RAFAEL. Tearing down the castle doors, I made my way through in search of my parents. "Mother!" I gritted through my teeth before seeing her against the throne. "Ohh Veronica has been looking everywhere for y—""Where's dad?" I interrupted her and she batted her lashes at me. I wasn't interested in Veronica nor was I in whatever she was about to say. And just then, the door opened to my father. "What's going on?" Carlos could scent the tension fill the room."I've decided that Kayla isn't going anywhere" I replied, darting a stare to the both of them. Ingrid was the most bewildered, taking a step down the throne. "What do you mean, Rafael?" She asked."We've already had this conversation and I assumed you'd make the right decision for the very first time" She snarled. "There's simply no way you're getting married to that woman, Rafael" My father chipped in as well and I shook my head at the both of them. Flashing behind my eyes were the memories from the first time I’d met Kayla.I
KAYLA.Ever since I was a little girl, I've found out that journaling was the best way to express myself. Having literally no one else to talk to forced me to pick up a book one day and start channeling my emotions into it. It was the best form of therapy and I usually assumed I was speaking to my mother.Whenever I wrote, it was almost as if I could feel her presence surround me and in the times of tears, I could fell her arms stretch out to comfort me. I usually told her about the wrath I faced in Archer's hands and how everyone hated me since she passed but most of all, I told her how much I wished she was still here.How my life would be so much different if I had my mother by my side.Then one day, my step sisters got their hands on the secret book and their first instinct was to take it to my father. He was furious when he found out all I’ve been saying. I could remember his exact words, calling me selfish and ungrateful for everything he'd done.It was that day he gave me the s
RAFAEL.The royal chambers were occupied with a number of us. Night had fallen and it was time for dinner. I’d called a meeting with the elder betas including Veronica’s father and I watched as he exchanged pleasantries with both Ingrid and Carlos. They took their seats around the table and Veronica set her venomous eyes on me.“I’ve been thinking” Her father started.“My daughter is really keen about the wedding preparations” He added and my mother chuckled. “So is the King” She replied. There was a contagious laughter that went around the table but it all silenced when the door drew open again. My eyes lit up as Kayla walked in.Veronica cowered her head and Ingrid didn’t hide the displeasure flash in her eyes. I ordered when we first got here that she have dinner with us but for the past few days, I hadn’t seen Kayla. It was so much of a relief to see her face and that she was doing okay but I couldn’t shake from my thoughts what happened the last time we spoke.As she took her se
KAYLA“Oh wow.”I marveled at the sight of the glowing pendant because I’d never seen something quite like this. A gazillion questions roamed behind my eyes, including whether or not Rafael knew about this. The tears seized from falling down my cheeks as I reached across to the necklace.Like an amulet, its light hit the ceiling and emanated a purple hue. I enclasped it like an artifact in my hands. narrowing my eyes at the hauntingly beautiful diamond. It was warm and embracing, like a presence flowed through the stone—a presence that seemed to choose me.What was this."Am I making the right decision?" My first instinct was to speak to it and after a moment, it beamed twice. I had no idea what that meant but a faint smile crept to the corner of my lips. It seemed like the crystal was talking back to me."Was Sarah murdered by a wild animal in the woods?" I asked the next obvious question and this time, it was hesitant although it still beamed. It was like an ancient artifact with
RAFAEL.“How did you never tell me you had a brother?”Kayla asked the first of the hundred questions that roamed in the back of her mind. She ran the towel through her messy hair and then took a seat on the same bed where I was. It’s been an hour since we got back from the forest and every second since then, I’d dreaded that question.How was I supposed to tell her that even the thought of Lucien was dead in my head. Ever since he left a long time ago, I’d killed him in my mind, thinking there was no way he would resurface. Thinking with him in the past, I would be able to finally move forward.I don’t go about telling people of my brother, Lucien because all he has ever done was ruin my life and ruin everything. “Rafael” Kayla’s soft voice drifted me out of my thoughts and I tied my lips to the corner, letting my eyes fall on her. We were the only ones in the room, excused by all the maids and guards. I just wanted to make sure she was okay after all that happened, and besides the
KAYLA.The bruises across my neck ran shallow but they burned so much.I was no stranger to torture and vile treatment that I had a lot of wounds and scars across my body. I could endure a hundred from my father but not one from a Lycan. I touched across the red surface but it hurt even more—almost yearning for Rafael's hands.Whenever he was with me, it didn't hurt so much.I wanted him.I wanted him so bad that my body craved his touch—that I couldn't explain. It was more than being mated, more than being tethered. It was as though he was my life, my cure. I wanted him as bad as he wanted me but the thought of Veronica had forced me to drive him away.I regretted it as soon as he walked out of the door. I regretted letting him go. I was a stranger to these carnal feelings which only made it a hundred times worse that I just needed the coldest shower to bury my head beneath. But alas as I stood up, holding the towel across my chest, my door suddenly barged open.And a shaky gasp e
RAFAEL.I sneaked up the stairs in nothing but my trousers and my wet shirt hanging across my arms. I was gentle enough to not wake Kayla up but that was only a mission half accomplished because now I was to walk back into my room without waking Veronica too.My hands grasped around the knob and I pushed it open slowly to avoid the creaking sound. I was careful enough, walking to my bed and slipping beneath the sheets and it was then the lamp turned on. Veronica reached to it and looked back at me.“Where have you been?” She asked softly amidst a yawn and I ran my hands through my moist hair. “I—“ I stuttered, realizing I should have probably come up with an excuse on my way here. “I showered in the guest room after speaking with Lucien” I continued.“Speaking with Lucien?” She echoed and it was just as confusing to her as it was for me. But as bright as Veronica was, she did have a soft spot for me, allowing my words to settle in her as the truth. She leaned in for a kiss and then
KAYLA.Since I got here, I’ve noticed a few things.The Lycans lived much differently than how we did back at Blood Moon. They were organized, tactic and not to mention, even more powerful. They seemed to always be in control or on the verge of it. Everything here was well intentioned and happened for a reason I noticed.Their shifting also came easily to them. Or perhaps as they grew, they learned to control their powers and most primal desires. Unlike my people who could only transform during a full moon, the Lycans were blessed with the ability to shift whenever they wanted. I’ve watched Rafael slip in and out of his beastly nature and it was clear that of all of them, he was the most advanced and powerful. It made sense that he was Alpha King, able to rule fairly over the wolves of the Black Mountain Pack, commanding as much respect and regard to him. It was essential for the smooth running of the pack that they accepted him as king to rule over them. It wasn’t a messy politica