Zhera's POV:
For the first time in years I thought I had something going on. Ten years ago when I was fifteen, my mom disappeared when she went to the silver tides, the sea that led to the kingdom of the vampires. It's not clear why she went there but many believe that the vampires killed her. There's no telling why and even if it did happen.
My father moved on quickly and the next thing we knew he got married to the queen of the fox kingdom. Their kingdom was falling apart after the war with the vampires. My father claimed this was to make us stronger.
She had a daughter named Zynara. I hardly saw her mother, the queen, but Zynara was always around. My other two sisters, Lunara and Thyra hated her especially Thyra. But I thought she was nice, and soon we became best friends.
When we turned seventeen, a guy named Varnyx from the bear kingdom came to our kingdom to learn the art of archery. We wild cats are experts in archery and most royals come here to learn archery. And I fell for him at first sight and I made sure Zynara knew. Soon enough, the three of us were hanging out.
Thyra was busy since she was the oldest among we triplets and had many responsibilities. And Lunara had gone to the bird kingdom to learn the art of music since that was their specialty. So they weren't around. So it was mostly me,Zynara and Varnyx.
On my eighteenth birthday, he asked me to be his moon mate. Meaning we weren't mate yet but we were going to be in the near future. But after two years, he had to go back to his kingdom. And since then we only met on our anniversary and could only stay in touch by writing to each other.
Thyra used to tell me that she's been seeing Zynara and Varnyx together. But I thought she was just saying that because she still didn't support our relationship. Varnyx wasn't even in the kingdom.
But now it all makes sense. I should've trusted Thyra and I shouldn't have been blinded by love. There were too many signs and I noticed them but I always made excuses.
I wouldn't have been in my car right now, drenched in my tears and looking this miserable. I keep telling myself I shouldn't be crying over this. But this was a seven year relationship that I put my hopes,dreams and trust into and it was hard to move on immediately like I wanted to.
I know my father disowned me but I was nowhere near vulnerable. I had my own real estate company and jewellery company. I had many estates under my name. I didn't need them as much as they needed me.
I was the best female caracal wild cat and the leader of the army. They were close to been at war with the vampires especially after helping the foxes. And I was the one securing the borders all this while. The leader had to be a royal and my other sisters weren't around. They disowning me because of this was a hasty and unreasonable decision. It almost felt like he was just waiting for an excuse to do it. But I wasn't cut out for that right now.
I had to go home and end this miserable state I was in. But on my way I decided to go to a friend's house. I didn't want to be alone at this time. And the only person I could think of was Aurelith.
She was once my best friend along with Zynara. But since my seventeenth birthday, Zynara started getting jealous every time I spent time with her and it got worse. And with time I found myself drifting away from her. But now I felt like I made a mistake.
Aurelith was my childhood best friend and she had always been there for me. Yet I chose Zynara, the step sister I was supposed to hate over her. Now I felt I needed her more than ever. She was the only one who had seen me at my worst aside my mother. Everyone else just see that tough girl exterior I want them to see. But she and my mom understood me better. And now I really needed her.
Before I knew it I found myself at her doorstep. And before I could even knock, she opened the door.
"I was expecting you." She said softly.
I immediately fell into her embrace. And the tears I had been holding back on the drive started falling uncontrollably. She led me to the living room sofa and just patted my back as I cried in her arms. After about half an hour, I managed to wipe my tears but I was still sobbing.
I figured out she might've already heard the news so I said the first thing that came to mind.
"I — I — I didn't do it." I said my voice cracking as I sobbed.
"I know." She replied softly her voice reassuring. I felt at peace knowing that at least one person trusted me.
"I'll show you the guest room so you can rest. We will talk tomorrow, okay?" She continued.
"Okay." I replied with a low tone.She held my hand and led me to the guest room, once I entered she gave me a soft hug and a smile and she turned to leave. But I caught her hand and said " Thank you Aurelith."
"You would do the same for me. It's nothing." She replied and left.
I'm pretty sure I passed out on the bed because I didn't remember anything after that. I woke up the next morning feeling much better. I freshened up and headed downstairs. It's been years since I've been here and even though it had the same interior I designed, the paint and paintings had changed and so had the furniture. But the layout was the same like I designed. As expected, she was at the dining table waiting. I sat down as she greeted, "Morning sunshine."
"Morning." I responded.
"Glad to see you're much better now." She said with a faint smile.
"Yeah thanks to you." I said beaming.
"Zhera…" She said raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah I know you don't want me to thank you," I said rolling my eyes playfully "but seriously, I owe you one." I said with a smile.
"Okay let's finish breakfast and then we'll talk." She said.
We hastily finished breakfast and I helped her do the dishes. In no time we were sitting in the living room.
"I'm really curious. I mean I know you know I heard the news. And I don't believe you will do such a thing. But I want to know; what's going on Zhera? Knowing you you should be out there, taking down this defaming news and the people spreading and supporting it." She said with a tad bit of anger in her tone when talking about the news.
I told her everything; from how the anniversary went, how I ended up with that vampire to my father disowning me.
"Okay so, you mean to tell me, that Varnyx cheated on you with Zynara on your anniversary and birthday. A vampire who you feel was indeed drugged but not by you forced himself on you and you couldn't resist. You woke up without having a chance to clear the matter with him because Thyra called. And your father disowned you because of the false news without hearing you out or looking into it. This is so unreasonable and diabolical!" She yelled pacing back and forth in the living room.
"Who even took the picture in the first place? And why will your father make such a decision in haste? Anyway , what are your plans now?" She asked sitting down.
"So I plan on laying low for the meantime. And also I wanna find out who this vampire prince is? Any chance you might know who he is?" I asked her hoping she'll say yes.
"No. The vampires especially their royals are very mysterious. They live like they are in a different world. They don't use technology so it's hard to look them up. They don't disclose their identities too." She said sounding almost as disappointed as I was.
"So then how did the paparazzi find out that he was a vampire prince? What was he even doing in the hearthhall at a time where the wild cats and vampires are almost at war? This isn't a coincidence. I feel like this was planned. And I'm going to make sure I uncover the truth." I said firmly.
"And I'll be there with you when you do." She said determined.
I felt at peace knowing that someone had my back. And I knew I was going to find out what was happening.