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Chapter 1 — The Cardinals
“Fuckkk…” the cold water that was doused across my face woke me from my lucid nightmare instantly.
Today is the day of the Treaty. The Alpha would announce who would be the Nonarch.
I sprinted off the flat mattress and clutched my stomach in pain. Opening my eyes, I saw my stepsister Kim, glaring at me, her whole squad of servants and friends laughing at my pain.
I'm used to this. But each time she finds a new technique to torture me and it makes me wonder if she is a wolf or an evil witch.
I am the Alpha's first daughter, but just a slave in the pack. Ever since I was four, my father has made it his sole aim to pretend that I don't exist and since he couldn't openly kill me, he has made sure my existence is hell.
Because history did say that my mother cheated on my father and tried to sell the pack to the rogues.
“Why the fuck are you lazing around? The Treaty starts in two hours and we have guests already coming in.” She handed the whip in her hand to her right hand servant and pointed at me. “Get your fucking smelly ass in the kitchen and help!”
Her screams don't scare me but I have developed the habit of pretending it does to soothe her ego. “Yes, your highness.”
“Also make sure you press my dress. And if you dare make a mess of it, I will wring your neck faster than you can blink. And we both know father doesn't give a rat's ass about your life.”
“Understood your highness.”
She wiped her hands with some napkins before walking out of the basement, leaving me with nothing but total remorse for my entire family.
Without wasting time, I rushed to Kim's dressing room and found the dress hanging in the wardrobe. Quickly working around it, I finished up and returned to the kitchen.
"Hey, guess who will be chosen as the nonarch?"
"I have no idea. I hope the moon goddess will bless him."
When I arrived at the kitchen door, two maids with gold plates hurried past me.
The Treaty is the most vital event in Sternola. It’s held every March.
Sternola is divided into four cardinals. The North is for the Lycans, the South for Wolves, the West for the Rogues, and the East for the witches and priestesses.
Four hundred years ago, these four cardinals had a protracted war. Fortunately, the Moon Goddess led the signing of a truce and the creation of a treaty.
Therefore, to this day, Sternola still maintains the tradition of holding the treaty celebration to consolidate peace.
With one cardinal hosting the ceremony and another cardinal choosing an entity to serve as a truce vessel. The person who acts as the vessel is called the Non–Monarch or Nonarch for short. And the arrangement was rotated yearly so that every cardinal, every pack, has the opportunity.
This year, the treaty hosting fell to the lycans but the nonarch is to be chosen from the wolves which is my cardinal.
The Faye's pack were supposed to host this event. But due to a sudden contagious plague, the hosting right ended up in the hands of my father, Alpha of the Willows Pack.
This meant that the Nonarch will be chosen by my father.
Thinking of this, I couldn't help but shrink my neck.
After all, the tragedy of the brutal murder of Nonarchs had been happening for several years in a row.
In fact, the times have changed and Sternola has long become corrupted compared to four hundred years ago when the treaty came to place. The celebration is nothing but a congregation of lies. A way for each cardinal to attack each other and murder the nonarch for show of power while pretending like we are still united according to the alliance of truce.
“Stop chopping the veggies and go check on the snacks in the oven!” A maid's stern voice interrupted my thoughts.
I worked on the snacks, enduring the burning heat that came from the huge inbuilt oven.
“Fiona, go help with moving the food. I will get the snacks.” Aunt Maya hurried me up with a stern look as she sneaked some snacks into the pouch of my ugly dress.
She may act mean, but she loves me. She is the only person who sang me lullabies and treated me like I really matter.
‘Stop whining. You have been trash for over sixteen years, don't act like it matters now.’
I am sorry did I forget to mention that my wolf, Fayla, is a huge ass bitch who because of my current inability to shift—a secret I guard with my life—since I was thirteen can go to sleep for days. Sometimes weeks.
Later, a maid stormed into the kitchen and informed me. “The Alpha needs your attention in the main hall this instant.” She left as soon as she spoke while I stood there, confused and scared.
He rarely summoned me, especially on such an important day. I had a faint bad feeling in my heart, but I could only forcibly ignore it.
I took the fastest route to the main hall to avoid another punishment from my father and didn't ease my steps until I reached the stairs and paused to catch some air.
Whatever it is my father wants, I hoped it would be to finally give me my independence to live outside the pack.
As I was catching my breath, I noticed the fleet of cars that gently drove into the packing area some distance away. I stopped to look, spectacular lovely Maybachs catching my eyes.
