Forester Pack was in a bright mood, the sun mixed with the steams of street bakers rising into the air. The bridge that linked the wolf village to the town is a wide brick that was more than 30 feet long.
The blue clear stream gives a soft rushing sound. At the shore, on the rocky path, kids not older than ten and eleven jumps into the stream and play around with the mud.
A few feet away from the castle, a crowd gathers around a girl dressed in rags and sitting on the floor. She was surrounded by angry mobs who were holding stones and sticks to beat her.
"Let's burn her, guys!!" A plump man with a bald head yelled and everyone else agreed.
"How dare you come to steal from us here?" Another man with a dirty brown apron tied around him chipped in, his beards full of white powder.
Some young men had gone to look for diesel and matchbox while the women shook their heads in pity as they watch the men soak her body in diesel, the girl's hoarse voice begging for help. Her face is barely visible for it has been padded with blood. Her nose was bleeding as well.
Just when they wanted to light the match, they heard the gallop of a horse behind.
"Enough of that!" A deep authoritative voice boomed and in fear, they all dispersed. It was the new King of Forester himself.
Alex looked at the almost lifeless body laying down on the floor. Her golden hair had turned brown which was evidence that she'd been dragged across the streets and to further ascertain his thoughts, he saw her peeled skin laced with thick blood. He suddenly felt pity for her.
"What's going on here?" he asked his army commander.
"They said she's a witch and she had crossed the border not only to steal but also spy on the pack,"
Alex turned to look at the 'supposed' witch again and couldn't help but smirk at the people's foolishness.
"A witch who couldn't fight for herself, isn't that interesting?" His commander shrugged, obviously not believing it himself.
Old Alex would've turned a blind eye to this jungle justice but this new Alex just couldn't. he needed answers to so many things but the first step was getting to win the hearts of the people. for that to happen, he needed to put up a good show.
Getting down from the horse, he walked up to the girl and stopped so he can look at her face.
"Hey! It's fine now." He assured her but all he got was silence. He raised an eyebrow, thinking she was maybe dead. he turned to face the members of his pack that has gathered around and promised to get to the end of the matter. he would find out who she was and what she wanted from their pack.
"Blake! Get this girl to Royal Infirmary now!" Alex commanded. She was carried on the horse and they all rode back to the palace.
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SELENA
Selena trembled as she watched her Father fume. Anger was evident in his eyes. He was pacing back and forth in the room. Just after she told him Alex was already thinking of changing the decisions of marriage, his head spun.
What would happen to his plans of being an in-law to the king of Forester? What would happen to Selena's wolf? What would happen to the people he has bragged to already?
Many thoughts ran through his head as he watched his brown head daughter sitting on her bed, eyes fixed on the tufted made carpet on the floor.
"You never cease to get on my nerves, you know?" He started to say, trying his best to sound calm and composed.
"All my plans of so many years. You want to throw it all away, uh?"
"I'm sorry, Dad." She begged for the umpteenth time.
"I just don't know why you're hell-bent on getting me married to someone I barely know. I haven't even recovered from the trauma I had after Craig's death because I've always known all my life that he's the one I'm betrothed to. And now you want to...to push me into the hands of," she paused not wanting to mention the devil prince for fear that he might hear since they were still in the castle.
"I don't care," Drake spat. "I am your father and I know what's best for you. And the best thing is for you to marry the King."
She sucked in her breath.
"But, how?"
"Anyhow you wanna do it. Talk to him?" He spread his hands indifferently.
"Talk to...Dad that's preposterous! I am scared to even look at his face."
"I know you, Selena. I know deep down. You are not afraid of anything. Anything at all. So fix this."
With that, he walked away leaving Selena in a state of despair.
She strode to the window side where she sat down, elbow leaning on the sill and her head resting on her hand. She felt hopeless. Her Father was right. She has never been afraid of anything. But every time she came across King Alex, she always felt something different in her lower abdomen. But she couldn't tell what that feeling was. Fear or attraction?
She heard noises below the building and she decided to take a peek. A carriage was wheeled in and she could see Alex directing his men. He looked hot in his White Shirt and now changed pants tamed at the end with black boots. He looked very royal unlike Craig, a Prince with a bald head and full beards even at twenty-nine. He was just five feet tall compared to Alex who was six feet two inches tall. His broad and strong shoulders looked like they could rip the shirt off anytime. She has never felt this way with Craig.
