A month later,

Wake up Deven, wake up!"

I was dragged out of bed. A number of hard taps to my face woke me up completely.

" Ma!" I protested, trying to pull out of her grip as she dragged me towards the vanity.

She took three crystals and pushed them into my pockets.

" Why ma?" I groaned in protest. "There's no moon tonight."

A piercing scream rented the air and I froze.

" They're here." My mother whispered, her eyes full of dread.

My face was a mask of disbelief. It had been rumoured that every coven in the West would be subjected to the purge but no one in my coven had wanted to believe it after all, we had taken no parts in the killings but now it seemed...

" The Alpha king Eryk truly is a monster." My mother whispered rushing to the door.

I said, " We need to run."

My mother laughed bitterly.

" Outrun Werewolves? It is immposible!"

More screams rented the air as people became aware of the situation.

" We can't just hide in here." I said to her. In no time, they would sniff us out and soon we would be screaming like the others outside.

She was nodding but didn't move from where she stood.

The screams and growls were getting closer and I realized that if we didn't move now, we wouldn't make it out of the house alive. Without a word, I grabbed her hand and led her out of the house and into the moonless night.

All around was chaos. The thatched roofs of our cottages were on fire. For a second, I was too stunned to move. There were puddles of blood and severed limbs littered on the ground. I felt the urge to heave but I forced it down.

Tightening my hold on my mother, we raced towards the woods. She was crying uncontrollably, a helpless old woman forced to watch her whole world get destroyed.

We weren't the only ones who had thought to run to the woods and I recognized a boy a few metres ahead among others. Bandon. We had necromancy class together.

Run, I screamed silently at him.

He didn't run for long though. Before my eyes, a wolf pounced on him and they fell to the ground. The struggle was short. The wolf sank it's fangs into his stomach furiously, scattering his entrails on the grassy ground.

I stopped running, too horrified to even move. My mother tugged at me.

" Deven." She pleaded, " Deven come!" But instead I fell to my knees, eyes trained on the feasting wolf.

The wolf looked up from Bandons body. Our eyes met and I saw in its depth a promise... my death.

In one leap, it came for me and I watched, unmoving as its fangs opened wide to sink into my face. But my mother was there. She jumped in front of me. Hands stretched out, she summoned a blast of wind that sent it flying back into a tree.

It was a moonless night but some people still had weakly charged Ardenite crystals. Luckily, we were among those people.

She stretched her hand down to help me up to my feet.

I reached up for her hand and a split second before I got it, something, a wolf bounded between us, closing its fangs around her hand and ripping it from her body.

I looked at the blood pouring out of her shoulders.

My screams mingled with hers.

" Mother!"

〰️〰️〰️

I screamed myself awake.

My stomach moved wildly and I raced for the chamberpot, getting there just in time to hurl my guts out.

Someone rushed up the attic ladder. It was Cayden. He pulled my hair away from my face while I retched

When I finally stopped, he pulled me into his arms and hugged me tightly, stroking my hair.

" It's alright Deven." He whispered. " It was only a dream and it's over now."

It was easy to cry with Cayden. I knew because I had cried in his arms many times. I didn't like to cry. I took the tears as a sign of my weakness but they came almost every night after my nightmares.

I cried now, uncontrollably. Ever since we'd been put in this new ...prison, I'd been plagued with a series of nightmares.

They struck me as odd because three years of staying in that cell, I never once dreamed of the attack but now that I was free, I felt ...guilt.

There were still cells filled with witches and warlocks down in the castles dungeons. They were still facing the starvation ...the abuse and here I was, I had a feather bed to sleep on, enough food to eat. I could bath whenever.

It was torture!

Sometimes, I found myself wishing Inigo had never looked into my cell. I found myself wishing that I was still in that cockroach infested cell that I hated so much, left alone to run mad, to rot. I had thought I had gotten lucky but nowadays, I wasn't so sure.

