**ASHTON**What is happening? Why do I feel this level of pain? Damn it! It looked as though my eyes were bound with heavy weighted objects. I couldn't move or blink them.I tried again, this time with a groan. Fangs were agitating too. I knew he wanted to show himself, but I couldn't let him out because that would mean danger. It was rare for me to let out my Lycae. At a matter of fact, it was a rarity for a Lyxan to let out their Lycae when it was not yet red moon.This is because without the closeness or at least the presence of the red moon, it made it hard for us to control them. For someone like me, I have learned ovef the years to control Fangs because of how vicious he could be if threatened or smelled unwanted confrontation. Something like what happened this evening. We were caught in a trap. A trap I was still confused about how we entered it.After .y sister broke the news of the presence of the Vampire King, I had been blinded by rage all I desired to do was to go down t
**GWEN**"The King had entered into an ambush," Tyler said to me in a thick concerned voice, his face passive in the dim light.My mouth fell open in dismay, taking a step back with my hand to my stomach which seemed to have knotted, combined with the tightened corset. I forgot to breathe for a second. "H-how did it happen?" I was on him again, taking his left hand. "I need to see my husband.""Hey." He replaced by hands with his, tugging me gently. "You need to focus on the present. He would be fine. The former Queen just arrived at the area and I had to come because I knew you would need someone here with you.""Tyler!" My voice chugged with tears. The corners of my eyes were starting to sting from tears, the guests in the ballroom, totally forgotten. "Would he be okay?""He would be fine. He is the Lycan King.""I-I caused this." Was all I could think. My eyes skated about with a blank mind. I felt like I could do something but then I didn't know what. "I shouldn't have invited the
**GWEN**The night seemed to be endless and so was my uneasy heart. Ashton hardly spared me a glance, even as we danced. It was as if I was there but to him I was not existing. With each step we made on the dance floor, you the onlookers everything was alright, but between us we knew there was war.Immediately the dance came to an end, the gathering broke out in a loud cheer, howling at the top of their voices as we bowed and Ashton led me out towards the staircase that led to his throne. His hands not leaving mine.“That was a wonderful performance, I must say, Ashtin.” Cane a familiar voice just before we approached the staircase.I felt Ashton tense, the hand holding mine tightening as we came to a stop and very slowly he twisted around with me to face the same man I had danced with before whom Tyler confirmed to be the Vampire King.“Vladimir,” Slurred Ashton, forcing on a smile.“Oh, come off it, Lycan,” Thhe man waved, smoking port which he exhaled into the air. The dance went
**GWEN**It has been three days since the ball and since Williams was found dead. The pack had been serene with everyone silently mourning the loss of their beloved Beta. No one said it, but ssomehow, everywhere I went it seemed the news of my involvement in bringing in other creatures into the Kingdom had spread like wildfire and everyone now looked at me in a certain way that despite not saying it to my face, I knew they the hate they harbored for me from the onset was now full-fledged, if not worse.I killed their Beta. I brought evil into the pack and nearly killed their King.It was there in their eyes and they didn't need to tell me. I just knew. These days leaving my room was a herculean task I thought profoundly about hence I left.Albeit, I had to. I needed to be in certain places at certain times; the temple, visitation-even if they shut their doors on me once they heard of my arrival. And Abby, she hadn't looked my way nor spoken to me since then. I killed her mate.As I st
**ASHTON**It was just three days but then it seemed like forever since I lost my best friend, my best man. My Beta. He was simply irreplaceable. I couldn't bear it. All because of her. If only she listens to me this wouldn't have happened. But trust my mate and her stubbornness. Because of her, my life was at stake and my Beta was gone from this world.It was a loss that couldn't be easily forgotten.Sitting above my horse atop a hill; our favorite hill-Williams and I, my eyes roamed the lowers lands, recalling those times when we were little when we went down there in a dare of who was braver. Of course, no one knew but Williams gave me the brevity to do most of the things I did today. He was a brave man.I knew from the first day I met him crying alone by the roadside that the two of us were going to make the best pally. He had lost his family and had nowhere to go. I begged my father to take him in and we became friends. And he never disappointed me. A tear streaked down my ey
**GWEN**When they walked into the room, I was not expecting them, and from the confounded looks on the faces of Tyler and Abby, it was obvious they were of the same mindset."Don't waste my bloody time, Abigail," Charlotte sneered, her eyes like a furnace burning into Abby who shivered beside me. I was shaken as well. What was going on? Could it be that Ashton had informed her about Abby being mated to Tyler and the older woman was not in agreement?My eyes skidded from mother to son and back. I shifted on the bed and Abby followed suit. I could literally hear her heartbeat."Mother...""Only the truth," Charlotte was not giving room for clearer reflection. "I-I don't understand what truth you seek for, Mother. I am mourning the death of my friend!" I took notice of the defense in her voice as she lurched her shoulder forward, returning the same fire to her mother.Charlotte stood, left hand going to her waist and the other to her face. In exasperation. "I can't believe you would st
(Undergoing editing!)