"You do not have to kill her," I said nervously, my heart was beating so loudly that I was sure he could hear it. "You just have to make sure she doesn't return till after the coronation," I continued. "And then what?" He asked. "What will happen to her when she returns to the Palace? She won't just sit around and watch me rule, and I will have you know, I don't take it lightly when my authority is questioned," he said threateningly as he walked around me. "Well, you can make her submit," I stuttered. He was in my face in an instant, his hands gripping my jaw tightly. "That's not possible, I can't be the ultimate Alpha King if we have your sister going around with that little Luna power of hers. The permanent and only solution is that we kill her. Do you agree or not?!" He yelled. Trying my best not to shiver, I nodded and he released my face. "You can do with her what you please, as long as my conditions are met, we are good. We will rule the kingdom together," I said in a low voice,
"The neighboring packs have stopped paying their respective tributes. We all know what could happen next. The werewolf kingdom needs a new Alpha King, and we need one now!" Another man yelled from the back, earning a lot of agreeing nods and murmurs from the rest. "What are you insinuating, Gerald? What do you mean, "we all know what could happen next" ?" Saleem, the leader of the eastern house, countered, walking forward. "How dare you insinuate treason in the Palace? The supremacy and power of the late King Alaric will never die," he continued, his face looking a bit red from his outburst. "Don't try to impress anyone with your fake and over-pronounced loyalty. We all know how selfish you are. " Whatever you say here can only be in your best interest," another man countered, making Saleem's face even redder. He wagged his hands in front of him at the offensive comment as he tried to get other words out, his face turning a sick shade of green. The sound of the main doors opening inte
Later that evening at Casper's House, Casper watched a bit bored as his son paced around in his office. "Beta Theon is being stubborn. Can't we just get rid of him? He seems to have this sick idea that he will play Alpha for as long as he likes. Everyone should have started preparing for my coronation by now," he said, his frustration obvious. "No, we can't get rid of the Beta. If we do, the remaining elders will flock around the throne like flies," Casper said calmly. "He is being very difficult. How are we going to get him to work for us? What if the Queen returns? Let me go with a few men, and we will hunt her down and make sure she never does," he said, leaning over his father's table. "Everyone has a price. We just need to find the right thing one for Theon. He will work for us sooner or later," he said. "The little Queen is not going to return. Her little show of power was fun while it lasted. I have ordered men to discreetly kill her and anyone with her as soon as she tries to c
The room was cool and shadowy, illuminated by multiple flickering candlelights. 'He' sat at the end of the room on what looked like his own personal throne. His eyes glinted with an almost unnatural intensity as he turned to face me. Seraphine held her breath as she leaped against the door that Soraya had just gone through. She had seen the older woman sitting all by herself looking sad and dejected, which came as a surprise to her. Before she could decide whether to approach her or not, Soraya had stood up and started looking around suspiciously. Seraphine had followed her when she took a mysterious turn to a passage that no one would have thought existed. She had almost given herself away when she stepped on a twig. She held her breath for what felt like hours before the woman continued. Seraphine couldn't get a glimpse into the room when Soraya entered. She leaned her ears against the door as she tried to hear what they were saying. "Soraya," 'he' said, his voice smooth and command
With a sigh, Soraya took a seat opposite her. "This is going to take a while," she started. According to stories, during the purge when witches were being prosecuted, the world had presumed all witches to be corrupt. However, the problem was that the vast majority of witches then had started using dark magic, which fed on people's souls and rendered them heartless, and they killed people indiscriminately. That is what led to the misconception that all witches are wicked. And based on what I have known my whole life, all witches using dark magic have been killed, including my parents, until tonight." "What do you mean?" Seraphine asked. "When I was nineteen, I was kicked out of yet another pack. Alwin took me in when I was wandering around hungry and homeless. He took me under his wing and taught me almost everything I know." "Who is he? I would assume he is a witch too," Seraphine asked. Soraya was skeptical, growing silent for a moment. "How do I know if I can trust you with all this
"What was that?" Seraphine asked urgently as she and Soraya walked into the room. Seraphine had seen the look of sheer horror on the older woman's face when she was looking at what had happened outside. "It is called mind grabbing," a voice interjected. Seraphine looked up to see an old woman walk into the room. "Amaya," Soraya gasped, going towards the woman and assisting her to a chair. The old woman was almost eighty years old, but she was still as agile as ever. She shot the witch a look as she attempted to assist her. She was the older sister to the woman that died this morning, and she was one of the oldest people in the pack. "What you saw is one of the most dangerous forms of black magic. It takes over the soul and mind of the person hexed, and their actions can be completely controlled by whoever is behind it." She continued. Seraphine shared a look with Soraya as they both came to the obvious conclusion. "It's Aldwin," Soraya said, her voice resigned. "We have to stop him. H