Cayden hugged me tighter.

" I keep ...seeing that night." I whispered to him.

" I know Deven." He whispered back and kissed my forehead. We had developed a special friendship over the weeks. I knew he wanted more but that was something I wasn't up for. He seemed to understand that and never pressured me. His calm and caring nature was what had drawn me to him.

" Deven?" Someone said.

It was Milah. She was still on the ladder.

" I'm sorry for waking you up." I said.

" Nonsense." She said. " I wasn't asleep before." Milah was the oldest among us at twenty-four and she had assumed the role of a mother figure over us.

She climbed the stairs and moved to the table where a jug of water was. She poured some and gave it to me. I washed my face and gave her back the cup.

" Do you think you can get some sleep." She asked.

I nodded. I had to. Tomorrow night, a ball was to be held in the castle. It was part of a festival that had been going on for four days now but we would only be allowed to attend the ball.

Czar and I, we had private reasons for wanting to attend. It gave us a chance to find an Ardenite. We had scoured the surrounding forest in hopes of finding one but it was hopeless. It seemed the Werewolves had gotten rid of every crystal for miles around.

Unlike the others, Czar and I were unable to adjust to this new life. Our hate for the Werewolves was just too strong and the thoughts of the others still rotting in the cells was like murder to us. Especially him. He had a brother in one of the cells.

We had a plan. We would find a crystal, then we would wait till the next full moon which was a week away. We would super charge it and use it to free the others in the cells, killing as many Werewolves as we could. Then we would leave Aradia ...or at least he and the others would leave. I had more planned for the wolves.

" I'll stay with her." Cayden said. He had formed the habit of sleeping by the foot of my ladder and then rushing up to me whenever the nightmares started.

I looked up at him with gratitude in my eyes. If only he could join Czar and I in our plans but Cayden like the rest were beginning to accept the dominance of the Werewolves. They were more submissive to the guards that would sometimes come by and they joked around with Aspen whenever she came by to update us on our probation. Czar regarded them all with disgust.

Cayden helped me to the bed and lay down beside me. Even though I had informed Milah otherwise, I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep.

Too many thoughts coursed through my mind, fear resonated through my soul, hope clawed desperately at my heart.

I wanted a good life but the scars of my past would forever keep me from it.

I had to get even, even at the cost of my life.

〰️〰️〰️

Diamond necklaces, Ruby bracelets, golden rings centered with Amethyst. I'd seen so many precious jewels but no Ardenite.

It seemed the Aradians had come prewarned.

It was the night of the ball. The Dowager Luna had provided us with several items of clothing made of the best materials by the best clothe makers.

The last thing I wanted to do was stand out and so I opted for a light peach Grecian style dress with a low neckline and sheer sleeves and a pair of diamond stud earrings. It looked very expensive though. According to Aspen, it was the Dowager Luna's way of showing her desire for us to become a part of Aradia.

" And bow to the rule of her rabid dog of a prince when he ascends the throne? Never!" Czar had said to me and I agreed with him. I would never submit to any Werewolf.

" Dance with me." Cayden leaned close and said to me for the tenth time that evening and for the tenth time, I shook my head.

Unlike Finn, Sierra and Willow who had gone deep into the crowds, Czar, Milah and I stayed back watching. Cayden had stayed back because of me.

" Why not?"

Why not indeed. Cayden looked as good as any prince and I wasn't the only one who had noticed. I could see the covert glances of the women in the ballroom. A few of the bold ones had even asked him to dance but he had declined to be by my side ...and I was secretly glad.

It felt good to be admired, to be wanted but I saw no need to develop anything with Cayden. If my plans went well, I would lose everything including my life. I saw no need to involve Cayden in that.

" Just dance with me Deven." He pleaded. " At least so this two can have a little time together." He gestured at Czar and Milah.

They were standing together, not talking just looking at everything but themselves and my eyes widened in realization.

