Nora’s POV:“Do you have feelings for him?”My wolf asked me, and I rolled my eyes muttering sharply.“Shut up!”Brushing all these thoughts away, I opened the shower tap and stood under the shower letting the ice-cold water run over me.After scrubbing each part of my body quite brutally, I wore the oversized t-shirt and knee-length shorts that might belong to a giant man. The belt provided to me, helped the shorts stay around my waist.When I stepped out, the old woman was nowhere in the room. The towel was already tied around my head when I plopped on the couch.The fireplace was lit, and the chair had been placed close to it. The kind woman must have done it. I again inhaled the air that had the smell of meat.“You are done!” she remarked when came inside carrying a tray that had a steaming soup bowl, “This was the only thing I could fix, on such short notice. We had leftover mutton meat. I usually give away the leftovers the very same day. You are lucky,”I smiled taking over the
Nora’s POV:Shock, surprise, heartache, and betrayal.All the emotions started attacking me at once. How was it possible?No! It must be a dream.I squeezed my eyes and didn’t open them again. I never overslept in my life. It was next to impossible that Orion reached here.This was definitely a dream.I kept my eyes closed even when that male hand started brushing his fingers through my hair.“It can’t be him. It can’t be him. I hate him and he can’t reach me just like that…” I was chanting the words to myself not realizing that tears had started coming out of my eyes. “Nora,” his concerned voice reached my ears, and I opened my eyes to look at him and this time I let him see what was there in my eyes.Hatred.Shoving his hand away from my hair, I left the bed abruptly, “Nora. Please…”I spun around and slapped hard on his face, “Don’t you dare come near me.” I hissed and was about to open the door but then changed my mind.“Never mind,” Muttering to myself I headed to the window and
Nora’s POV:He closed his eyes, pursing his lips into a thin line.“You wanted an underage girl to accompany you and expected me to ditch my guardians…”I could see guilt clouding his gorgeous features, but I had had enough. I had made up my mind, he was not the one for me.“Nora,” he, at last, opened his eyes and tried to blink back his tears, “Alexander is involved in Rayna, I don't think he would ever...”“That's not an issue,” I shrugged carelessly, “there are several kingdoms ruled by several kings. Many of them are single. I can always go after them and warm their beds…”He didn't let me finish. Taking me by surprise, he held me by my shoulders, and I was pulled into his embrace, his mouth crashed into my lips. My hands raised in the air in a silent protest.This was the first time he was actually kissing me, in fact, this was my first kiss by anyone. There was nobody after him.After my engagement to Alexander, we had decided to stay friends as we both were not interested in th
Lola’s POVToday I was waiting for my meal in my cell. The dungeons almost felt like a home to me now. I closed my eyes when I heard the familiar footsteps.As usual, I waited for them to place my food on the floor when something unexpected happened. They made me stand by holding my sleeve causing it to tear a little and started unlocking my silver shackles. The chains dropped to the floor with clanking sounds.Was it the time for punishment? Was it the end?Were they here to take me to the spot that was named ‘hanged till death’?“Stand on your feet damn it. We know your feet work just fine!” The guard shoved me twice. My feeble body did not have enough energy to stand properly.All my doubts seemed to be true when I was taken outside the dungeons and the sunlight directly hit my face. I wished they could let me meet my kids before sending me to the Goddess.I was sure Liam and Grace would be taken care of in the best way.This punishment meant that they could not find Rayna in those
Rayna’s POV Since the time I had expressed my love to Alexander, I felt happy and light. I not only told him that I loved him but also asked him to mark me.The moment he heard the words, I was rewarded with a soul-crushing kiss. And we made love then and there in the office.According to him he never did any such thing there, but I was exempted from all the rules. Later lying on the carpet with my head on his arm and his shirt covering me, he told me about his past.How his mom trained him within the limited means and how brilliantly she managed his education. He confided in me and shared with me the conflicts Orion and him shared.He gave most of the credit to Queen Savannah who never let him feel that he was an outsider. Even Stella and Ruby remained friendly with him from day one.“Once I will bring Nora then I promise I will mark you. I just owe this much to Orion. No matter what he did seven years back, but his family always treated me like their own. And you just told me,” he
Rayna’s POV:Brian took up the duty to show me around in the palace. Alexander was still not back, and I needed something to kill my time.I was already missing him. Brian took me to the back quarters of the palace where there were kids of different ages, and they were being taught in groups.Some were learning sword handling by using those fake wooden swords, some were busy making science projects, and a few were sitting in the reading corner holding books.“I never got the chance to see this part. Where did you hide them all this time?” I said in pure fascination, “Who are these kids?”“Majority of them are orphans. King Samuel started the construction of this building because he wanted a separate place for such kids who had no parents or were growing up under single parent's care. He wanted them to live with like-minded kids so that they could share their ideas, imaginations, and the feelings they had after losing a parent.”There were teachers taking rounds, helping t
Rayna’s POV:“YOU sent Lola? Why would you do that?” The question was not out of curiosity, it was more like an investigation.“I'm sorry for making you upset, my queen. She was sentenced to prison because of me. That's the reason I asked Brian to free her. When I am safe… sound and standing here in front of you then there was no reason to keep her imprisoned.”This time instead of responding to me her eyes flicked to Brian, “Rayna doesn't hold any position in this palace to pass such orders. Do you know it, Brian? I can easily send you to the same dungeons where Lola was residing. As a beta, it's not your duty to tell anyone when the orders should be passed or who is supposed to pass it.”“I'm sorry, my queen," Brian addressed her politely, “with due respect, Lola's condition was not good and she needed to be out of there before anything serious could happen to her.”“You should have come to me then…”“I came … I came to you, my lady… but you said Alexander is not listening to you…”
Rayna’s POV:“I usually do that, Rayna but today I needed some privacy with you,” Lola reached for the tea bags and dropped them into the mugs, the aroma of vanilla and rose filling the air.“Sugar?” I gave my head a subtle shake as I saw her stirring the spoon in her cup, the clinking sound echoing softly in the room, “I like my tea with sugar. I can have black coffee without any sweetness but not tea.”As she handed me the cup, I wrapped my hands around it, feeling the warmth through my fingers, “you wanted to talk to me? Is it something important?”Instead of answering me, she took a seat by the study table and started sipping her drink. For a few moments, I thought that maybe she didn't hear me.We kept drinking our tea in comfortable silence.“If you can make it quick, Lola then that would be awesome.”“Why? In a hurry to join him in the room? He hasn't even returned yet, Rayna.”“I know,” I smiled softly, “I want to sleep,” my nostrils flared when I tried to suppress the yawn.