FIVE YEARS LATER Loud squeals reached my ear and I heard the sound of tiny feet running closer to my office. It was only a matter of time until they ran into my office. Jaden was the first to burst in through the door and Alaric followed a few minutes later, panting heavily. "I'm the first to get here. You have to do as I say" Jaden said with a wide smile, excited that he had won whatever bet they placed. Alaric was still struggling to catch his breath and I was worried. I moved towards them immediately, getting to my knees in front of him. "I...I'm okay" Alaric held his hand out for me. "I told you no running. It's bad for your health" I scolded softly. Alaric never completely healed and his lungs didn't get any better. Vigorous activities were too much for him to handle and even when I tried to be lenient and let him do whatever he wanted, we ended up regretting it. He wasn't cut out for some activities. "I'm really okay" "He's done" Jaden pulled at my arm. "You're alway
NEVAEH's POVI ran as fast as I could. Not looking back even for a second. My body hurt and I craved a moment's rest but if I didn't leave, I'll only hurt more.I had to go far away from here or my life would be over. They hadn't noticed I was gone just yet. If they did, then there would be hell to pay. But I planned to be far by the time they discovered I was gone.Eventually, my body couldn't take it anymore and I came to a stop, collapsing against the tree. I panted heavily as I tried to catch my breath."Why me" I cried to the goddess. I've asked this question so many times and I've lost count.Life has been unfair to me from the beginning. Abandoned by my family and adopted by the cruelest couple. I couldn't remember my earlier years so I had no memory of them ever being nice to me.All I remember was from when Eunice was born. I was happy to have a sister but they didn't feel that way. They didn't want me around. They didn't want me touching her. As Eunice grew, she became like
"Wake up" a stern voice yelled before a bucket of ice-cold water was dumped over my head.I was awake but I couldn't move because my body was exhausted. And I couldn't tell them I was awake."You bitch" he grabbed my hair and yanked my head up so I was looking up at him."You're awake. That's good" he let go of my hair and my head dropped because I couldn't hold it up."I don't know why Alpha Kaden will go this far to punish you but I must tell you that I enjoy it"If there was anyone as bad as Kaden, it was his beta, Philip. Philip had authority as a beta and he liked to show it in every way. He went out of his way to torment those he considered weaker than himself but was a complete pussy when he had to talk in front of the other men.It was stupid for Kaden to have such a weakling as a beta but since they were long-time friends with the same shitty character, they stuck together."The Alpha is waiting," a guard said and the chains holding me up were loosened. My body was falling bu
KING THANE's POV"Is it necessary to attend the banquet?" I asked my beta, Hermes."It's thrown in your honor. Kaden is throwing this banquet for you""He wants to get on my good side""You should attend. You've kept away from the people for a long time and I think this would be a way to show the people Grace you still care about them. Other Alphas will be in attendance""That makes me not want to go at all" I grumbled and Hermes sighed."It's just this one time. If you won't go then can we at least have a party here in the castle?""No" my answer was instant. I hated parties, especially after what had happened.They all knew it. There was no way I would be throwing a party in the castle for any reason."The people are talking""It'll interest you to know that I do not give a fuck about what they have to say""They are your people""Enough with the talk Hermès. I have no interest in attending a banquet but if I happen to change my mind, I'll let you know" I snapped angrily at Hermes.
Eunice's face morphed into an angry one while Camilla looked at us in shock. Kaden slowly disentangled himself from me and buttoned up his pants."You fucking bitch" Camilla marched towards me and grabbed me by my hair."After everything Eunice did for you. You had to guts to seduce her mate"Seduce Kaden? Did that look like a seduction to her or did she just want to act blind?"You ungrateful whore" Eunice joined the attack, pulling at my hair. Both of them dragged me from different directions and I just wanted to get away. I had been lying on the floor with my clothes torn, Kaden over me and holding me down and I was the one they attacked?"I've had enough of your slutty ways in this pack. I'm going to kill you with my bare hands" Eunice dragged me outside while Camilla kept hitting me. There was a small group of people outside and the spectacle instantly caught their attention.I wasn't liked by anyone in the pack. The moment Camilla let it know that I had been with Kaden, the rest
I didn't know when I slept off. I felt so tired and cold. If it wasn't for the coat Hermes had given to me, I wouldn't have even a little warmth. My thoughts drifted to my mate and my stomach turned.He was a powerful man. A very powerful man. I had hoped for a mate but I didn't expect someone with so much power. From his stare, it was obvious that I disgusted him. And what they had said, he believed them completely.His attitude already gave me the impression that he wouldn't be accepting me. But why then did he want me to go back with him? I was unsure about everything, but grateful that I was far away from Kaden and his evil pack. Where they would never be able to touch me again.The coach came to an abrupt stop and I fell forward, hitting my face against the wall of the coach.The door flew open and Hermes was standing in front of me. I caught sight of my mate, he was walking away from the coach at a very fast pace. He didn't even look back for a second to see if I was down from t
I didn't get much sleep throughout the night. I was turning and tossing all through the night. My situation seemed bleak to me and I couldn't get the look on his face out of my mind. The looks on all their faces. I had been assaulted constantly in that pack. And even tonight…the way they had seen us. They knew…Eunice knew that it wasn't consensual but she acted like that to save face. I couldn't even defend myself in front of all those people. I sighed deeply. It was already too late to think much about it. They had all made their conclusions about me. There was nothing I could do to change how they thought about me. Again…my mate. If I'm being honest, I'm still bewildered that I had gotten one. 'He's not so much to us' my wolf reminded me and I sighed again. I forced my eyes shut but the sleep didn't come still. By the time the rooster crowed, I figured I had to get up. Since I was still in the tattered clothes from yesterday, I grabbed the cloak Hermes had given me and put it on ag
I never got the chance to see that girl again or ask her to explain her words from that day. Roughly a thousand servants were working at the castle. That was almost ten times the size of Kaden's pack. I would never meet all of them one-on-one and the chances that I would meet that girl again was very slim. There was no one else that I could ask about what she had said so I let it go. That day, it took me six hours to scrub the laundry room clean on my knees. By the time I was done scrubbing and washing, my knees felt sore and my arms were trembling. My stomach had been cramping because of the lack of food and I remember feeling very dizzy as I tried to find my way to the kitchen after my tedious work. A meal was waiting for me and I gobbled it up. One of the women was nice enough to inform me that I could ask for my meals whenever I wanted it. The days went by and I healed completely from the attack of that night. I didn't run into Martha and only received the list of my duties at t