Soph, you need more than Rita's help but who am I to judge? 🤷
"What's wrong? Are you still sulking about the botched vacation?" "Stand still. Let me look at you" "Why?" Because something is off with Sophia but I can't put my finger on it. Her eyes looked hollow, empty and she seems different. I know two years is a long time and people can change but I have a nagging feeling that she was lying when she said she was fine. I give Neela a once-over. She looks even more beautiful as each day passes. My mind wanders to her curves and how much I want to be inside her before I go back to the pressing issue. "Babe, what are you doing?" "Trying to see if I'm overreacting" "About what?" "Sophia came back yesterday and I had to pull her off Avalon before she killed her" Neela scoffs "I heard about that. Can't say I blame her. I've thought about doing the same to that girl more times than I would ever admit" "But you didn't and Sophia isn't a violent person" She takes her anger out on pots and pans or goes for a walk. But yesterday she had a strange
"Your majesty, I don't think leaving while we're in the middle of court is a wise decision" "Is that so?" "Yes. Please, go back and..." "Perrin, the day you lift that crown from the chair and put it on your head is the day I'll start taking orders from you" Until then, he can fuck off. I give him a look that conveys those words and judging by the way his nostrils flare, I have no doubt he understood what I meant. He bows his head as I walk past him. "His majesty wouldn't leave unless he had an emergency" Merlin tries to explain but the truth is that I would leave even if it wasn't an emergency. I don't know who decided to employ those contemptible ministers. I'm guessing some of them employed themselves and have been passing their positions down to their sons or family. Something I will be rectifying soon. They won't see it coming. "Is there a problem?" Reign asks walking behind me. "Yes," I leave it at that. The problem with living among other Lycans is that they
I should tell him to fuck off. This is my life and he has no right to interfere. How did he even know where to find me? Did he install a tracker on my phone? When did he get back? Rita wouldn't tell me where he was. Only that he visited once in a while to make sure everything was running smoothly in the pack. But before I can utter another word, he wraps an arm around my waist, bringing my back to his front then we're out the door. He doesn't give me time to protest. I make a last-ditch effort to shake him off even though deep down, I'm happy he came for me. He didn't forget about me. "With the speed I'm using, if I drop you, you'll crack your head open. So think carefully before you try to move" "If someone heard you, they'd think you actually cared" I murmur to myself knowing he'll hear anyway. What right does he have to demand anything from me when he's been gone for more than two years? Does he know what I went through at that time? He looks good. I can tell the clothes and shoes
"Hi. I heard you came back yesterday" "Uh what... why... how..." I stop because I'm not making any sense. His hand is still around me and if I could, I would have already pushed him away. But as it is, I don't think I can continue standing without his help. How the hell did he find me? I don't remember telling him I was part of Bittercrest let alone that I was coming here."I joined the pack two weeks ago" Yeah, I definitely need him to continue holding me up. "You joined the pack? As in left yours to join this one?" "Yes" "What about your family? Your mate and kids?" He hauls me up his body, his other hand coming up to the back of my head, cradling me gently."You are my mate" he bites out, his tone sharp "I am so angry with myself for not waiting. I never should have agreed to be with Anais. We got together for the wrong reasons which is why it didn't work out between us" So he decided to seek me out? Too late buddy. Suck it up and take care of your kids. I'm about to tell him
"You went too far" Leander admonishes, moving to stand beside me by the window. Across the field, Sophia is smiling at Upton, and something inside me twists. I don't need Leander to point that out. I know I shouldn't have used a command but Sophia doesn't need gentle. If I coddle her right now, her condition will only get worse. She needs a firm hand and if that makes her hate me, then so be it. As long as she gets better. "Says the person who accepted that moron's admission. How many more members are you planning on accepting?" "He's an enforcer. A good one at that. I couldn't refuse his application. Besides, he's... You know who he is. There's no way I could send him away. " Dammit. Why him? Why did he change his mind? I thought I'd never see him again. If he didn't come here, our paths wouldn't have crossed. Not if I could help it. "Did you know he was her fated?" "Yes" "And you're letting him get close to her? Aren't you afraid of losing Sophia?" "I won't" she's angry and co