" Maybe we should dance." I said to Cayden. He beamed and led me to the dance floor where a waltz was underway.

Another reason why I didn't want to dance? I couldn't waltz and it seemed to be all everyone was doing tonight. Since when did Werewolves become sophisticated?

" You know they don't even know they're attracted to each other." Cayden said to me.

I glanced at where they stood. Milah was laughing at something Czar had said.

" Do you think they're in love?"

"I think there a chance for love to grow."

" It must be nice." Even I could hear the sadness in my voice. I had been seventeen when the attacks happened and I had never had any relation with a man. I had never known that kind of love. They say you can't miss what you never had. They were wrong. At least in this case.

Cayden looked at me thoughtfully.

" You can have something like that, Devenity." He looked into my eyes. " With me."

I looked away. I planned to die in our attempt to free the others. It was the only way I could kill as many Werewolves as was possible. I would stay back and buy the others time to escape. I'd kill till I was killed. I wanted as many as them as was possible to know what it was like to lose someone you loved.

" Cayden..." I began unsure of how to safely refuse him. Thankfully, I was interrupted by the blare of trumpets.

The waltz came to an end and we all moved aside.

" The royal pack of Aradia." Someone announced and I watched as the royal family descended the magnificent stairs.

A familiar tingling came over my fingers. I knew that sensation. Whenever we were near an Ardenite, a tingling sensation in our fingers would let us know.

Where was it? Where?

I scrutinized the royal family and my jaw dropped. The Dowager Luna's crown was centered with the largest Ardenite I had ever seen. It wasn't charged but still it glowed vibrant and purple upon her head. Everything and everyone around her paled in contrast to that crystal.

I salivated at the mere sight of it. But I knew it would be futile to try to take something that big from the Dowager Luna herself.

" Alpha king Eryk is absent again." Someone said beside me. " It is most likely he is dead and they're hiding it till after the Princes coronation."

I didn't care about any of that. I rushed to where Czar stood. Cayden followed. A guard gave us a stern look. I couldn't understand why. In a few seconds though, I did.

We were expected to bow to the royal pack!. The people in front began and it moved quickly to the back.

My heart thudded. Bow to Werewolves? The mere thought of it was revolting but I had no choice. If I didn't and was noticed, I could be thrown back into the cell. My plan for revenge would be ruined ...I had no choice ...no choice.

It was our turn to bow. I bit my lip to keep from screaming. But I bowed ...I had no choice. Tears sprang to my eyes. They had taken my mother from me, my coven, tortured me, starved me and here I was, bowing to them.

Czar saw the tears in my eyes.

" Deven," He whispered heatedly. " If this momentary bow is all we have to do to get an Ardenite, we should be more than willing."

It was over. I straightened up.

" We can't get the crystal from the Dowager Luna. It's impossible." I whispered back.

Czar raised an eyebrow at me.

" Is that the only Ardenite you can see?" He asked. " Look closely. The entire royal pack have Ardenites on."

He was right. They had it on their shoulder bracelets, on their necklaces and rings.

All we had to do was find a small target and acquire it

〰️〰️〰️

Rhydians pov,

Don't just sit there and brood Rhydian." The Dowager Luna scolded. " We have a reason for throwing this ball or have you forgotten?"

Alpha prince Rhydian Rivinlyte refrained from rolling his eyes at his mother. He'd had enough of her nagging but his high respect for her kept him from unleashing his anger as he would have with anyone else. But he was nearing the end of his patience.

" Mother you threw this ball for whatever reason you might have, not we." He said but of course he knew her reason. He was very much aware of her reason for inviting the moon people to it. It was ridiculous and he chose not to think of it.

The Dowager Luna pursed her lips. She couldn't understand why Rhydian refused to take her advice. She knew he had no interest in having a Luna yet but she also knew that he was more than willing to sacrifice a lot for the progress of Aradia.