Soon, she saw a girl being wheeled into the building and Alex had a deep frown on his face. She has never heard of the devil being this concerned about any other person. Is the devil not supposed to be cold-hearted? Maybe what she was beginning to feel for the king is what the King feels for the sick girl.
Like a thunderbolt, she rushed out of the room bumping into a maid who screamed. Less bothered about the mess she's made, she made for the stairs where she ran down, her white gown flowing behind her.
As soon as she got outside, she was told the King was in the infirmary with the patient. Her heart sunk. Who was this girl? Why is her presence suddenly making her feel threatened? She's just a patient, right? But no commoner is allowed to use the royal infirmary. Does that mean she's so special to the King? There is only one way to find out.
She tiptoed across the empty corridor that was silent except for the hushed tone of two men talking to each other. Walking clandestinely towards where the voice was coming from, she heard Alex clearly.
"So, how long do you think it will take her to recover?"
"I can't really say. Especially with the fact that she's a total stranger and you don't know anything about her origin."
'total stranger?' Selena thought.
"What do you mean?" He asked the rather short old man with a tiny head and spectacles placed on the tip of his nose.
"What I'm saying is, I discovered she might have had memory loss given the numerous questions asked from her but she hasn't given any information. The chances are quite high as she is suffering from trauma caused by physical violence and battery. If I am able to confirm she's lost her memory, we'll have no choice than to either keep her here with proper care or send her back into the forest"
"But then she wouldn't even know who her people are to be able to lead us to them." He sighed audibly, his two hands placed on his waist.
"I'll say she stay here till she recovers." He concluded before turning to leave.
Selena thought of running back but she couldn't as the hem of her gown had caught a nail. She tried removing it but it proved stubborn. Meanwhile, the King's footsteps came closer.
The two big brown wolves ran through the forest, tongues out as they tried panting. Their hind legs strongly supported the forelimbs as they kept jumping the ground to gain more speed.Their fur stood up like spikes and their bulging wolf eyes indicated fear plus calculated plans. As soon as they got to two tall trees, they split and both of them climbed with efficiency. Looking down from the branches, everywhere was silent. From the other side, Amelia looked at her brother from her hiding place, eyes popping as if to ask what was going on.The silence was becoming more awkward and Amelia decided to speak up, her voice hushed."We shouldn't be standing here. We should tell Alex that the pack will soon be invaded." She suggested. They needed to let their stepbrother, the new King know that danger was looming. "And risk losing our own lives? Those hyena clans are after us. You do know how fast they are, don't you? If we die now, there will be nobody to deliver the...""Stop!" They hear
Selena exhaled deeply as she gathered her dress around her and made for the dining room where everyone is seated already. After Amelia's unexpected question, her heart hasn't been at peace with her brain as she wondered how she was going to make their marriage happen. Maybe she could use Amelia.Drake, Ellie, Ethan, King Alex, and Amelia are all seated around the large brown mahogany table which on it lay different food. From gingerbread, ham, beans, celery, beef, and wine to cakes, brownies, and much more delicious food.She took her seat at the only available place that was empty. There were two empty seats but both are on each side of Alex. She took the one on his right, the kissing incident still fresh in her memory. Still, trying hard to look in his way, she realized he barely noticed her and kept talking to the others.Glancing around, she took proper care to make sure no one had seen her staring at him all this while. It will take more than courage to convince the King to marry
A man in a brown coat and black boots laced with grey furs around the edges of the boots stood upright in front of a gentle stream. He had on a black hat that concealed his face.Two men walked up to him, dressed up in shirts and pants."Our first mission has been accomplished," they both chorused and bowed as they salute."Lord Krepe!""That is exactly what I want to hear." The 6ft3 tall man turned towards the men, hands in his coat pockets."How soon are we going to strike?" One of the men asked."I hear he is named the devil prince and is difficult to kill. We will have to deal with him with caution. It's a pity in our attempt to kill him, his family members were so unfortunate to take his place." He clicked his tongue in pity."What do you propose we do my Lord?" The other one asked, eyes fixated on the man before him."It's quite simple. I want you both to study him. Find his weaknesses, penetrate him and make sure you keep an eye on our person living with him" He dismissed the m
