Later that night, Lyne barged into Styx's room, her face full of rage. She has had it up to the extreme and she felt it was time to stand up for herself.

Her father was sitting on the edge of the bed going through a sheet of paper.

"Is this how much you hate me?" She yelled, attracting stares from the guards standing at the entrance.

"Get out from here!" Styx roared at them and they scurried away.

"What are you saying, my dear?" He turned towards Lyne who wasn't having any of his act.

She crossed her arms over her chest. "The agreement between you and your guest was about what?"

"It's none of your business."

"I don't think so. We are talking about my life here. You want to throw it all away for a piece of jewelry? You will hand me over to your worst enemy?" She was crying already. Her head pounding with a million unasked questions in her head.

"Is that it?"

"You both agreed to use me for your dirty games? You want me to get married to a vampire?!" She pointed towards the door, her eyes bulging like they would fall out of their sockets.

"Oh, and?"

"You of all people know these people are capable of doing anything. Do I not matter to you at all?"

"You do matter to me, Lyne. In this situation, you do. Ever since your mother's death, you've never joined any of your siblings to fight a single war so you can't understand what this is all about!"

"Of course. You're right." Her voice was shaky. "I'd rather die than get married to that pompous idiot!"

"I've made my decision, and that is it." Styx rose and dropped the paper on a dressing cabinet.

"That. Is. It."

Lyne's brow furrowed in disgust.

"I wonder how my mother would like this."

"You will not mention her name!" He turned at her, eyes changing from their initial color to wolf gray.

"No? Why?" Lyne's eyes widened in mocking surprise. "I just want you to think about it."

"She's so much different than you in all ways!"

"If you loved her as you claimed. If she was your favorite, then treat her daughter the way you know she'd want you to." She gave him a firm look. "If I am not like her, you should have killed me a long time ago."

"You do know that my decisions can't be changed, don't you?" He took a long stride towards his bed and laid there as if to say the conversation is over.

Heart clutching, she swallowed hard.

"I've made my own decisions that I'd rather die than marry a vampire just to satisfy your selfish urge."

Before he could say another word, she ran out of the room.

"So you're going to marry his daughter?" Wikh posed the question as he arranged

Zeidan's bed.

Since the King had asked him to celebrate the wedding in the kingdom before heading back to vampire city, he had no choice but to agree. All to protect his origin.

Sitting on the dressing stool, he accessed his reflection and saw a young vampire version of himself looking at his dying Father.

"Well, it is what it is, old man." He replied Wikh, looking at him through the mirror.

"All for the people. I'm just worried about Luana."

A flicker of hatred passed through Wikh's face as he scoffed and dropped a pillow on the bed.

"Well, it's not so difficult. You tell her the news, explain your reasons for agreeing, she gets mad and crazy, we bound her and throw her out of the city. That's it." He chattered off, almost to himself.

Zeidan narrowed his eyes as he stared at Wikh's figure from the mirror and turned to look at him.

"You do know she planned all of this, don't you?"

"But my Lord, you can't marry two women."

"It's not your decision to make. I'm worried about Lyne being able to face her. I doubt if she can even hold a sword." He twitched his lips and faced the mirror again.

"You can teach her then."

"Why do you want Luana to leave that bad? She seems to be the best I can recommend as a Queen for vampire city. I mean, she has the bravery, beauty, and brains."

Something fell with a thud outside the door and they both kept quiet. Nodding towards Wikh, he rose to check who was at the door, while he followed behind.

Opening it, he saw a girl in a white gown with golden hair on the floor. Her brown boots stuck under a fallen heavy statue.

"Oh my freakin' world!" Zeidan screamed before carrying the young lady who was unconscious already.

Checking who it was, his heart did a triple somersault like it did in the forest. Blood dripped from her head and Zeidan was drawn to her immediately.

"Lyne?" Zeidan called after pressing the soaked towel on her head for the umpteenth time.

Wikh gave an exasperated sigh.

"This is the fortieth time you will be touching her, your Highness. Let her be."

Ignoring him, Zeidan continued to watch over her. He accessed her from her whole face to her neck and her slender body that gave a beautiful shape. He couldn't help but touch her again, this time on her face.

He has never felt this way. After his Father's death, all that has been on his mind was to avenge his death and carry on the legacy. He did warm his bed numerous times with girls who without hesitation fell for his looks. Maybe Luana was just the same. He felt like he has only been pushing himself to like her because she was the perfect ideal Queen.

But a question lingered in his mind now. Is she the ideal lover?

The light from the sun illuminated the room giving it a serene look perfect for having time alone. Music sounded distant in her ears and all she could see is darkness and emptiness.

