Chapter 2

I woke from another nightmare. Only this time Cassandra wasn't here. I was in my room under the comfort of a duvet. I couldn't hear the movement of the maids but could feel a strange presence around me. I must have slept for too long because everything was neatly arranged. Not how it was when I went to see my father. My father, the thought of him jolted me to a sitting position. I have to see him but then I noticed a man is sitting on my lucky chair beside my bed. My brain worked extra hard to pull out memories as he stared at me solemnly.

A Flood of memories began to rush in. "Father! Where is he? Where is my father?" I pleaded with Prince Marcus, tears trimmed down my cheeks. He glared coldly at me. I couldn't tell if it was the coldness of the death of my father or one he just felt towards me. I wasn't in the right frame of mind to process all this. He didn't try to console me and sounded rather raspy.

"He is dead and buried. You weren't up to it. You didn't have the strength to be present at his burial." Shock fledged with disappointment nudged me. I couldn't say my last goodbye. How could I sleep through it? What will people think of me? Well, they don't even know that I exist. "No, it's not possible. I only slept for..."

"Three days, Isabella. You were unconscious for three days. I had to get the mage doctor," he cut in and explained in a petrified voice.

I couldn't control my tears. I couldn't believe it. Was I so weak? A pang of guilt blended my sorrows, shame knit me so much I couldn't look Prince Marcus in the eyes. What would my kingdom think of me?

"He said I should give you this." Prince Marcus gave me a red box. Being from my father, I ripped it open to see a pendant with my name inscribed on it. It was so beautiful and seemed special. My heart was warmed but my tears refused to stop pouring.

"What happened to him?" My voice sounded hoarse, most probably because of my dried throat.

"It was a fierce fight between him and the Alpha of the Moon Star Pack, now the Supreme Alpha. He lost and the kingdom lost," Prince Marcus bowed his head in defeat.

"Weren't you there? Why didn't you save him till it was too late?" I couldn't believe he watched it happen and it was just as Cassandra had said. The walking killer machine sent my father to his untimely grave.

"If I had joined, the Mage kingdom would have been on its knees by now. We didn't stand a chance so we had to retreat. We have to train better and attack the next time, just when they don't expect it. The Supreme Alpha will bow to my feet because the title of Supremacy must only belong to the Mages."

Nothing was making sense. "Was this deadly war because of a mere title?" I asked without hiding the layer of disgust I felt.

He looked at me like an outcast. His voice was cold. "Whoever has the title of Supremacy exercises veto power. We might be mages but that title gives that Alpha werewolf the chance to rule over us," he explained curtly.

Now the clarity sank in. Mages are so proud, they would feel insulted to be dominated by a werewolf. No wonder my father was bent on getting the title. The Supreme Alpha has to pay for what he did to my father because of a mere title. As if Prince Marcus read my mind which I know he did. Powerful Mages can do that.

"You can avenge him," he grumbled.

"How? I will do anything for my kingdom. Anything to avenge the memory of my father." I was certain. It was time for me to fight and defend my Kingdom.

Prince Marcus smiled for the first time when I spoke my mind. Then he said, "the Supreme Alpha, the Alpha of the Moon Star Pack is an unmated werewolf. Reliable sources said he has special abilities, which was why he remained unmated because a mate would destroy his powers and make him weak. All you have to do is seduce him and that is all," Prince Marcus ended with an evil smirk.

My head was spinning. This wasn't what I meant. I will rather face him in a battle than get inside his bed. How will I even do that? "I...I don't know how." I muttered to myself but it seems Prince Marcus heard me.

"I will get you some books to read. It will help you. Remember, you and I might never be able to ascend the throne, if he still lives," he concluded, standing up from the chair. His last words turned my mind in a different direction.

A week later.

I stared through the tinted windows of Prince Marcus' Toyota Highlander. It was my first time sitting in a car for all I could recall. My heart tightened, my throat bitter, as I took in the condition of my kingdom. It was heartbreaking, my eyes turned glassy. This was the first time I had seen the outsides of the castle but it lost its glory. I couldn't ascertain whether it was because of the war or whether it had always been like this.

