• • • • •

Limbs shuddered under petticoats. A long pause demanded critical thinking and focus. In the depths of my mind was a silent war between my beast and I. She was ready to claim him but I wasn't. In the midst of her desire, I did not let her conquer my mind. She could never rule me... or I was sure to be ruled out of my own authority in this body the next time.

Glancing at Apollo, I kept my sweaty hand on top of his right shoulder. Curling my fingers a bit, I brushed them against his coat, taming the beast inside of him that was threatening to come out.

I could predict that just by looking in his eyes. Each time his orbs had specks of gold, I knew it meant his wolf was ready to govern him. And when he marked me, I realized how strong his beast was... how feral and dictating he could be.

Closing my eyes a bit, I breathed silently, pushing back my beast. She snarled at me but I kept restraining her will. Not long enough, I opened my eyes and allowed myself to make the final decision.

"Milord, I cannot do this." I spoke as softly as possible, soothing both of our demanding wolves.

I gently raised my fingers towards the pulse of his neck, taking the opportunity to revel in his warm blood. His desire for me was evident but it was clouded by another person's aura. When I looked over his shoulder, there stood Lady Illaria with a stoic face but with the color of jealousy.

I couldn't care less about what she was thinking. My attention was solely for Apollo. It was the only thing I could do for my beast.

I had to own him in other ways. The marking could wait.

"Then have you no plans to redeem our bond from the rash judgment we are receiving?" Apollo asked, keeping the conversation between us, appearing quite unaffected by all of it.

The rest of the palace was black and white, and he was the only one in color. My sight would never lie. It was at times like this that I realize how strange the mate bond could easily change your opinion about someone. He used to be the cruellest and rustic personality in my eyes, but now I could see him in a different angle; in a different light.

Leaning against him, I placed my lips on the hollow of his neck and shoulder. Kissing his skin made him tighten his hold on my waist. The intimacy was physical in nature but it uplifted both of our beast's hazed minds.

When I raised my lids, I glanced straight at the woman whom I had never met but had chosen as opponent. Apollo placed a hand over my hair and nape, holding me close, and I kept the smirk to myself as I faced Illaria straight in the eye.

Hate him or not, the duke was my betrothed from that day forward; I declared this to myself and quietly showed everyone the statement.

"I don't play by the rules of the game, milord." I expressed the truth, gaining my confidence as the beast inside of me retreated, satisfied by the small gesture though not thoroughly a solid claim.

The Ton could neither dictate me nor my actions. I did not even know them nor would I allow myself to be influenced by their stereotypical image. They made their impression on me and it deeply scarred my memory.

They were this society's hypocrites. They must be thinking their opinions mattered to most.

"I will allow it." Apollo said, pulling back, his gaze a lingering one.

"You and I are higher than them. You are under my wing and they can never be greater than you. You will be my queen, Freya." Apollo put my thoughts into words.

I agreed with him sincerely. At least we had a common ground.

The rare sight of an understanding duke gave me hope of rising back from the systems of Sidus. I would follow and respect the royalty but never would I fight for the wrong claims of other men and women, especially their rotten attitude.

"Then make me your queen, milord." I enunciated. He responded with a smile in a million flecks of gold.

With his fingers, he lifted my chin up, and with his other hand he held mine and led us out of the Queen's sight. I never felt so mighty and dominant until that moment.

The Mortifera could do that to you.
It was risky to trail him, but on a second thought, I knew it would all be worth it. I simply had to believe it would be.





Half of the time in the tribunal was spent directly on undertaking its purpose of discussing the events on the final days of the commemoration of King Licinius' reign. With Apollo always by my side, I was confident when introduced to the members of The Ton.

It was sickly to keep a fake smile to their opinions on the issues in the south. Many of the families I had met were inclined in the outlook that the prisoners gathered from our world should be given out in contracts and distributed to the nobles in auctions.

I could not support them, not just because the prisoners possibly included my pack, but because I was against the mere idea of selling them against their will. How could they treat them like dirt?

I hated the satirical triangle of this realm.

In the middle of conversations, I would often gauge Apollo's reply to these concerns. But he was good in hiding his own opinion and ideas. He simply listened, evaded the subjects, and seemingly kept himself uninfluenced by them. He was exemplifying his authority and right to stray away from the matter.

He'd most certainly make a resolute king.

In the hundreds of people moving around, enjoying the bounty feast after the talks, there was this woman who approached me, having a unique aura from the rest of The Ton. She was a bright yellow shade of light, similar to how I usually saw Lord Dilmond.

"Lady White." She called, curtsying gracefully. I smiled at her and looked to my side, assessing Apollo's reaction of seeing her.

He leaned close and gave me the signal. "She is Lady Celine Ashworth, wife of Earl Alexander of Auriga."

I nodded and took the chance to meet her, excusing myself from the social circle I was trapped in for minutes with Apollo.