"Is it fun butting heads with Kaden?" Leander starts and I almost regret coming to see him. I thought he was at least going to apologize for what Kaden did not upbraid me."If this is what you wanted to talk about then I'm not interested" "You've changed, Sophia..." "And he hasn't?" I snarl remembering this morning and getting angry all over again. I will get him back for that. I will find something he cares about and use it against him. It occurs to me that Leander might be able to help me find his weakness and getting angry with him won't benefit me. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath then let it out before opening them "Has he always been like this? So demanding and bossy and oppressive?" "Oppressive?" "Fine. So demanding and bossy" He leans back on his chair smiling "Kaden has always been cold and aloof. He rarely came to the main house until you arrived. I saw more emotions on his face in a week than I had in ten years" "What do you mean? Are you saying I'm the one who's
"Don't touch me. I can walk on my own" I glare at Kaden's outstretched hands. Finn, the doctor who came from Solar Pride bound my ankle and suggested I refrain from putting weight on it for a few days. Since His Highness decided I have to eat every meal or he will humiliate me, I need to get downstairs. Without his help. Now that I have his attention, I find that I don't want it. Ugh, how great would it be if I could get my emotions to go back to how they used to be? I hate how everything is so extreme. From revenge to hate to self-loathing to wanting him and not wanting him. I'm so tired. "Don't be ridiculous. You can't get downstairs with that leg" "For the hundredth time, none of your business. FRED!" He's at the door in seconds. I guess he feels guilty for what he did. Hopping on one leg, I open the door "Turn around" "What?" "I can't walk so you're going to carry me downstairs" "Of course. Hop..." He trails off, straightens, and then leaves. "Fred? Fred where the hell..." I
Two Years Ago "Welcome back, your majesty" I look at the crown in my hands, the chair I just sat on, and the people kneeling in front of me. Surely, they're not referring to me."Is this some kind of joke?" "No, your majesty" Merlin rushes to say, still on his knees "You are the first person to sit on that chair in a hundred years" "Well then, I'm honored," I say getting up and putting the crown where I found it "But this isn't the reason I came here. You look like intelligent people. I'm sure you can find someone more suited to sit there" "It doesn't work like that, your majesty" "Stop calling me that and get up. All of you" Merlin slowly comes to his feet and with his hands behind his back, he tells the others to leave. "All this is new to His Majesty. I imagine he needs time to come to terms with his new reality" I don't and he'll find that out soon enough. I'm only here to find Camden and make him undo what he did to Sophia. Once the room clears, Reign closes the door while
"Is this a kingdom of Lycans or werewolves? Ever since that king arrived, he's turned our kingdom upside down. I'm begging you, join me so we can send him away and return things to how they used to be" "You mean go back to the days our houses were falling apart while you lined your pockets with more gold?" Someone from the crowd asks. "Are you not ashamed of yourself, Perrin?" Another one adds "What right do you have to preach such nonsense? If it wasn't for his majesty, we would be begging for morsels of food at your doorstep. Go away. No one wants to listen to you" "Shall I make him leave, your majesty?" Reign asks."It's not necessary. He has nothing better to do so let him run his mouth" "Your Majesty!" Perrin calls out making all eyes turn to me. He drops his microphone and runs to kneel in front of me "Your Majesty, please take me back. Without you, I'm lost. Please, your majesty. I promise to be your loyal servant from today onwards" "That is up to the people. I don't decid
"Hands off. I don't want to be late for dinner" "I can be fast," Kaden says his hands sliding up the back of my thighs to rest on my ass. "Later. Is that what you're wearing?" "I would like to spend time with you without those two interfering. They know we've been mated for a while and still insist on inviting us to dinner every two to three days. I'd rather spend my free time with you than them" "They only want to bond with you but you keep giving them the cold shoulder. They're your parents, Kaden. Why are you being so cold to them?" It's the third time Dessa invited us to dinner. The first two times, we arrived, Kaden pushed around the food on his plate then told them he was busy and left. He keeps saying he doesn't care about them abandoning him but turns around and acts like a child. I'm not forcing him to like them or accept them. But since he decided we'll be living here, can't we be civil with them? Not that Dessa is any better. At least Atticus tries to talk to him. She, o
I wake up to soft breaths fanning my neck and Sophia's body half lying on top of mine. She's in one of my T-shirts while I'm naked. A sense of calmness washes over me knowing this is how I'll wake up for the rest of my life. Our lives. I will protect and love her until my dying breath. Although, now that she got her memory back, will she change her mind? I won't allow her to leave me. We already completed mating. Granted it was different than I'd expected it to be. Aside from being able to connect our thoughts, nothing else happened. Her mark on me disappeared while mine is still visible on her neck. Is this the first time a Lycan has mated with a werewolf? I'd like to know if this is the end or if there will be more changes in the future. But first, I have to get her to stay with me. Sliding her off me, I get up and throw a robe on then go in search of Merlin. He's in the main living room and he jumps to his feet when he sees me. "Your Majesty, you're awake.