By dawn, Soraya was completely healed. Seraphine and the other witches listened in horror as she told them what had transpired between her and Aldwin. "Why did you go by yourself? Do you have a death wish?" Seraphine admonished. "I have known him my whole life. I wanted to try and see if I could make him change his mind," Soraya said quietly. "Apparently, it didn’t turn out well," Seraphine scolded. "You could have died," she continued. "I know, but I couldn't just sit back and watch him kill innocent people. He killed the only man I have ever loved, and I let him get away with it. I won't let it happen again," Soraya said firmly. The night was thick with tension as the witches, Seraphine and her guards assembled outside Aldwin's house. The moon shone brightly in the sky, it was as if the moon goddess was with them. Seraphine exchanged a glance with Soraya. The woman had warned them of how powerful he was. "We are ready for anything," Seraphine said, her voice steady and unwavering. S
The women finally dispersed, Seraphine looked back at the gathering of the happy wolves. She got a series of subtle nods of respect and warm smiles from the people around her. A massive bonfire roared in the center of the clearing; its golden flames crackled, sending sparks dancing into the night. It reminded Seraphine of the late-night parties they used to have back at the pack where she was born. She leaned against a wooden barrel near a makeshift table piled high with food and jars of alcohol. A group of teenage wolves ran around the edge of the clearing as they played a game of tag. Their laughter was loud and carefree, making her smile. “It’s good to see them like this,” Soraya sat beside her, holding two wooden mugs. She looked more relaxed than Seraphine had seen her since she arrived and there was a rare smile on her face, but her eyes held a certain sadness in them. Seraphine was sure she had taken Carlson's death very badly. Seraphine nodded in appreciation when she handed h
A few hours later, Seraphine was still in shock from the news, Alpha Lysander had excused himself to attend to a few things and a middle aged woman has been sent to her."Hello Luna," she gushed with a sweet smile. "Hello, ..." Seraphine replied a bit absentmindedly."My name is Rose, Luna. Like the flower," "Rose. That is a nice name," she looked to be about forty years old and she had what looked like a permanent smile on her face, the wrinkles beside her eyes were evidence that laughing was something she did very often. She was dressed in a simple house dress with a white apron tied snug around waist and her hair was pulled back in a bun with errant strands poking out. "A room has been prepared for you in the guest wing. The Alpha asked me to lead you there when you are ready." She continued her voice breaking through Seraphine's thoughts. "I would like that very much, thank you," Seraphine agreed immediately, her tiredness made more sense now. She was afraid for what her pregn
As they entered the camp, all eyes turned to them. The soldiers all bowed down their heads as a sign of respect to their Luna queen. She stared at them wide-eyed not quite sure on how to respond. "These are the elite forces of the Whitemoon pack," Lysander explained, his voice carrying an indistinguishable note of pride. "They are loyal, skilled, and prepared for any kind of threat." Seraphine looked around with growing admiration for the soldiers. "They're impressive. But I am really curious as to why you have brought me here." Lysander gestured for her to follow him to a big tent in the center of the camp where they could talk more privately. Once they were alone, he turned to her, his expression serious. "Luna Seraphine, I am going to tell you something about Alpha Alaric," Lysander began. "He entrusted me with a secret, a very important one." That did nothing to satisfy Seraphine's curiosity." What is it?" "When he was alive, Alpha Alaric created a secret army that no one in the k
As soon as the sun was up the next morning, Seraphine and her army started their journey to the last Alpha prince's pack. The journey was grueling, but Seraphine pushed through the exhaustion. By noon, the forest had started to thin out, indicating that they were close to Whitemoon territory. A clear lead to what looked like a military stronghold. The pack was bordered by a towering gate surrounded by an equally high fence. Seraphine could feel her heart racing as they came to a stop in front of it. Beside her, Gareth and the other two members of their travel group stood beside her. They approached the gate and someone must have sensed them as the gates creaked open, revealing the imposing figure of a man dressed in warrior attire. He had a powerful presence and his piercing blue eyes seemed to see right through her. Seraphine felt a chill run down her spine as he approached. "Who are you and what do you want on Whitemoon territory?" he demanded. Seraphine stepped forward, "I am Serap
