๋ก๊ทธ์ธ๊ณต์
23.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2024-06-24 22:25:16
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Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 24.
Silence descended upon the room, thick and heavy. This would be our second time sharing a room, sharing a bed and somehow every other person under this roof thinks weโre going to have sex. Was that what they expected of me when I got married to Chase? โOf course! You guys are married. Thatโs literally the most basic expectation,โ Nia said, rolling her eyes. Chase and I hadnโt spoken about sexual expectations and I had no idea if that was what he expected. As the silence thickened, I couldn't help but feel like I had to talk to fill it. โIt's... um... quite a room,โ I finally mumbled, trying to break the tension. Chase chuckled nervously, his eyes avoiding mine. โYeah, it's... something. They can be a lot sometimes.โ His voice trailed off, but his gaze lingered on me for a moment too long, sending shivers down my spine. โYeah,โ I said dryly, tearing my gaze from him. โI can sleep in the living room if you want,โ Chase said, reaching to grab a pillow. โNo, please don
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-06-24Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 25.
CHASE.As soon as I closed the bedroom door behind me, I pressed my back to it and took in a deep breath. The cool wood did a lot to calm the heat that had been building up within me.โWhat the fuck did you just do?โ Drew growled, very displeased with my decision. Both our blood had been boiling and it had taken all the self-control in me to leave the room tonight. All I wanted to do this evening was to draw Zara close and kiss her, to lose myself in the feeling of her warmth. Her scent had filled my nostrils all night and her presence had been intoxicating. It made me drunker faster than the wine we had all drank. But I couldnโt help but beat myself up about everything that had happened.When we were kissing, I forgot everything that clouded my mind for a minute. It felt right, natural, and like it was supposed to happen. But then, even in the haze of passion, I felt a nagging doubt creep in. I couldnโt help but think if I was doing this for the right reasons, or if I was just doi
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-07-01Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 26.
โZara doesnโt think youโre a freak,โ Drew said, dragging me back to the present. I sighed. โI know.โI heard footsteps coming down the stairs and Margaret came down. โAre you okay? I heard pacing,โ she asked. โI donโt know if I can do this,โ I blurted out before I could stop myself, knowing that there was nothing I could hide from Margaret. โDo what?โI sighed for the millionth time that night. โI think Zara is my real mate. No, Iโm sure, but I have to wait for three months so that the bond can truly solidify.โโOh, my Lumus. Thatโs great news, Chase!โ Margaret said. โHow did that happen?โI narrated my findings to her, starting from the first time Iโd met Zara and how I always felt around her. It felt good to finally open up to someone about all this. She nodded when I was done. โYou should know that the bond isnโt going to treat you nicely when youโre next to her.โI ran my hand through my hair. โThatโs why Iโm down here. I couldnโt bear to be next to her without holding her.โ
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-07-01Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 27.
ZaraSunlight streamed through the windows as I sat by my vanity, preparing for the day. Pamela and Bella scurried about my room as usual, trying to ensure I was ready, but I focused more on what I was doing by the vanity. It has been a very eventful last couple of days, from the elders at the consulate to having to learn about Chase's secret to being invited back to his home. I've always wanted to know more about him and for him to be more vulnerable with me because it seemed like he knew so much about me. Knowing that we were on the same playing field and having that experience has brought us so much closer, which was a breath of fresh air. Although, I must say, I still feel a tiny ping in the chest from him abruptly leaving while we were sharing a kiss. Ugh! It wasn't like we hadn't done much more than kiss almost two weeks ago.Now, two days later, Chase is away to one of the states on royal business, and as much as I would have loved to go with him and avoid all the other busi
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-07-20Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 28.
With that, I got back to styling my hair. The maids were no help in that area because I have pretty kinky, curly hair, so I have resorted to doing my hair myself each morning. I worked my way through my hair, slowly detangling it section by section so I could work a brush through it. As I worked through a particularly stubborn twist, I noticed Pamela and Bella exchange glances through the mirror, their eyes falling on the mark on my wrist and remaining there.'Screwing their noses and looking at their queen in disgust? Oh, they're really bold,' Nia hissed, mirroring the same intense anger I felt. 'I'm sick and tired of people judging me on something that was just a mistake and happened on a whim,' I said to Nia, suddenly feeling heavy. Branded. Because I had dared to sleep with someone else who wasn't my mate. Branded, because I dared to get drunk and act on a whim. Branded, because I was a bond betrayer. Everyone only cared that I betrayed Asher. No one cared to ask how I got it.
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-07-20Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 29.
A quick knock on my bedroom door jolted me from the sugary, sweet thoughts that filled my head. I was now used to feeling that way after I'd spoken or been around Chase. "Yes, come in," I called at the door. The handle moved, and the door was pushed open as Ryan poked his head in. "Ready to go?" I took a deep breath, channeling my confidence immediately after the call. I was Chase's wife and the queen, I thought, repeating the words in my head like a mantra. 'You are much more than that. You are YOU. And that is what matters the most,' Nia said softly and I smiled at the encouragement. "As ready as I can be," I responded, quickly rushing to the mirror to fix the curly tendrils of my hair that had flown out of the ponytail I'd put it in. Ryan stood by the door, his stance very relaxed but vigilant. Ready to pounce on anything that was trying to harm me, and it made my heart melt. I loved that he was the one with me because it was very easy to be myself and let my guard
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-07-20Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 30.
