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She unrolled it and left it to levitate, widening her eyes after seeing its contents. A painting of her old look- the skinny version of her wearing a purple gown and silver jewellery. She recalled the day she wore that clothing was back at Blood Star, the day Rolandro’s wife took her out and made her look like a princess.
He also gave her another scroll to unroll and she was equally stunned after she did so, leaving it to levitate just like the first one.
The second scroll surprisingly contained a painting of her when she was still a child, around three years old, dressed in a fluffy blue gown and tiara.
“This is what I wore on my third birthday party,” she muttered in an emotional tone. Her eyes revealed yearning as she held the painting with shaky hands.
She recalled the happy faces of her parents after she blew out the candles on the cake and when her dad wore a matching princess gown just to take a picture with her and fulfil her wish.
She recalled all those times they took her to school and sent her off with a kiss.
Involuntarily, a tear slid down her right cheek, turning into a pearl which bounced off her chest. Phoenix immediately caught it and handed it back to her.
She didn’t take it from him but instead hugged him tightly, “T-Thank you,”
“I told you, there’s no need to say that,” he reminded before hugging her back.
Ten minutes later.
“And here’s the last one, Lavie honey,” he took out a bigger scroll from his index ring and unrolled it himself this time with a smile. She saw the vivid painting of the current her with red hair and plump body, whose beauty would cause many kings to war.
“You’re an expert artist!” she complimented, her eyes reddened as she looked at the painting of her little self again, “I was this cute when I was still so little,” a tear threatened to fall but she stubbornly restrained it and sniffed.
“And,” she walked to the scroll containing the smiling, skinny her, “you drew the old me too,”
“Yeah,” he nodded, “I drew you the day you appeared in this gown. You looked really tasty. And then, the current you, whose charm hasn’t reduced by any means. Lavana, no matter how you look, my love for you will never cease. My earnest wish is to hold your hand until I breathe my last,” he confessed before taking out a red box from his spatial ring.
He took out an imperial jade bracelet with a love symbol engraved all around it and put it on her right wrist.
He tucked back a stray hair strand of hers before resuming his speech, “Honey, we’ve been through a lot together and I couldn’t be more convinced that you’re the one that completes me. I almost lost you before, and I won’t let that happen again. I want to be by your side and face whatever storms lie ahead and share the joys that life gifts us together.
I’m not perfect; I’ll surely make mistakes and inadvertently hurt you. If that ever happens, please do forgive me and give me a chance to show how much I treasure you in my heart,”
She nodded, “I’m not perfect either and neither do I know the future. If I ever make you sad, please don’t hold it against me,”
“I can never stay angry at you, dear one,” he reassured.
“Me too, Phoenix, me too,”
With that, he crashed his lips on hers.
***
2nd sitting room.
“Phoenix, I still want to thank you for getting me away from your mom. She was actually planning on letting everyone in the dance studio watch me dance. I suck at it. Back then Thora said a dragon needs to have superb dancing skills; I didn’t take it seriously because I felt power and revenge were everything,” she sighed and sat on the white sofa with him.
“To be honest, I still miss all three. Even though they were… Forget it, it’s the past. I shouldn’t dwell on it too much. Besides, it’s not like they are completely gone. They are alive as one person. I should be thankful for that. Maybe they should have been cruel towards me so I wouldn’t miss them at all. Sorry, it’s supposed to be a happy occasion but I’m clearly bringing down the mood. I’m sorry. Maybe…”
“Shh! It’s fine, dear. It’s good to speak out sometimes and unseal what you really feel,” he soothed, “I also know that even though you’re stronger than all Raltons combined, you are nervous. You’re going to meet those who ruined your life once again, to eradicate them,”
“Yeah,” she nodded, “I’m a bit at a loss too. On the day, I lost my people, I swore that no soul would be spared. I’ve already declared destruction on that pack, which I don’t regret considering what they did to us.
But I’m worried about hurting children and I definitely don’t want to steal the chance for unborn babies to come to this world. Yes, I witnessed my best friend’s mom’s belly torn open and her unborn child squashed. I witnessed them kill Austin too. But, I don’t want to be like them,”
Phoenix brought her into a hug and stroked her hair, “I understand you, Isla. I’m a ruthless person and that’s why they nicknamed me Savage Lord but I do have one rule I stick by; Never harm children. Don’t worry, we’ll figure a way out before tomorrow, OK? So remove this glum look. You can’t be this way if you want to take revenge,” he patted her back gently.
Lavana sniffed and nodded before parting the hug.
“You know even when sad you still look amazing,” he complimented.
“Stop lying,”
“I’m not lying, dear,” he pulled her so that she sat on his lap.