The women finally dispersed, Seraphine looked back at the gathering of the happy wolves. She got a series of subtle nods of respect and warm smiles from the people around her. A massive bonfire roared in the center of the clearing; its golden flames crackled, sending sparks dancing into the night. It reminded Seraphine of the late-night parties they used to have back at the pack where she was born. She leaned against a wooden barrel near a makeshift table piled high with food and jars of alcohol. A group of teenage wolves ran around the edge of the clearing as they played a game of tag. Their laughter was loud and carefree, making her smile. “It’s good to see them like this,” Soraya sat beside her, holding two wooden mugs. She looked more relaxed than Seraphine had seen her since she arrived and there was a rare smile on her face, but her eyes held a certain sadness in them. Seraphine was sure she had taken Carlson's death very badly. Seraphine nodded in appreciation when she handed h
By dawn, Soraya was completely healed. Seraphine and the other witches listened in horror as she told them what had transpired between her and Aldwin. "Why did you go by yourself? Do you have a death wish?" Seraphine admonished. "I have known him my whole life. I wanted to try and see if I could make him change his mind," Soraya said quietly. "Apparently, it didn’t turn out well," Seraphine scolded. "You could have died," she continued. "I know, but I couldn't just sit back and watch him kill innocent people. He killed the only man I have ever loved, and I let him get away with it. I won't let it happen again," Soraya said firmly. The night was thick with tension as the witches, Seraphine and her guards assembled outside Aldwin's house. The moon shone brightly in the sky, it was as if the moon goddess was with them. Seraphine exchanged a glance with Soraya. The woman had warned them of how powerful he was. "We are ready for anything," Seraphine said, her voice steady and unwavering. S
"What was that?" Seraphine asked urgently as she and Soraya walked into the room. Seraphine had seen the look of sheer horror on the older woman's face when she was looking at what had happened outside. "It is called mind grabbing," a voice interjected. Seraphine looked up to see an old woman walk into the room. "Amaya," Soraya gasped, going towards the woman and assisting her to a chair. The old woman was almost eighty years old, but she was still as agile as ever. She shot the witch a look as she attempted to assist her. She was the older sister to the woman that died this morning, and she was one of the oldest people in the pack. "What you saw is one of the most dangerous forms of black magic. It takes over the soul and mind of the person hexed, and their actions can be completely controlled by whoever is behind it." She continued. Seraphine shared a look with Soraya as they both came to the obvious conclusion. "It's Aldwin," Soraya said, her voice resigned. "We have to stop him. H
With a sigh, Soraya took a seat opposite her. "This is going to take a while," she started. According to stories, during the purge when witches were being prosecuted, the world had presumed all witches to be corrupt. However, the problem was that the vast majority of witches then had started using dark magic, which fed on people's souls and rendered them heartless, and they killed people indiscriminately. That is what led to the misconception that all witches are wicked. And based on what I have known my whole life, all witches using dark magic have been killed, including my parents, until tonight." "What do you mean?" Seraphine asked. "When I was nineteen, I was kicked out of yet another pack. Alwin took me in when I was wandering around hungry and homeless. He took me under his wing and taught me almost everything I know." "Who is he? I would assume he is a witch too," Seraphine asked. Soraya was skeptical, growing silent for a moment. "How do I know if I can trust you with all this
The room was cool and shadowy, illuminated by multiple flickering candlelights. 'He' sat at the end of the room on what looked like his own personal throne. His eyes glinted with an almost unnatural intensity as he turned to face me. Seraphine held her breath as she leaped against the door that Soraya had just gone through. She had seen the older woman sitting all by herself looking sad and dejected, which came as a surprise to her. Before she could decide whether to approach her or not, Soraya had stood up and started looking around suspiciously. Seraphine had followed her when she took a mysterious turn to a passage that no one would have thought existed. She had almost given herself away when she stepped on a twig. She held her breath for what felt like hours before the woman continued. Seraphine couldn't get a glimpse into the room when Soraya entered. She leaned her ears against the door as she tried to hear what they were saying. "Soraya," 'he' said, his voice smooth and command
Later that evening at Casper's House, Casper watched a bit bored as his son paced around in his office. "Beta Theon is being stubborn. Can't we just get rid of him? He seems to have this sick idea that he will play Alpha for as long as he likes. Everyone should have started preparing for my coronation by now," he said, his frustration obvious. "No, we can't get rid of the Beta. If we do, the remaining elders will flock around the throne like flies," Casper said calmly. "He is being very difficult. How are we going to get him to work for us? What if the Queen returns? Let me go with a few men, and we will hunt her down and make sure she never does," he said, leaning over his father's table. "Everyone has a price. We just need to find the right thing one for Theon. He will work for us sooner or later," he said. "The little Queen is not going to return. Her little show of power was fun while it lasted. I have ordered men to discreetly kill her and anyone with her as soon as she tries to c