Like most girls growing up, I dreamt of living in a big castle with a ballroom and chandeliers, grumpy butlers, and my very own wing where I could wear my princess dresses and do princess stuff. Let's not forget the part where the prince comes to whisk me away to his even bigger castle and we all live happily ever after where I spend his money on dreamy stuff.
Yes, I was materialistic, sue me. But unlike most girls at almost twenty years old, deep down inside the burdened heart of mine, I still cradled that dream like a newborn. Maybe it was a coping mechanism or maybe I was just plain stupid.
As I walked into Zayn's cabin, I knew it was no castle and that Zayn was no prince and I was no princess. Nonetheless, I felt a little strange. I searched within my soul but couldn't pinpoint what it was.
Was it a strange feeling of serenity? Happiness? Peace? Maybe it was all or none, I couldn't tell.
After showing me around, Zayn left me in the Cabin since he didn't live here. I wondered why he even had the cabin in the first place since it had been all dusty when we arrived.
But since I'd rather not look the gift of a horse in the mouth, not that I ever understood what the statement meant. I swallowed my tongue and only vomited it back to thank him when he was leaving the house.
I looked at the cabin and smiled to myself. It was old but functioning. Neither was it a castle but I had it all to myself. I couldn't stop myself from doing a little dance as I looked around the house. Since it was already evening, I ended up in the cute little kitchen to make myself dinner. For someone who had always been forced to do it all the time, I should hate cooking but it was quite the contrary.
Cooking gave me a sense of purpose and made me feel like I was useful, which in turn made me happy.
I fell into a dreamless sleep, waking up every time I heard a noise and since the cabin was in the woods, surrounded by trees and animals, there were quite a lot of sounds. On the night of the second day at the cabin, I realized I had no reason to be scared. My family wasn't coming. I could die and they wouldn't give a shit about me.
This fact shouldn't have surprised me either so I didn't know why I was crying into a pillow.
The first thing I did the next morning was to take a shower. So what if my tears got mixed up with the hot water as it burnt the wounds that hadn't completely healed, even with my werewolf system.
It wasn't just a shower for me, it was washing away the past and getting ready for my future. Or so I thought until I felt a sharp pain in my head and everything went black.
It seemed like my father cared after all since his face was the first thing I saw when I came on to the floor of a cold room covered with a pink bedsheet.
“Who gave you permission to leave?” He asked as soon as he noticed I was awake.
I am a grown woman. I longed to say but the words stuck up in my throat. When I tried to sit up and my head felt like it was exploding, I began to cry.
I wanted to stop it but the tears kept coming.
“Your tears are not going to fool me, girl. You better think with that empty brain of yours before you decide to run next time because, unlike this time, it won't be good for you at all.” My father said to me,
I was about to ask how being hit with a heavy object by your father while you were showering and anticipating a new life was good when I saw the other guy. No, not a guy but a man and he was staring at me. He moved closer to me and I shrieked in fright.
Everything about him from his feral smile to his predatory walk screamed danger.
“This is your mate from now on.” My father said to me.
“What?!” I screamed. I was sure I didn't hear him well. I mean there was no way I heard him well.
“I'm not going to repeat myself. Get on your feet.” My father said instead.
“Don’t scream at her. I believe she has ears, no?”
I heard the man say and I blinked. He had a voice that reminded me of the stream behind Zayn’s cabin. It sounded calming and deep, but it could also bring you to your demise.
I took another step back, ignoring the look in my father’s eyes.
“You can’t take me. The Alpha wouldn’t let you do this.” I told him.
The man scoffed, looking at my father.
“She talks too much. You didn’t mention that when you offered to use her as collateral.” The man said.
Collateral? I thought. My father wouldn't be that cruel to me, would he? I asked myself.
“You sold me off to him as collateral?” I asked my father just to be sure I wasn't mistaken. My father ignored me and just turned to the man.
“Alpha Leo, we can decide to knock her out. It seems the last beating failed to shut her up.”
My father said instead of replying to my question which gave me the answer I needed. I looked up sharply as my brain reconnected to the name it heard my father call. Alpha Leo? The Alpha rumored to be so heartless even his Luna couldn’t control him? How on earth did my father get involved with him?