Inside her as she closed her eyes, oblivious of her surroundings. It felt like she was been thrown into a bottomless pit where she kept falling.

Suddenly, a light emerged from the end and her face was lined with smiles. Finally, it was here. But why does it still feel like she's in the darkness?

The song had begun to echo like it was a dirge made for someone and when she turned her head, she was whirled by what felt like the wind into another dimension where she stood in the middle of the forest. Her forehead was laced with beads of perspiration. The air was misty and her throat sore.

"Hello?" She managed to call but there was silence t first.

"Who's there?" She heard shuffling footsteps, almost like the owner was trying so hard to walk unnoticed or unheard.

"I know you're somewhere hiding! Whoever you are, you can't scare me. My name is Lyne and I am the Luna." Covering her mouth she wondered if she always say that word confidently.

Soon, in the dark, two red eyes surface staring at her. Her heart skipped beats a hundred times as she watched the bulging eyes move closer. They had a catlike profile. As it moved closer, she heard a soft voice call her name.

"Lyne? Lyne?"

She opened her eyes and saw Zeidan standing over her, towel in hand. Her heart clutched seeing how handsome he is. She hoped that everything she thought had happened was just a dream. However, they weren't as she heard her sister's voice filling the room.

"Doing the husband's work already, I can see." Korba scoffed as she sat at the edge of the bed, watching her.

"I'm sorry if I'm being a little forward..."

"You're marrying her for a contract," her annoying voice filled her head and Lyne shut her eyes tightly, cursing under her breath.

"Remember your place and help her remember hers too."

There was silence for a while and Lyne wondered what Zeidan was going to say.

His next outburst shocked her.

"Whether I'm marrying for a contract or not doesn't matter. She's human with blood flowing through her and humans are expected to be treated delicately with care. I'm only doing my job." He rose, smiled curtly at her, and left the room leaving both Korba and her speechless.

"Lucky you. Someone thinks you deserved to be valued for once."

She walked back out of the room and Charles walked in seconds after.

"Hey," he called, trying hard to conceal his concerned looks.

"How're you doing, freak?"

"I'm doing well," she smiled a bit. She was only going to put up with their attitude for a short time before going into a different world.

"What happened?" He threw in the question, causing Lyne to glance at him, memories of the previous day flashing through her eyes.

"I went to confront Dad."

Charles whistled and jogged towards her sister, his eyes widened.

"Tell me about it. You confronted the old Alpha?"

"He already made up his mind. I'll be marrying Zeidan." Her last sentence sounded like a life imprisonment verdict passed to a prisoner accused wrongly.

"So much for being a freak, freak," he folded his arms akimbo, face thoughtful.

Together, they were both lost in their thoughts. Lyne unaware of what the future holds for her and Charles thinking of his next meeting with his old acquaintance. His gaze darkened.

They all stood in a straight line on the field. Their faces were straight and focused on the vastness of the place. Their pupils dilating and their breathing palpitating.

On a high rock opposite the whole Royal siblings (except Lyne), Azrael lay already in his wolf form. His eyes not leaving Charles, the eldest, Reb, Diana, Olivia, Tara, Frank, Korba, and the twins, George and Georgina.

"When you hear the whistle, you must run with all your might. You must be one with the wind and sky not forgetting that nature must be your best friend. Let the air breathe on your first, and let the sun suck up your fury. You are and must forever be the best hunters in your clan. As it stands, you all are nowhere near the best but you have proven to be good."

He continued to talk while the siblings in their white sheets wrapped around them looked forward.

On the first floor, Lyne resumed her position as an audience. Always watching them shift as usual.

Sometimes she would see the nakedness of those who would throw away their sheets before shifting totally and have a good laugh herself. It was always a good sight to behold, but she dared not tease anyone of them about it.

"Look at that freak. She's watching us now, obviously jealous of us." George a redhead whispered into Charles' ears and they both peeked up at her. They held back their laughter for fear of facing Azrael's wrath.

"At the count of three, you all will go out there..."

"Enough with the same preaching, old man. We are used to it." Reb muttered, taking her fingers through her brownish blonde hair.

The drum gave a loud sound and they all ran five feet, some six before throwing off their sheets and shifting into big wolves, their claws hitting the floor and gathering dust behind them. All of them going to bring home the best meat.

The breeze blew Lyne's hair as she watched them leave. Her face expressionless like she was deep in thought but it lasted for a few seconds as she burst out laughing.

Zeidan came out of a corridor and saw her from afar wondering what was making her laugh. Whatever it is, she looked beautiful with her smile.

