CLAUDIAAfter Everett walked out, Nellie walked into the chamber and locked the door. She looked at me with a bright smile. I furrowed my brows and watched her approach me. “Why are you smiling?” I asked, and she sat on the bed. “Didn’t you notice something is off about the King? I don’t mean off in a bad way, but a good way. He seems…” She paused to find the right word to use. “Nice?” I asked, and she hurriedly bounced her head. “Yes! That is it. He is nice, and he even smiles freely now,” She added, and I chuckled. “I noticed it too, and I am as shocked as you are, Nellie. I don’t know what they had fed him on the business trip he went. He must have eaten something strange,” I said, and she broke into laughter. “I wouldn’t mind eating something strange too. I love how happy he is now. He even brought you gifts.” Nellie looked at the bags in front of the closet, and I heaved a sigh. “I still find it hard to trust what he is doing. No matter how hard he tries to be nice, it doesn’t
CLAUDIAThe evening drew in very fast and almost everyone in the packhouse was busy except me. I guess they were busy with the big King’s dinner get-together. I was standing in the middle of my room, dressed in my elegant outfit. It was a cage Caroline skirt, covered by white printed wool, and on top of it was a neatly trimmed and super fitted corset. I wore a blue boot which couldn’t be seen because of my skirt, it covered the whole of my legs and even swept the floor. I took another look at my dress, feeling the texture in my hand when the door opened. “Queen, the king wants you there now,” Nellie said as she hurried into my chamber. “So soon? The food has been served?” I asked, and she bounced her head. “Be ready, Queen. Everyone is seated, waiting for you. Even Beta Annette is at the table,” Nellie added, and I chuckled. “You didn’t have to tell me about her,” I said, and she bounced her head slightly. She held my hand and we both walked out of the chamber. Before we got to the
CLAUDIA “Can… can you please excuse me? I need to use the toilet,” I mumbled as he hugged me, and I felt his grip around my back loosen. He bounced his head and looked at my teary face. “Don’t stay long. We are yet to eat,” He said and cleaned my tears off my face with his hand. I nodded and turned to leave. I lowered my head and hurried out of the sitting room. I could feel everyone stare at me as I headed out. I got to the corridor, and I began to run. I headed for my chamber. The guards at the door opened the door when they saw me approaching, so I ran right into the room. They shut the door behind me, and I rested my back on the door. I was panting very hard, and I slowly held my chest, directly on top of where my heart was thumping against it. “What is going on?” I mumbled and grabbed my head. I moved away from the door and dragged my feet on the floor to my bed. I sat on my bed and lowered my head. Many thoughts rushed into my head, and I began to overthink them. ‘Why is he s
EVERETTI turned on my right side and slowly opened my eyes. I huffed and closed my eyes very tight. I opened it again, and I stared at the window. The curtains were up, and I could see the peaks of some trees in the palace. I didn’t have a good night’s sleep at all. I couldn’t stop thinking about what Annette said. I knew I shouldn’t believe her but I can’t ask myself why? Why would you come up with such a lie? “Annette doesn’t lie to me… except now she does.” I yanked the bedsheets off my body and threw my legs off the bed. I sat up and threw my head from the right to the left, making a cracking sound. I felt better. “I need to talk to Clarence.” I turned back and saw some guards standing at the door. Their heads were up and their faces were straight and plain. “Call me Clarence. I need him in my chamber right now,” I ordered, and they bowed. Two of them walked out, while I stood up and walked to my wardrobe. I picked up my cotton robe and wore it. I tied its rope and walked to my
CLAUDIA I groaned softly as I turned on whatsoever I laid on. I could feel I wasn’t comfortable even from my sleep. Maybe because my subconscious mind wasn’t at ease, or because I wasn’t laying on a mattress after all. I tried to slowly open my eyes, but I felt my eyelashes were glued together. I could guess it was from my tears last night when I was captured. I rubbed my eyes with my finger and tried opening my eyes the second time. This time, my lashes didn’t feel glued together anymore. I opened my eyes and slowly looked around. I was still in the same place. It was still that same nightmare. I checked where I laid and noticed I was on a wooden bed. The only thing that separated me from the wood was the thick bedspread that was on it. I looked around the room and found out that it was totally empty. Only the bed I laid on was in the room, and it was placed at the center of the room. “Where is this place?” As I looked around, I could remember all that happened last night. A stra
EVERETTAfter Two Weeks I walked into a familiar building. I tried to remember where I had seen the building, but nothing was coming. My head was blank at the moment. I boldly opened the main door and walked into the living room. I had one thing in mind. I needed to find my wife. I looked around the living room and my eyes fell on someone. He sat on a chair but I couldn’t see his face because his back was turned to me. I started approaching hun and wanted to speak when all of a sudden, I heard footsteps approaching. I looked up, and I saw Claudia walking down the corridor. She heard where we were standing. “Claudia! My wife!” I called and began to approach her. She opened her arms with a large smile, but before I could get to her, a man stood in front of her, making me stop abruptly. I looked at this man, and I saw someone I wasn’t expecting. “Alpha Horst?” I called in surprise. I looked at the chair, and I saw that the man that was seated on it was gone. He could guess the man
CLAUDIA “Are you going to do whatever I ask of you?” Alpha Joachim asked Everett, who sat next to me on the couch and never let go of my hand. “You are leaving me no choice. What do you want?” Everett kept his eyes on my hand as he spoke. “I want you to invite Thorsten back to the Jamba Kingdom.” Alpha Joachim smiled after talking, and Everett raised his head to look at him. “Why would I want to do that?” Everett asked, making Alpha Joachim shrug. “Because Thorsten is my friend, and I care about him. If you want to get your wife back, without me telling everyone the evil you have done, then you’ll do this little favor.” Everett gulped and heaved a loud sigh. He lifted his eyes and looked at Thorsten who stood behind Alpha Joachim. “I’ll let him into my kingdom on one condition. I must not see hun anywhere close to the palace. The day I see him anywhere around the gates, I’ll kill him.” I watched Thorsten’s face as Everett spoke, and I could see anger register on his face. He clen
~After seven months~ EVERETT I covered my mouth with my hands and began to pace in front of Claudia’s chamber. It was her delivery day. I was with her when she started feeling weird, so I had to call the best midwife in the kingdom to take care of her. “Push!!!” I heard the midwife scream, and after her voice, a roar followed. It was Claudia’s. My pack members, the elders were all waiting in the living room, but I was too anxious to wait there with them. I wished I was in the chamber with her. “Push!!!” I heard the midwife scream again, and I heaved a loud sigh. I hit the door and yelled, “Can you please take it easy with her?” “I’m sorry, my king but I just need one more push from her and the baby will be out. One more hard push,” She responded In a loud tone, and I lowered my head. “Claudia baby, you can do it, okay? Just one push. I hate the way she keeps yelling at you,” I said and moved slightly away from the door. “Arrrrggghhhh!!” An extreme roar filled the air and my eyes