**GWEN**"Mother, I can explain,” Ashton said, giving his sister a stony look."Explain?" Abby's loud derisive chuckle rang in the room. "Was that not why you wanted me married off? Because I was trying to talk sense into him he turned against me.""I am still your older brother, Abigail." Ashton was reaching his brink. I could smell it. But I couldn't do anything about it."You slept with another woman after marriage? Ashton!" His mother finally recovered from her shock."I'm sorry, mother. I was a fool and confused.""Confused? Confused over what?""I j-just didn't want to be married, you knew that.""I can't believe this..." Charlotte found her way back to the chair and sat down. "Just a little repose from the palace and things had already fallen apart?""Now you know how it feels to be the target," Abby snarled at Ashton and went ahead to push the clothes into the sizable black leather bag."I am sorry, mother. This was all in the past." Ashton stooped before
(Undergoing editing!)**GWEN**I was almost asleep when I heard a loud knock in the door which yanked me back to reality to shoot up from the bed and stared foggily at the door. The knock cane again, this time louder.Argh! I sat up, recalling I had locked the door earlier on. Who coudk it be knocking by this time of the day? Ig was too early. I unlocked the locks, my eyes still heavy with sleep I just need to know who it was wi as to tell them to return later when I was vehement enough. As the door sighed open, Kora stood there, fiddling with her fingers and at a closer look, she was shifdering on her feet like she was emburdened with something severe. "What is it?" I drawled, my finger going up to the front of my hair to nib at a distressing piny."Uour jighness!" She bowed. "The Princess has gone missing."I continued gaping at her. Was that why she was...wait, Abby had left the palace?!My eyes were wife open at once, my feet impulsiveky going forth. "What do you mean? She was i
GWENEpilogue (A year later.)"Oh, come on, Henry!" I screamed at the top of my lungs at my son, barreling down the staircase like a hellcat after him as he giggled innocently, unaware of the distress he was causing me."My Queen, let me get him." Kora was behind me, racing after us."Don't worry, Kora, I can do this."Just at the last staircase as I was almost rounding on him, out of nowhere, he was swept up from the ground. Increasing his baby chuckles. I think he was having fun out of my misery."I guess you have been naughty again," Tyler crooned to him. The young man unaware of the punishment waiting for him kept giggling mindlessly. I stopped to touch my forehead and let out a frustrated breath. I thought my husband was stubborn, but his child is ten times more. Tyler gave me a pitiful glance. "It's their time.""I guess I wasn't well prepared for this like I thought." I twisted to nod at Kora who in turn left immediately. Then I made my way down. "How's Abby and Caleb?""As fine
ASHTON"Good boy, Striker," I scratched my giant stallion by the flank as I made to leave his side, and with a single nod, matched in their direction of the backyard door to sneak back into the house. Today was the blasted ball organized by my mother and my nostrils were already overwhelmed with the disgusting smell of the different creatures that were flooding in from their disgusting Kingdoms. Yes, you heard me correctly. All thanks to my mother, she like my mate, ended up organizing another ball all in the name of peace. That was after convincing me to quench my taste for the blood of the sickening vampires and of course, agree to this if only I desire to see my wife again. Have I mentioned about the Tyler path?All these I had to approve of just to get Gwendolyn's attention. What could I do?I accepted, but hell knows none of them would see me at the damned ball! And by the goddess, I hope this works, if not, the bloody vampires would get twice the rage I was going to use to co
GWENWho said it was easy to let go? They were all damn liars! Bloody blasted liars who stooped so low to write for fame even though at the detriment of the truth.It was a mere fallacy. True love is destructive as it is healing. I discovered that the hard way. I thought I was going to forget. In one month. Two months. Or possibly three months. Damn it, I knew I won't forget, but somewhere in my heart, I hoped to be able to endure it. That my love for Ashton would fade away and slowly over time it would become just a figment of my past. Just like Julian. Yet, every day when I woke up, it was like yesterday. Nothing new. Instead, I grew lonelier and bitter. I just wanted to perish, however, even death seemed too far off to come to me. "Gwen, darling." A subtle knock sounded at the door followed by a soft shove. It was my mom. From the window I have been standing staring outside like I do every day, I looked in the direction of the brown oak, and back, quickly reaching up to dab
