Clara Freedom? I could barely believe what I was hearing. The Prince of the Dark Shade pack had played a card game to grant me my freedom? Why? And why in hells would our Alpha of the Moonstone Pack even agree to it? I must be still dreaming. I could see the Lieutenant angrily pacing the floor, as Prince Legiere unlocked the iron gates of my cell. He waltzed inside the gates and took off my gag. I gulped in air greedily. My head felt light, and I didn’t have it in me to give sarcastic commentary. Gerald had beaten that out of me quick enough, and I wasn’t stupid enough to do it again. The Alpha Andelle had watched these proceedings in silence until now. “You are free to have her, but I wonder what exactly you plan to do with her? Surely you were not serious about making her your mate?” he asked. “Concubine,” Prince Legiere said brightly. “I already have a destined mate for me back at home waiting for me. I’m sure she and my lovely brother would be quite sad to hear if I had sud
Clara Servants scurried in and out of the Alpha’s mess hall with plates of hot food and drink on wooden trays. Pale gleams of light flowed in from the large windows on all sides. There were several tapestries and paintings that told the story of the Andelle ancestors. The tantalizing smell of appetizers and entrees made me drool, but I found that I couldn’t relax enough to shovel food in my mouth like I usually did. Not with the Alpha, Sisley, Prince Griffin, and Gerald in the same room with me. Prince Legiere gently tugged at one of my loose brown braid to get my attention. I stared angrily at him. I wanted to throttle him. “No,” I said with gritted teeth. He was smiling and holding a spoon of piping hot porridge mixed with sweet milk, scallions, and seared pork rinds. It smelled absolutely delicious, and my stomach rumbled in agony. Gladly would I have tried to take a bite, but not in this embarrassing manner. “Don’t be like that. Say ‘ahhh.’” I turned my face away at the last
ClaraAlpha Andelle steepled his clawed fingers together and gazed at Prince Legiere. “If you would excuse my son, it appears that he still has not learned the delicacy required in such private matters.”Griffin tensed, but Sisley put her hand on Griffin’s arm to calm him down.Emperor Barnes Andelle went on, and his yellow eyes were scathing. “Perhaps the fledgling prince has given you the wrong impression about the girl. It may be true that at the time, she was too young to have been involved in the plot against me. However, her actions three nights ago speak of a guilty conscience. She fled when I had extended her an invitation to the mating ball. She attacked an Elite member of my pack. I caution that you think twice about this arrangement of spiriting her away from our pack.”“A guilty conscience?” I cried out. “You left me to rot with these people who did everything in their power to make my life a living hell. Every single werewolf in this pack, everyone, treated me like a cont
Clara Sisley had been watching me, and she spoke, “Careful, step-sister. Your murderous intent is plain on your face. Perhaps my little brother couldn’t finish the job, but I assure you – I can and I will if you make one wrong move.” Elena hissed and bared her teeth, but I shut my eyes as if to shut out her presence as well. We need to stay calm, I told Elena. We’ve learned so much, and I can’t stupidly try to take on the Alpha, the Lieutenant, and Sisley all at once. Prince Legiere whistled and then burst into laughter. “Hotheads both of you! Like brother, like sister. There’s a saying in our pack that redheads are doomed with short tempers. You realize that you’re threatening my concubine, don’t you?” Sisley glared at Prince Legiere. “I’m quite curious about what your brother and future mate would say about all of this, Prince Deanneth? Did they approve of you sneaking out of Khordon with just two of your bodyguards to have a pleasant stay in Bragne? Or will the messenger hawk th
Trigger warnings: disturbed individual and violence against pups. Please DO NOT read if you can't handle it. Thanks! Clara Someone pounded frantically on the door to the mess hall. “My Lord!” screamed a voice. “Please! Help!” The Alpha strode forward. Black hair bristled and grew like weeds all over his skin. His face extended into a pointed snout. He threw open the doors, and a terrified bloody werewolf lurched forward. Hazel ran up to him. It didn’t take a Royal Healer to know that the werewolf was going to be dead in seconds. The entire right side of his face was torn clean off, and I winced as I saw his exposed tongue and brains. He tried to speak, but then he collapsed in a puddle of blood on the floor. Another guard beside him gripped his left arm – or what was left of it. He quivered like a scared pup. It shocked me to see a grown guard of the Bragne in such a state of terror. “T-they’re monsters,” he whimpered. “They stormed the garrison. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Half o
Clara Elena sprang backwards, but the Greater Vampire quickly accounted for her movement. Hideous burning pain grazed my upper arm, but to my relief, the silver bullet lodged itself into a pine tree right behind me. I wanted to control my own body, but Elena still was not done. The vampire cursed in his language. The rifle was an ingenious invention created by Greater Vampires in olden times, but it had a glaring weakness: it could not be reloaded quickly. In an army with several Greater Vampires staggering their shots, it was a weapon that wiped out packs of werewolves in extended battles. But in a one-on-one fight, it had no advantages against the brute strength and agility of a shifted werewolf. Elena pounded the floor with my limbs, and she leaped forward to slash at the vampire’s throat. He sneered and brandished his rifle like a rapier. The silver bayonet just narrowly missed my heart, but it raked across my waist. Elena and I shrieked together at the fiery pain. I had no doub
ClaraPrince Griffin shifted back and took off the Lunar Steel gauntlets. He gently helped me back to my feet. His intense gaze made my face warm, and I quickly shifted away from my wolf form.“Are you all right?” he asked me seriously.“Yes. Thank you,” I said. “You saved my skin back there.”“Pardon me? WE saved your skin back there,” said Prince Legiere in mock woundedness. “In case you didn’t notice, all Prince Griffin did was cause a marvelous distraction, but I sent them packing.”I grimaced, but I knew he would be insufferable if I didn’t give him any praise. And it was true enough. He had come to my assistance along with Griffin. “Thank you,” I muttered.He gave me a wry smile, but I quickly changed the subject.“Where are the Alpha and the Lieutenant? And Sisley?” It’s not that I even cared about them remotely, but their absence was noticeable. Why weren’t they here? I wanted to ask, but then I wondered in shock if they had been killed. I looked bleakly at the carnage around
Clara The den was located within a stone cave. I sniffed out the entrance hidden by evergreen shrubs, nettles, and rocks. Gently, I pounded on the rocks outside and barked in a series of lilting tones and whines. I put my ear to the flat boulder that blocked the entrance and heard the tell-tale echo of footfalls within. Prince Legiere watched me carefully, and I felt a sense of unease as his indigo eyes took stock of my entire body, from the tip of my head to the bottom of my feet. He pulled out his pipe, stuffed it with unda, lit the end, and began to smoke nonchalantly. Seeing him so calm made me feel irrational anger. “Do you not care?” He breathed in smoke and smiled. “About you? Oh, I care immensely about you.” His impudent attitude grated on my nerves. I shook my head at him. “Not me. This whole situation. You look like we just come back from an invigorating hunt for deer.” He sighed. “Still on about that, eh? You know, maybe you and Prince Griffin are meant to be for each