The shiny and lush exterior of it spoke wealth. As if it was choreographed, three men stepped out of the cars, their suits neatly pressed with not a squeeze or fold visible from where I stood.
Maybe they knew someone was looking, but they all raised their heads, colored gazes falling on me, sweeping my stomach into a whirlwind of furious butterflies. I recognised these men. They are the monarchy rulers of Sternola.
The first man being the Rogue King while the last cold looking figure is the Lycan King.
The second man is my King. Alpha Elijah Darlington of Alyan pack. The perfect description of a gentleman and the youngest of all the kings being thirty with a reputation so clean it makes the other shifters concoct rumours about him. Alpha Elijah’s most attentive feature is the slightly huge jarred birthmark on his cheek. The stark lovely brown against his rich skin. Standing at 6 '3, his height was the same as the Rogue king.
I am honest when I say he is every woman's dream. The first words anyone uses to describe him are; prim, proper, and the perfect gentleman. He is the epitome of kindness. A lovely innocent face amidst the chaos of kings.
Yet… unaccounted for wolf plagues hit the other cardinals. He never admits to it but we all know our king isn't the absolute saint he appears to be.
But we adore him. He has brought immeasurable improvement to the south in his eleven years of being on the throne.
My gaze continued to move from one king to the other, absolutely fascinated by the sight of their beauty. They look like they stepped out of a fashion cover. A popular rogue influencer once said the only good thing about corrupted Sternola is that our kings are hot and young and I couldn't agree more.
The distance between us was wide, yet I could feel how dangerous their aura was especially when they moved closer as if wanting to get a closer look at me. I realised how rude it was to have stared for so long. These weren't just any men, they are rulers of the country.
I quickly continued up the stairs, almost tripping in the process, my armpits itchy and my whole body on fire. The rumors aren't false, they are handsome but dangerous looking monsters.
The deadly enemy kings who are rumoured to be making an attempt on each other's lives so as to merge the other shifter cardinals because there are rumours that Sternola might go back to totalitarian ruling. A concept that defeats the entire purpose of the treaty but like I said, the country is as corrupt as it can be.
The truce is nothing but a facade of adept lies and ugly activities.
“My God look at the state of her. Did you poo yourself?” My stepmother, the Luna , was all dressed and shiny. She stepped back immediately as if she was afraid she would contact whatever germs I had.
My father looked slightly panicked even though Kim and Mark were hiding the beam in their smiles.
“You think we shouldn't?” He asked her.
“What?!” She glared at him and moved closer, muttering something I couldn't hear. “Of course we should!”
My father walked to me stopping at least three steps away before wearing his usual Alpha authoritative look.
“Are you aware of the basic requirements for a treaty?” I nodded my head but he kept talking. “A representative called the non-monarch from a cardinal is sent to live in the Neutral Palace for a month. This time, the responsibility of picking has fallen on me for hosting the celebration on my ground.”
I know this information as it is basic knowledge but I kept quiet not wanting to risk the usual starvation punishment of four days.
“The Zen Alpha has reached out to us for a representative.” My gaze moved to his at this moment, our similar amber eyes an insult to what I have been through. “And I have picked you. After all, you are my daughter.”
They are sending me to my death.
Chapter 2 — This. Is. The. End
—Fiona—
“But father, they always die and…” he gave me a hard glare, his eyes flaring with the slightest hint of red.
“The servants will take care of your clothing. Dismissed.” Luna commanded and I dragged my feet, robotically walking out of the main hall.
The servants were already waiting when I stepped out, and I was escorted to the dressing room where I was washed and given a blue dress.
It's common knowledge that nonarchs die!
During the one month of treaty hosting, the leaders of all cardinals try to kill each other. The reason is simple. The truce is shaking and the treaty is not as strong as it was.
Twenty four years ago, totalitarian rumors resurfaced and each cardinal ruler began to prove that they were worthy of holding such power.
It started when the witches held the treaty celebration twenty years ago and the rogue nonarch was found dead before the weekly banquet. The rogues took it as a battle for power and when the treaty fell on them, they killed the wolf nonarch. The wolves did the same to the lycans and the cycle began.
It became a competition. Killing the nonarch to subtly battle over totalitarian power.
It's why when treaties fall on Alphas, they never send their family as nonarchs. I may be a slave in my fathers house but I am still his blood and flesh. It's too obvious an action to send me off like this.
He could as well hold a placard that says ‘please kill my daughter. I have always hated her.’
Minutes after, the door of the dressing room is thrown open, the Luna drags me out and I join my horrible family as we walk to the main event ground.
