Nerezza's Point of ViewThey placed me in a room by myself. I had this inkling it was due to something Priamos had said. Maybe not but I still had my suspicions. All the other women I had seen early that morning shared a room with someone else. Except for me. I had the only private suite on this floor. Knowing my mate and his overbearing nature the chances he had said something were high.Farren had told Priamos she would stop by later to come to meet her nephew. The girl was overjoyed at their family getting large. After what Priamos had told me about her father, I could understand why she was so excited. At a young age, she had been robbed of him. The man who was sworn to protect her. Instead, he beat her mother.What a cruel world this was indeed.Conan lay sleeping in my arms. The little boy had his first weigh-in right after he was born and the nurses noted how small he was. Priamos had stood watch the entire time. Kept his

Nerezza's Point of ViewI woke up with a warm hand around mine. The light was dim, almost non-existent. My memory was hazy at best. Slithers of what had happened pumped through me. Startling upright, I winced at the sheer pain in my abdomen. There were other machines beside me. Red liquid floating in the tube leading to my arm. Outside in the hall, policemen spoke to some staff. To some patients. Everything came flooding back. My heartbeat picked up. I felt my lungs tighten. Needed fresh air or to wake up from this nightmare.Priamos' black hair came into view beside my bed. Then his brown eyes, watching me dutifully. Deep lines creased his brow. Every once in a while, his eyes would dart towards the police. From the look he gave them, I knew he had conflicting feelings about their presence.I tried to sit up more. Tried to speak but my throat was dry. Sandpaper scratching against the sides of my flesh. Noticing my distress

Nerezza's Point of ViewTwo Years LaterThe room was crowded with people. Chatting. Dancing. But most importantly, drinking champagne and gossiping about one another. Their eyes took in everything. Noticed every detail around them. Nothing could escape their scrutiny. Not even the new woman Duke Delaronte had brought along escaped their attention. Or escaped their gossip.I was a fish in an ocean filled with sharks but this wasn't my first rodeo. I had danced with high society ever since Priamos' monthly deposits stopped. When Farren had complained that her school uniform no longer fit and our money had dried up. About five months after he had gone missing and two after my eighteenth birthday.Getting a normal job wouldn't have kept Farren in her school. Or kept the mortgage on the apartment going. Besides, I had no other talents besides my wit and beauty. Sometimes I still played the piano but not nearl

Nerezza's Point of ViewGrand halls and portraits of every kind stunned me to silence. The man from before led me dutifully through it all. Remarked on various pieces that had caught my eye. Oftentimes, he would stop and explain the origins of the pieces. Tell me more about the artist and why the piece was commissioned. I loved seeing the world through the lens of someone else. Loved seeing pieces come to life with added details that I would never have thought about.Our tour stopped once we reached the middle garden. According to the man, it was the garden especially commandeered by the king. I was still very unaware of what his name was. But I followed him silently, taking in every aspect of what might just one day be my home. "This is where our journey together ends, Miss Nerezza. I hope that you have a peaceful afternoon with his Majesty. If you have any questions regarding the encounter, you may ask me afterward." The man sta

Nerezza's Point of ViewSouth Africa was truly a wonderous place to see from the air. Thick bushlands accompanied by sparkling oceans. Wildlife of all kinds walking around in the more patchy areas. I couldn't keep my eyes off of the ground. Every once in a while, we would pass over towns booming with life. Cars that zoomed in and out of traffic. From this high above, it all looked so small. Insignificant. Until we descended. Beautiful beyond compare but my mind couldn't grasp why the king would want to sponsor a pack in such a remote location. That was until we had landed.The city they had chosen for their pack was even more filled with life than all the other places I had viewed before. It was a masterpiece of skyscrapers and busy streets. Trees growing in every nook and cranny. Life was flourishing here, even if there were mostly humans. Which was to be expected, seeing as the pack was just starting. Blooming into something mor