A few months have gone by, since Lila joined the golden palace state. Her days were more colorful than before. Surrounded by people whose intentions revolved around killing or hurting her, and a man who hounds her like a shadow, things got more interesting by the day.
Despite how things have turned out to be, she never forgot her ultimate goal. It was the vengeance in her heart that fueled her will to live each day. Without the deep hatred she harbored, she would have nothing else to live for.
Today was no different from any other day. Her work within the palace was easier and the others knew better than to harm her directly. Though this gave her a little peace, it also garnered more hatred and created more enemies for her.
She didn't mind it as well. No one was supposed to be a friend from the beginning. They were all on the enemy team hence she wasn't supposed to feel attached. Then, why was she getting more and more attached to the people within the palace?
The lady was fast-growing on her. Ever since the kitchen incident, she found herself indulging the woman. As the days went by, she grew used to the talkative fellow and even began to miss her presence when she was away.
Then, there was a certain golden-eyed handsome alpha. She had no idea why he kept popping through her mind every once in a while. It probably had something to do with her mission. She liked to believe so, otherwise, it would be so much troublesome.
Kai had been away for a while after the ambush of the werewolves at the border. Since his beta wasn't around either, the kingdom was left under the care of his council of supreme elders. The members of the supreme elders were from the noble and royal families within the state.
Unfortunately, most of these elders were corrupt and could easily be bought with money. On this particular day, two of the elders were meeting up to discuss issues regarding their nation. Since Kai was away, it was the opportune time for them to plot against him.
One of the elders was Sienna's father while the other was his stepmother. Though he hated the woman to the core, Kai had no way of revoking her royal status. It was because of this status that she could occupy one of the highest seats among the supreme council of elders.
Aside from the alphas from the other states, the supreme council was second in command in the absence of the king and his Beta. The supreme council of elders consisted of thirteen members in addition to Ian and Kai.
In their absence, the remaining eleven members were left in charge of the kingdom to ensure that things run smoothly. Out of the eleven, only four were loyal to the kingdom and the king while the rest are loyal to their desires and greed.
Led by Edward, sienna's father, and Magdaline, Kai's stepmother, they wanted nothing more than to usurp the throne. Unfortunately, they couldn't do that directly. If Kai dies, the humans would most likely wipe them out. Kai's existence was both a blessing and a curse to the werewolf race.
It was also the main reason why most envied and despised him but never touched him. Among them was Mika, Kai's stepbrother. Though he couldn't kill Kai, he couldn't stop lusting after everything that Kai possessed.
From the women he slept with to the toys he kept, he wanted it all. At this time, as his mother and Sienna's father were discussing business, he and sienna were heading to the palace. In the absence of Ian and Kai, no one dares to stop the two from invading the palace.
Magdaline and Edward watched their children walk away to cause trouble. "Edward, didn't you promise me that Sienna would only marry my son? Why is it that with every passing day, I find your daughter growing more and more obsessed with that bastard?"
Just like how she had taken his mother's position, she wanted her son to take everything he likes away. It made her happy to watch that brat in pain. His sorrow was like her soothing balm. Since that woman was no longer alive for her to torment, she could only vent on the man.
As for that cowardly man she calls a husband, she didn't care whether he lives or dies. A few years ago, she had poisoned him the same way she planned to poison his son. The man who was once a very loving husband and father turned out to be so muddled-headed that he didn't know between right and wrong.
She had managed to drive a wedge between father and son for many years. If Kai's father had been the same as before, no one would dare plot against his son. Just like how he was the anchor that held the realm in place, he had been the most loved and respected king amongst the werewolf clans.
It was precise because of this that Magdaline seduced him into getting her pregnant. Once she had his child, the rest was easy. The man was huge on principles and whatnot. It only took her a few threats here and there to get him to take her in as a second wife.
His initial wife, Kai's mother was so angry and heartbroken that she almost went mad. All Magdaline had to do was add a little fuel to the fire until the woman could no longer take it. She drove her to a point of madness and slowly poisoned her to death.
Magdaline chucked at the silly woman's end. She had been too high up her horse to realize what was happening around her. Her husband suffered the same fate as well. Now, it was time for their son to suffer. Since she could not kill him, she could make his life a mess.
There was nothing wrong with having a puppet ruler either. With time, the venom will enslave him to a point he would be driven mad without the antidote. When that day comes, she could easily make him submit.
