Shadows Of Flames: Tales Of The Forbidden

The banquet hall was alive tonight.

Merriment and music filled the air, combined with the mouthwatering scent of roasted meat and spiced wine.

Nobles indulged themselves in exquisite dishes while clinking glasses, toasting to a kingdom they barely knew.

Myra stood outside, watching through the windows, her heart aching with pain and fury.

All this luxury, celebration, laughter, were once in her world. She had sat at tables that glimmered under chandeliers, drinking and eating fine food.

Now, she was nothing but a shadow within the walls of this palace, forced to work as a slave while she couldn't do anything but watch these wolves toast to her downfall.

She hated it.

“Myra?"

She turned around quickly to find Nora standing there with two guards.

Her mind rose in alarm. “What?"

“The Alpha has summoned your presence in the grand Hall"

Her stomach plummeted. Summoned her presence.

No doubt, he wanted to show off his new trophy for all to see.

Myra wanted to refuse, to damn him to the blackest part of hell, but she knew better.

Her mouth tightened. “Oh I see"

“Don't take it personal. Many have been through worse" Nora said, her voice almost kind. Almost.

Myra gazed at her, somewhat baffled. Take it personal? Being humiliated was personal?

The guards reached for her but she took a step back. “I can walk on my own" she spat.

Without a word, they fell into step beside her, leading her to the hall.

It irritated her how they treated her like a prisoner, then she remembered bitterly that she was one.

Her legs felt heavy with each step she took closer, the sounds of music and laughter getting louder.

She wasn't given any chance to gather her composure because the guards hustled her in, clearly impatient with her slackened pace.

They pushed her to the cold floors, earning stares as the chatter quietened.

Myra kept her head down, unable to bear the weight of meeting so many eyes.

Arthur's voice came clear and cutting as he approached her. “This is the prize for my victory over Vespera. Crown Princess Myra, or at least she was a princess until she chose to become a maid"

The words hit her like a slap.

Everyone burst into laughter, while some wiped tears from their eyes. The sounds were like a thorn in her chest, pricking her heart slowly.

Arthur grabbed a handful of hair and yanked her head up forcefully. “Enjoying the limelight princess?"

The pain in her head was nothing compared to the one darkening her soul. She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced out, “I'll make you regret this. Mark my word"

Arthur chuckled. “Desperate times call for hopeless promises"

He let her go and stood up, abandoning her before the eyes of these vultures.

“She is beautiful" Alpha Eric said, smacking his lips.

Alfred nodded in agreement. “A pity she has to be a maid. A beauty gone to waste"

Darius concurred readily. “I couldn't agree more. An epitome of flawless beauty"

Myra shrank as many stares turned lascivious. She prayed no one dared touch her.

“Is she up for grabs Arthur?" Eric asked, unable to keep his desire to himself.

His wife pursed her lips and shot Myra a glare.

“Why are you so interested in the woman? Planning to take her to bed already?" Alfred laughed lightly.

Myra coiled with disgust. She would kill him if he even tried to touch her.

She glanced at Arthur and found him holding her gaze with concealed amusement.

He had the guts to tilt his head and pretend to consider the question. “What do you want exactly Eric?"

“Well" Eric said, briefly glancing at her. “As a slave, she ought to know how to please men already"

Rage as hot as hell swept through Myra yet she kept her head down.

Keep calm till they touch you, she told herself, gripping her dress tightly.

“She is too beautiful to let go Arthur. At the very least, let one man have her tonight" a nobleman suggested.

Arthur crouched down to her eye level, hooking a finger under her chin. “Beautiful" he murmured then smirked. “I agree with you. She needs to know how to be a real woman, don't you think princess?"

“Why are you doing this?" She whispered. “What do you stand to gain from this?"

An unidentified emotion flickered in his eyes before they darkened. “I gain power princess. Victory over the human kingdom that dared to oppose my wish" he said in a low voice.

“Your wish was evil and brutal. You wanted to invade our borders and take over our lands. That is evil"

His lips curved into a frosty smile. “I am evil"

“She is a ripe woman" he said aloud, holding her gaze. “But she is not available for any man at the moment"

“And why exactly?" Eric wasn't pleased. “Do you plan to keep her to yourself?"

“Are you questioning my order concerning my own slave?" Arthur dropped the calm tone, his eyes narrowing.