“Dear, don’t cry for something or people not worth it. Your tears are too precious to be wasted. And I’m not lying. You’d still look pretty, even if you wore a goofy look. But it’s best when you show your 32 teeth,”
“I don’t have up to that. I only have 28,” she disagreed.
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t have the full set of teeth either. I think I surpass you with two. You want to confirm?”
“No need. I know you meant you want me to smile. But I don’t want to,” she pouted.
“Well, if you don’t smile, at least there’s still the option to laugh,” he said in a manner that gave her goosebumps.
She tried to get off his lap, to no avail. With an uneasy look, she asked, “You… What are you trying to do?”
“You make me sound like a bad wolf,”
“Well, you are!” she cried out, trying to get free but then she felt a tickle on the left side of her waist.
“Phoenix, stop! I’ll smile, I’ll smile please!” she implored.
“The offer has expired, baby girl,” he replied with a grin.
“No! Someone save me!”
“Beatrix told me you love tickles. I want to see how true that is today,”
A minute later, Lavana was giggling because of being tickled in her sensitive spots. Even though she was pleading occasionally to be freed, she was no longer resisting.
A short while later, two maids came to report that lunch was ready, interrupting their fun moment.
Phoenix looked annoyed that they dared to come when he was about to kiss his mate.
“Oh come on. Don’t wear that face. Maybe I should tickle you then?” she offered.
“No,” he answered petulantly, arms crossed.
“You two, kneel,” he commanded.
The maids were about to obey his order when Lavana told them not to. They quickly steadied their posture once again and thanked their future mistress profusely.
“Here,” Lavana leaned closer to him and kissed him passionately. In the process, he unfolded his arms and rested his hands on the sofa as he leaned back.
“Leave!” he commanded the maids using voice transmission and they energetically nodded before scurrying out of the living room.
When they reached the others who were waiting at the dining section, they related what they experienced in an amused way to their fellows
“Oh my! I thought he was only capable of showing a cold face!” one of them exclaimed and then covered her mouth to suppress a laugh.
“I can hear you!” they heard a warning through the voice transmission technique.
They immediately bowed their head with arms across their chest, looking guilty.
“Forgive us, Master,” they chorused.
No other word was heard from their master. Rather, a few minutes later, the couple entered the dining section happily while the maids tried their best to keep a straight face.
***
The next day, 6:00 am.
Ralton pack.
Many in the pack were fidgeting.
Today was the day that the Olmpha was to come and carry out war against them. If they were told a month ago that a single person would make a large pack like them fear, they’d laugh it off and consider it impossible. But today, this was exactly the case.
There were quite some people who tried to escape the pack but none of them could do so successfully. They were hunted down and killed on the spot.
Their Alpha didn’t even seem worried about the impending doom. Rather, the loud moans of his wife, Luna Anita were what they heard last night. How could he be in such a good mood when it was uncertain whether they would even see tomorrow’s sun?
They had all been summoned to the ancestral hall and were waiting for the Alpha to arrive. A new Beta had been appointed three days ago and he went by the name, Harold Fisher, a middle-aged man almost as cruel as their Alpha himself.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
…
Ten minutes later, the Alpha, his Beta and Gamma arrived and stood on the platform, so all could see them.
“Good morning, dear Raltons. Thank you for choosing to stay and support me during this crucial time. You have proven your undying loyalty. I will be sure to reward you all after our sure victory,” Alpha Blake smilingly declared.
Internally, many scoffed at his words. If this shameless Alpha wasn’t killing people who tried to flee for their lives, who would stay in this land?
“I know still that many of you are afraid. If you are scared, please raise your hand,” the Alpha requested.
Only a few of them did so and he told them to stand apart from the others.
“You guys should be ashamed of yourselves. You’re not worthy to be called Raltons. I hereby expel you from the pack!” Alpha Blake said in dissatisfaction.
“Thank you, Alpha!” the expelled lot couldn’t be any happier. That damn Olmpha wasn’t here yet, so there was a big chance to flee to safety.
Of the others who hesitated to put up their hands earlier, some of them doubted the Alpha’s intentions while the rest felt jealous of the expelled 30 people.
Alpha Blake continued, “Since you’re expelled, you’re considered intruders in my pack. The air is polluted because of you lot,”
At that, the Beta took out a gun and shot all thirty dead in seconds.
They couldn’t even attempt to escape before losing their life. It showed how good this Beta’s marksmanship was.
“The rest of us who aren’t scared, I beseech that you kindly prepare yourselves, both mentally and physically for the war and you know what? There’s good news! We can take down the Olmpha, even if she comes with three more of her kind,” the Alpha king smilingly divulged, his face that of confidence.