A bright light emanated from the corridor, coupled with speckles of golden dust and smoke. After a while, it subsided and a man with a black hat and grey coat emerged. He removed his hat and entered the guest room where Zeidan kept his belongings.

He moved to where he kept his boxes of clothes and started searching through them. After a long moment of cursing and moving about, hands on his waist, he sighed in despair.

"Where the hell did I keep this thing?" His frustrated voice held in hushed tones like a confused woman who doesn't know where she kept her baby.

Lyne walked in carrying a basket full of trash. She was cleaning everywhere. He was startled.

"Mr. Wikh?" She called at the man who looked at her mischievously as if he had done something bad.

"Are you ok?"

Dropping the basket, she searched around for the trash bin while Wikh stuttered looking for the right word to explain why he was searching for his master's bag.

"I was looking for my medicine," he managed to say.

"You're on medication? What happened to you?" Lyne had paused what she was doing and faced the older man.

"Nothing. I just use it for this little pain I have on my shoulders. It's been like that for some years now."

"How about we take you to the best hospital on the outskirt of this jungle? I'm sure you'll be fine." She resumed her work and turned.

"Thanks, but you need not worry about me." She heard him say behind her.

Walking down the corridor, she saw Zeidan staring at a picture on the wall, arms akimbo. She got to his side and looked at the picture he was staring at.

Embedded in the squared frame is the mixture of oil paints splattered across the surface, creating shapes and colors that later display on it the face of a beautiful young girl in a blue dress.

"This you?" She heard him ask and she glanced at him, brows furrowed.

"Of course, it's me. More reasons why you should get medicated glasses. Your eyes are failing you."

She scoffed before leaving, while Zeidan laughed.

She knows there was no use fighting it. She would get married to this tall handsome-like-the-devil vampire and live her life with him. He is nice, she could give him that. But what if he is only putting up a show since he's still in their territory and hasn't gotten what he wants?

Getting down the stairs and off to the lawn to throw all the trash into a big can, she made up her mind to face whatever life throws in her face.

This week, she'd be leaving her family to live with a man she barely knows in a world she barely knows. All because she is the black sheep of the family.

Once she's gone, she'd make sure Zeidan never gets to bully her the way she's always been bullied by her siblings. It's time to stand up for herself and stop whining as her father would say.

She opened the big can and dropped the whole white sheets and other trash into it. But her eyes caught something. A white paper with a stamp that showed the letter had come from royalty. She picked it up out of curiosity, the wind blowing hair into her face.

She opened it after reading where the letter came from. It indicated it had come from Vampire City. From the palace itself.

"Come home, quickly. I found something important. I also missed you, sweetheart. Love, Luana." The content read.

Her heart burned like fire. Her head pounding like there was a war going on in there and she could feel her blood boiling immediately. Why is she feeling this way? It's just a letter. It couldn't be from his sister because from what she's heard, he is the only child of his parents.

And the name, Luana. Didn't she hear him say that name in his room? So, they were already living together as couples. Tears rolled down her cheeks and it looked like her hate for Zeidan had grown more. She turned towards the staircase and ran to her room.

Zeidan strode into his room and saw Wikh sitting on the chair in front of the dressing mirror, head bent. The room was exceptionally clean and he wondered if this was Wikh's job. But that will be strange considering how arrogant his aide is when it comes to doing the maid's job.

"You okay?" He sat on the edge of the bed, back turned towards Wikh.

"Yeah, I'm just tryna rest my head. In a few days, the wedding will commence and we'll be on our way back to Vampire City." He ran his hand over his almost bald head. "Why is she the one taking out the trash anyway?"

"Poor girl!" He muttered as he remembered looking down at her beautiful face while she was on his bed.

"Being different from your whole family can be a whole lot of work. It's hell on earth."

"I'm inclined to agree." Wikh sighed.

"I just hope she will be able to adjust to our system."

"Our people are less discriminating. They don't consider themselves above others, unlike the Werewolves. We believe in equality irrespective of what kind of magic you have or the power you possess. But whatever it is, I will make sure I treat Lyne right." His face looked determined especially as he remembered the note he got from Luana. He had trashed it without reading it.

He already knew who he want. It's time he tried his best to make Lyne want him in return, and this time he doesn't want any interruption.

"Do you think we should give Styx the Onyx?" Wikh asked, eyes following Zeidan as he moved about the room.

"That's what I'm contemplating on?"

He saw the man's face change and wondered what it is he was thinking. He decided to get into his head.

'Oh my world!' he heard him say in his mind. 'if this onyx is given to someone else, I'll be done for.'

Zeidan frowned and his guts told him to suspect Wikh. However, he kept his mouth shut and went to lie on the bed again.