The Elders from each cardinal were separately seated under a tent while the kings had their table directly across ours. With the lycan king sitting between the other kings.
The infamous Lycan king, Alpha Christian Garrling of the Lyan Pack. His face looks as cold as ice and I wonder if it's the weather in the North or just his personality. He is thirty-four and comes from a long line of monarch. The Garrling family has always ruled the lycans. He is the oldest of the kings and even from his face and huge figure, it's obvious he is the most dangerous.
Alpha Christian has eyes that are as dark as midnight and soulless. Some say it's because of how evil he is. Standing at a 6’5, his nose that was somewhat crooked added to his rugged look
He is popular for his highly polished Nothern accent and being direct with his attacks. Once on national TV, he told an elder it would rain in his house even though it was dry season. Indeed, it rained fire in the poor elders' home.
The event started with the emcee being from the Rogue Cardinal and surprisingly he was very well behaved compared to the rumours about their kind.
I would have found the programme interesting if I wasn't patiently waiting for my death. Finally, the emcee handed the microphone to my father who spoke after a round of applause.
“Thank you everyone for joining the annual treaty event. I would like to present to you the non-monarch representative from the Southern Cardinal of Sternola, my eldest daughter, Fiona Willows.”
The cheers that came after got me on my feet and by the time I realized what was going on, I was already standing next to my father.
The emcee handed the microphone over to me with a smile.
I cleared my throat, my father giving me a harsh squeeze in my elbow that basically spoke ‘fuck this up and I might as well feed you to the den of vipers’. It made me wonder if the numerous cameras never caught that action. “I…I am honored to be chosen.”
More cheers, followed by an applause sealed the deal while I took my seat next to Alpha Elijah, all three kings giving me a look that made my insides turn warm yet made me feel as though I was walking on prickled pins inserted on ice.
The most prominent thoughts that plagued my mind was whose hand I will die by but surely, my own king wouldn't kill me right?
After four hours of sitting through the programme and doing my best to not throw up, the event finally ended and my stepmother made a show of seeing me off as she threw me a small bag. Like I had anything worthy of being taken with me.
Alpha Elijah pulled the door open for me and the kings climbed in after I did, each seated opposite me. The car was an all round seater so it was easier for everyone to look at each other.
During the first twenty minutes of the ride, the silence that filled the car was almost deafening, the tension so thick, it reduced the intake of breath I took. A shin of sweat had covered my forehead and I had to wipe it every few seconds.
Throughout the ride, the rogue king's gaze was on me while I focused on counting my fingers even though I already knew they would be ten.
I thought he was going to say something but he didn't yet kept giving me that look that made me uncomfortable and on edge where I sat.
A few minutes passed before the Lycan king received a call. He spoke into the phone and barely a minute after, his expression turned grim and on the verge combusting into flames.
“What?” Zen Alpha asked and he replied quite stiffly.
“Palace mother just called, some group sent bombs to the neutral palace.”
“What?!” The Rogue King sounded quite shocked.
The Neutral Palace is where the nonarch, the general elders of the country and the cardinal monarchs all stay for the one month of treaty period. The palace is considered a sanctuary for Sternola. Controlled by a High Priestess who becomes the Palace Mother. The palace was built over a thousand years ago and it's where the treaty first took place.
It's also where Sternola vacates its citizens when we are invaded by foreign species like the demons, vampires and the ones with hoofs.
The neutral palace is considered sacred. Untouchable. The indomitable of all Sternola grounds. Because it's the land the moon goddess favors. Bombing the neutral palace is synonymous to a declaration of war and an indication that Sternola doesn't have the complete protection of the moon goddess anymore.
They may look like someone just gave them a pile of shit but my heart was hopeful through the bad news. I undid the seat belt and shifted closer to the edge of the chair. “Does this mean I get to go back to the pack house?” And not be a nonarch anymore?
Alpha Christian gave me an intense look before shaking his head. “No. It's the most horrible news I have heard in years. We are going to stop over at…” the rude interruption of his words was from an abnormal effect of a strong object hitting the car. The tumbling of it making my head slam against the roof with an impact that yielded a scream out of me.
Surprisingly, the rogue king grabbed hold of my waist as the next huge dent splitted the car into two, rolling us off onto the rough gravel of the road. He held me tight, the sharp stones piercing and tearing through the skin of my body. My consciousness was slipping off as my head maimed against the gravel when the rogue let me go.