With the commotion happening and being so close to the servant's quarters, the maids were already trooping out and peeking to see what was happening. Sabrina was obviously trying to embarrass me, but I wouldn't give her that power. "Have we stooped so low as a kingdom to have a branded for a queen? Have we all gone mad?" one of the girls behind Sabrina said. Sabrina scoffed. "Apparently, we have. We don't need a branded for a queen, and I'm sure everyone can agree with this. I will do whatever it takes to break whatever witchcraft you put on Chase." Ryan closed the distance between him and Sabrina, his voice firm. "Watch your mouth now. You're speaking to the queen." Sabrina's eyes narrowed, and she leaned forward, her tone sharp. "And why should I?" Sabrina spat back. "I'm warning you, my lady. Watch your mouth!" Ryan's face darkened and his fists clenched at his sides. There were more eyewitnesses now poking around and trying to see what was going on, and I didn't want
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-07-20Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 31.
Chase "Make sure you pay attention when using a knife, or you'll chop your finger off," I told the class as I skilfully diced the garlic on the chopping board.The boys watched, wide-eyed, as the pieces fell neatly onto the chopping board. When I was done, I wiped my hand with a kitchen rag and walked around the room, paying attention to what the other boys were doing. Some diced slowly and precisely, and others cut the garlic into jagged pieces. "Don't worry; with time and practice, you all will learn how to do it," I assured, adjusting my glasses.It was my second-day visiting Ruernia, and I'd decided to spend my last and final day here teaching a cooking class for boys. I hadn't done something like this in a while and was slowly settling back into my humanitarian and royal duties. I had hoped to be back home yesterday, but the meetings stretched out longer than I thought they would, so I had to postpone the class I had promised the boys to today.Zara and I exchanged calls and t
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-08-09
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Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย EPILOGUE
I gripped the leather of the car seat so tightly I was certain my nails would leave marks. The pain I felt was one Iโd never felt before in all my life and I was tryingโฆ and failing terriblyโฆ to keep it together. I couldnโt catch my breath. My vision blurred with tears, and all I could do was gasp, clutching my belly as if I could somehow contain the ache that tore through me. Okay, Iโd heard tales about childbirth and even Margaret had scared me with one a couple of days ago, but I didnโt think that it would be this painful. Beside me, Chase was handling the whole situation even worse than me. He was practically yelling at the frightened driver and I was just hoping that we donโt end up driving up a tree with how much tension filled this car. โCanโt you go any faster?โ Chase said to the driver, his hand reaching for mine. I could feel his worry, but I couldnโt comfort him right now, not when I was clinging to what little composure I had left. He rubbed my hand. โItโs okay,
Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 88.
ZARA. My heart was pounding when Chase and I got into the car, making our way back to the airport. This entire day has come as a shock. I mean, I had no idea that Chase was planning this. I sat in the car, watching the gorgeous trees in the kingdom I'd call home all my life blur past. Tears were stinging my eyes, but they were not falling. I simply held my husband's hand and from time to time, felt him give me a reassuring squeeze. Still, in the midst of everything, I was still in disbelief and couldn't wrap my head around the fact that Asher and Lina had gone to those lengths to get rid of me. They had been having an affair since the beginning of our relationship and I had no idea because Asher had gone extra lengths to make sure I wouldn't know he was cheating. And I almost married him. Almost merged my life with his. And to rape me? Really? Had I never meant a thing to them? Had I always been a thorn in their sides? Was that it? Had they hated me that much? To be able to g
Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 87.
I took a step away so that everyone could focus on the bouncer as I walked behind Zaraโs chair to keep her company for a while. My hands found her shoulders and began gently massaging. She seemed so stiff and in shock and I wanted to do anything to make her feel better. Maybe a kiss. Or a hug. Anything to take off the tortured look on her face. I leaned down to her ear as I whispered. โIโm sorry.โ She squeezed my hand on her shoulders and blinked, the words she said shocking me a bit. โI love you, Chase. More than youโll ever know.โ โYouโre not upset? I did this without you knowing?โ She looked up to smile at me. โI love that youโre protecting me and thatโs all that matters.โ I squeezed her shoulders again and lifted my head to face everyone once more. โYou can speak now!โ I ordered the bouncer. โI was hired to make Zaraโฆโ I cut him off quickly. โThatโs queen Zara of Betnerd to you.โ He cleared his throat. โI was hired to make queen Zara look compromised,โ he said, look
Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 86.