Eric's jaw tightened but he forced a smile. “Not at all. This pack is yours, and the slaves too."

“Let us forget about this lowly good-for-nothing maid and focus on our meals. She is too low for us to notice" Christine said, rolling her eyes.

Everyone laughed again, drifting their attention away.

“Get out right now" Arthur stated slowly. “And don't ever forget you are a slave here. I can protect you and I can definitely tear you down"

“I will rise again and free all of us from your bondage" she promised tightly.

“It's okay to console yourself with such thought. But if you couldn't save your pathetic father, then you obviously can't save yourself"

“Don't talk about my father like that" she grated angrily.

“Or what?" He taunted.

“Or I'll kill you"

“Try it. And I'll feed you to these wolves right now" he replied, challenging her.

Myra's lips remained sealed like a button, lowering her gaze.

“Exactly. I'm your Alpha, never forget that"

She couldn't take it any longer. She had to leave before he crushed whatever pride she had left.

She stood up, dangerously close to tears but determined to walk away.

Tears blurred her vision as she walked down the corridors. When she couldn't hold it in any longer, she tipped behind a pillar and slid to the floor, tears pouring down her cheeks in rivulets.

Everyone saw her as a failure—the wolves, the humans, even her own mind.

She hugged herself tightly, wondering if the universe hated her.

Some weeks ago, she was the beautiful princess of Vespera who held her head high as she walked.

But now, her father was dead, her subjects held in captivity while she was reduced to a slave.

Minutes passed as she cried for a long time, feeling heavy and depressed.

Here she was, feeling weak and useless with nothing but hopeless promises to an Alpha who was stronger than she could ever be.

Myra wiped her eyes with the back of her palms then stood up.

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself" she encouraged her weak spirit.

She needed to find solace and escape the failure that clogged her heart.

As she wandered deeper into the corridors, the sounds of banquet became fainter, replaced by the empty silence of the corridors.

She breathed in deeply, trying to clear her head.

A breathy moan snapped her out of her thoughts.

She stopped and looked around. No one.

Next was a muffled giggle and a sigh.

She paused before a slightly ajar door and curiously reached for the handle. But as soon as she pushed it open, a startled gasp passed her lips.

Inside, a woman was wrapped in the arms of a man, locking lips passionately. The man's hands were eagerly traveling down her body.

Heat burned Myra's cheeks as her eyes widened in embarrassment. “Oh—!"

Suddenly interrupted, the couple turned in alarm, but she immediately slammed the door shut, her heart racing.

She hurried away, quickening her pace as she ascended the staircase. She was still flustered when she reached the upper floors.

Myra walked around aimlessly, wondering if she was the only one drowning in misery while the rest of the world carried on with enjoyment.

Nobles were drinking themselves to death, couples were living in romance, and she was here looking for a quiet place to cry again.

It was quieter up here, the distant sounds of the feast fading into the background.

Her fingers trailed along the railing as she reached the last room at the end of the corridor.

It was different from the others, with a darker and heavier door like it belonged to a different place.

She felt a strange sensation in her chest as she stared at it, almost as if it called to her, beckoned her closer.

’Mine'

For a split second, she thought she heard a howl from the other side.

Her heartbeat quickened. Maybe she was just imagining things but she couldn't shake the word feeling that someone was waiting beyond that door.

'Come closer, closer" a low growl echoed in her ears.

She turned but saw no one. Her instincts screamed at her to run away, but her fingers itched to push the door open.

She hesitated, unsure of herself. What if there was another couple in there?

Myra took a step back, ready to leave but a painful howl stopped her.

She glanced around, anxious if a wolf was nearby but there was not a single soul in sight.

Her heart squeezed painfully as she heard another low whimper, as if a wolf was in pain. It tugged her closer to the door.

She heard another howl and couldn't stop the burning curiosity in her chest.

Slowly, she pushed the door open.

Thick darkness welcomed her as she stepped inside. The room was eerily silent, like a shadow was watching her expectantly.

You never know what could be hiding in the shadows, waiting to strike

Fear prickled the hairs on the back of her neck.

Something didn't feel right.

Myra gulped and turned to leave.

But before she could take a step, a hand shot out from the darkness and slammed the door shut with a force that rattled the windows.

A gasp escaped her lips as her heart leapt into her throat.

Then, a deep, husky voice whispered, “Where are you going little mate?"