Shouts were being thrown. Bones were cracking and the fastest transition from human shell to shifter I had ever seen was blurred in my vision as the king's wolves howled through the streets.
Stale blood was in the air and the rogue king's lithe body was now a huge fast moving shadow against something bigger. Scarier.
Something that seemed far away until it reached out to grab me by the neck. My body lifted off the rough ground to face a repulsive huge creature that smelled so pungent, it made me instantly dizzy.
Everything was a haze of grey and black. Of moving bodies, painful shouts and tearing of flesh. The creature opened its hideous mouth, flesh shaking roar emanating from its base and revealing a sharp row of numerous teeth and two long fangs that resembled a flagella, the wet stems of it made of spines and reaching out for my face.
I know this creature from the forbidden book hidden in the safe of my father's study. A special species of The Demons Flagellata. A monster that was created only for the purpose of killing.
Someplace in my heart, in my unconscious state that I fell into, I heard the voice. Perhaps that of the moon goddess or the gross interior of this creature's mouth.
‘THIS. IS. THE. END’
Chapter 3 — An Abomination!
—Fiona—
Heaven doesn't look like a pleasant place. At least not for me. I have no idea if I have dissolved in the stomach of the repulsive demon or if my soul was simply floating.
Ahead of me is a lovely palace made from gold and shiny colors. Yet the dark clouds that surrounded its sky loomed danger. I can feel the fear in my bones but something keeps pushing me forward.
Inside the chambers. Past the dungeons. To a wooden door that smelled familiar. Dangerous yet thrilling.
My gaze drifted around, landing on a subtle inked carving just around the silver knob. A crest of some kind. I leaned forward when I heard the thudding of wood and screams on the opposite end.
‘Let me out! Let me out! You wench! You are an abomination! All of you. Let me out! LET ME OUT!’
The last thud drove me backward. An invisible force that whimpered all my locomotions and made me a pool of jello on the ground. The crest turned slightly, a dangerous feminine voice grunting on the other end.
Scared, I scrambled around as I stumbled against clay walls, artifacts and mosaics and ran out. Away from the abode that smelled like home yet more like my end.
“It's normal that people scream when they are about to die.” It was the first thing I heard the rogue king say once I was conscious enough to make it out of that horrible dream.
I wanted to speak as well but my mouth was heavy.
“She isn't breathing.” Alpha Christians sounded concerned. “She might be dead.”
“We should kill her to be sure.” The rogue king suggested and a cold metal touched my neck. I am not surprised he is pushing for death.
King from the West, and Alpha of the Roan pack, Xander Robinhood is famous for being a professional killer disguised as a king. The man may wear a clean suit but his bird nest hairstyle, those flirty green eyes, the constant subtle hint of smirk and his popular title of being Sternola's King of Pussy picked him apart from the other kings. Being a rogue, he was blunt in his words and uncaring towards the laws.
And his jawline, it's widely known that Alpha Xander has the sort of jaw that would carve the lycans gold. Yet the man's murderous instincts are synonymous to that of a demon. Despite all, the rogues and more than half the priestesses in the country favor him.
My body was trying to fight but from the way no one said a thing, my internal struggles weren't quite reaching the conscious world.
“You saw what happened Christian. You can see the mark on her.” Alpha Elijah paused and I heard a silent curse.
“We don't know for sure if the lady is dead.” I heard the lycan argue.
I am not fucking dead you three idiots!
“Dead, alive? It doesn't matter. How do we this mark?” The hands around my neck moved to my shoulder, gently caressing before hissing loudly. “They sent us a human!”
“Just because she can't shift doesn't mean she is human.” Alpha Elijah's voice countered.
“You know judging by the fact that she is from your Cardinal, this is looking a little suspicious for you.”
The lycan King was the only one who spoke as Alpha Xander further pressed the metal to my neck. “I suppose the witches set us up with this. If we kill her, we might fall into their loop completely.”
“I am not saying you aren't right. I have thought of the possibility. But we will be better off arguing that she died in an accident than explaining that a demon placed its mark on someone who is supposed to be a wolf.” The rogue explained.
A Demons mark on me? No. It can't be. I struggled with my movements, doing my best to escape from the prison my own body put me in.
My life is complicated and terrific enough as it is. A Demons mark is never found on shifters because we have an impregnable resistance to the demon genes. It's why a pure bred demon and a shifter cannot produce children.
Demons are natural enemies to shifters even though they are a form of shifter themselves. For any Sternola citizen, it's difficult to have a demon mark unless it was directly imprinted to mark the person as one in cahoots with the demons. Which is an act right next to treason.
