EVANORA'S POV The path leading to Blade's pack was still the same, the features not changing. The roads were still steep, the woods silent and only having the sounds of chirping birds and few animals around. I swallowed as I got closer to his pack. It had to be the first time I was heading there with such a heavy heart. My anxiety was second to none and I just couldn't control my beating heart. I finally arrived at his pack and was welcomed by the totally unfamiliar aura. It felt different from when I was back home and I couldn't help but immediately feel so different from them. I had to have a whole lot of courage to be there. I was a vampire and was confidently walking in the land of my enemies, knowing very well the slightest mistake of my revealing my identity could cost me my life. Fear suddenly gripped me as I approached Blade's palace. He was to be in there but I had no idea where exactly he was going to be in the huge building in front of me. My steps slowed down, gradua

BLADE'S POV"I need you to mark me as your mate, Blade."I blinked at her words, immediately knitting my eyebrows. Did I hear wrong? Was she being serious?She looked me directly in the eye again and as our eyes met, I immediately knew she wasn't joking. She meant it."Evanora," I said, taking my hands out of hers. "What do you mean?""I want you to mark me, Blade," she repeated, holding me again. "No, I need you to. I'm your mate, am I not? And you love me, right? So do it. Go ahead and mark me as your mate.""Evanora, no," I replied softly. "Marking you is not just-""I read about it already, okay?" She cut me off, her desperation taking over. "You marking me is claiming me and allowing the world to know I'm yours. Once you do that, my dad would be left with no choice but to cancel the marriage. That's perfect, is it not? And it's exactly what I want. I don't want to get married to the prince.""No," I pulled away from her, uttering in a stern voice. "I can't mark you as my mate, Ev

BLADE’S POVThe kitchen was only a stone's throw from the dining after going down the stairs and walking for a few seconds, we arrived at our destination.Despite being the Alpha, I could count the number of times I’d set foot into the kitchen as I never really had business in it. It was wide with several helps working their magic on pans and pots, moving hurriedly around the kitchen at intervals. It was a sight to see as they all immediately composed themselves the minute they laid their eyes on me."Alpha Blade.""Good evening, Alpha Blade.""You're here, Alpha."Responding to all of their greetings with just a single nod, I went straight to the reason I was in the kitchen. There was no need to uselessly beat around the bush and in the process, cause panic among the innocent helps. "Who was in charge of the tables tonight? I mean, who was in charge of serving both me and my guest's meal?"My words erupted into mumbles and at the end, fingers were pointed toward a timid-looking lady

EVANORA'S POVI woke up hours later with a splitting headache.My room was dark and empty, the only thing keeping me company being memories of how my dad and the witch had managed to have me down.I was tired and had no choice but to succumb to them. With a sigh, I rolled in my bed and shut my eyes in frustration as I realized I wouldn't be able to sneak out that night to see Blade.The following morning came in a flash, my exhaustion from the previous day not leaving me. I had no choice but to gather enough strength to get myself downstairs and manage to eat breakfast quietly. When I was done, I headed to the training room and had my morning training.I had no choice but to succumb to them. At least temporarily. That way they were going to be able to loosen their grip on me and finally allow me successfully sneak out to see Blade later at night.I kept my act on the whole day, being silent and doing exactly what they wanted of me at the moment. Immediately after dinner, I headed back

EVANORA’S POV I blinked continuously at the sight of Matthew. For a second, it felt surreal and it took a moment of continuous staring for me to believe it was truly him. “Matthew!” I cried out, immediately rushing towards him. I had no idea I had missed him that much when it had only been a few days without him. “God, it really is you.” Taking him off balance, I threw myself at him, hugging him tightly. I heard a chuckle escape from his lips as he wrapped his arms around me, hugging me back. “Goodness, you acting like this is the reason your dad thinks something is going on between us.” With a playful scowl, I pulled away and pouted at him. “I missed you. And I’m so sorry.” “What are you sorry for?” he pats me on the shoulder. “You didn’t do anything.” I couldn’t help but smile at him. I wondered how he was fairing and if everything was really fine with him as I could no longer trust my dad. “How have you been?” I finally asked. “I know my dad dismissed you because of me. How