Let a man play chess and tell him that every pawn is his friend.
Let him think both bishops holy.
Let him remember happy days in the shadows of his castles.
Let him love his queen.

Watch him lose them all.

Mark Lawrence, Prince of Thorns.

Veronica

"The Moon is on your side. You will encounter the love of your life after three full moons."

               I'm not certain whether we're in the right place, Veronica,  Ezra crabbed in my head.

I tapped my feet impatiently as I wait outside the curtains of the small tent, along with she-wolves lined up for their daily dose of cock and bull.

READING: MOON DIVINATION

I pinched the bridge of my nose upon reading the unevenly nailed signage at its entrance. Never in the world would I thought she could stoop this low. When you are cursed to live forever, this is what boredom does to you.

I'm lucky I didn't lose my shit like this- yet.

"Remember, you must put three drops of this potion when you see him. "

That's it. This is too much. I did not waste four hours of driving for this. I haven't even got time to rest after all that shit this afternoon.

I barged in, yanking the curtains viciously. "Out. My turn, NOW."

"What the hell biatch I paid for this! Wait for your turn!" the young wolf in session complained, with her cosmetic-layered face in a scowl, cockily flashing her freshly manicured nails as she puts one hand on her hip.

Ezra simmered in irritation, Who are you calling bitch, bitch?

"Go bark at someone your level you cake faced Chihuahua," I sneered, changing my eyes from blue to golden.

The overly accessorized pup squirmed in fear then bolted out the room faster than lightning.

Good.

"I see you're still the queen of dramatic entrances, Veronica my dear friend."

"I am the Queen minus the dramatic entrances, Amara," I rebutted, enthroning myself at her candle decorated table.

My eyes caught a glimpse of the potions, cards, and spell pamphlets at her desk.

"Why is Hecate's best student, the Oracle, wasting her talent giving love advice to lovesick pups?

My nose wrinkled at the smell of an old musty chant book as I picked it up. "Fortune-telling? Seriously?"

"You're one to talk, Hecate's pawn, her most favored Alpha," she mocked. "At least I'm not hiding."

I smirked at her remark. "Speak, Witch. I know you've got something for me. Let's not play games here."

"I was expecting you," she said, spreading her tarot cards. "I dreamt of the Sun and Moon colliding."

She moved her hands across the deck then drew three cards. She flipped it over, revealing The Lovers, The Moon, and The Sun; cards of the Major Arcana.

"Oh boy," she chuckled lightly. " The Lovers is upright, that is a good sign. The Moon is upright as well, but you have to be careful, there are difficulties ahead. Your Sun, however, is reversed."

"Your cards," she continued, "You found him."

I swallowed hard.

"Yes, Amara. How the hell did this come about? I had one before."

"Your age is showing. You've become quite forgetful," she teased. "Ephemeris Section 2, Clause 6 of the Royal Feral Code: A male of the Royal bloodline cannot be mated twice. A MALE. Are you having an identity crisis, your Highness?"

"I know, however, I was never informed of the likelihood of a Royal having second chance mates before," I stressed.

A brief silence engulfed the room. Amara managed a deadpan expression as she drummed her fingers at the table. "I'm not sure."

I shut my eyes in frustration. Why is finding answers this hard?

"Sorry for taking your time," I said as I stood. "I'll take my leave."

"Think about it," she spoke, halting my steps. "Because your pathetic excuse of a father had mated with your mother who isn't his true mate, hence you were born. You're the first one to break the Royal Tradition of male firstborns to succeed to the throne. Since when did something normal happened to you?"

Translation: She's basically saying our life is fucked up, Ezra scoffed.

I sighed heavily in disappointment. Only Hecate can give the answers I seek.

"Thank you for your time, Amara."

The darkness stretched as long as the road I had traveled from Amara's shop to the New Moon Pack. The sky was a rolling velvet blanket of charcoal as I passed by the scathing eyes of the patrols on the borders.

Arriving at the mansion, there was nothing but darkness. I got out of the car with the moon as my lamp, guiding every step I take. It was past midnight, and the stillness was absolute.

I smiled. These are the things I found comforting.

The night, the darkness, and the moon.

"I don't want to wake them up this time," I muttered, peering at my surroundings.

             But how do I get inside? I thought.

Then it dawned on me like a lightbulb.
​
"The balcony." Ezra and I said in unison.

