Karen looked up and found herself face to face with a tall, muscular werewolf dressed in the royal guard uniform.
He had a stern expression on his face, and his eyes were narrowed as he glared down at her.
"I'm sorry," Karen said, taking a step back.
"I didn't see you there."
The guard looked her up and down, his eyes lingering on her training gear.
"What are you doing here? This is a restricted area."
Karen straightened her back, trying to appear confident.
"I am here as a substitute bride for the prince. But it seems that he has already rejected me and chosen another."
The guard raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
"I see. Well, you should leave immediately. It's not safe for you here."
Karen frowned.
"What do you mean? Why isn't it safe?"
The guard hesitated, his expression softening slightly.
"There are those who would not take kindly to your presence here. You should not have come."
Karen felt a shiver run down her spine.
She knew that the palace was filled with intrigue and danger, but she had not expected to be targeted so quickly.
"I have to find a way to make things right," Karen said, her voice determined.
"I can't just leave and abandon my family."
The guard sighed.
"Very well. But be careful. And keep out of trouble."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Karen alone in the hallway.
She took a deep breath and continued on her way, her mind racing with ideas.
As she walked, she heard a muffled sound coming from behind a nearby door.
She hesitated, then approached it cautiously.
As she pushed it open, she saw a small room with a single figure sitting in the center.
It was the prince.
Karen froze, unsure of what to do. She had never seen him up close before, and she was still surprised by how different he looked from the rumors she had heard.
He was not disabled, useless, or cruel.
He was quite handsome, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes.
He was dressed in simple clothes, and his expression was thoughtful as he looked up at her.
"I'm sorry," Karen said quickly, realizing that she had intruded.
"I didn't mean to disturb you."
The prince shook his head.
"It's alright. I was just thinking."
Karen hesitated, then decided to take a chance.
"About what?"
The prince looked at her, his eyes searching hers.
"About you. About why you're here."
Karen felt a blush rise to her cheeks.
"You have already rejected me."
The prince nodded.
"Yes, I have. But that doesn't mean that I don't want to get to know you better."
Karen was taken aback.
"What do you mean?"
The prince stood up and walked over to her, his eyes locked on hers.
"I mean that I think we have a lot in common. We both want to shape our destinies and rebel against the old ways. And I think we can help each other."
Karen felt a thrill run through her body.
She had not expected the prince to be so open and honest with her.
She looked up at him, her eyes shining.
"How can we help each other?"
The prince smiled.
"By working together. By joining forces to bring about change in our world. I know it won't be easy, but I believe that we can do it. Together."
Karen felt a surge of hope and excitement.
She had found an unexpected ally in the prince, someone who understood her and shared her dreams.
"I'm in," she said, holding out her hand to shake his.
The prince took her hand and shook it firmly.
"Good. But we have to be careful. Some would stop us from achieving our goals."
Karen nodded, her mind racing with possibilities.
"I understand. But what do we do first?"
The prince hesitated, then leaned in closer to her.
"First, we need to find out who is behind the attacks on the palace. I have reason to believe that it's someone close to me, someone, who wants to prevent me from making any changes."
Karen's eyes widened.
"Do you have any idea who it could be?"
The prince shook his head.
"Not yet. But I have a plan. I need you to help me."
Karen nodded, her heart pounding.
"What can I do?"
The prince leaned in even closer, his voice low and intense.
"I need you to go undercover. Pretend to be a servant in the palace and gather information. Keep your ears open and your eyes peeled. And report back to me."
Karen felt a surge of fear mixed with excitement.
This was a dangerous mission, but it was also a chance to prove herself and make a difference.
She nodded again, her voice firm.
"I'm ready. When do we start?"
The prince smiled, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"Tonight. Meet me at the east gate at midnight. I'll show you how to get in and give you more details about your mission."
Karen nodded, feeling a sense of purpose and excitement.
She had never felt so alive before.
As she left the room and made her way back to the servant's quarters, she couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead.
She knew that the road ahead was fraught with danger, but she also knew that she was ready to face it head-on.
She had found an ally in the prince, someone who shared her dreams of rebellion and change.
And together, they would fight to make their world a better place.
The prince took her hand and shook it firmly, his blue eyes bright with determination.
"Good. Then let's start by getting out of here. There are too many dangers lurking in this palace, and I don't want anything to happen to you."
Karen nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.
She had found an unexpected ally in the prince, and together they would fight for their freedom.
As they made their way out of the small room, Karen couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead.
She had taken a huge risk by coming to the palace, but she knew that there was no going back now.
As they walked down the hallway, Karen saw several guards patrolling the area.
She felt her heart race with fear, wondering if they would be caught.
But the prince seemed unfazed, walking with a calm and steady pace.
Suddenly, they heard a loud shout from behind them.
Karen turned around and saw several guards running towards them, their swords drawn.
"Stop right there!" one of them shouted.
"You are both under arrest!"
