LOGINThe guard who spoke, cleared his throat. “He was bestowed with an honorable title by the Grand Preceptor. On this island, he's second only to the Grand Preceptor himself. He has authority to carry out The Grand Preceptor’s will.” He added, “So, when you disrespect him, you disrespect the lord above him.”Nanny Hagar and Delilah dropped to their knees, paralyzed with fear. “…Forgive us, milord, this servant meant no disrespect,” Nanny Hagar’s voice trembled, barely audible over the pounding of my own heart. Her hands shook as she pressed them together, bowing her head lower than I thought possible.Delilah mirrored her, lips parted as if to speak, eyes wide, and her entire body rigid as a statue of obedience. I watched them, my heart pounding with excitement. It felt good seeing them reduced to nothing. I never knew that watching your enemies hit a rock button that backfired could he so appealing. Slowly, something I feared to ever have, stirred in my heart again. Hope. Ambition. P
I didn't know how long I stayed in bed. My finger was healed, but my body isn't whole. I was hungry. Nanny Hagar had been using starvation as another form of punishment. I ate once every two days. They'd bring in good, let the aroma wrap around the cabin. They'd make me watch while they ate. After so many days, I looked hungry and exhausted. “The ship has docked, my lady.”Delilah’s voice cut through the silence as she approached the bed.I didn’t move immediately. I didn't have the strength to. Delilah stopped beside the bed, looking down at me with cold eyes. “Get up,” she ordered sharply. “We’ve arrived at the Grand Preceptor’s island.”I pushed myself up slowly. My arms trembled under my weight. My body protested the movement, but I didn’t stop.The world tilted slightly as I sat up, but I steadied myself, gripping the edge of the bed.“Wash her,” Nanny Hagar’s voice came from behind, as cold and sharp as ever. “Make sure she looks presentable. The Grand Preceptor will not
My strength was slipping faster from my limbs, my struggles grew weaker, turning into nothing more than small, helpless movements.Somewhere above me, distant and detached, I heard Nanny Hagar’s voice.“Pathetic.”And just as my body began to go limp, the needle was gone and the bag was yanked off.Air rushed towards me like a waterfall. I sucked in a breath so violently it hurt, my lungs screaming as they filled too quickly.I coughed, choked, gasped, my body trembling uncontrollably as I tried to drag in more air.It burned.Everything burned.My chest. My throat. My fingers. My entire body.I coiled on the cold floor, sweat soaking my skin. My hair clung to my face as I struggled to steady my breathing.As I remained on the floor, unmoving, I tried to redirect my mind from the pain, wishing the sway of the ship would take the pain away. Wishing the soft clap of the waves against the sea would lull me to sleep and I'd forget this pain. But nothing could shut out the sharp, violent
The door had barely shut behind us when I felt the air in the cabin change.Delilah grabbed me without warning, sending me crashing to my knees. The loud thud echoed through the confined space, pain shooting up my legs.I swallowed the cry that was about to erupt from my throat. “You shameless whore,” Nanny Hagar spat, storming to stand before me.She pointed a finger in my face, her eyes filled with cold authority. “Did you think this Nanny is so old to not see what you tried to do?”I looked up at her, not entirely sure what she meant, but I didn’t ask.There was no point.“Throwing yourself at a mere guard the moment you set your eyes on him?” she continued, voice sharp with disgust. “Have you no sense of dignity? Or are you truly so desperate?”Delilah’s nails dug into my shoulders.She was an omega, but omegas were not weak. They were trained to defend their masters, especially those who served nobles.So her grip on a wolfless, defenseless person like me felt like an iron grip.
He did not look like the men of this kingdom.Where the men of Naderlands were broad, built, and rough with strength, he was tall, lean, and refined, like a scholar rather than a warrior.The people of Naderlands had skin colors ranging from olive to beige, to sun-warmed tan, and in the outskirts, their skin was deep brown. But Talahei belonged to none. His skin was paler than any I had ever seen. It reminded me of the warm milk I bathed in. His eyes mirrored the blue river before us. The length of his ash hair was just below his earlobe, combed back, sleek and fine… He was… beautiful. Dangerously so.The dark robes he wore fit him too perfectly, like he was born with them. For a moment, I forgot to breathe. I forgot where I was. And worse, I forgot who I was supposed to be.A sharp pinch on my waist snapped me back to myself.I almost cried out. It was a sudden and cruel sting from a needle digging into my skin from behind. When I turned to who? It was Nanny Hagar. The sharp, h
The journey to the Grand Preceptor’s island was more tedious than I expected. From Nadrasei to Mount Ozark was twelve days journey, with breaks in between. I noticed that the Grand Preceptor’s guards didn't make things difficult for me. They stopped every time I felt fatigue and needed rest. The head guard, Talayou made sure of that. It was my second time of traveling this route. The first time was six years ago, when I followed by sister down the mountain. The goddess’ temple rested at the top of Mountain Ozark, a mountain that connected the many cities of the kingdom like a silent spine, like an intersection that belonged to no one city in particular. Festivals like wolf awakening rituals, Mating ceremonies, and blood cleansing rituals took place at Ozark mountain, not exactly the goddess’ temple. As the carriage rocked gently through the mountain path leading to the capital, I lifted the silk curtain to view the scenery. Once again, the view was blurry. The sun was high u
“You must lower your head at all times, obey his command without a word, and most importantly, he is desperate for an heir. Give him a child by all means.” He leaned forward and his voice turned low and deadly. “Everything he owns must belong to this family. How you give him that heir doesn't matt
“I object,” I said flatly but strongly. “Tell my father that I refuse to marry in my sister's place. I object!” I shouted.The grand preceptor may be someone I looked up to, but not as a husband.Once again, the pain I thought I had outgrown, stabbed into my heart again.I'd thought that my family