Lady Celine and I moved farther from them and headed to an unoccupied corner. She was all- smiles along the way. There was nothing blurry about her, I could tell. But she was married to the kiwi- eyed alpha who possibly had Galax's mother imprisoned in his land.

I recalled Dilly's information regarding Lord Alexander Ashworth's role as the second knight-in-command. He was one of the kingdom's magistrates but his justice was inclined with the 'ideal' society the royalty and The Ton seemed to believe in. The monstrosity of that notion led me to thoughts of him being a punisher like Apollo.

What about the innocent people he mistakenly imprisoned? I was wishing he had even just the slightest bit of conscience to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

"It is refreshing to see someone coming from the same world." Lady Celine started, baffling me in an instant.

I smiled briefly, keeping my brows uncurled as I absorbed her statement. Hands clasped down in front, I assessed her appearance.

She had beautiful features she seemed confident about. Her skin was sun- kissed; not fair nor dark but in between. Looking merry and reflective were her eyes, possessing light brown spheres which were noticeable under long, curled lashes.

Voluptuous was her body accentuated by her tight black dress. And her aura was most conspicuous the first time I saw her. It was a beautiful bright yellow wash surrounding her.

She was coming from the same world...

"I didn't know that." I mumbled almost to myself.

Someone from the other side could be part of The Ton? That was interesting but bothersome at the same time. How was she accepted by these judgmental people? I thought they took us unworthy of being called their kind?

"And now you do." She jested, giving off a small laugh. "I was once from the Viridian Region of the Western Mountains."

A woman from the west, huh? Were they invaded by the Kingdom of Sidus as well?

"Is Lord Alexander your fated?" I daringly asked, not wanting to further the questions I had in mind.

Her eyelashes batted, probably shocked by my audacity to ask. "He is my mate. That's true. You must already know that it is a privilege to have one and be by his side." She answered with a smile.

"I do... How about your pack? How did he find you? W-were you forced to come here and surrender to your mate and the royalty? And... and the ton-

"Hold it right there, milady." She gently interrupted. I was shaking and very much confused.

I had too many queries to ask and I could spare no time waiting for short answers. How could she be this accepting of them all if she really was from the same world?

There was a short pause that stretched enough to calm me from my qualms. Lady Celine seemed understanding, and somehow I knew she was formulating her answers carefully.

The orchestral music in the background contributed to my relaxation. I glanced around, searching for Apollo.

"There are only a few of us on top of the social circle, Lady White.'' Lady Celine voiced. I stared back at her and nodded, seeing some of the ladies looking at us whilst murmuring.

"Ignore them." She said, keeping her chin raised.

"They were once like that towards me but Alexander made them change their views... although we all know we cannot convince everyone. There are those who possess rude characters. Quite a few noble families consider it outrageous to include 'outsiders' like us in their prized place." She commented, sounding a bit irritated.

I deeply agreed with her. It was good to know she wasn't blinded by her position in The Ton. But how?

"How did the earl change their views then?" I questioned.

"It wasn't him alone." Lady Celine blurted, smirking a bit. "It was his idea but I marked him in front of the crowd according to their customs."

I could tell by the way she said it that it was something she was quite proud of. I almost would've done the same earlier if not for my own hesitation.

There was something holding me back from claiming my mate in this occasion. And a part of it could be the way these people think. I didn't want to satisfy them by their ways. I ought not to be part of their sardonic ploy.

"You could do the same but I think you have not accepted the duke fully." She mused, smiling oddly.

"I am different, milady. I hope not to be ruled by the Kingdom of Sidus." I said, giving her a short intense gaze.

"You are an alpha by birth." She surprisingly held my hand and I felt the warmth of her palms against my skin. "And I find it normal for you to fight for your title by not submitting to anyone, even to your mate." She added.

My wolf was alert, overwhelmed by the lady's apprehension of her title. She did not even say it in past tense. She regarded me as an alpha and showed no complaints. The egotistic beast surely had taken a liking towards this woman.

"Your pack is safe, you must know that."

My blood rushed all over my body. The mere mention of my race awakened my longing soul.

"How do you know about them?" I remained stable and seemingly unmoved by the words though my heart was beating fast.

"Your beta is now one of Alexander's knights." Lady Celine easily blurted, her brows suddenly curled as if she had recalled something crude.

"But before that, Hal was tortured almost to death, I admit." She took a shaky breath.

My blood boiled as I heard those words. Tortured? That is unreasonable!

"Tortured for what?" I lashed, closing my eyes to calm myself.

"But Alpha," she called, tapping my consciousness. "He proved to be the bravest warrior in your pack and was given a chance to raise himself, earning the earl's trust."

"Should I be happy then?" was my sarcastic reply. Damn them all! I mentally swore. They gave him a title but what they had done to Hal for him to gain his title was pathetic and inhumane.

