ValerieThe dense canopy of the ancient forest protected me from the harshness of the afternoon sun. The air was thick with the earthy scent of the trees and moss.I had no idea when I had gotten to the forest. My legs just took me here as I wanted to create enough distance between Greg and myself. He was really messing with my head.I heard the sounds of flowing water ahead of me. I felt a bit excited to try it out.I didn't know why but I just loved water.I approached the babbling cool stream and I felt my race as I stepped closer to the water's edge feeling its coolness in the air. The stream was not that wide and its surface reflected the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. Without hesitation, I plunged into the cool embrace of the stream.I swam against the gentle current and soon, I reached the edge of the water. I pulled my hair off my face as I rested on the rock. I could not understand what was the problem with Kaden and Grey.Kaden and Grey. Most especially, Grey
Valerie's POV★"How dare you talk to me that way? You worthless being!" Fiona spat angrily. She was about to slap me but I grabbed her arm just in time and retaliated with a punch to her cheek.She stumbled backward in shock. I'm sure that she was not expecting that. Usually, I would stand there as she and her goons taunted and slapped me. But today that would end. Fiona held her stinging reddening cheek and groaned in pain."Oh my goddess, Valerie!" Skylar exclaimed."How dare you lay your hands on me? You will pay for this." Fiona rushed back to me, her hand rising in the air.I swiftly dodged the attack and landed a punch on Fiona's face. She screamed out loud in pain as she fell to the ground. Blood pooled out of her nostrils.I felt some kind of dominant power overtake me. I wanted to see more blood. I wanted Fiona to suffer how I had for the past years I had suffered in her hands. This was too little for her. She needed to bleed even more.At that moment, I wished I was good at
Valerie's POV★I could not believe this. Only Ansel's mother was able to read the inscription on the dagger? How was that possible? Was there some kind of connection between this dagger and me?I looked at Ansel as if I heard him saying some jargon.But after a moment of contemplation, he offered a rare smile, "Perhaps, it was meant to be." He declared, his eyes reflecting a profound sense of trust. "You were chosen to understand its meaning. Carry it with you, let its strength be yours."What was he saying? It seemed like he was talking in parables."I doubt I'm the chosen one for this dagger." I made an airy laugh, "I can't even deliver a punch well." I stated nervously.Now, that was getting a little bit weird.Ansel and I shared a burst of heartfelt laughter. Kind of, Hilarious."But that does not change the fact that it belongs to you," He smiled as he walked towards the wardrobe. He opened it and rummaged inside of it like he was searching for something."Oh, I found it." I hea
VALERIE'S POV★I sat on the bench of the training arena as I took deep breaths and relaxed from the hectic and tired training I had undergone. Sweat dripped down my face and my heart raced so fast. I was literally trembling as my hands shook.I couldn't even stand up or balance myself as my head was bent and sweat dropped on the tiles of the arena.Thank the Moon Goddess I was alone. I wouldn't appreciate anyone seeing me that way looking like a dead fish.And yes, I agree that my thoughts diverted to Kaden and that beautiful woman every now and then which made it hard to concentrate and then caused me to mess up what I learned.I groaned and tilted my head back as I looked around the arena. I soaked in the silent and chilly breeze.It was stupid of me to take up the duel. I knew Grey’s plan was to publicly humiliate me and I just fell right into his trap.How stupid could I be? He beat Bruno with one hand and I could only imagine how he would mercilessly humiliate me. I just needed
VALERIE'S POV★It dawns as bright and fresh as any perfect early spring day, the remaining dried leaves on the ground glittering like diamonds in the bright morning sun. The air crackled with my nervous energy as I follow the road to the Village Square, where the duel will take place. Every single year I’ve come to watch others fight and train, it was unbelievable that I got to have a duel with Greg. I felt the lingering gaze even when I was not participating. This day is something I’ve dreaded for along time. Everyone in the pack is out and on their way to watch, buzzing with excitement as they chatter amongst themselves. They are excited, and a small part of me that still has hope should be too, but I’ve got more chance of a thousand flying unicorns filling the sky than this day turning out good for me. The girls from all over the pack steal nervous glances at the males, as if we’re on our way to a school dance instead of arguably the most important event in our lives. I met Gre
VALERIE'S POV★It was the day of the coronation, Skylar was finally getting crowned as the Alpha of her pack whilst her beta was too.I lay in my room to keep myself busy with my phone when Skylar walked in, “Are you not planning to join us? It's my coronation day today." She said, frowning as she sat beside me. I turned to her, then sighed, “I would have loved to come but your cousins would be there.” I added with an eye roll, "They are all avoiding me if that's the word to use."“Really?" She snorted, "do you think they'll let you be here all by yourself then?” She asked while I burst into a small pearl of laughter.“I wouldn't want their trouble so it's best if I don't go at all. I'm sorry."I added and Skylar sighed.She knew the rift I had with her cousins. I stood up from the bed to admire her outfit.“You look ready and sweet."“I do?” She twirled around as the beautiful robe beautifully swayed the ground with a smile.Kaden walked in, seeing me looking so casual: no sign that
16VALERIE'S POV★For the tenth time, I tossed around the bed, turning to the length and breadth of the large bed but no sleep was coming.As I turned, I tangled myself with my covers. I shit my eyes one last time, waiting for sleep to hover over me but it was delayed. I lay there sprawled like a chicken on the bed as I glanced at the ceiling.My mind was swirling through my head like a breeze. “So now to sleep now it's a problem?” I worried about something if not a lot of things, and Greg was one of my issues.As the sleep failed to come, I slowly got up, heading to the window to have a perfect view of Skylar's pack.It was a Serene environment, with the moonlight buzzing in the skin after the sun had successfully gone down. Just as I was about to walk back to my bed, I heard a knock on the door,“ Who could that be?” I asked myself but I opened it before I knew it, right?I walked lazily to the door, dragging my feet with me, I looked through the door to see nobody.“That's stran
ANSEL'S POV★I laid a cloth on my face to shroud my sight with darkness and force sleep upon myself, but my mind was not at rest and my eyes knew not to sleep a bit. I pressed the cloth to my face, stubbornly hoping to effect some miracles, but I only looked stupid even to my imagination. I took the cloth off my face, stretched it, and made a blindfold that stretched from my face to my occiput, held together by a knot.That’s one of the quick sleep therapies I knew so far, but once again, I failed. We've always been known for just one thing, strict!We had never found ourselves in the odd situation of being stroked by such emotion as we had all suffered in secret, though we try as much as we can to hide it, it remains visible, if not to everyone at least, it had been quite obvious I could tell both Kaden and Grey had fallen.And what about me, I’ve fallen much deeper than they did. I sighed, my plans were not something one would deem too easy as it has to do with so much emotion an