1 Chapter 1

Oh, how wrong we were to think immortality meant never dying.

Shielded behind layers of cognitive matter, a raw essence survived there simply hidden below the fingertips. I could see proactive alive stains.

A Greasy intellect collectively embedded just beneath my nails and I couldn't bring myself to rid my fiend of its identity, for everyone would have to know what I was.

My hands were covered with invisible ink, all the words I've written resided there' leaving a writer's residue. So unique and configuring, I encircled around it with the patronized padding of my thumb.

I feel the frosting kiss of a winter's solstice before the melody of rustling tree branches blared, reminding me of my milking insomnia. How I treasured the night's company aside the moon's wheedling to come near; to come closer. I could feel the true god inside of me prancing around with a lolled tongue begging for any form of release, but I'd known all too vigorously, that was a rather bad idea.

We've got to stop meeting like this.

For we are neither acquaintances nor strangers.

The grass crinkles and shies away from me almost out of spited jealousy of my companionship with the faint-hearted, moon. To have a connection so unearthly, sometimes I wondered with the traveling spirit nestling inside of me, and the inability to access incantations...

Is being unworthy of this world dangerously fitting? Or perhaps unconstitutional?

I distract myself further with the removal of my clothing and in suit, came my brown leathered faux oxfords. I grimace at the dirt that covered the bottom half of my shoes but gulped sternly before turning away to gather my fully dilated surroundings.

Trees for miles amongst trees, the sound of running water indicated the river close by.

I almost chuckle as with each step I took closer into the woods, I could hear the pounding drum in my ears that were in sync with the swaying of the water. My blood ran cold, the color of golden steel and aluminum.

Shortly as anxiety wrecked havoc down my nervous tendons, I succeeded in distracting myself. Before I knew it, the clasp of my bra snapped and it fell to the ground out of grace, almost seeping into the greenery as I slid down my panty from my short stubby -shaven legs.

I purse my lips into a thin line before the moon's glare faultlessly carried me into the woods, where I almost feel swallowed by foliage and overlapped with tree nymphs who all bellowed out one name.

My name.

I've been avoiding this for many nights now but filled with fever and disorientation, I can't bring myself to function or run away from it.

In his voice, I have to embrace it.

My chest begins to shake and my breathing became labored. It is the uneasiness that develops between my folds once a hand snakes around my neck, that pulled me in flush against a chest.

"It's been a pleasure coaxing you to join me," He mumbles. Innocently, his voice sounded like a mixture of both sandpaper and cotton which soaked in ponds of velvet. Every syllable clipped from his tone underlies in a slur.

I've been dreading this day since our first skim of contact and my heart seems to tumble into my ass. I wanted to take control, I did but everything in my body caved in... it gave in to our superior, after his viper-like tongue darted outside of his mouth, to slice down my earlobe.

I feel robbed of all senses to see stars I haven't seen nor could decipher, taking upon the constellation of Orion.

Orion is greeting his dagger against his lips despite the blade that carried poisonous fibers of every fraudulent, who claimed to be bloody lovers. He'd fall to his knees at the sight of me and this male who dared to impose against millions of nations that were emerald hearts.

Being fondled by seduction, I shift from one foot to the other, molding into the chest behind me, "I'll run." A voice emitting from my mouth teases but my mind betrayed my words.

Licking my lips, I began to feel the length of him thrusting between my inner thighs with such menace and cogency. Before I could protest, a whimper escaped my lips without mercy.

"I've been counting on it," He finally says and suddenly with a loud yelp coming from me, he enters without another thought, plunging between my—

.

"Vera you literal incompetent fool!"

"Don't you dare ignore me!"

"Hey, are you even listening to me?" Murmurs are echoing around the classroom as the infamous Andy continues to prob at her twin sister's shoulder, in an attempt to gain some form of backlash that she hadn't received. Because frankly, heated arguments were never the rather meek Vera Lee's thing. Which the pair did often. Every day in fact.

Sweat pooled from Vera's forehead, being awoken for the fifth time this week. Hell, and it wasn't even Friday yet.

The week's end was slowly approaching and she experienced yet again another hot flash, but she couldn't tell her sister, Andy that. What would creep her out more, Vera thought, the savoring dream's effect, or the cast and crew that relieved this dream inside of her?

The way she presses her pencil against her own set of lips whenever she concentrated only furthered Andy's frustration, but Vera had yet to bother looking up at the mere distraction, and instead pushes the dark brown hair behind her ear softly.

Despite Vera hearing her sister's whispers once again, she continues to look down and scribble across her notes furiously —pretending to be listening in on the current lecture that the teacher was going over.

She remained hot and bothered and the care leaked from her skin as she shrugged it off and tried to tune into Mrs. Hart's provocative  words.

