[Xavier’s POV]There was loud music being played by a renowned band, more than enough food and drinks for merriment, and beautiful decorations in the Palace to make my father’s posthumous birthday a success.Dressed in a blue royal robe with expensive black trousers and shoes, I sat on the throne with a big smile planted on my face as I moved my body slowly to the rhythm.Some of the guests were already drunk while some were almost drunk. My cousin, Roman was busy stuffing his face with cake with his mother checking and rechecking her makeup with a mirror as she kept on demanding for more food, while Veronica remained graceful as she crossed her legs and just fanned herself while sipping a glass of red wine, but only Elsa seemed to not be interested in the celebration as her face was moody and she hadn’t even touched anything and just sat in a corner all by herself as though she had been forced to come here in the first place.I didn’t spare Elsa any attention and was determined to no

[Xavier’s POV]With a heavy heart, I stormed out of the hall with the guards and warriors who were present, as well as Gamma Wallace. The intruders were in front of the Palace and were using several weapons to break the gates open.The city was high up in flames and while many people had already been terribly injured, a few of them had been slaughtered.“I didn’t want to participate in any celebration in case they took us unawares like this,” I lamented.“Don’t worry, your highness. We’ll make sure to put up a good fight. I’d have a guard escort you to a safe place,” Gamma Wallace said.“You’d have me abandon my people? No way!” I said.“You should listen to him, Alpha Xavier. This is for your own good,” Roman said.“I would rather die as a hero than live to see tomorrow and be seen as a coward,” I retorted, and took out my sword from my sheath.“What are you going to do? There are hundreds of men out there, and they are way more than us. The warriors are few as most of them have been

[Xavier’s POV]There was a wolf in the woods. Its fur was a mixture of a flame-like blue colour, matching the colour of its icy blue eyes which seemed all too familiar, and a sparkling white colour which shone like stars in the night sky. Upon meeting my gaze, the wolf turned around and began to run further deep into the woods.I ran after it hoping to bring it to a stop, but each time I was so close to reaching where it was, it ran even faster and kept on being out of my reach. I stopped chasing after it as I stood to catch my breath, panting heavily, but just as I stopped, a masked man appeared from nowhere with a gun in his hands and pulled the trigger.My mouth let out a gasp as I hurried over to the wounded wolf who was bleeding profusely. It shifted into its human form, and behold, it was no other person but Layla.Tears began to fall from my eyes as I held her hands in mine, even as I felt her body growing cold as the bleeding wouldn’t stop.“Stay with me, please,” I said to he

[Layla’s POV]The Palace was made of brick stones and had a dull colour to it, like it was the den of chaos. As I walked with Dexter leading the way in front and two other guards behind, I averted the curious glances that were being thrown in my way by maids and servants alike.Some guards were mercilessly beating a slender young girl, and I stopped for a while, looking at her with pity as tears began to slowly form in my eyes.The penetrative look Dexter shot me brought me back to reality and I hurried immediately after him, careful not to fall. I still remembered everything that had happened like it was only yesterday. People said that time healed all wounds, but what if mine never got healed?We arrived at the throne room – a large building, but not as big as the one in the Shadow Pack, with great pillars and strong walls which were painted in deep grey colour; making the Palace appear even more dimmer and dark.“You may go in,” Dexter said to me.“You’re not coming with me?” I inq

[Xavier’s POV]“The candles were made from hydrangea,” the Pack’s doctor said, pushing away the tray.“I don’t understand. Is that supposed to mean something?” I inquired, eyeing the tray.“Yes. Hydrangea is a deadly plant, and it gets worse when it has been powdered and is burning. It can cause dizziness, choking and an increase in the heart rate of a person,” he explained.“I was right, then,” I muttered to myself, shaking my head.“What did you say?” he asked.“Forget it. Tell me something, how long does it take for the effects to begin if it is formed into a candle of this sort?” I asked.“Well, I can’t say. Hydrangea is harmful even for those who just touch it. It’s the first time I’m seeing anyone make it into scented candles. The person must have a death wish or something,” he said.“What if the people who inhaled it didn’t die but just slept off?” I inquired.He thought about my question for a while. “Then, it means the fire was put out after they had slept off, don’t you thin