Exhausted….
The next morning, I woke up very early to leave. Despite struggling to fall asleep and barely getting any rest, I managed to rouse myself and be ready by 5:30 a. m. The bed was empty beside me, which made me wonder where he had gone. Wait a minute-what was his name again? The realization struck me like a cold wave.
“You’re really going to lose your mind soon,” I muttered to myself, frustration bubbling up as I pondered how I had allowed this to happen. He knew everything about me, yet I knew nothing about him. Shaking off the unsettling thought, I continued getting ready, brushing my hair, and trying to look as fresh as possible before heading out the door. It was ironic-after sneaking in like a shadow in the night, I found myself foolishly hoping there might be a car waiting to whisk me away when I reached the gates. But reality hit me hard; I had come here on foot, and now I had to make my way back the same way.
“Annoying, freaking scumbag!” I cursed under my breath, glaring back at the building as if he were somewhere inside, watching and laughing at my predicament. The thought of how easily he had pushed me out of my comfort zone infuriated me. As a princess, I shouldn’t be reduced to sneaking around like a commoner. I should have a carriage, or at least a horse, to carry me back to the mansion. But instead, I was preparing to run home on foot, the same way I had arrived-around midnight, no less. It was almost laughable, thinking of myself as the only daughter of King Henry Norway, future Queen of the lycanthropes, reduced to this. The risks I had taken for that low-class messenger, who had been threatening me all this while, were utterly insane. Shaking off the bitterness, I shifted into my wolf form and set off at a brisk pace.
The run back home was surprisingly invigorating. The fears and anxieties that had plagued me on my way here-the creepy, mysterious sounds that had haunted every step-seemed to fade into the background. My wolf was energized, her muscles stretching and contracting with a powerful grace that made me feel alive, her joy infectious.
As I approached the gates, I slowed down, my eyes scanning the surroundings. The guards were already stationed-more than ten of them, some guarding the gates, others patrolling the grounds. My heart sank. I had hoped the back entrance would still be my way in, but it seemed heavily guarded too. When I had left, the area was scarcely patrolled, making it easy to slip away unnoticed. But now, getting back in without being caught seemed almost impossible.
“Dang it,” I cursed softly, as I carefully moved toward the back. Despite the challenge, I managed to get past the guards at the front, moving with a stealth I wasn’t sure I possessed. They were on high alert, but luck was on my side-or so I hoped.
The mansion loomed above me, its intricate architecture and flawless design now a bitter reminder of how trapped I was. The walls I once admired now felt like insurmountable barriers. Climbing the fence was a nightmare; I slipped several times, my claws scraping painfully against the rough stone. But I pushed through, gritting my teeth until I finally made it over the top and dropped down to the other side. The experience was anything but pleasant, and I hated every second of it.
But there was no time to dwell on it. I needed to get inside before anyone noticed I was gone. Pressing my ear against the wall, I listened intently for any signs of movement. Silence. Good. It was my cue to climb up and get inside before the guards started patrolling the back.
As I took my first leap, I whimpered softly-my paw scraped roughly against the wall, the pain sharp and immediate. I hated this, every moment of it. But I forced myself to focus, reminding myself that a sprained paw could be fixed, but getting caught would be the end. My priorities had to be clear.
After what felt like an eternity, I finally made it up and prepared to jump down. I calculated the height carefully, steeling myself, and then leaped. I landed badly on my left ankle, the pain shooting up my leg like fire. It took every ounce of willpower not to cry out. Instead, I bit down on my lip and forced myself to move, dragging my injured ankle as quickly as I could toward the mansion.
The interior was quiet-just as I had hoped. Despite the throbbing pain in my ankle, I moved as fast as I could, reaching my room within minutes. As soon as I closed the door behind me, I let out a long sigh of relief, collapsing onto the bed. I couldn’t believe how lucky I had been today.
Lying there, I reflected on the insanity of it all. If not for the Moon Goddess’s favor, I would have been in deep trouble. I had managed to avoid rogues and kidnappers, sneak in and out without triggering any alarms, and escape without anyone discovering my absence. But despite this incredible stroke of luck, I had still sprained my ankle, and more troubling, I had entangled myself in something far more dangerous.
