**ASHTON**I was not supposed to feel a stab of jealousy as I watched my mate's head gradually bounce in agreement with my response. Since that day I overheard the name of that man, it unsettled me, the same way seeing Tyler close to her made me desire to murder him. I wanted more than anything to know who that man was, where he existed and how important he was to my mate, and if he still held a place in her heart. Somehow when she was speaking, he was the first to cross my mind. And seeing the way she sighed sadly, her eyes pitched at the glossy table top, I understood from within that it was an answer obvious to the eyes. My mate was still in love with her first crush."I'm sorry, Ashton," She mumbled softly, "Julian and I...""You don't need to tell me about him, little wolf," I schooled myself to say, forcing on a smooth smile as she managed to gaze at me. "We all have our past.""Like Emma?" She was fast to add. My hand which had located hers on the table to soothe her, dropped
**GWEN**No sooner have I arrived at my room the next day when we returned to the palace, the door busted open and there stood a furious Abby, her hands to her waist glaring at me. "Is that how it is now?" She started, the edge of her mouth quivering, showing how angry she was at me. "You don't tell me stuff again.""I swear it was not planned, Abby." I quickly dropped my shawl and took a stroll to her. "It was a spur-of-the-moment decision orchestrated by your brother.""Couldn't you have mindlink_oh, I'm sorry I forgot_""It's okay, Abby." I didn't let her finish. I knew as a supernatural creature mind linking was our simplest way of communication. Being unable to do that due to my unfortunate situation was none of her fault. "I understand."She lowered her hands with a sigh and covered the remaining distance to me. "I was so worried and others too.""I know...we should have been back a day before yesterday but the rain...""That too." She crossed me and moved to the chair to sit. "
**GWEN**Have you imagined when two elephants are in the same room? The feeling of those beside them especially if they look like they are going to fight? That was how I felt as my mate walked into the room. And the annoying part of it was his composure.He was grinning. Nonchalantly. "There is nothing funny about the situation, Ashton." His mother was at him. "Life is simple, Mother. We make things complex for ourselves." He came to sit beside me and took one of my hands. It was a mindless action, from what I could deduce."We have a ceremony coming up!" His mother snapped."And everything is going to be fine, Mother. We have a team in charge of planning those kind of things. We don't need to meddle.""Is that what you think, Gwen?" As she asked me, I could see her eyes flick to our entwined fingers before lifting to my face.I shook my head. "I am not of that school of thought, Mother.""Then, you see that the Queen needs to be available all the time to make this work. I had to pre
**GWEN**"Honestly, Gwen,” Tyler insisted, shifting away from me. From his body movement, I could tell he was lying. I knew there was something troubling him, despite not knowing what. Or perhaps, it might all be in my head. As I said earlier, I'm often worried most time even when there was nothing there.So, reluctantly, I acquiesced and accompanied it with a smile. "Cool. So, how are you preparing for the upcoming ball?"His shoulders bounced up and down casually, "like every other person. It's really nothing that special according to what I heard.""It is, Tyler. And about your ladylove...I can secure her an entrance if you want me to."His Obsidian settled on me for a few notches I felt I might have said the wrong thing. They were dimmed in contemplation. After a while, the corners of his lips slanted downward as he said in a low baritone. "That won't be necessary."I opened my mouth to still insist he divulged to me the object of his unnatural behavior when a door upstairs slammed
**GWEN**Instead of going to my room, I made a beeline for the study to attend to the file from before. Of course, I have a meeting with the former Queen to discuss it. I needed to be acquainted with all the names before her arrival.As I flipped through the pages, a maid came in to deposit a tray of cookies and tea and even went on to open the curtains and let in the evening light. Then stoked the fire in the hearth. She picked away some objects no longer of importance-possibly used by the former Queen-and opened the fridge to take off bottles that had overstayed."Your Highness, should I arrange the desk?" She asked when she came back from dropping the stuff she took out.I glanced about my desk. The place was in disarray. Nonetheless, I couldn't let her do that not knowing which papers or files held water. So, I shook my head. I would do that after speaking with the former Queen. She would be the one to inform me of the files that are now irrelevant and needed elimination."I will l
**GWEN**I concluded what I was doing at the study and went for lunch which normally was carried out in quietude as it's usually not a communal affair. I ate alone, at the large hall, a simple breakfast comprised of soured lemon pie and fresh asparagus. After eating, I was driven to seek out Ashton as I was aware he was in a meeting in which I was supposed to be present but not in the mood to be. I needed to take a stroll. By myself. And so I did. "Good day, your highness," Mousy greeted when I reached the front doors. I bowed my head slightly to acknowledge his greeting with a small smile. "Hello, how are you?""I'm fine, your highness." He said too blithely. "Are you going out for a walk?" He went on to ask.I nodded, wondering how he knew. "Just around the palace.""Of course, your highness. I will relay that to the King if he inquires." With a single bob of my head, I didn't waste more time and took my leave. I stood at the porch for a notch, trying to decide which direction t
**ASHTON**I was worn out and needed profound rest as of when I made it out of the meeting conference room. The moment we rounded up, I had informed Williams through the mind link to conclude with them whilst I took some fresh air.Goddess, these elders were stifling. The guts of them to ask me why we haven't dropped news of an heir yet. We just got married for goddess sake. It was not like babies were plucked from trees or anything.However, I have been having this gnawing feeling to inquire from Gwendolyn if all was well. It was not as if I was putting pressure on her, I mean we were in this together, which was why I should ask her how she felt and if there had been any signs. That way we know the way forward, if to see the Doctor.It's will be five month soon.I was so deep in thought I didn't hear the sound of footstep coming the other side of the hall, nor my mother's scent until I nearly collided with her."Son!" She righted her self fast and stepped back. "Are you alright?""Ye
**GWEN**I didn't know how long I was transfixed to a spot in that water after Merit left. I just knew that for a moment I didn't know how to react to her threat and just as I was about to leave the water, I felt something like a shadow pass over the water and became motionless at once.I thought Merit was going to do something heinous to me, the water being the least of my problem, but when I saw that shadow, I knew I was going to die for sure.Then boom, someone was inside the water, snapping me out of my shock and I recovered, my first instinct being to run. Run to where? I didn't know, merely striving to try my best. "It's me, my love," Ashton said, and I have never felt the level of relieve I had at that point which I concealed by slapping at his arms."You startled me."He didn't let me finish and covered my mouth with a scintillating toe-curling kiss that had my head spinning that I forgot about my fear, my body engulfed by his heavenly charms. He appeared excited this evening
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