That's when the current ordeal escalates, "Come on now Vera Lee," Andy throws a crumpled piece of paper at her in between sentences. "You can't honestly believe that you're the Prince's, long-awaited soulmate." By this point everyone belonging in Mrs. Hart's third period English, had their heads turning at the two girls boldly out of curiosity. What show would they be televising this time?

Even the teacher stopped mid-lecture to pay attention to the distraction they were putting out, with a furrowed eyebrow raised.

"Girls, is there anything more important than a lifelong partner given to you by the gods?" Mrs. Hart presses down on the butt of her pen in her hand as she pushes back her circular glasses. At the sound of a weary sigh from Vera, Andy smirks victoriously.

Hastily shaking her head in disagreement, Vera steadies her pencil to show Mrs.Hart she was intensively writing down the notes when Andy scoots to the edge of her seat. "No Mrs. Hart. We were only discussing the procedures for tomorrow's trip to the BeckonStone's castle." Vera internally facepalms herself lowly sliding down the back of her seat.

She wanted to appear small just in case Andy decided to blabber her mouth again, about what goes on in her journal. Perhaps maybe this time her sister wouldn't try embarrassing her like she always did. In a classroom filled with cynical and abrasive werewolves.

"Oh yes, that we are." Mrs. Hart's face lightens up in bliss as if just the thought of attending the King's home truly excited her. How being surrounded by royalty in their courts of unyielding praise and various duties.

Vera's stomach flips upside down at just the thought of the one she wanted to see in particular. The one who could be the true predator that haunted her dreams...

"The buses leave at eight. I want you here at six o'clock sharp though on the more safer side, appropriate dress. We are expected to be touring King Augustus's wealthy courters." Suddenly a blush coated Vera's face at just the thought of being in a close radar of the Prince and all of his loyal subjects.

Only the strongest, richest, and wisest wolves are born into the royal family's quarters - praised just alike; kissed at the boots and Vera was far from deserving of such treatment.

Since an adolescent Vera had the biggest crush on the Alpha Prince. So big that every guy whom pursued her, unquestionably, she had turned them down. She couldn't physically muster why but she was loyal to a stranger, she didn't even know.

From reading books to researching in the local library she gathered the interest of the Prince and assumed it wasn't coincidental that they both loved everything the same. This was a common tendency between mates. No matter how many times she called herself crazy her self-conscious mind convinced her otherwise.

"So what all will we see in the castle on this tour Mrs. Hart?" A kid just sitting opposite Vera asks.

"Well because the King had to squeeze this into his very tight compacted schedule, There's only a hand full of things we can do. We will see the grand fields where his pack trains. The kitchen where the royal family dines. Walk around the corridor, oh hopefully we can snap few pictures there and lastly we are listed to meet the King and his family." Mrs. Hart finishes eyeing Vera as she sulks into her seat.

"Vera is there something wrong?" She asks causing Vera to snap her head up abruptly while beginning to frantically shake her head no, she hadn't dared to reply - too much afraid her voice would give out on her into a squeak.

"Maybe she's scared of the royal family after all of the stories she'd heard about them. I know I am." A boy just sitting behind Vera says causing chatter to arouse.

"My brother's cousin's, neighbor's dog's friend once said the King tied him up in wolfsbane just because he was out in the garden passed curfew," someone exclaimed. "I mean, that sounds pretty scary to me."

A few other students agreed along with the boy nodding their heads while sharing their fair stories and rumors, the only one who didn't bother to gossip was Vera.

"I heard the Prince once bit out a maid's heart just because her shoulder grazed his the wrong way." Some girl said causing Vera to roll her eyes at her -Ridicule comment. "He's sexy and all but I don't think I could live with that."

Andy suspiciously scoffs, "Actually. Vera's very far from scared. Infatuated even." Vera turns glaring daggers into the side of her head and with no hesitation, she kicks Andy's leg underneath the table with a thud following behind it.

"If that is all for your questions. Your attention back to the lesson please?" Ms. Hart glides her fingers across the board, reading over the terms that the class was going over.

"Andy -since you've done nothing but interrupt me during the time being. Why won't you explain to me the difference between the desired mate... and a true mate." How ironic the question spewed from Miss Hart's mouth fully aware Andy was told of these rules on various occasions.

Andy has already defied the acts of werewolf culture numerous times starting with this one. For hell's sake and she wasn't even one herself. Nor was Vera.

"The desired mate is someone chosen over the fate given one while your fate given one is, exactly that. Fate given." Andy replies with a raised eyebrow in annoyance with Mrs. Hart, whose nonchalant expression remained.

Everyone knew of the flings she had with many different male wolves. From a mile away you could smell it on her. Her mate would be able to swim in it, even further.

