BREATHE IN. BREATHE OUT

Chapter four

ALESSIA'S POV

"The High King wants us in his territory." Thompson sounded as though he just won the lottery. My heart leapt out of my mouth.

"Mom!" Adrian jumped from his seat with his shirt damped with the orange juice I subconsciously spilled on him from the glass I was pouring his juice into.

I was too ashen, too shaken to understand what exactly Thompson meant by 'us'.

"I'll clean up and get you another shirt." I stammered, practically scurrying off the kitchen and didn't stop until I was safe behind my bedroom closed door.

This couldn't be.

It had been three days now since the party. I thought the Lycan King had finally received some senses and chose to let me be. But it seems I was wrong, he had sworn to make me his. It was terrifying, the lust in his gaze terrified and haunted my sleeps. The words he'd spoken that night were on constant replay in my head, they had the worst effect on me.

Oh Goddess save me!

I had heard of and judged adulterous women. Now, I was drawn to the thin line between remaining faithful to my husband or giving into this heat. I couldn't go to his territory.

Breathe in. Breathe out. I slowly worked on my breathing, focusing on the things in my room to keep the enigmatic Lycan off my mind.

But it wasn't working.

I walked to the window, to get some air on my face in a sick attempt of dousing the heat inside of me. It was just a matter of time then whatever this was would fade off. Yielding was never an option.

I loved Thompson and even though he'd betrayed me by bringing home another woman four years ago, I never would betray him this way. I loved him. I loved my husband.

"I'm married to Thompson, I love him. I only desire my husband..." I repeated to myself, but I nearly jumped when I turned to see Thompson staring at me with furrowed brows in the middle of my room. Did he creep up on me? I didn't think so. My mind was hazy with the thoughts of a man that could never be mine, my body reacting to a kiss that never happened.

This undeniably happened only because Thompson and I hadn't made love since the morning Adrian turned three and Annalise was out of town for about two weeks. Those two weeks remained untainted in my memory.

"You don't act yourself for days now. Are you sick?" Thompson threw at me.

Thompson never cared about my wellbeing, but having him speak this softly to me brought a sheer sense of joy to my heart. It gave me the boldness to venture to where he stood by my big bed, wrapped my hands around him and got on my tippy toes just so our heights could match.

But he pulled away before our lips could seal.

"You sicken me, Alessia." His tone was quiet, "You know I never wanted you from the get go."

"But I've always loved you." I sniffled, battling the tears that pooled in my eyes and the frustration gnawing my soul.

"C'mon, you don't expect me to betray my mate yet again? I've done it once but it's not happening again... "

"I am your wife!" I yelled as though to get some sense into him, "I'm not against you being with you mate all I'm saying is that..."

He flailed his hand in the air forcing me to go instantly silent.

"It's never easy to cheat on a mate," He paused only to chuckle, "That's something your pathetic life will never get to experience because I doubt if any man would ever want you."

"Don't say that to me! I don't want them, I'm happy and content with you." My voice wobbled.

"With a body like that, I don't doubt that. I hate to think I'll be going to meet and dine with the Lycan King with you."

I hated to think that he was right after all, no man ever paid any attention my way. Well, except the Lycan king.

"It's fine. You can take your mate. Not like I care about any of this stuff." I snapped. My indifference deflated his ego and seemed to ignite his rage. His face hardened, an air of warning settled around him, his muscles clenching visibly made me instantly back away.

"We're leaving tonight. Pack your bags."

"I have a son to raise, I just can't fit into this mold any longer. Take your mate with you, Annalise wants this. If you so much love her the way you claim then take her with you and let me be!"

Tears streamed down my face. There were no chances of me going off to Lycan King’s territory when the signs were there that he only wanted to lure me into his bed. And worst, I couldn't even tell Thompson I'd found my mate and he was the Lycan king, reasons why he shouldn't let me off. Thompson's brain was wired differently, he could turn this around and blame me for the things I had no control over.

Annalise was now at the table when I returned from the room, with her daughter Liah who would be turning four in a few more months.

"Good morning, Mum Alessia," Liah offered me an infectious smile, "Can I please get some blueberries on my pancakes today?"

"Mom, my shirt." Adrian whined.

We had no domestic staff around here, I was in charge of cooking, scrubbing, laundry and babysitting our kids. Although it could be tiring, I never complained even when Annalise lazed away all day, nagged me about not feeding her daughter on time and left her clothes for me to wash. I did them all because I loved Thompson and wanted to be productive in his household.

I got Adrian a shirt to change into, surprised Liah with the smiley face I crafted on her pancakes with blueberries, her favorite. Her smiles lit me up.

"I'm coming along this time right?" Annalise asked when Thompson joined the table.

"There's only room for two."

"I don't see the problem." She fluttered her thick lashes to me, "She can take care of Liah while I'm gone."

"I'm absolutely cool with that." I offered her a sweet smile.

Thompson slammed his hand on the table, "I've hired a housekeeper to cook and clean and babysit while we're gone. The Lycan king specifically stated Alessia Keith.’’

All the lights left my vision. This was a joke. How could he not have suspected something was fishy?

"How strange!" Annalise gaze darted to me.

"Why does the Lycan King want me over?" I asked breathlessly, wanting to find out if he told Thompson about being my mate.

"You don't imagine he would risk words spreading? But he's offering fifty million dollars if all goes as he plans."

"He's buying me off?" Dread filled and clipped my words.

Thompson and his mate regarded me as though I had lost my mind. Well, maybe I did.

"I'll check and refill the juice." I left to the kitchen, bile rising in the pit of my stomach.

What exactly did this brute Lycan ruler want from me?The mistake I made was not rejecting him on the spot. Maybe walking straight into his Kingdom, rejecting him and returning wasn't such a terrible thing to do. But I couldn't leave my son with some stranger, especially with his stepmother.

"I'm sorry I'm forcing this on you." Thompson stood behind me in the kitchen after dinner was over and I was cleaning up after myself, "I've canceled over an excuse you got the flu."

My gaze left the dishwasher to his sober face. He would do that for me?

Two weeks went by and I heard nothing about the Lycan king or the trip to his Kingdom. The budding hunger and the heat slowly fading.

Thompson paid more attention to the things I did lately and seemed to act nicely towards me, although keeping his distance. That night, he made a glass of green juice and talked casually about my father, for once, in a nice way.

It was all I remembered of that night until I woke up the next morning in a bright and vast room. Nothing in the room to suggest I was home. I swung to my feet and darted to the window and the opulent view struck me dumbfounded. Just then, my husband came into the room from the connecting door, a broad smile on his face and a heavy towel around his waist, his hair wet and spiky from the shower.

I ogled his way, my gaze tracing his tanned waistlines.

Did we...?

I searched myself, nothing to suggest we'd made love the previous night. Whatever it was, we were together in the nicely furnished hotel room.

"You slept in. You made me worried that we might be late." His smiles brightened my morning.

How I loved this man.

"Late for?" I yawned and rubbed my eyes wearily.

"Breakfast with Lycan Cyril." Thompson blurted out. What the hell? There was no way I heard him right. But, "We're in his kingdom and we must abide by his rules." He added.

I froze. Did Thompson know the implications of what he'd just done?