I may be unable to shift but I shouldn't have it because my father is a full wolf which enables me for wolf blood.
Alpha Christian later offered. “Let me do it.” Warm huge palm circles on my neck and replaced the cold blade. “This could start another…”
I jerked awake and immediately scooted back until I met a solid surface. They looked shocked. A little scared even.
“DAMN YOU ALL!” I angrily cursed. I tried to get on my feet as Christian moved closer. “Not another step.”
My shoulder hurts and a harsh stinging wave almost made me tumble over as I reached the tree behind for support.
“Oh wow! Just who we were hoping to see!” Xander gave me a smile that was genuinely fake and I rolled my eyes.
“You were going to kill me!” I shouted, my voice echoing back at me in the forest.
“Calm down.” Christian took a step forward and I took another backwards.
It felt like my shoulder was on fire and Elijah looked like he would rather be asleep than deal with this.
“I will report this to the general Elders.” They can't just kill and always get away with it.
“And say what?” Elijah rubbed his eyes before spreading his arms out, that gentle expression still on his face. “If you walk that corner and get to the main road...all you will find is a wrecked car, dead driver and nothing else.”
“Liar…those…those…creatures..” the flagellatas. “...did you kill them?”
“They vaporized into God knows where after it tried to digest you. It marked you!” Xander answered. “And you are human!” He further exclaimed, gesturing to my shoulder.
“An atrocity on its own.” Christian added.
“I am not human. I just can't …”
“Shift yet? Correct me if I am wrong Fiona but you are way past fifteen aren't you?” My lips were sealed. “Way past the shifting age. Something that should have been told to the council of general Elders.” Elijah's eyes darkened with an interesting flow.
“The fact that it wasn't, means that you didn't tell anyone you have no wolf yet.” Xander's voice has never sounded more displeasing at the moment.
They found out my fucking secret. I had managed to hide it since I was thirteen and thankfully it was easier because I was the pack's least favorite. I pretended to be a weak omega and hid myself away when the pack went on general hunting.
I had found out when I was fourteen about the country’s rules when a boy my age was put away. Any shifter who isn't able to shift by fifteen, is a curse on Sternola. I would be banished to the land of the unliving where the demons and black magic users can use my soul for horrible things.
“You can't…” I was trembling all over. My body was hurting and weak.
“Listen, the only reason we wanted to kill you is because we don't want you waking and telling the witches about the demon attack. They will frame us for it. But the demons are nowhere to be found now. No evidence except what we all know.” Christian explained, midnight eyes focusing on mine to get the hint across.
I leaned against the tree, craving support. His tone was clear. The general Elders consist of people who favored the witches. It will be easy for the witches to pin this blame on them. Especially since they claim there isn't any evidence.
“So I shouldn't say a thing?” I carefully suggested looking from Christian to Elijah.
Elijah gave me an adequate nod. “Exactly. And I hope you have cloth that covers your shoulders?”
I finally glanced at it. Somewhere between the dent of my clavicle and chest bone was the grime black demon mark. “This shouldn't be possible.”
“Last time I checked, we are a country that strictly doesn't harbour humans.” Xander reminds.
“I have my father's wolf blood. I am no human.” But their silence proved to me what I already knew. That not having a wolf yet equates to being human.
All three men glanced at each other, a silent conversation passing between them. For men who were supposed to be enemies, they sure look too chummy together.
Christian finally stepped forward and extended his hand to me. The same sign that sealed a gentleman's deal. “We will find you a spell to rid the mark.” I am glad they don't think I planned the demon attack. “We will keep your wolfless secret and offer protection for the next one month.” My eyes flickered to the strong palm. He wants something. “In return, you promise to keep your mouth shut about the demon attack and grant each of us a wish when the time comes.”
This is the best way to stay alive for the next month even though it sounded like I would be getting more than I bargained for.
I grabbed his hand and he returned it with a light squeeze, dark eyes holding secrets that were beyond his age.
As I glanced at the kings, I couldn't help but feel a strange connection between them. The force of a bond. I may have sealed a deal but I know for sure these men feared something other than the demon attack being known.
Something that I might have seen but can't remember. Something I can destroy them with.
Knowing I am wolfless would lead to them asking questions and snooping around me. Questions that might drag out my real secret of having a forbidden ability.
My secret is only safe with me and I will make sure they end up like him. Like the one who first knew.
The one whose body has been fertilising my father's crop for the past three years.
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