Acres of plantation had been destroyed, homes damaged, lives lost. Each home sunk in melancholy.

"Remember, no one must know who you are. You have no memories” Prince Marcus's voice brought me out of my thoughts. Then I noticed the new environment. Reluctantly, I alighted from the car.

Prince Marcus nodded a little in response, his hands firm on the steering wheel, his eyes on the road. It was as if he was struggling with something. "You must also learn to behave like a commoner. Don't walk with your head high."

These were the last words Prince Marcus said before he zoomed off. I stood there, frozen for a second before covering my head with the hood of my sweater, my feet sped to the forest border.

Soon my legs began to ache, my breath turned heavy. My body found it hard to adjust to this new environment surrounded by trees. I halted under a huge tree to catch my breath, now taking in the familiarity of my surroundings, which began to eat me.

The view of the mountain was majestic but I felt a sense of belonging like I have been here before. Now it nudged me. This was the exact place I kept seeing in my nightmare. Instead of my heart rate calming for the fact that I was close to my revenge, it was rather increasing. Fear slapped me hard on the face. It was nothing like the terrible nightmare but rather felt like a utopia, being close to nature. I continued my journey, moving closer to the Moon Star pack as coached by Prince Marcus.

Recalling the times I wished so much to see the world outside, It was a great wonder how it was going to be after being in the castle all my life.

At last, my dream for freedom unimaginably found me today. I couldn't help but wonder whether Prince Marcus was going to keep me restrained in the castle after our coronation as King and Queen. I loved every bit of the freshness of the leaves and the mountains. The chirping of birds made me want to linger around more.

Suddenly, I heard movements and growls approaching. Stiffening at the spot, my eyes roamed around and above. No, I couldn't be seen this way. They might mistake me for a spy. I let down my hood, my long white wavy hair cascaded down my back. But what if they were rogues as Prince Marcus had warned? The movements were leagues away. I decided to hide for a while to be certain before I make myself dirty to make me look truly lost for weeks or even months.

The creaking of branches, the shuffling of my feet through detritus, squirrels chattering, leaves rustling, the whistling winds, the humming of the birds was the company I felt. Immersing in the sound, it was overpowered by a loud growl.

My toes curled tightly in my trainers, pressing to the ground. Fear gripped my throat, my eyes blinked with curiosity. The trees lashed and crashed against each other like drumsticks in the hands of a giant, being caused by movements. My lips pressed to mute every sound, my eyes searched for refuge.

Retreating a step, my back hit a rough tree bark, falling leaves kissed my face, the branches swatting me. My steps faltered due to the uneven ground of knobby roots under my trainers with sticky sap underbrush tangling them with fallen leaves. Spider web strands covered my sweater. I ripped it off, casting it from me. I had to find a way out of the sticky situation. I lifted my right leg with force, sinking instead.

A ditch. Prince Marcus warned me to beware of ditches but I had completely forgotten. They were hidden from the eyes, covered with dead brown leaves. The growl got louder, which meant that whatever it was, was getting closer. The ditch pulled me in the more I struggled to come out of it. The cold mud soaked my legs to my midsection and I was still sinking. I didn't care anymore if it was a rogue. I just needed help. I gathered my breath and let out a yelp. “Help!”

A sweet distinctive odour exhumed me and I felt so dizzy, it was sickening to my stomach. A shriek tore from my throat the second time before my body was pulled below the ditch, the mud-covered me completely. I held my breath and closed my eyes. I could feel that this was my end. My mission died before it started. I didn't think I could hold my breath any longer since my whole body was turning weaker and weaker.

Just as darkness was about to exhume me, something strong tightened around my arm, pulling her up but I was getting weaker and weaker. "I got her. Let the warriors check the end of the borders," I heard a deep, masculine voice command faintly like it was my subconscious mind and I could feel the cold air rushing into me through the thick mud. I couldn't see anything but I heard a word before the darkness took over. "Mate"