“I see my name precedes me since there is fear in your eyes. Do I trust you would come quietly now?” The man asked in a quiet menacing tone which added to my fear. I glanced at the window behind them. If I run fast enough, I can get Zayn. I can’t let my father do this to me. I returned my gaze to the Alpha and smiled prettily.
“Of course, your honor,” I told him when I had no intention of following him. He tsked as if he could read my mind, then he snapped his fingers at my father.
“Knock her out. I can’t have her awake for the return journey.” He commanded my father who moved towards me, but I was faster. I broke through the window and ignoring the shards of glass stuck to my skin, I ran. I heard my father behind me, and I channeled my inner wolf to increase my speed.
Moon goddess, if you truly exist, please let me shift. Please. I was too busy praying I didn’t see the man in front of me or the rock he used over my head.
Julian POV.
“Hold on.” My beta said as he ran a hand over the back of the horse. “I still don’t get why you are traveling to meet Leonardo. I thought you two hated each other.” The man said and I laughed as I got off my horse.
“We do,” I responded. “But, remember I told you he might be messing with the spirit codes?” I explained to him how some of the warriors had caught some Blueblood wolves with some crates just a day earlier. When I was done with my explanation, my beta, whose name was Holden, gave me a droll stare.
“Knowing Leonardo, his warriors can’t be that easy.” He told me.
“They didn’t tell us they were from his pack. It was the emblem on their crest that gave them away.” I explained to Holden.
“And now you want to pay him a visit because you suspect foul play?” My beta asked with a laugh.
“If you are going to keep being a jokester, I can ask Niamh to come with me instead,” I told him. Niamh was Holden’s mate and my omega as well.
“I never said I didn’t want to come, Julian. Chill.” Holden told me. I ignored the look on his face and gave him a pointed look.
“You know what to do,” I told him.
“Fine. I will prepare for the journey.” He replied and gave me a sly grin. I waved him off, heading out of the stable. I ran into Niamh at the council house and she hugged me.
“Is Holden home too?” She asked and I nodded, smiling at her.
“Yeah, and he doesn’t know this yet, but you are coming with us to Leo’s pack,” I told her. I watched as her eyes grew serious. That was why I liked her, she never joked about anything which concerned me or the pack.
“Is this about the crates?” She asked and I nodded. "Let's hope it's just a misunderstanding though," Niamh said after I nodded.
I smiled at her as I thought about her character. Niamh was one of the people who saw the good in everyone. It came with its disadvantages, but it also proved useful when dealing with clan issues.
“You have not spoken to him in many years and the last time you did, you both nearly killed each other.” She reminded me and I winced, the scar Leo left on my back suddenly aching.
“I am sure if I diplomatically approach him, there wouldn’t be much of an issue,” I told her, and Niamh’s brow arched.
“Isn’t that what you both told each other before you decided to cause a clan war with your fight?” She asked and I gave her a grin as I remembered the conflict she was talking about. I explained to her that we were both older and more mature. Besides, I also had stronger warriors so a war was out of the question.
“But we are going to be on his land.” She reminded me. I patted her cheek and her eyes narrowed.
“Do not worry, Niamh. I promise to be on my best behavior.” I promised her. She opened her mouth to talk but I gave her another pat. I told her where she could find Holden and went inside the packhouse. I ran smack into my little sister.
“Oh, Julian. You are here.” I said and immediately noticed the hickey on her neck. “What the fuck is that, Jane?” I asked her in anger. Her hand covered it and she laughed uneasily.
“Uh, I have no idea what you are talking about.” She said in a nervous tone.
“Do not make me repeat myself,” I shouted at her a little.
“He is a nice guy!” She shouted at me.
“Oh, so it is a guy? Just what have you been doing in my absence, little sis?” I asked her.
“I am not little.” She barked at me.
“You are 18. So, you are little.” I retorted.
“I am a grown woman.” She countered.
“Did he tell you that?” I asked and rolled my eyes as she turned red. “How old is he?” I asked in a calm tone.
“Twenty-one.” She answered. I bit back the words I wanted to say and asked her another question instead.
“Is he in the warriors? If not, what is his job in the pack?” I asked her. When she answered that he was a soldier, my mind went to the recruits and I remembered that we only have five of them. Out of the five, only two were above twenty. “Tall?” I asked her again in an attempt to filter who her lover was. Jane narrowed her eyes and her arms landed on her hips in a pose that screamed 'don’t fuck with me.'