Ensuring the safety of the Aradians had recently become more difficult and as usual, her son had a solution. The problem involved magic and there were no other beings more versed in sorcery than the moon people. That was why some of them had been released from their cells.

But the Dowager Luna refused to believe that their servitude could be gotten by making them Aradians. This was her sons plan but he didn't know the moon people like she did.

She knew monarchy was something they would not easily embrace. She knew they would never help Aradia while Aradia kept their kind imprisoned. It would be dangerous for the masses to be released. The moon people were highly vengeful.

For the moon people to accept monarchy and help Aradia, they needed a strong incentive. They needed one of theirs in a place of great power.

They needed a Queen.

She was convinced that with one of theirs ruling, the mass of prisoners could safely be released, the problem subdued and Aradia would continue to blossom.

But Rhydian wouldn't listen. He didn't want a Luna and the thought of making a witch his Luna seemed foolish to him.

Quietly the Dowager Luna said, her voice filled with meaning,

" Your stubbornness will be the death of Aradia."

Rhydian could feel his anger rising. It was always a struggle to keep his hold on it, especially now but he could never lay his hand on his mother. She was a Queen and a woman who commanded respect. He knew that despite her bogous idea, she had the best interest of Aradia in mind.

But she was testing his patience and he wasn't a very patient person. To keep from doing something he would regret, he got up to leave.

" I'll see you later, mother." He said and descended the stairs.

It was a mistake.

Long before he got to the middle of the staircase, over a dozen women had clustered at its end waiting giddily.

He recognized one of them. Juneau Lockwood from the caliber pack. He knew her well. Very well. Ignoring the other girls, he made a beeline for her. She bowed low, subtly exposing the bulge of her breast for his appreciation, and said,

" Your highness." She looked up at him with a seductive look in her eyes. She was bold, exceptionally beautiful and an expert when it came to pleasing him, but most of all, she never expected more than just sex. It was the main reason she had been chosen to be one of his ah ...women.

"The next waltz is starting now, your highness." She informed, expectantly.

Better her than someone who didn't know her place. The Fae Orchestra began to play and he led her out to the dance floor among the other dancers.

His mother had ensured that he learnt how to dance as well as play the piano. According to her, it would make him more sophisticated, something she believed Werewolves lacked.

" Master," Juneau leaned close and whispered. It was a rule that all his mates followed. They weren't allowed to call him by his name. " Do you want me to come by the room tonight."

Her voice held so many promises but he was too distracted. Something had caught his eye. His wolf was suddenly on alert. Someone ...in a peach dress it seemed but the waltz required constant position change and he lost sight of the person.

" Master?" Juneau whispered again.

He ignored her and focused on the dancing crowd hoping for a view of that 'someone'. Why? He couldn't tell. Something was attractive about the person. His wolf was definitely attracted but why? He didn't know what but he was curious to find out.

He saw the peach dress again. It was worn by a woman with a long mane of curly hair but she had her back to him. When she danced out of view, the Alpha prince almost found himself craning for a better view

He couldn't understand this strange interest but just her back view had his heart beating fast.

" Is ...is something wrong?" Juneau asked.

Once again he ignored her. Infact he barely heard her. He scanned the crowd for the woman and when she came into view again face front, he stopped dancing ...and stared.

She was an exotic beauty with a long curly mane of hair that was light brown with golden strands spun into it. In the candlelight, her skin was caramel. Her eyes made his heart flutter. They were ice blue and surrounded by long thick lashes. They stood out against the light ebony of her skin ...and that dress, its simplicity was alluring. Somehow, in that simple dress all other women in their big bejeweled ball gowns paled greatly in comparison.

His wolf purred in approval.

But it wasn't her beauty that had drawn her to him after all, he had seen many beauties in the twenty three years of his living.

No, it was something else. Something he couldn't place. But he knew this much, he wanted her.

And there was nothing Alpha prince Rhydian wanted that he didn't get.

.