Chapter Three: Karen and the prince exchanged a worried glance, realizing that they were in trouble. They had been caught trying to escape, and they would have to face the consequences.Karen and the prince exchanged a worried glance, realizing that they were in trouble. They had been caught trying to escape, and they would have to face the consequences.But then, out of nowhere, a figure appeared and tackled one of the guards to the ground. Karen and the prince watched in shock as the figure revealed himself to be a werewolf, his fur bristling with anger."Get out of here!" the werewolf growled. "I'll handle these fools!"Karen and the prince didn't need to be told twice. They turned and ran down the hallway, their hearts pounding with fear. They could hear the sound of swords clashing behind them, and the shouts of the guards as they were overpowered by the werewolf.As they ran, Karen couldn't help but wonder who the werewolf was and why he had helped them. She had thought
Chapter Four: Karen stood in the training yard, her fists clenched as she watched the werewolf rebels spar with each other. She had been training with them for weeks, learning how to harness her inner strength and become a skilled fighter. She had grown stronger, both physically and mentally, and had gained the admiration of those around her.As she watched the rebels, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Prince Alexander standing behind her, his arms folded across his chest. "Can I speak with you, Karen?" he asked.Karen's heart raced as she followed the prince to a secluded corner of the yard. She had heard many rumors about him, but she couldn't deny the attraction she felt toward him. She had always been drawn to his quiet intelligence and his piercing blue eyes."Karen, I need to tell you something," the prince began. "The rumors about me being useless and cruel are not true. I have been faking this image to protect myself and my plans for the future of our k
Chapter Five: Karen looked at Jamie, feeling her rage bubble up to the surface. "Jealousy is no excuse for what you've done, Jamie," she said, her voice cold and controlled. "You've hurt me, and you've hurt our family. It's time to face the consequences of your actions."Jamie cowered in the corner of her room, her eyes wide with fear. "What consequences?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Karen took a step forward, her fists clenched at her sides. "You will apologize to me and my fated mate," she said, her voice filled with determination. "And you will leave this kingdom, never to return."Jamie's eyes widened in shock. "Leave the kingdom?" she repeated. "But where will I go?""That's not my concern," Karen replied, her voice firm. "You've made your bed, Jamie. Now you have to lie in it."The rebel stepped forward, his eyes flickering with anger. "And if you refuse to leave?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous."Then we'll make sure you leave," Karen replied,
Chapter Six:The tension in the court was palpable, as Karen and the rebel continued to gather information about the conspiracy. Karen couldn't help but feel like she was walking on eggshells, never sure who she could trust.Every time she passed a group of courtiers whispering, she wondered if they were talking about her. She felt like she was under constant surveillance, and the pressure was starting to take its toll.As she entered the throne room for an audience with the king, Karen couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to go wrong. The room was empty except for the king and his advisor, Lord Marcus, but Karen felt like there was a storm brewing."Karen, my dear," the king said, his voice warm and welcoming. "How can I assist you today?"Karen took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. "Your majesty," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "I have reason to believe that there is a conspiracy against me and the stability of the kingdom."The king's expression
Chapter Seven:Karen was taken into custody by the guards, despite her protests that she had acted in self-defense. She was thrown into a dank, dark cell, where she was left alone to contemplate her fate.As she sat in the cold darkness, Karen couldn't help but feel despair creeping in. She had fought so hard to uncover the conspiracy and protect the kingdom, but now it seemed like all her efforts had been for nothing.As the hours passed, Karen could hear the faint sound of footsteps outside her cell. She got to her feet, her heart racing with fear and anticipation.The door creaked open, and Karen was momentarily blinded by the light flooding in. She squinted against the brightness, trying to make out the figure standing in the doorway."Karen," a familiar voice said. "I'm sorry it's come to this."Karen's eyes adjusted, and she saw Lord Marcus standing in front of her, his face twisted in a sneer."What do you want?" Karen demanded.Lord Marcus took a step closer, and Karen could s
Chapter Eight:Karen and Jacob ran through the forest, their hearts pounding with the exhilaration of their escape. They were free, but they knew that they were still in danger."We need to find somewhere to hide," Karen said, panting as they ran.Jacob nodded, scanning their surroundings for any signs of danger. "There's an abandoned cabin not far from here," he said. "We can hide out there until we figure out our next move."Karen nodded, and they ran towards the cabin. As they approached, Karen could see that it was rundown and neglected, with broken windows and a creaky door.Jacob pushed the door open, and they stepped inside. The cabin was dark and musty, with a layer of dust covering everything.Karen shivered, feeling a sense of unease wash over her. "Do you think they'll find us here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Jacob shook his head. "I don't think so," he said. "We're far enough away from the castle that they won't think to look for us here."Karen nodded,
Chapter Nine: It is almost full moon and all the kids are outside to play under the light of the moon. The women and some men sat about round tables laced and decorated with animal skin which looked like that of a tiger and they were all talking happily. "Go away, you are a girl! You can not play with us!" A little boy said. "I will not go to play anywhere and you do not have the right to tell me that! I play where I want to play." The little girl answered. Their voices interrupted the fun the older women and men were having. They turned and saw nine-year-old Karen already in an aggressive mood, ready to fight Paulo, their neighbor's son. Before they could stop them, Paulo smacked Karen across the face which made her fall hard to the ground, bruising her face and knee. Karen yelled in pain as she looked at her wound. She was so furious at this point and she wanted to retaliate. She got up and used her foot to hit Paulo hard in his tummy. Karen got a strange feeling of power at
Chapter Ten: It has been ten years since Karen first had her first werewolf experience. Her father, Edward has been training her secretly on how she can use her powers, without the knowledge of her mother and her stepsister, Jamie. Karen's mother was a strong-willed female warrior that worked alongside the former king of the kingdom. Although she was a woman she disguised herself to get into the king's army. She fought so well that the thought of her being a woman did not occur to anybody. But before her death, her identity was revealed to her enemies on the battlefield when her armor fell off her body. This made the king's brother kill her brutally because he thinks it is taboo for a woman to fight him and to be this powerful. After killing her and the king, Theodore the king's brother took over the kingdom. after casting a spell on the werewolves, so that they would be powerless if they wanted to revolt against him. The war which ended as a bloody one so many families to mour