Eleanor tugged on her robe and went out for a stroll that evening after a well-deserved meal and shower. She could not remember the last time she had gone for a stroll, and recent events suggested she probably should not be out alone.Still, she stepped out into the night and allowed the wind to caress her skin. She stood there for a few seconds, basking in the feel she had missed for many days. Night walks were beyond therapeutic.Eleanor went to the stables first and found the horses awake. Gregory's horse in particular. He stayed up late just like its owner always did. She patted its head as he chewed on something she could not tell.She went to the empty garden next. It seemed even more beautiful at night, the moonlight glistening down on rose petals, the beautiful serenity stealing her breath away. How come she had never visited when the sun went down?Eleanor lay down on the ground, her face up to the crescent moon. It would be a full moon in weeks, and Evie had mentioned someth

The palace was free from guests a week later and Drakken was more than happy to see them leave. He watched from the window in his study, taking note of the people that drove out in large numbers.His father bid some of them goodbyes, but his eyes could not find the one person they searched for. The vampire king and princess were nowhere to be seen. Drakken wanted them gone the most.The last week with them there was nothing but an inconvenience. Gwendolyn was insufferable with her meek manipulation, and her father boastful and egoistic.He had spoken to the man a handful of times about politics and philosophy. They both held too many different belief systems. Merging the kingdoms sounded more like the beginning of a rift rather than a binding unity. But Drakken's father was too blind to see the bigger picture. He only wanted his son married off for his own selfish motives.Drakken lowered his curtains after every last one of them had left and stepped out of his study, heading straight

Evie's shock mirrored Eleanor's whose lips fell slightly open at her sudden visitor. She had not spoken to Gwendolyn face to face, not even once, except for that one encounter where Benjamin introduced her as his girlfriend. Still, Eleanor had not seen a reason to engage in the conversation.But she was here now in Eleanor's room, staring at her as though they had a lot to confer. What if Gwendolyn already found out about her being Drakken's mate? Or their constant dalliance. Was she there to threaten her? Ask her to leave the palace at once?"You both look like you have just seen a ghost," Gwendolyn broke the silence with a charming smile plastered on her flawless face. The girl looked like a mannequin with a figure to slay for, Eleanor observed. "Is anything the problem?"Eleanor finally broke out of her reverie. "No. Not at all. I-I was not just expecting you," she said. "You should have let me know beforehand you were coming so I could prepare...""Oh, there would be no need for t

A few days later, there was a meeting in which Drakken was present. Various contentions arose during the pack's meeting regarding the upcoming moon festival, but Drakken kept mute amidst all that. Benjamin sat opposite him on the table, seeming unbothered and uninterested in the preparations. His presence irritated Drakken who thought it would be better for him to leave. He was not contributing in any way after all."Security has to be tighter than the last festival, I suppose," one of the elders said. "We can't afford to have any more attacks on the pack.""I agree. They came after the Alpha King last time. Who knows what they would do next?"The recent attack on the Alpha King spiked insecurity in the kingdom, and an unhealthy amount of rumour. Some said it would be best if Drakken wedded the vampire princess sooner for added security from the vampire kingdom, while others were suspicious of the vampires themselves.Drakken's own suspicions were targeted at his half-brother. But he

Benjamin was astounded when one of the palace guards came to inform him that his father had summoned him to his study. It wasn't often the old man did, so getting such an offer came as a surprise to him.When he arrived, his father's head was bent over an old ledger that held his attention but on noticing him, closed it and waved him in. A girl soon dashed in to serve them some red wine.Alfred dismissed the girl as she stood by in case of more orders, for some privacy."You were not being too discreet in eye fucking that girl," Alfred pointed out. "I brought you to this palace for a purpose but it seems you are getting distracted by the women in it.""I can have a little fun along the way, can't I?" He smiled into his cup as he tasted the sweetness on his tongue. "Alcohol and women are what a man needs. I'm trying to have the best of both worlds here.""I do not want you swayed from keeping an eye on your brother. You never know what he is up to."His father made it clear the only re