ONYX'S POV;
"Let's go to your room," Selah whines as she gets on top of me.
"But we're fine here." I say, slightly pushing her off me.
She gets off me in anger and glares at me. "Find where anyone can come in?"
"I'm really not in the mood, Selah," Onyx said. He was shocked that he had actually said that. He had never not been in the mood with Selah and this was strange. He looked at her to see that she was already frowning and getting on her feet.
"I should leave, then," She says.
Grabbing her by the arm, I stop her from moving and she tries to be free from my hold to no avail. "You're not leaving."
"Why?" Selah queried. "You won't even touch me and now, you don't want me to go either!"
"Calm down, Selah. Sex isn't the only thing we should be having, should it? There are other things to do. Like have conversations, take a walk or even play games,"
Selah is staring at me in confusion. "What are you saying? Conversations, walks, games?" She bursts into laughter and I know that's valid. The dynamic of our relationship never tilted to that. But now, I want it. Is it so hard to ask for?
"Of course," I reply. "We can do it, can't we? It's not so hard."
Selah shakes her head. "No, we can't. We can't do it. We can't start all these right now and you know that! You never talked about these things while we were seriously dating but now that you're married, you want it. Just say you don't want me anymore. I'd understand."
I immediately stand to my feet, against my own will. "Selah, you know that's not true."
"Then what's true? What's true? The love you don't have for me? Or how tired you are of me already?"
"Selah, you know that's not true. I am not tired of you and never will be!"
Whack!
I didn't see that coming and when I look at her again, I am fuming with anger.
"You slapped me?"
Selah burst into tears. "Something has changed. You no longer look at me like the way you used to. Your fond smile is not there. It's just filled with emptiness. Just like your words! You don't love me anymore. Spit it!"
I suddenly start to feel restless. My neck feels itchy and I want to extract myself from this conversation with immediate effect. I can see how hurt she is and honestly, there's nothing I can do about it.
She doesn't seem to understand that I am married. The worst is being married to some filthy woman I don't love and it's draining to have to uphold the status quo to maintain my Alpha-ship. She doesn't get that I have to forfeit some of my most prized habits for the throne. She thinks I just want to do it.
Selah pulls the collar of my shirt. "Tell it to my face. Tell me you don't love me! Tell me you don't want to see me any longer!"
"I'm sorry, Selah. It's not within my power."
She steps back and a sinister laugh escapes her throat. "Know what? You are still mine and I won't stop until we are back together for real. Even if it'll have to take me to get rid of anyone in my way!"
She turns and begins to walk away and I immediately follow after her. What is she talking about?
"Selah, don't do something crazy! You'll get hurt in the end!" I call out after her.
She turns and stares dead into my eyes. It's filled with rage and contempt. "You have no right to tell me what to do. Neither do you even have the right to care about my safety. So just get out of the way and let me do my thing!"
Sighing, I nod and watch her exit the palace. She jumps into her car without even looking at me and drives out of the palace.
"She's not worth it, you know?" A voice says from behind me. It's my mother. "I'm glad you let her go,"
Clenching my fist, I turn to her. "I never wanted to. And you know that. Why are you even doing this? Forcing me to stick with someone I detest. How cruel is that?"
My mother smiles. "The cruel one between us both is you and you know that. Treating your mate lime trash. For Luna to make her your mate, do you think she's stupid!"
"I don't think the moon goddess is stupid. I just think she is being unfair to me."
"She is never unfair!" My mother grinds. "She does everything for a purpose and you're too blind to see it! Like your father said, only time will change things. Only time will tell."
With those words, she turns to leave.
SELAH'S POV:
As soon as I drive out of the gates, I swerve into a corner and kill my engine before placing my head on the stirring and bursting into tears.
Everything I ever wished for was to be by Onyx's side, as is Luna, well respected by all and the ability to get whatever I want for myself.
But then that filthy rag who calls herself Hazel came into the book. In anger, I yell and hit the steering of my car and it honks a few times before I continue shedding tears.
But something in my head tells me that if I keep crying, nothing would be done. If I keep crying about not ending up with Onyx, my only key to a better life, nothing would change. So I raise my head and a look of determination coats my expression.
I need to do something about this and something must be really done. It might take some time or I might get caught but there's no harm in trying, no matter the risk.
Right?
