HAZELOutside our suite, the pack house buzzes with tension. Alphas from packs send healers and messages of support. Members of our kingdom stand vigil, their faces filled with worry and grief. Days turn into nights, and the passage of time is marked only by the faint ray of hope that refuses to die. And then, finally, there’s a little change. Kamila’s fever breaks first, followed by Zenas’s, but their bodies remain weak.Relief floods through me and tears of gratitude blur my vision as I embrace them. "We made it," Arnold whispers hoarsely as his hand finds mine."We're not done yet," Ethan adds. "We still have work to do."The twins' recovery marks a turning point, but the scars of betrayal still run deep as questions linger in our minds. Who orchestrated the poisoning, and why? How could we have missed the signs? In the days that follow, we strengthen our security measures, monitor every meal, and go through our alliances. The maid remains locked in the dungeons, and right now,
HAZELThe decision weighs heavily on my heart as I stand before the cell where my former taskmaster is held, shackled, and guarded. His eyes widen in fear as I approach, and his voice trembles with desperation when he speaks."No, please!" he pleads, his voice cracking. "I didn't mean for this to happen!"I meet his gaze firmly with my hands clenched into fists at my sides. "You poisoned my children," I say through gritted teeth. Each word I say is laced with fury and pain. "You will help us save them. That’s the final part of the ritual required for them to heal completely."The taskmaster recoils, and his face is pale with terror. "I… I don't know how," he stammers."You know more than you're willing to admit," I retort. My voice is low and dangerous. "And if you don't cooperate, I will make you regret every moment you spent plotting against us."With a wave of my hand, the guards unlock the cell and drag him out into the harsh light of day. His protests fall on deaf ears as I lead
HAZELThe days following the twins' recovery are filled with a deep sense of relief and gratitude. Zena and Kamila, who were once pale and weak from the poisoning and curse, are now thriving with renewed energy. Their smiles shine throughout their nursery and their light shines through and lifts the spirits of our kingdom.Arnold and Ethan watch over them with vigilant eyes, and I can feel their relief as we witness our children return to their normal selves. We gather as a family in the evenings, sharing meals and stories, cherishing each moment like a precious gift.One evening, as we sit together, basking in the warmth of our living room, with Zena and Kamila nestled between us, I make a vow out of fierce determination and love."I promise," I begin. My voice is steady despite the emotion that threatens to overwhelm me. "That I will protect you both with everything I have. No harm will ever come to you again."Arnold looks at me with trust and agreement in his eyes. Ethan nods in a
HAZELI stare at the person in front of me as defiantly as I can. I’m not about to let myself be bullied again. I have faced a lot of bullies this past month, and now, I’m ready to speak up. I can’t just stand back and allow other people to control me just as they have been doing before. My taskmaster looks back at me with surprise swirling around his features. I know why he is surprised because I am too. I never expected that I would stand up to him, and he didn’t either. But now, here I am, looking at him as he looks back at me, all the while standing my ground. “What did you just say, girl?” he asks me in a firm tone.Actually, this is the assistant taskmaster for all the maids in the Moonshine Pack. The head taskmaster usually handles most of the work, but since he is away at the moment, the assistant taskmaster is stepping in. That’s why my workload and those of about five other maids have been handed over to the assistant taskmaster. The five other girls that I’m supposed to
HAZELAll the maids of the Moonshine Pack have just been informed that King Ethan is on his way to this pack for an official visit. And that’s not all. We are told that this time, he is coming along with his twin brother, The King of the Northern Kingdom, King Arnold Sharpe. We are told that they are coming on official pack business, but I know that’s bullshit. The main reason that they are coming here is because of me. King Ethan probably told his brother about his mate and how she rejected him and now, they are both coming here to try to force me to accept King Ethan and go to his domain with him.Well, if my guess is correct and that’s really what they are coming here for, then they are in for a rough time. I won’t go with them willingly, except if I’m tied and bound up. They have to forcefully cart me out of this place if they want me to leave.It’s the truth that I don’t like my situation in this pack. I have never liked being a maid, but there is nothing I can do about it. Well
HAZELWhen the rest of the maids went inside the pack house, the Alpha of the pack came to lead us to the suite that had been prepared for the Kings. All of us had followed him silently and when he showed us to the suite, he left without a word as well. Now, the two Kings who are in the same room with me have started arguing with each other.“What do you mean she’s your mate?” King Ethan growls at his brother.“Ethan, to tell you the truth, I don’t know how it happened. I just know that I felt myself being drawn to her when we first arrived and now, I can feel the mate bond between us,” King Arnold replied calmly.“You can’t be serious. She is my mate. Hazel is mine!” King Ethan roars. “She’s mine too. I can’t be lying to you about something like this,” King Arnold insists. “Come off it, Arnold!”“I want her to come with me to my Kingdom as my mate. She will be better off there, especially since she’s being bullied here. She can’t remain here any longer. My mansion will be the safe
ETHAN I’m still rooted to one spot in shock and so is my twin brother. I cannot believe that Hazel just rejected us so brutally and I’m sure he doesn’t either. But it’s the truth. She rejected us and we just have to come to terms with it. I don’t know why Hazel rejected us and I don’t think I understand why either. Try as we did, we couldn’t seem to find out what her reason was. But the main issue is that I don’t think I can come to terms with the fact that a maid just rejected me and my twin brother. Hazel is just a mere maid, for God’s sake, so I still don’t understand why she would reject either of us when we are offering her a chance at a better life, when we just want to lift her out of the abject misery she is currently living in. “She rejected us, Ethan,” Arnold suddenly says, cutting into the silence that has enveloped us ever since Hazel left. “She did,” I reply in a brave tone.He looks heartbroken about the situation and I am too, but I know that we have to square up to
HAZELThere is an expression of plea in my eyes as I look upward at the stone that is sure to come crashing down at my head any moment from now, but the girls around me don't seem to notice it. And even if they do, then they don't care. Just then, I close my eyes in order to brace myself for the forceful impact the stone will definitely have on my delicate head, but I'm shocked when after a while, I don't feel anything, not even a single touch as light as a feather. I'm puzzled by this sudden development since it's definitely not what I was expecting, so I start to open my eyes tentatively but surely. When I finally get them open completely, to say I'm shocked by what I see would be an understatement.Standing near Cathy and looking at her with a murderous look on his face is the head taskmaster. The stone she was about to hit me with is still in her hand and now she looks around, trying to find a way to dispose of it and make herself look less guilty, but it doesn't seem to work bec