From then onwards, feeding him more poison wouldn't be as hard anymore. She was almost drooling from just thinking about it. She couldn't wait to be the Queen of the entire nation. If she succeeds, she would incite a war and wipe out the humans. Later her son could take over the entire world.
"Magdaline, Our children know what they are doing. Let them be. We both know that Mika was Sienna's first. As for the king, he will come around soon. No matter how stubborn he is, the venom in his vein would drive him to the edge.
He has very few months left to endure it. Once it's activated, he has no more chance of resistance. It would either be death or survival. If he chooses to live, Sienna is his only option. Don't worry your pretty head about him."
Magdaline smiled at the man's words. She liked the sound of it. As long as that man was beneath her son, she would be happy. No one knew where the grudge she had come from. Her fingers subconsciously touched the little scar hidden by her heavy set of bracelets.
"Alright. So then, what is the plan? If we cause trouble for him while he is away, he will retaliate once he gets back. Though we are sure about the venom taking effect, isn't it a bit risky not to have a backup plan? "
The man fell into deep thought before whispering something into Magdalene's ears. The woman's eyes widened like a saucer as excitement filled her eyes. "Are you sure? Then what are we waiting for? Why don't we get rid of her?"
The man shook his head in a declining manner. "We can't. Since the person can easily get in and out of our territory with ease, we can as well make use of this. Once that foolish man is back, we can set up something. Don't worry. Leave it to me."
The woman didn't mind. Now that she had something against him, she felt giddy inside. How long has it been since the man had any weaknesses? If what the elder said was true then, it was about time she sends some gifts.
She hoped that her son won't mess things up for them. She couldn't deny the fact that her son was reckless and impulsive. It was one of the reasons he was considered inferior to the witch's son.
The two elders discussed in length what to do with Kai and the kingdom before his return. While the man was busy handling external affairs, his people were plotting against him without any reservation.
The two elders went their separate ways sometimes later. Magdaline was in an unusually good mood from what she had planned. She didn't care what her son went to do. As long as she was still alive, she could always defend him.
Additionally, no matter what he does, Kai can't kill him. This was because of an oath he was forced to take when they were younger. Out of fear for her son's life, the woman had sacrificed a lot to tie Kai and Mika's life force together.
As long as it was Kai who tries to hurt him, he shall be hurt in the process as well. The oath had an underside to it. Only werewolves couldn't kill him. If he got on the wrong side of a powerful human, he could be easily slain.
Mika wasn't as powerful as Kai but he was on par with Ian in strength and ability. The only one who could beat him was his elder brother. Since, Kai couldn't kill him, nor hurt him without hurting himself, the worst he could do was confine him to jail.
The things that happened in the past filled her mind as the memories of that fateful day filled her mind. Her fingers gently removed the bracelet. Her fingers then touched something on her neck, making her face pill off.
A mask was removed from her exquisite face revealing an ugly disfigured face. As she gazed at herself in the mirror, she could not help but curse at that dead woman. The things that happened all those years ago were still fresh in her mind.
Being in a good mood, she didn't want to think about it any longer. Her fingers traced her facial features without any reservation. To the world, she was the most beautiful woman in the realm. To those who truly knew her, she was the wicked witch to have existed in their time.
A small beautiful bundle flashed through her mind. Her heart ached at the thought of the baby she abandoned to be accepted by the king back then. When Magdaline met and fell in love with Kai's father, she was already a mother of one.
The little boy was born of a man she had fallen in love with at first sight. She knew little to nothing about his origin. After their son was born, he had left them and disappeared. At that time, she was heartbroken and desperate to survive.
The king had appeared like salvation for her. She neither loved him as a person nor had any interest in him. What she was attracted to was his power. She still held resentment for the man she loved. Who would have known that in her bid to get closer to the man, his wife would attack her!
She was humiliated when she begged for the Queen to accept her as her co-wife. At that time, Kai had also just been born. The Queen was known for being fierce towards women who coveted her husband.
She had been so madly in love with him that she never let any woman get close to him. When the woman found her husband in bed with Magdaline, she was in a rage. She had taken her away and tortured her for days on end until the king stepped in.
By the time that happened, it was already too late for Magdaline. She had been disfigured. Additionally, she was pregnant with the king's child while her first child had been abandoned in the little hut where she used to live.
A year went by without her going back. When she went back, there was no trace of the baby ever existing. She felt relieved that it was gone and never wanted to think about it again. Why then was she suddenly thinking about that son of hers?