Sitting back, I know I'll either have to wait till evening or come back. But I know how agitated I am. I'll just drive to get some food and come back to camp here and there while waiting for twilight.
My father might not even let me go out once I step out of this place so it's best I stay put.
So driving out, I go into the most popular restaurant here to get lunch before driving back and eating.
I sleep for a few hours and when the alarm I set wakes me up, I know it is time.
After yawning and stretching, I sit back to think and strategize properly. The only thing I have to do is talk to one of the cooks. Bribe them and get the job rolling. It's not that hard, is it?
So I climb out of my car, making sure to unlock it as I begin towards the palace gates.
I'll have to go through the front again and I just hope the guard I met this afternoon is standing there.
When I see him, a sigh of relief escapes my chest. My footsteps become more firm on the ground and more confident.
"Hey," I say in a seductive tone. The guard turns to look at me with a smirk. I wish I could wipe it off with a slap but I know what I'm here for.
"Hey, beautiful. You're back again," He says and cranes his neck to see if I'm with my car. "Without your car,"
I nod. "I just need to take something I forgot. I left my scarf in the palace and I need to get it,"
"Remember what I told you about the Queen?"
My hand finds his arm and I stroke it gently. He tenses up and closes his eyes. I know his weak spot.
"I just need to get my scarf. I'll be out before anyone even realizes. Besides, Onyx has the right to say anything and not the Queen."
"You'll have to sacrifice something to get in."
I frown. What game is this man trying to play? Sacrifice what?
The guard smiles and touches my cheek. I slap it off immediately, realizing what he's talking about. "I'll give you four grand if you let me in?"
The guard sighs in disappointment. "I would have wanted something else but four grand isn't bad at all,"
Slipping my hand into my pocket, I produce a wad of cash and slap it on his hand. "That's five grand. To keep shut if anything happens,"
The guard shrugs. He doesn't seem to care. Going to the gates, he opens it up for me and I nearly bump into Heyli and another woman.
She's so creepy. The way she looks at me gives me the chill. Her friend is more open on how she feels about me. She's openly glaring and when I turn to see them standing with the guard who is smiling at Hazel's friend, I know I have been cheated.
"Are you going to be free tonight for a couple of drinks?!"
"Bastard."
HAZEL'S POV: I thought Selah left this afternoon? What's she still doing here by this time? I'm not moved by the way she looks at me as she proceeds into the palace. "I really hate her," Kiara spat. "She makes me want to murder," I burst into laughter. "Hey! Kiara, you don't have to sound like that." "I don't really care. She's so shameless. She should be busy searching for her mate but she's here rubbing her body against the King. How shameful." "Calm down, Kiara. It's not that deep," We're standing outside the gates now and she's glaring at me. "It's not that deep?!" She bursts into laughter. "You must be really dumb to think that it's not that deep. Someone is trying to take your place in Onyx's life and you're saying it's not that deep?" "I thought you hated Onyx? Aren't you the one asking me to leave him? Why are you mad that I'm not doing anything about it? Cut me some slack, Kiara. I am already receiving so much pressure from being the King's
SELAH'S POV: "She was able to bribe the priest to announce someone else as his mate." I laugh, shaking my head. "I don't believe that the Priest would collect s bribe," Stella said, looking very doubtful. "He's a very transparent man," "Like I said, they'll show you what they want you to see and hide what they don't want you to see. While all these were happening, Onyx was informing me about it and I thought he was on my side. He made a promise to me that he would never let their plans come to fruition. Look at things now? He's married to Hazel, a lady from the woods. Hazel was the one who shot an arrow at Cherry. That's why the sweet girl has been on the sick bed for almost two months and nothing is being done!" "The Dowager Queen doesn't care enough for her daughter. In her quest not to make me part of the family, she has wreaked a lot of havoc and I can't even stand to watch it. It's terrible!" "On the day that it was announced that Hazel was his mate, I wa
ONYX'S POV: The next morning, I woke up to see my mother standing in my room. For a moment, I am confused as to why she's in my room. She rarely comes to my room when I am asleep. She did that a long time ago when I was still young so seeing her here at this time has me wondering why. "What are you doing in my room, mother?" "A good morning to you too, Onyx." She says sternly. Sitting up, I stretch and yawn before going to my window to open the curtains. It's a brand new day and I don't know what it holds for me. "Were you aware that the priest came?" Frowning, I turn to look at her. The priest rarely ever comes here. The last time he was here, it was for my coronation. "No, I wasn't. When did he come?" "This morning." She replies and goes to take a seat in front of my work desk. "I was in the sunroom with your father and your wife when he came," I wrinkle my nose at the way she addresses Hazel as my wife. "Did he state the reason why he was here