I gave her a warm smile.
“I know you are weeding him out in your head.” She said in an accusing tone.
“What? Me? Never.” I told her in a very serious voice.
“Don’t play with me, Julian.” She warned.
“Just tell me his name then. I just can't wait to see the man who is giving my little sister a hickey and have a little talk with him.” I told her.
“Just like you talked with Raef?” She asked and I held up my palms.
“It isn’t my fault Raef was a scaredy-cat. I just talked to him.” I answered her.
“You showed him your wolf. That’s not just a talk, that is intimidating.” She accused me and I grinned, dropping my palms.
“Tell me his name, sis. Let’s see if this one has balls.” I told her. She opened her mouth but she was cut off by the entrance of Finn. Finn was Holden’s little brother and he was also his assistant. He was also 21 and was a deputy general soldier.
“Finn!” I told Jane and her eyes widened. She stepped on my foot rudely.
“Stop it.” She said and pointed a finger at me.
“You just confirmed it, baby sis,” I told her, ignoring the stab of pain her shoes had caused. Jane grabbed my arm and started pulling me outside. “I just remembered I have to show you my garden.” She said, dragging me away.
I turned back and saw that Finn’s eyes were trained on Jane. I read nothing but devotion and admiration all over. I halted in the walk which made Jane look afraid.
“It is just a talk, Jane. I am not going to bite his head off.” I assured her.
“Promise? I like him.” She told me. I grinned at her and nudged her cheek.
“I can see that and I can see that he likes you too,” I told her. I held back in the gag that came when I saw her face change.
Finn was still by the steps of the clan house but before we could reach him, Holden and Niamh reached us.
“One of the Bluebloods talked. The crates were being taken to another kingdom.” Niamh told me.
“Another pack we suspected, but they refused to talk after that.” Holden had his serious face on as he spoke. The one that spoke nothing of the joker he normally was.
“Our trip to Leo’s pack has to be sooner than ever now,” Niamh said to me and I nodded. I let go of Jane's hand and watched as she rushed over to Finn.
“Prepare everything we need. We leave at dawn.” I told both of them.
Julian POVWe left early for Leo's pack without letting him know that we were on our way. We should have informed him of our intending visit but we didn't want to give off any vibe that we were coming to investigate him. Alpha Leo was my brother but we had been enemies for as long as I could remember. I always thought of him as a selfish and greedy person who didn't care about others. He was the reason why I was not a part of our father's pack but I was grateful to him for that since I would have been under his governorship now if I had remained at the pack due to the will my father had written down before his death. But, just because I left the pack though didn't mean that I didn't want to claim my father's throne as the first child and this could very well be the chance I needed. To hear that he was messing with the spirit codes was more than enough for me to ruin him and claim my father's throne once and for all. Only a crazy person would dare to mess with the spirit code.Before
Before the spirit codes formed, there were seven tribes who lived happily in their territories.Crescent moon.This tribe was the most reputable because of the large number of people in the tribe. They wore white garments everywhere they went and they were feared by all and nobody could come close to them in terms of number, and with numbers came strength and for this reason, they were held in high regard. The Crescent moon tribe were always at the forefront whenever it came to music, Music was inculcated into their living and they loved it because they believed it helped them live healthy and elevated moods, they all loved it because they knew it lessened stress and symptoms of depression. Every family knew how to sing and they had a ceremony called will yank where they could showcase their talent.During the moon goddess worship, they would sing beautifully and channel the goddess in the most ethereal way possible.Red blood.The Red blood Tribe were made mostly of warriors, they w
Alex pushed through his lethargy, and with each step he took to the room door, he kept on thinking if he’d been doing the right thing, heading out in the woods. It wasn’t because he was afraid of being ganged up and beaten by the other big bad wolves who envied the amount of power he had, on the contrary, he was only scared of dying, with his body left for the vultures to feed on. The thought was beyond horrifying, and Alex had to remind himself that he was powerful, an alpha male. Although he’d been born under the Solar tribe, who were written off as nothing more than slaves, Alexander knew his story was just beginning. Once, Alex tried the lock on the door, and he was a bit surprised when it didn’t budge, as if he had expected it to. Well, he was going to have to break the lock then. He stepped back a little, feeling starved off air, and slammed the door with his closed fist. The door gave way, nothing but a small mass of wood now that he looked at it. Why was he here? And who’d lo
