ELVA’S POV A year had passed, but Father hadn’t let me leave the palace. He promised me that he’d reveal me to the kingdom on my birthday and it was going to be a big day. Throughout the previous year, the farthest place I could go was the palace gate and a garden behind the palace where Mother planted daisies and dandelions. The only person from outside the palace walls who had been able to get a glance of my face was the pack artist. He came every month to paint a picture of me for Mother. The first month of the new year had just ended, and our artist had come to do his job. “Elva! You’re still dressed in your casual wear!” Mum exclaimed when she saw me descending the magnificently decorated twirling stairs, painted white and gold on the rails, with a red carpet covering the stairs. “Is the artist here already?” I asked. “Yes,” A subtle voice came from under the stairs, where the artist’s chair was usually kept whenever he was done painting. But it wasn’t the artist creeping ou

ELVA’S POV I scrammed the bathroom the moment I heard a knock on my door. It was time for my first training with Mr Stewart and I was almost running late. I hadn’t thought it through before going into the bathroom to bathe. I’d still get dirty from the training, so it made no sense now that I had taken my bath. “Who’s there?” I asked as I forced my legs through my blue underwear. “It’s me,” Selena’s voice came from behind the door. I rushed to the door. “Sorry I locked the door,” I said as she came in, “I was taking my bath.” “These are your training uniforms,” she said, handing over a stack of folded clothes to me. I received it from her and she turned, leaving without saying one more word. Mum or Dad seemed to have just woken her from sleep to give me the uniforms. Her room was very close to theirs, making her the most accessible person whenever they needed to send someone on an errand. The uniforms were of three different colors; each consisting of a long-sleeve shirt and a

SELENA'S POV Prince Darian's handsomeness was beyond description. His eyes were blue and the intensity of his gaze was stomach-melting. He stood at 6 ft 7. The perfect height of a guy that matched my 6 ft 3. Whenever he mentioned my name, I felt I had been flung into an abyss of beautiful flowers and butterflies. I had seen him when he arrived, and although we had only spoken briefly, I was already head over heels in love with him. He was articulate with pronouncing my name, and I couldn't help but watch the motion of his lips as he did so. He had arrived weary after a long time on the road without rest during his journey, so he wanted to get a deep nap before coming out again in the evening for dinner. It was almost dinner time now, but I guessed he'd come out before that time to take a look outside. The castle structure gave a beautiful view in the evening. From upstairs, it seemed the orange sun sank into the earth whenever it was about to go home. Coupled with its fervid luster

DARIAN'S POVWhen I told her that I wanted to place my palm on her bare chest, she freaked out."No, no, no. That's not happening," she said rashly."Trust me, Elva. If we do this and it doesn't work, you can report me to your father," I said to her."No. That's not assuring," she fretted. "Just tell me that you're not a pervert.""I'm not a pervert, I promise," I said to her."I can't believe this is happening," she said. She looked so nervous, battling with the decision to proceed or not. She really needed to know whether she was a werewolf or not, and I could sense it in her that she didn't want to forfeit the opportunity of figuring that out.The cottage was shady. No one would be able to make out what we were doing from afar. "Trust me," I said to Elva.After a few more minutes of deliberating over what action to take, Elva finally gave in."Please, I hope you're not trying to trick me," she said."I'm not," I said, watching her as she undid two buttons from her shirt, revealing

ELVA’S POVEveryone gazed at me like something was missing from a part of my face.I stopped chewing the chunk of pork I had in my mouth.“What?!”Father took in a deep breath. “Do you mean to tell me that you don’t remember training today?” Father asked her.“Master Stewart hasn’t come yet,” I said.No sooner than I had said that, Mother walked into the dining table. She had been in her room all this while. I heard she was worried sick about me and had slept off while complaining that I needed to stop having harsh training sessions.Lu ran into the dining room right after Mum had come in.“Who’s up for some night race?” Lu asked.“When I’m done eating,” Selena said.“I’m up too,” Prince Darian said. “Me too,” I joined in.Once again, all eyes gazed at me like something was off with my face, or rather with my voice this time.“I’m sorry you can’t join them. The physician has to come and take a look at you tonight,” Dad said.“But he can come when I’m back from racing,” I insisted, “