"Alpha, he was not meant to undergo that bloody hardship. It was his choice... a choice he made for you." The lady explained, squeezing my hand, pulling me back from the depths of anger.

"A choice he made for me?" I repeated.

"Why so? I- I abandoned them and gave up everything to save their lives from my betrothed. Why did he choose to suffer when I gave him a way out?" I ranted, removing my hands from her grasp.

"Because of his loyalty to you, Alpha." She specified. "His loyalty is incomparable, bordering to what seems to be his love for you." She looked away, not wanting to meet my eyes.

I clenched my jaws, balling my fists. "Love?" I muttered.

"I am sure somebody imposed something he did not agree with that urged him to defy your mate!" I hissed.

"I can affirm that." Lady Celine was quick to retort but uncertainty was lacing her voice. "Lord Alexander told me he was against the Duke of Therion. Hal wanted to release you from captivity, even at the cost of his life."

Warm tears misted my eyes, threatening to fall. It hurt me so badly to find out about the length of Hal's loyalty. I meant to protect him and everybody else by raising the white flag but he was braver than I thought, deciding on his own for my welfare.

"But why... why did he have to be tortured to death?" I blasted.

The lady stepped back and bowed, exemplifying undeniable respect. She was indeed from our world, knowing when to retreat in the midst of an alpha's moment of rage. She would wait, I knew, but I had no patience to allow time to tick by without the answers I sought.

"Tell me, Celine. Was it treason? Do they do this to all of their prisoners?" I watched as her body shook, her aura wavering.

"Aye, Alpha. What is written under the laws of Sidus shall be sustained. Any form of defiance from wolves of lower ranking towards the royal family's agenda is considered treason." She released, keeping her head down.

"I am not as strong as you are, Alpha. What my king says, I do. Sometimes it is hard to tolerate their ways but who am I to contend with their age- old decrees?" The she-wolf confirmed her helplessness.

I was not certain of what I had gotten from this conversation, but as I glanced at the rest of the crowd, I felt the lone emotion of anger towards The Ton and the royalty. Were they too afraid to change and move forward?

I despised them even more. They may hold true to their laws even to the extent of punishing their people, but what they were doing was against the laws of the heaven. They were violating each and everyone's right to fight for what they believe in.

Freedom would speak a thousand words once I claim the throne of the Queen. I would make sure of that.

"Lift your head. I am no longer in conceit." I uttered to the countess.

Lady Celine Ashworth did as I asked. Upon seeing her face light up at finding me less unaffected by what she revealed just now, I smiled at her and settled my hands on my sides.

"Why do you call me Alpha?" I curiously asked as we walked back to our fated.

"You do not need to prove it. It is natural in you and I respect that." She simply replied, boosting my wolf's ego. She was confidently walking her way through the crowd of disparaging eyes that her poise was transferred to me.

As soon as my eyes landed upon the back of Apollo, the confusion returned to me like a wave crashing back. How harsh could fate be? I asked myself this for the millionth time. He would soon be the ruler of them all; the ruler of a kingdom who had arbitrary laws and traditions. Would he be willing to change it once he is seated as king?

If I asked, would my opinions matter? Or would he be like The Ton and remain constant for the rest of his life?

What bothered me most was I almost had the feeling of believing he could make amendments for me for as I gazed at him, his colour was in shades of white, not the typical dusk.

When Lady Celine and I parted, I immediately strode my way back towards Apollo's direction. The next hours were predictably dreadful for I had not given him the mark he needed to convince the nobility. But what mattered then was the present moment, I would worry about everything else later.

Dusts of white surrounded the Duke of Therion, enthralling me with its splendour. I was attracted by his aura, and I was holding myself from displaying the pull he had over me.

A smile unconsciously crossed the tips of my lips as I thought about what we had agreed on earlier in front of everyone. It was a secret pact between him and me, but it was a small step as I had thought before. A step we could turn into a leap soon if maintained.

I still had hopes of having a good future with both of our wolves satisfied. One could always believe in prayers being heard.

An inch close, I could almost tap his shoulder. I was ready to receive his attention with a smile, but it entirely crumbled when I looked at his current line of sight.

Illaria. My beast howled inside at the same time a loud clap of thunder resounded from the skies.

And there and then she was awakened... In my mind appeared the blue ball of fire.

• • • • •

Oops. Hey guys I'm sorry... So so sorry for this late release of chapter 21. I was so busy due to work and I had to take 3 straight overtime sessions to meet project deadlines. I seriously want to cry at times because I have no break. 😭😭 but yeap, I'll continue this book and write two chapters a week for as long as I can. If I am ever late in updating, you already know the reason why (again).

So what do you guys think? We'll finally see these woman alphas collide. And thoughts about Hal and Celine?
- Lady Therese
P.S.
Picture of Lady Celine is in the media above.