DeneraThe maid stood silently as I ate, her presence both comforting and unnerving. I picked at the food, overwhelmed by the lavish spread in front of me.“Is there anything else you need?” I asked, breaking the silence.“No, my lady,” she replied, her tone respectful but firm. “I am here to assist you.”“Assist me?” I repeated, unsure of what that entailed.“Yes, I will be by your side from now on, to teach you our ways and to serve you,” she said. “I will only leave when the Alpha returns.”Her words surprised me. “And your name?”“Rachel,” she answered, a soft smile gracing her lips. “Shall we begin your day?”I nodded, still trying to adjust to this new life. Rachel led me to the bathroom, where she filled the tub with warm water, fragrant with herbs.As I sank into the water, I felt the tension in my muscles ease. Rachel began to wash my hair, her fingers gentle but firm.“You don’t have to do this, you know,” I said, feeling a twinge of guilt.“It’s my duty, my lady,” she replie
RockanI walked into the room, my mind preoccupied with thoughts of Denera. I waited all day just to see her once again. She was sitting on the couch, her posture stiff and her eyes flickering nervously around the room. It was obvious she was still afraid of me, and I couldn't blame her. My reputation precedes me, and the half-mask I wore on my face did nothing to soften my image. But I needed to try, to show her that I wasn't the monster she thought I was.Well, I was, but I didn’t plan to become one with her. “I’m still figuring out what that means.” She tensed up and I shook my head. I reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “You will, in time.”She was quiet, still very stiff, and afraid of my presence. I sighed internally. This wasn't going to be easy. She had been on my mind all day, and I had to constantly remind myself that the softness I felt towards her was because of the mate bond we shared. But was it really just the bond? I wasn't sure anymore."Denera
Denera “Please, stop,” I pleaded, hugging my legs tighter to my chest. There was fire everywhere. Nothing made any sense and I could hear the screaming of children from a far distance. It wasn't safe to be here but my legs would not move. “Help,” I croaked. I was surrounded by trees and they were all covered in flames, I watched as some fell to the ground and whimpered when the hot scattered pieces met with my skin. “Mum, Dad,” I cried out to no one in particular. “Denera!”***I jolted upright in bed, my eyes flying open wide as my heart raced frantically. Drops of sweat covered my entire body, with some trickling down my face. The sudden sensation of fear left me confused and uneasy.A dream - another vivid, unsettling dream. But this one had felt different, in it, I called out to my parents. I never really knew my parents. A heaviness settled in my chest. They were a blank space in my life, a big hole that my subconscious mind seemed determined to try and fill, even if o
TyrisI lay still on the bed, my eyes staring blankly up at the ceiling. My mind had drifted far away from this room, my thoughts consumed by Denera.Denera. The mere thought of her filled me with a powerful longing to have her here in my arms. But she was out of my reach, belonging instead to my own brother. I found myself thinking back to the first time I had seen her, that moment when I had realized she was my true mate.If only I had spoken up and acted more quickly, I could have claimed her as mine before my brother had the chance. The whole kingdom would already know that Denera was meant to be with me. For just a brief moment, I even felt a twinge of blame towards myself. After all, it was because of my own persuasion that my brother had agreed to hold this mate-picking ceremony in the first place. That decision ultimately led to me losing Denera to him.I sighed heavily, my heart aching with the pain of this loss. Denera should be here with me, not with my brother. But the ch
Denera“Morning, little mate,” I was awoken by the most masculine morning voice anyone could ever imagine. I felt strands of my hair being pulled away from my neck. I gasped as I felt his warm lips press a soft kiss on my skin. My eyes flew open at the sensation, now fully alert.Shifting into a more comfortable position, I became very aware of Rockan's strong arms wrapped tightly around me, holding me close. The realization of our close embrace sent a shiver through me.Looking up at him, I smiled at my masked mate. His dark hair was nicely messy, making him look very handsome.A small smile was on his lips as he met my gaze. "Did you sleep well?" Rockan asked, his finger tracing a light path along my neck. The tender touch sent a pleasant shiver through me, the slight sting mixed with a pleasurable sensation.My hand instinctively flew to my neck, fingers tracing the sensitive, stinging spot where Rockan's teeth had sunk into my flesh. A shiver ran down my spine as the realization
DenaraThe day was finally upon us, the day the whole pack except me of course was waiting for. It was the day our next alpha, alpha Tim’s only son, was coming back home from his five year study trip.So it only meant one thing for us: the packhouse maids. More work! Though other maids could see a positive side to this, I couldn’t because it meant more people would visit the packhouse and more people visiting the packhouse would mean more errands for us.Running more errands wasn’t exactly my problem, the problem was running errands around people. I dreaded being around people because the more people in my space, the smaller I felt.“You have been on that spot for how long now?” The familiar voice of Freya, my cousin, made me turn to know who else was with her.It was Magda, the chief of the maids. I didn’t know when they entered because I was lost in thoughts.“And you are still standing there looking at what?” Magda asked. I quickly turned and continued what I was doing, hoping the
DenaraDisbelief flooded through me as Freya's words sank in. My parents...traitors? It was almost impossible to comprehend.Random fragments of memories I had of them began to flood my mind. They seemed kind, so peaceful. My father and mother would never have done such a terrible thing - or even thought about it. They were killed because they tried to take over the alpha's position?"Your dad was the Beta?" Bruno asked, his eyes wide with realization and devastation.I stared at him, my own eyes surely reflecting the same mix of emotions. "I-I don't understand," I stammered, feeling unsteady on my feet. "This can't be true. My parents were good people. They would never..."My voice trailed off as the implications of Freya's revelation sank in. If what she was saying was true, then everything I thought I knew about my family was a lie.I felt dizzy, and the room around me began to spin. Overwhelmed, I took a step forward, reaching out towards Bruno, seeking his steadying presence. B
~Denera~….The thunderstorms had been going on for hours. It was cold and dark, the cottage's wooden walls creaked as the wind blew hard against it. I had my blanket to keep me company as I quietly drew on the sketch pad on my lap. Aunt Rosa and her family were settled at the main house. I initially used to feel bad about this but after sometime, I grew accustomed to it. Plus I would rather be alone in an old cottage than stay in a cosy house with the likes of them. I jerked up from my bed when I heard a loud bang against the door. At first, I assumed it was one of the calamities of the thunderstorm but then it rhythmically happened again. “Open up!” Someone yelled from outside, making me rush out of bed to check it was. Uncle?Abruptly I turned the knob open and he instantly shoved me aside before walking in. “You bastard! Haven’t I warned you to never lock the door? Look how damp I am now!” Uncle Austin growled. “I’m sorry sir.” I whimpered, wondering why he came here in the f