nothing. I just felt like doing that. Besides, it turned out to be useful, didn't it?" He shrugged, grinning widely.I narrowed my eyes, not believing a single word he spewed out."Why do I have this feeling that you know of my coming?" I muttered, staring at him in suspicion. He laughed loudly, throwing his head back. "What?" He snappe
KILLIAN He shook when that question slipped out of my mouth. "What?" He whispered in a trembling voice, staggering back. I gripped his chin and forced him to look into my blazing eyes. "You are not Damion, are you?" I asked. He scoffed loudly, disbelief darting across his orbs. "I can't believe this! What the heck has gotten into you, huh? Why do you hate me so much!" He groused, tears glistening in his eyes. My throat knotted, and guilt tried to find its way into my mind, but I pushed it aside, ignoring the victim card he was trying to play. "You never liked me from the beginning. You killed my mate and yet I forgave you, and… and yet you have the guts to try to put words in my mouth! Is that your way of taking my life after doing that to my mate, you bastard?" He growled. I scoffed and shrugged nonchalantly, narrowing my eyes without any ounce of remorse."Until I'm clarified that you're Damion, I'll keep hunting you," I muttered and turned around, walking out of the roofto
KILLIAN Lucian pushed the door open and walked in when we got no response after countless knocks. I trailed after him into the room and slammed the door shut behind me. My eyes fell on a body under a duvet and I needed no one to tell me that she was the one curled up in there. "Little Val?" Lucian called out to her but got no response. I sighed in frustration and made to move closer but Lucian held me back.My eyes dimmed in shock at his strange behavior towards me."Lucian?" I muttered, slowly getting enraged.He turned and faced me, dropping his hand which held me back."You've caused enough trouble for everyone. I'll advise you to stay away from her if you want her to be happy," he muttered, and my heart clenched in fury."You think I'm the cause of her unhappiness?" I scoffed in disbelief, glaring at him.He took a step closer, his brows furrowing together."If you hadn't started this mess in the first place, little Val would have been alright and happy," he spat.I balled my
MICHELLE A smile spread out across my face as I watched her struggle to stay alive inside Valerie's body. "Give it up, Asmodeus, Valerie Garrett has returned," I snarled. Her head jerked up, and she growled in fury, then leaped towards me, knocking out my hand, which gripped her shoulder. Her hand reached for my neck and she pushed me roughly, hitting my back on the wall. My heart skipped but I maintained my stance and sank my nails into her flesh, sinking my teeth into my bottom lip. A dark cloud darted across her eyes and her grip around my neck tightened. "What did you say about my father, bitch?!" She growled in rage. I stiffened in shock and my eyes darkened as the realization hit me Valerie was back. She had subdued Asmodeus, and she wasn't just back to dominate her body and save the Lycan kings; she was back to seek revenge, to destroy. "If you didn't hear what I said then you wouldn't unlock yourself and come out," I wheezed, struggling to breathe as she choked me.
VALERIE (Asmodeus)The hall was silent as all eyes were fixed on Michelle, demanding an explanation for her behavior. My fist clenched under the table as I glared warningly at her. Sweat broke out on my back as I thought of ways to stop her without creating more suspicions around me. "I think we're being attacked," Michelle blurted out. My nails sank into my palm and my throat knotted, my burning gaze fixed on Michelle's face. She turned and stared at me, her lips twitched into a smirk. She turned and faced the Luna again, that sinister smile lurking around her sharp dark eyes. "There is something that I must confess, Luna," she mumbled I figured out that she might have nothing to lose in this as Damion was behind her and would support her against me. I had to do something before it was too late. "Luna…" she paused and looked at me before facing the Luna, fake tears gathering in her eyes. "There is a—" I screamed in agony and gripped my stomach, dropping out of my chair. E
VALERIE (Asmodeus)Damion glanced at me again and looked away, fidgeting slightly in his seat. I smiled ruefully and swerved my head in Michelle's direction. Her eyes locked with mine and she quickly looked away, shivering slightly. My lips twitched in excitement at how I had trapped them in my nest. The only way they could escape was to obey my words and demands. I looked at the woman again, knowing exactly how to use them as my pawns to accomplish what I had in mind. "The Lycan kings aren't here yet?" The Luna Queen asked for the fourth time since everyone arrived and took their seats. "No, my lady," her maidservant replied and she sighed in disappointment, shaking her head. "Luna, are you sure they'll come? I heard that they hardly attend gatherings," the woman muttered. The Luna pouted in anger and sighed again, unable to defend her sons. "I wonder who told you that," a hard voice echoed in the hall and everyone swerved their head in the direction of the voice. My throat
VALERIE (Asmodeus)I hummed as I analyzed the bracelets before me. I smelled of citrus and the suffocating scent of Valerie Garrett. "You should try this on," Bianca said, extending a bracelet towards me. I raised my head in her direction and stared down at the pearl bracelet dangling in her outstretched hand. I forced a smile into my face and took the bracelet then slipped it around my wrist. I stared at the pearl bracelet strapped around my wrist and chuckled in excitement.It was hard to believe that Valerie lived happily in the Nox household while I was locked away underneath the freezing dark waters of the Isle of the Blessed.A cold touch on my shoulder caused me to flinch in fear. I sighed in relief when I saw Bianca's face staring down at me with worry etched against her face. "You seemed to be lost in deep thoughts," Bianca blurted out. I forced a smile into my face and shook my head. "No, no, it's nothing serious," I muttered, adding a low, nervous laughter at the e
VALERIE We swerved our heads in the direction of the scream, and my eyes dimmed when they fell on Michelle. I narrowed my eyes, the worry that sprang up in my heart slowly settling down."Shit!" Garam spat in rage and let go of my neck. Michelle marched towards us, her eyes blazing in anger and her clenched fist swinging beside her. "You bastard!" She growled and grabbed his collar, throwing him off me. His back slammed against the wall and it cracked while he groaned out in pain. "What the fuck did you do to Damion?" She groused and slapped him hard on the face. My brows raised in surprise as I watched her land hit after hit on him. She raised her fist to slam his fist for the umpteenth time but he grabbed her fist, shoving her back. He staggered up and wiped the blood that dripped from the cut on his lower lip. "You are no different from me, bitch!" Garam spat at her. She was taken aback by his outburst, and for a moment, they stood still, fuming in anger and glaring at e