"Commander, tell your army to go to the east and search every nook and cranny while the others and I will canvass every other place in the Kingdom. Don't forget to go to the forest and the outskirt as well to find her. She must be found!"A big wolf, two feet tall and weighing up to eighty kilograms stood in front of a hundred wolves and gave an order through the mindlink. His eyes give off a scary black color that exudes authority. His claws were fixed to the ground and his eyes turned dark.As the wolves dispersed in their given direction, the rest stayed with him and he almost ran when he heard a voice behind him."Alex!" He saw Selena's face outside the window looking at him pleadingly."Please be careful." She mouthed and her caring expression melted his heart.He turned westwards and the rest of the wolves ran after him, their noses in the air trying to catch Amelia's scent. They howled at every hint they get.Selena sighed gently and almost jumped out of her skin as she felt a
Opening her eyes, Selena could see herself in her room on the bed with staff coming in and going out.'Why did she pass out?' She thought before leaving her room to go to the palace to ask about Alex.Moving closer, she could only hear sobs and wailing and her heart skipped a beat as she feared the worst. What happened to Alex? Did he find his sister? Many questions roamed her head as she walked up to where servants lurked and stared from afar, most of them crying and some just shaking their heads in pity.At the center, she saw Alex bent over a body with Ethan sitting on the floor in a corner, also crying hard. Her head pounded and she felt numb immediately. Ellie, her aunt, rushed in too and paused in her tracks at the sight before her."What happened?" Selena could hear her Aunt mutter.Ethan shot his head up and she could see his puffed eyes and red face. Veins popped out of his forehead as he rose and almost attacked her Aunt, but was cornered by the guards around."You dare ask
"We missed our target, yet again. This isn't our agreement." Krepe dropped the glass of wine he was holding on the small table in front of him before leaning back on the chair in front of the other man."You're the one who just doesn't know how agreements are supposed to work. I call the shots but your stupid ass chose to leap past the game.""You did get what you've always wanted, didn't you?" He tilted his head at his acquaintance."You're right. That shocked me to the bones. I was told his brother attacked my sister and daughter the day they came home. If he knows about my dirty works, he should have more reasons not to get married to my daughter any longer.""You know what that means, right?" Krepe was now pouring the drink into another cup for his guest who took it from him with a smile."Our little secret is still a secret." The man replied before drinking his scotch."It better be. I can't be caught a second time or I'll be severely executed."There was an awkward silence betwe
Lying on the bed, alone and dejected, with Alex's back turned on her. Selena faced his back and watch his gentle breathing as he drifted off to sleep. His back was bare and she was lost looking at the rough yet tantalizing view of this man she had come to marry. His broad shoulders invited her to touch and she did touch them.Placing one hand beneath the side of her face as she watched his behind, she put the other one gently on his shoulder. She placed a tip at first, scared of disturbing him. She later felt comfortable, or a little too comfortable, and placed her whole hand on his warm shoulder.She let her hand slide down his back and she thought she felt him shiver but ignored it and went on to admire his spine, running her fingers down. He jerked and she kept her finger to herself, pretending to sleep. She felt him turn and open one eye, he has now faced her, his chest the next thing to access."Wow." She muttered as she looked at his bare chest and decided to run her fingers on
Helping Selena get into the carriage that was parked on the lawn, Alex couldn't help but wonder if he had made the right decision. Marrying her for a grave purpose that will forever haunt him even as his sister's voice kept ringing in his head.He knew he had no choice but to go ahead with his plan if he wants his sister to rest in peace.Driving through the county, in the middle of the sweeping mountains that spread around Forester gracefully, Alex kept glancing towards his new bride who he couldn't tell what his feelings for her were. After driving for a while in silence, Selena cleared her throat."If I may ask, your high...Alex." she corrected. Looking at her from the corner of his eyes, he wasn't entirely sure if her mistake should amuse or irritate him. Perhaps, it made him feel both. Still, he knew he always felt something whenever she stays by his side or was close to him."Why did you bring Cher to stay with us...you in the palace?""None of your business," he murmured as the