"Who are you?" Alexander looked at Esther who simply smiled at her recent well-done work.In just a few minutes, he had fully absorbed the memories she wanted him to.The door opened revealing Alpha Killian whose face held a look of sadness and grief. Esther released the barrier she had placed around the room and Alpha Killian moved towards them and bent over in front of Alexander whose eyes held nothing but rage.Alpha Killian placed a hand on Alexander's shoulder and said, "I saved you."Alexander looked at Alpha Killian. After being knocked off the cliff by a face that looked similar to his brother's, he completely blacked out.Alexander looked at the odd-looking woman and Alpha Killian chuckled, "She's a healer, I brought her here to take a look at you."Alexander simply stared straight at the woman."Actually," Killian brought Alexander's attention back to himself, "I.. Was mistreated by people of that tribe."He showed Alexander the scar on his back, the one he got when he comp
He stood over the dead woman, the memories rushing back into him so fast he had to sit down to catch a breath.Nothing was making sense anymore. His head hurt so bad as the flashes got worse. This time, he let them take him.*Time: Unknown*He slammed the hoe down and the wood split clean in half. He started humming an old song he learnt from his father. His ears pricked up as he heard footsteps particular to Noelle, the love of his life. He let his lips lift in a smile as he straightened, turning around to face her. "I am quite afraid of whoever you are thinking of while doing that." She said, brows arched.He laughed, giving her a smile. "It's no one, trust me." She smiled that soft smile of hers, the one that only he knew. "You sure? You seemed so concentrated."He dropped the hoe, letting his eyes drift to the sky. It was almost time. He knew it, and she did too. "We should start going to the tree." "I am not in a hurry, Noelle." He smiled at her, trying to soothe her fears despi
The gate finally reached Alexander's line of vision and it made him delighted. Finally, he was going to be free from the illusion he called home.He ran towards the gate, his heart beating hard against his ribcage as he neared the gate. After living like a fool— Even though he did not remember the parts of him that were foolish, he could feel it in his soul that he did something foolish.He had dreams that he killed his family and the dreams were almost as vivid as his sight. He hated himself. No, he hated the things he did in the dream. He wasn't sure it was real but he lived quite a long time without memory and having something such as his dream to hold on to made him feel a certain way. A stirring in his chest that made him feel like he could take control of his life.He wasn't sure how but he felt like change would begin once he stepped out of the gate. And he did. He jumped as high as he could and his fingers clutched the metal of the six feet tall gate that was erected into the
Esther walked through the packed crowd, a cloak above her head in Night bliss town.She'd told Alpha Killian a false message because she foresaw that he was going to betray her and out of all things, betrayal didn't sit well with her, so she plotted against him— It didn't take a lot of effort actually. All she had to do was lie sternly and he easily bought her words.She didn't expect him to buy her words. How could he have thought that drinking Alexander's blood would give him powers? That was just ridiculous.Alpha Killian got what he deserved.Esther didn't feel bad about his death at all. In order to live in the world, one would either choose to kill or be killed. She preferred the latter. Ever since she discovered that the people she thought were her family wanted her dead, her entire world changed and so did she.When she was thrown down the cliff by her so-called family friend, she had hit a rock and she smelt death.Next came numbness and coldness emitting from her organs tha
As soon as Esther discovered that she could do more with her dark magic when she ate the strange fruit from the tree that had grown from Alexander's blood, she smiled. To be sure of what she had just discovered, she picked another fruit and ate it. Powers surged through every vein in her body. She felt her dark power reverberate through her blood and her heartbeat in excitement.She closed her eyes and opened them again to focus her attention on a little rock in front of her. She made a mental command at the rock to get even bigger than it already was. When the rock tripled in size, she smiled to herself. Still wanting to test more, she walked to a little grass in front of her and channeled her inner energy into the tip of her middle finger. She touched the grass with it and commanded the little grass to die. Her little smile turned into a large grin and she stood up.She went back to the strange tree and fingered the bark of it with millions of hours floating through her brain. A min