"Nevertheless your true mate is the only one able to fully claiming or marking their she-wolf. Any attempts from the desired mate would more than likely kill she-wolf or send her body into loads of pain along with her real mate."

Humming her response in acceptance Mrs. Hart steps dangerously close to Vera, with a look of amusement on her face. "Now for you Vera. I want you to go into full detail of the royal family, and why exactly are they so important that they are considered royalty in the first place."

Vera nervously looks around at all the eyes who watched in close attention. She never liked being on the spot like that which is why she stuck to eating lunch in the library or keeping her head down during social gatherings.

Encouraging for her to speak Mrs. Hart narrows her eyes on the gentle form of Vera, who stutters on her a sentence before finally coming to speak. "The royal family is the first lineage of werewolves to ever grace this planet's surface. They are the direct descendants of Sir Whitmore, the first Lycan span who ceased the supremacy of werewolves. Their very blood is combined with aggression and purity." Vera states with pride leaking from her tone at just the thought of their history.

Andy watched her sister with so much jealousy and hatred that she knew she couldn't compete with her and her antics. "You know the royal family isn't all that great," Andy argues competing with Vera, who only watched with slanted eyebrows and amuse thrashing around in her potent irises.

"They've lied to our ancestors and have been lying to us for decades. Honestly, what's so great about their healing abilities and sex appeal?" Cue the hushed snickers from the girls, "Nobody cares about that." The insult collides with Vera like a tidal wave.

"Since they've been in power they've been fighting with each other over the iron crown. It's only a matter of time before they fall." Vera wanted so badly to wipe the smirk growing on Andy's face.

Vera looks taken aback by Andy's bold accusation but subconsciously debates whether to respond. "No one said they were great. Now powerful? That I do believe, and I can't be persuaded otherwise. You feel so compatible with them? Walk up to King Augustus and say that." Few snickers are heard at Vera's challenge towards Andy, but no one dared to intervene. Mrs. Hart listened intently.

Biting back her lip in agitation Mrs. Hart subtly steps in. "What gives you the sense that they are lying to you. I'm curious." Even Vera awaits Andy's response. "Well, even I have done my fair share of research. The iron prophecy? The Golden age which is dated to have been the time Augustus took the throne from his father, the deceased King Nathaniel. It's far sketched. No, it's something bigger about the whole story." Andy shouts as everyone looked at her fully amused.

"Hold on guys I think we have a psychic conspiracy theorist here, let me grab my lab equipment." The class erupts into laughter all at Andy who gazed dumbfounded. Vera releases a giggle of her own until they were hushed by Mrs. Hart who seemed to be collecting herself.

"To the King and Queen, there are five sons and three daughters. Nobody knows their names only that their most eligible heir, is expected to take the throne as soon as he finds his mate." Mrs. Hart walks back to her podium and leans against it. "Good job twins... make sure you know even more for the finals. Class dismissed!" She says in a union as the bell rings all too loudly over Vera's head.

Scurrying out of the classroom not before grasping her things, Vera doesn't turn to look at her talkative sister who almost told the class of her fantasies over the Prince.

Luckily for me, Andy refrained herself Vera thought. And we don't take the same Discovery Tech together.

"Hey Vera, wait up!" Vera smiles before her best friend Mavis comes into view, clinging to her side. She gives her a knowing look and instantly Mavis is chuckling her little head off.

"Andy must've jabbered again?" Mavis is still laughing while Vera tries to help the smile from breaking out on her face. "No, not this time entirely," Vera replies fiddling with her fingertips.

"She almost blurted out my insane infatuation with the Prince." Mavis covers her mouth fully aware that is Vera's deepest and darkest secret. Ever. Only Mavis knew because if given the circumstances, Vera trusted her with her life.

"Jeez Vera... if you keep cradling that silly diary around like it's your child, the wrong person could end up getting their hands on it." Mavis shakes her head in disbelief.

"It's not just some diary May. This book is everything to me and you know that." Vera turns to look at her friend - who already looking back at her with the same facial expression. "Besides it's not even a diary it's my... my journal of spells I practice conjuring from time to time." Mavis sends her friend a knowing look, that makes Vera sigh in defeat.

"Okay, it is my diary. But if I have to remind you, it's the only thing I have of my birth mother. It's the only thing that comes to mind when just thinking about her. Please understand."

Mavis sends her friend a soft smile before pulling her closer into a side hug. In wolf form, this would be a comforting gesture like butting sides between both mated females because unmated males hate when their mate is touched. Even by the same sex.

"Come on honey, let's not be late to Mr. Moore's, even though I highly doubt he'd much care." Vera just follows suit behind the brunette with her eyes cast down to the floor tiles.

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