CHASE. Linaโs voice cut through the council again, shrill and annoying and I was seriously getting tired of her screaming. โSo thatโs it, isnโt it?โ she spat. โYouโve always been the whore. You and Chase, together that night, carrying on like you had some claim to him.โ The whore word again? When was she going to learn? Maybe never, because that was why she opened her mouth to Edward and told him about Zara cheating on the bond when they visited. It was why he had the guts to insult her moments before I killed him. And now, even after being caught in a lie with her vile husband, Lina was still going to war for him. I was very impressed by how loyal she was no matter what was thrown their way, but sheโd called my wife a whore and I wasnโt going to let that slide, not even one bit. Before she could spit out another vile word, I was already moving. I held out my hand as I grabbed Asher by the collar, and before anyone could blink, my fist crashed on his jaw again. He gasped in pain,
Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 85.
Chase held the pendant, looking around as his eyes met mine. โThis necklace held a spell that stopped Zara from feeling any pain when Asher was cheating on her. It was why she never knew.โ I swallowed, the hurt and betrayal becoming more painful by the second. โAll of these are lies,โ Asher spat out, but Chase was not yet done. โShut your mouth before I order the kingdom priest to step in,โ Chase said. โYou can do that then,โ Asher mumbled, even though I could tell he was scared. โI will. But I also spoke to the priest's daughter who said that heโd made this spell for you, Asher. And how this spell was shattered on the night of Zaraโs bachelorette party.โ I sucked in breath without moving as the priest was ushered into the room. Heโs old and had been the priest of the kingdom for as long as I could remember. The priest greeted the king by bowing his head as he sat on the table with us. Asher and Lina looked petrified. โSo, what do you have to tell us about this?โ Chase as
Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 84.
ZARA. Excuse me? It took me a moment to process what I had just heard. A whole moment to figure out the rate of my heartbeat. This whole thing looked like a badly written movie script and I had no idea how much I could take in before I began to scream. It started like a play, with Chase revealing Linaโs branded mark, and how everything was slowly making sense. I replayed the night of the bachelorette party in my head, pieces of the puzzle slowly clicking together. I hadnโt been black out drunk that nightโฆ at least, not in the way I made myself believe. The truth was, I wanted to fall into someone elseโs arms, to escape, even if just for a moment. It was a farewell to my freedom, a desperate attempt to hold on to something I could control before I got into a marriage that felt like a trap. Even if at that moment, I hadn't thought of it that way. Months before that, maybe even a year, Asher became a completely different person. I slowly started noticing that he was not the man Iโ
Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 83.
Gasps filled the room as everyone took in the mark on her wrist, the shock most evident on Asher and Linaโs faces. But they didnโt gasp or flinched because theyโd both known this all the while and had kept it a secret. I let go of her wrist as she tried to regain her composure. I looked at her and then Asher with satisfaction on my face. โWould you like to explain why youโre wearing a mark that only appears when someoneโs slept with another wolf that isnโt their mate?โ Linaโs eyes flashed with anger. She tried to hide her hand deeper into her coat, but everyone else had already seen it. The damage had already been done. โWhat are you playing at, Chase?โ My brother yelled, clearly pissed. โWhat sick game is this?โ โYou!โ Lina screamed at me, her index finger pointed shakily at my face. โYou did something to me. Youโฆ youโre trying to set me up. That mark you just showed up now. It isnโt real.โ โThen why are you desperately trying to make them believe you? Take out your hand and
Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 82.
CHASE. The meeting hadnโt begun officially, but I was already livid. I couldnโt wait to put Asher and Lina in their place and make them pay dearly for everything theyโd put Zara through. In a way, I was grateful for them because they were the main reason I was able to find my mate, the love of my life. My queen and the mother of my child. Hopefully, children. But still, it doesnโt dismiss what theyโve done and how much theyโve made her a laughing stock in her own kingdom. โMake sure to put them in their damn places,โ Drew growled. I tightened my palms together until it turned into a fist and clenched my jaw. โI fucking intend to.โ I knew that organising this meeting meant digging up past trauma for Zara, but it had to be done. Especially given the fact that she had no idea what I was doing. Seeing their ashen faces was the highlight of my mood right now. Gripping the table more, I asked again. โI asked you both a damn question!โ I snapped. โWould you like to do the honors or
Lycan King's Jaded Mateย ย ย 81.
I blinked at nothingness as the words kept repeating in my head. I was struggling so hard to come to terms with what I had just heard. It has been months since I've been back here, after I was thrown out like scum of the earth and then Chase had stood up for me. But now, I had no idea why I was here. I decided to leave Zakori behind and never look back, but for some reason, that didn't happen. For the longest time, this place had felt like home to me and I didn't know anywhere else. I barely traveled out of the kingdom and state because I didn't need to. I was content with the life I had here. Until the day of the wedding. The day my entire world came crashing down and I couldn't stop it. The place I'd grown up in, the place that used to feel like safety. Now felt like judgment. Like I was stepping into a trial. I wasn't ready for that again. I turned to Chase now, my eyes filled with questions. "Why are we here? I thought we were going to a tropical state or something?" My voi