With the art of stealth I had mastered after centuries, I quietly head to the mansion's right side where a big oak tree stood sturdily, just as I remembered. Its branches stretched generously, allowing easy access to the third floor balcony where Lily and I used to sneak in and out to, whenever we wanted an escape. Lily, from the pressure of being the Luna of the largest pack of the Kingdom for and me, from being the cursed Queen that nobody knew of.

Nostalgia hit me like a rock. I had failed Freya twice. I wasn't able to protect her, and her blood many years later.

               Will it be connected to the mini-library like before? Ezra asked snapping me out of the fleeting memory.

               There's only one way to find out, I retorted.

I climbed up effortlessly as the serenade of the crickets lulled my senses, letting my heartbeat in a steady rhythm. Every creaking sound of my feet against the bark added to the excitement of not getting caught.

I relaxed when I got into the balcony and saw the sliding door open. I paused and gazed above, savoring the moon's inviting glow against my skin. The delightful melody crafted by the choreographed swaying of the trees and the rustling of the door's curtains kindled tranquility in my being.

Ezra's sudden stirring implied she's quite relishing the moment.

"Enjoying the moon buddy? Want me to howl?" I teased.

There's nothing like a good joke about the boring clichés of being a werewolf.

               No. I-

"You know Ezra," I said cutting her off, "they need to work on their security. I- umph! I winced as I bump into something- or rather someone when I turned to head inside.

"That part had been taken care of, especially here."

Well, I'll be damned.

My so called mate stood in front of me, the sliver of the moonbeam illuminating his face. I watched as the soft, ivory silver light shimmer across his jet black hair, emanating his aura which was murky as the night.

I tried to tell you, Ezra scolded.

"A- Alpha Archer..."

"What is a warrior doing in places she's not supposed to go, especially in the wee hours of the morning?"

"Patrolling. Got lost." I lied immediately, taking my gaze away from his. "We went here to give our services to protect, might as well start now."

            "Protect? To be honest, I don't feel safe around you. I don't even know what you are, " he jeered.

               I'll admit that hurt.

               Well, isn't he arrogant? Ezra huffed.

I cleared my throat. "I understand you don't like me, Alpha. I am aware of what happened with our mothers years ago..."

Mothers. Another lie. If he only knew.

"... but I hope it'll not cloud your mind of the fact that we are here to help you," I continued firmly.

"So you know?"

He lessened the distance between us, lips lightly brushing the tip of my ears, his scent filling my nostrils.

"You should also keep in mind... I am in no need of a Luna to establish that I am an ALPHA of my pack."

I felt my body stiffened. Of course. He did recognize me. Take that Fitzgerald.

"...so work faster and get out of here immediately, little mate."

My head snapped at his words. He had every right to be hateful but he cannot belittle me like this.

You want to play Alpha? Then let's play.

"Noted, Alpha Archer. Having a mate will only deter my effectivity in fulfilling my duties to the Royal Alpha." I said, speaking my half-truth.

He's fortunate you didn't say AS the Royal Alpha,  Ezra added. 

"Glad to know we are on the same page. I assure you, I'll be out of your hair in no time. See you tomorrow." I finished, mentally congratulating myself for managing to smile and speak, amidst the pain seeping through the cracks of my heart.

My statement only made his face darker, his moonlit face now flushed red with anger and defeat. Before he could utter another word, I walked away.

If he thinks I'll cry, then he's mistaken. I've had almost five centuries to run my eyes dry.

Ace- 0

Veronica- 1

Let the games begin.

Chapter 10 everyone!

How was it? I hope it's great because I am going to upload again very soon!

VOTE.COMMENT.SHARE!

I just wanted to give you guys some fun facts.

What are Tarot cards?
Tarot cards are a form of divination, which literally means working with the divine, or your higher self.

The tarot is, in essence, a soul map, a deep psychological guide to self-empowerment as imaged through 78 symbolic cards.

A traditional deck has 22 Major Arcana (or trumps) which are the archetypal images. There are 56 Minor Arcana cards (Court or Personality cards; the Kings, Queens, Princes, and Pages, just like modern playing cards.) There are four elements or suits: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water, with 10 cards in each.

I mentioned 3 cards of the Major Arcana, so here are the meanings.

There you have it!💓💓💓
Love,
ladypaperback