ASHTONFive months later...When I was a pup, Dad would often rouse me from sleep very early in the morning to walk miles, run, and do several things that would be considered abnormal for a pup of my age. Back then, I often looked forward to it with a grudgeful heart, wishing to be like every other pup who enjoyed their morning respite with no discomfort , all in the name of me being a future Lycan King.And my mother, she was the exact same if not stricter than my dad so I couldn't even look to her for salvation.After the death of my father which forced me to become King at an earlier age, I came to appreciate everything he did for me, and even more so, my mother for her hardhandedness. But today, I could wholeheartedly say that in all those training, if there was one aspect they never prepared me for, it was the emptiness, the big hole, the depression in our heart that was created when we lost a loved one.The harsh blow dealt on us by love."My decision is final," My voice carried
GWEN"She will be alright, Sal." Was the first thing I heard in my head before gradually, my environment registered. I didn't open my eyes immediately not because I didn't want to as I could hear the succinct fear in my father's voice as he reassured my mother of someone going to be alright, but I couldn't as a result of the bright light focused on my vision, causing my head to bang.Then, the next thing that occurred to me was that I was lying on a bed. I recalled vividly I had gone to the woods to clear my head. I ran. I also recalled everything going dark. Abruptly, my lids snapped open followed by a loud wince."Gwen!" My mother careened, hurrying to my bedside. "You are awake."How did i get here? "Windows," I breathe, bristling when she caressed my upper arm in a motherly gesture. "Oh." Father went to shift the curtains and curb the light, leaving the room in a dimly lit state. He came to stand beside mother and they watched me like hawks."How did I get back?" My eyes were s
GWENI couldn't believe what I just heard. Ashton killed his ex? But...how? How is that even possible? I tried to wrap my head around it but the more I tried, I kept arriving at a dead end in my head. By now, my appetite was gone and like him, I found my hand frozen, my spoon lowering to my ceramic ware. Right at that point, even the white lights from the spiraling chandelier suddenly appeared dark and everything around me seemed to turn vile, my food inclusive, like a venom in my mouth.He killed a werewolf and yet he hated us and saw us as the problem. Meanwhile, we were the ones supposed to demonstrate such behavior towards him. We were the ones hurt. The ones wronged. Who killed their lover because they broke their heart? Is Ashton this much of a monster? How much of this man do I not know?"Unfuckenbelievable!" Charlotte cried out, slapping the gray napkin she had been using to wipe her hands roughly on the table as if the poor object was the present cause of her wrath. "You-wha
ASHTON"Where is Striker?" I asked as I approached the stables in the morning, an obscured smile hinting at the background of my face for obvious reasons. It had been so since last night. One would think I won the lottery from the manner my heartbeat was plummeting inside my chest.Just because of her.Love felt that way."He is feeding in the open field, your highness," Tyga said, pointing in the direction of the open plush meadow where a huge black stallion was bent feeding. These days, I no longer bothered to hide them. I wonder why my mother hadn't taken notice."Prepare him." I marched forward into the stables to check on the two other horses in there. I will be going to the big ranch to check out the rest later on, not that it was necessary, as I trusted Tyga. Merely for formality's sake. At the first house, a greyhound poked its nose in my palm, sniffing for treats, causing me to grin. I fed him one which he was fast to ravish and came back for more, I ignored him until I was d
**GWEN**"Show me how much," I moaned, my finger sinking into his scalp to drag him closer. I felt like I was drunk and still needed more wine. I couldn't get enough of him. Our lips clashed in a battle of prowess, each fighting for dominance while at the same time trying to showcase our frustration over the lost nights. I desired everything about this man down to his faults. His madness, his insecurities. My pussy got wet merely knowing he was jealous of seeing me with another man even as it frightened me. No one had ever wanted me this way. And it had to be him. The King of Lycans! It was enough to turn me on. "You have no idea what you have signed up for," he mumbled in a hoarse voice, grabbing my lap as he stood up from the sofa and the next thing, I was slapped against the wall. "Argh!" I cried out, but my words were cut short by his tongue that thrust deep down my throat, and back out, eliciting more moans from me and the need to match his attack. When his lips left mine, i
**GWEN**My mother's face dropped in worry and she hastily scooted closer and placed her left hand on mine, bringing my attention back to her. "Is this what you have been going through silently? Why didn't you tell me at once?""Because I didn't want you to worry, mother. What was I supposed to say? The Dr has different reasons why he thinks I can't bear children but I recalled him saying something about duplicate genetics which I interpreted to be that I don't have a wolf. But right now, I no longer know, Mother.""What does your husband have to say about this?"I shrugged depressively. "Nothing. He seemed to not care but I'm still worried. I want my own child. I want to be able to carry my own baby, Mother. Is that too much to ask from the goddess after all I've been through?" My voice quivered, unrepressed tears pouring down my face. Mother was fast to gather me in her arms and allowed me sob out my heart. "It's going to be okay, my child. Believe me, the goddess might already b