“What could he possibly be asking for all this information for if not to bring down Lucas and Simon? I’m certain he’s involved in some plot to seize power and control the lycanthrope affairs,” I murmured to myself, the weight of his warning pressing down on me. The thought of the crown brought to mind my little pawn and the delicate assignment I had given her. I hadn’t yet heard what happened after she presented that topic to Lucas or Simon-or perhaps both. But one thing was certain: they wouldn’t have taken it lightly. Her ignorance could open doors for me in the affairs of the mansion and its Kings, doors that I would be ready to exploit.
A notification chimed on my phone, pulling me out of my thoughts. I picked it up, curiosity tinged with dread.
“Hope you have an amazing day, princess. I enjoyed having you sleep in my special bed. We should do this more often…” I scoffed and rolled my eyes at the message. But the next lines made my blood run cold. “…Remember, I have eyes everywhere, and I know everything about you-including that beautiful video of ours. If you know what’s best for you, comply with everything we agreed on. Take care of yourself, my love. Can’t wait to have you in my arms again. Until then, goodbye.”
I hissed in disgust, throwing the phone aside. Did he really think I would risk sneaking out to meet him again after everything I had gone through? I had been lucky this time, but there was no guarantee I would be so fortunate again.
“He’ll be damned if he actually thinks we’re going to have a repeat of this! What a shameless man,” I muttered angrily, before collapsing back onto the bed, exhaustion overtaking me. Sleep, for now, was the only escape from this madness.
The exhaustion weighed heavily on me, dragging me into a restless sleep. My dreams were plagued by the shadowy figure of the messenger, his smirk twisted with malice as he whispered dark secrets about power and betrayal. I woke up with a start, my heart pounding. The room was bathed in the pale light of early morning, a reminder that the day would soon begin, and with it, new challenges awaited.
As I struggled to get out of bed, my injured ankle throbbed painfully, a constant reminder of my reckless night. I hobbled to the vanity, staring at my reflection with a mix of frustration and determination. The bruises and fatigue were evident, but there was no time to dwell on them. I needed to formulate a plan, a strategy to navigate this treacherous path and ensure that my position-and the future of the lycanthropes-remained secure.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. The message from the messenger gnawed at me, fueling my resolve. I couldn’t afford to be intimidated. If he was part of a larger plot, then I needed to understand it fully and act decisively. My role as the future queen demanded nothing less.
After a quick breakfast, I set out for the mansion’s library, determined to research anything that could give me an edge. The library, with its towering shelves and dust-covered tomes, was a sanctuary of knowledge and secrecy. I scanned through old texts and recent reports, looking for clues or patterns that might shed light on the messenger’s motives or the broader political currents at play.
Hours passed as I poured over documents and deciphered cryptic passages. My ankle, though still painful, was manageable with each step I took through the vast room. The knowledge I uncovered was a mix of historical accounts and current intelligence, painting a picture of a power struggle that was more complex and dangerous than I had initially realized.
As I delved deeper, a disturbing pattern began to emerge. The messenger’s threats seemed to align with a series of covert movements and alliances within the court-a web of intrigue that suggested a coordinated effort to undermine the existing power structure. Lucas and Simon’s names appeared frequently, linked to various factions and schemes. It became increasingly clear that the threat was not just about personal intimidation but a calculated attempt to destabilize the entire system.
The weight of my responsibility pressed down on me. If I was to confront this threat, I needed allies, information, and a plan. My thoughts drifted to the pawn I had sent to gather intel. Still not getting anything about what had happened was troubling, and I couldn’t afford any more uncertainties. I resolved to check in on her progress as soon as I was done here, just to be sure she had effectively taken the bait for me to swiftly swing into action
Just then, a soft knock interrupted my concentration. My trusted servant, Amira, entered the room. Her expression was a bit vague, making it extremely hard for me to tell what could have happened
“What’s wrong”