My hand flies to my mouth, shock rendering me immobile. Is this the reason Kaden didn't want to talk about that day? I never understood why he was reluctant to tell me what had happened. He'd even forbidden Leander and the rest from talking about it. I thought it was because he didn't trust me but I now I know it was because he felt ashamed and guilty. It's written all over his face. Camden instigated the attack but Kaden had just turned eighteen. I doubt he knew what he was or how powerful his beast was. Newly turned wolves have a hard time controlling their wolf side. I can't imagine how harder it is for Lycans. Camden took advantage of that and it led to the demise of Kaden's family. But why? (He can keep the throne. I'll take everything else away from him) I can't believe he fooled me into believing he was the good brother. I wish I'd stuck all the iolites Iridessa gave me in his back. She slipped them to me earlier and told me their effect on Lycans. Th
The first memory I have is of Celosia forcing me to lift the crown. I was around three or four. She took me to the throne room and told me not to leave until I had succeeded. The naive little boy in me wanted to please her so I promised her I would do it without realizing it was impossible. I thought I could thaw her coldness towards me if I did what she said. She left me there for a whole day and night without food or water. By the time Jovita, my nanny found me, my hands were bleeding because I refused to accept I couldn't do it. It was the first time my mother had paid attention to me. I couldn't disappoint her. The memory is still so vivid because it was also the first time I suspected she didn't love me. I wondered why she didn't send someone to bring me a cup of water. To be able to do it, I needed strength. Feeding me once would have sufficed. A few years later, I found out that she didn't care about me at all. She was telling Morena how useless I was a
I've been expertly avoiding these people for more than two years. I can't believe all it took was one word from Sophia and I agreed to attend this banquet. She'd better hold up her end of the bargain or I will be very pissed. My eyes bounce around the room until they land on her. She's laughing together with other women while her hands make gestures. I believe the woman standing next to her is Iridessa. I'd bet my money that she strong-armed the others into being nice to Sophia. I'm not blind. I saw the way the servants were treating her and when I had Reign investigate it, he found out Ellinor had threatened them. Claiming that when she became the queen, anyone who was nice to Sophia wouldn't be spared. I wonder why she was so bold as to actually think I would agree to make her the queen. Even without Sophia, it wouldn't have been her or anyone for that matter. My mind was made up when I decided to be the king. It's Sophia or no one. I project more erotic image
"She tricked me too. I didn't even know she was your mother" "Find her and tell her to cancel it. I'm not going" "The invitations have already been sent out" Kaden huffs in annoyance and I know it's because he doesn't like these kinds of parties. I crawl onto his lap and wrap my hands around his neck "We can sneak out tomorrow night and go to the other side" "Because they can't find us there and drag us back?" "Then just attend it. I've never been to a black tie event" "How do you know that?" "I'd never forget something like that" "But you can forget me?" "You're being a big baby. Stop sulking and find yourself a tuxedo. I'm going to try on the dresses your mother sent me" I try to leave but his hands go around me. Holding me hostage. "On one condition" "Name it" "Let me fuck your ass when we get back" Goodness, is it me or is he horny all the time? I do want to dress fancily and attend those types of parties. But Kaden's reason isn't bad either. "Your wish is my command,
"What's with the turtle neck? If I didn't know you, I'd think you were trying to cover up my mark" "That's because I am" I snap my head toward him "You are? Why?" "To avoid gossip" "Are you kidding me?""Stop right there. It's not what you think" he says adjusting his sleeves. He's an ass but a hot ass. I wouldn't be surprised if women threw themselves at his feet. But now that we've marked each other, they should know he's taken. Why is trying to hide it? "Unlike wolves, our marks don't remain visible. It'll disappear in a day or two" "Then all the more reason you should display it for all to see. Unless you don't want anyone to know about it" "Correct" Ugh, I knew sooner or later, he was going to start showing his true colors. He asked me to be his queen but it's not even a day later and he's already going back on his words. I'm not stupid. It's obvious no one will accept me as their queen and I'm fine with that. Being with him is enough. But if he
I didn't think it would happen so soon. This feels like a dream. It was all so easy that I can't help waiting for the other shoe to drop. I'm normally confident in everything I do but when it comes to Sophia, there are times I find myself hesitating. Even though I claimed her and we marked each other, it doesn't guarantee that she'll stay once she regains her memory. It was foolish of us to do this now but even if it was just for a day, I wanted her to be mine in every way. With no worries about the past or the future. It's selfish of me to wish she never remembers. I'm tempted to make sure she forgets the past forever but I can't bear to hurt her. Her mind has already been manipulated enough times. If I damage her further, I'd have no one to blame but myself. Besides, she just managed to get her wolf back. I can't let her efforts go to waste. "What are you thinking about?" She asks drawing drawing circles on my chest with her finger. I've lost count of the number of times I've made l