HAZEL'S POV; While we are still talking, the Queen comes into the sun room. We both turn our heads to see that she looks upset. "What's wrong, honey?" The King asks. Taking a seat, she sighs. "It's Onyx. He doesn't even believe what I said." "What did you tell him?" "Everything the priest said. The first thing he did was accuse Hazel. He thought she might be the one to cause all the trouble but I told him it was a lie! Why would Hazel be the first person to come to his mind?" "He hates her. What do you expect? No matter how good she is, he is blinded. He's going to regret all he's doing to her now," They're talking like I'm not here and somehow, it makes me feel left out. But I know they're talking about me for my own good. "Selah is the only person who would do that. But the question now is, how is she going to?" The King says. The Queen laughs. "This is exactly what I told him. Guess what he said? He said Selah can't hurt a fly. He said a
SELAH'S POV: Today's Saturday and I know it's going to be quite a busy day for me as I'll be going to see Stella and also preparing what I'll use for the task ahead of us. I find my father in the kitchen. He's having his morning cup of coffee while reading through a news bulletin. "Good morning, Dad," I say while going to the fridge to get a carton of milk flavored with plasma. It's my favorite as it contains a little element of blood. He looks up at me and is silent for a while. "Where were you for the whole of yesterday? You got home late at night, why?" Going over to the cabinet, I pull it open and extract a packet of blood meal. I take out a bowl from the dish rack and pour out the blood cereal into it. The milk comes next. "I was at the palace," "I have warned you several times to stay away from the palace. Onyx is no longer your boyfriend and he is married to his mate. Don't you ever listen?" I place the carton of milk on the marble counter
SELAH'S POV: Stella came, after all. Even with the confidence I had that the money I had given her would make her feel indebted to me, there was still an atom of doubt in me as I drove to this cake shop. I thought about the possibility of Stella changing her mind and deciding not to come or reporting my plans to the Queen so she could get a better reward and still hold onto my money. Seeing her now, a wave of relief washes over me. My father would think I was meeting a man and even if he saw me here with her, he would freak out a bit, thinking I might be into women but he'll have to calm down and accept me the way I am. I wave at her and when she sees me, she smiles stiffly and begins to come my way. The cake shop is empty. That's why I chose this place. Knowing fully well that no one would be here by this time of the day, it would be easy for us to converse freely without having to bother about anyone watching us. I mean, if the odds are against us and she
HAZEL'S POV: It's a really beautiful dress. A porcelain blue dress that matches my eyes. The color is what strikes me first. Has he been taking details of my looks? Because I don't get why he'd actually get me a dress matching my eyes. Things like these only happen in the romance books I read. I shake my head. No. Onyx doesn't care about me. It was probably a mistake or just a coincidence. I'm sure he doesn't even know what color my eyes are. Taking the dress out of the box, I realize that there's two more boxes in there. "What is Onyx doing?" I gasp. I hadn't expected this box to hold another large box and a small box again. Placing the gown gently on the bed beside me, I take out the larger box and unwrap it. This one has a folded wrap, also beautiful. I loved the emerald green one better. Not knowing that I am set in for another surprise, I open the box and a pair of heels are carefully aligned in the box. "Oh my goodness. They are so beaut
SELAH'S POV: Stella and I are done having our ice cream. I pay the cake shop owner with so much tip that Stella gasps. "Isn't that too much?" Stella asks as we leave the shop. I shrug. "She's been good to me. I'm that way to people who are good to me," Stella is still shocked but she nods anyway. "So what next?" "We're going to my car. I'll give you the serum and explain every other thing to you," Stella nods and I look around before unlocking my car and opening the door for her. "Slip in immediately. We don't want anyone seeing you get into my cars. They can start getting ideas." Stella quickly slips in and I shut the door before going around my car to open the door. Once I am settled into my car, I lock the doors and wind the glass up. "I'm claustrophobic!" Stella immediately says. Looking at her in surprise, I nod and quickly wind down the glasses. "I'm sorry. I had no idea." Stella smiles awkwardly and nods. "Thanks for understanding.