**GWEN**The speed of light I used to locate Abby when we got to the arena, was one of dismay mixed with hysteria. From the moment Ashton said those words, I was unable to do nothing else but wish to reach the arena sooner to hear from Abby how Tyler became involved in all of this.“Have you seen Abby?” I asked Williams, in response to his jovial greeting. Had Abby told him what she told Ashton? I didn't think so, if not, I'm not sure he would still be in this gay mood as he was now.“She was here a few minutes ago,” he nodded to her vacant seat. “She left for the female restroom. Said she will be back before the game starts.”“I'm coming,” I mouthed, using the time Ashton was addressing the crowd to make my way out of the royal booth in search of Abby.I found her in the rest room, obviously hiding. She must have sensed our arrival and taken off. “What have you done?”“I know, Gwen,” Sbe grabbed the sink tight. “I feel so stupid that was the best I could do. But I had no choice.”“Ab
**ASHTON**I swerved in force to the right, imitating the motion of my mate as she swung in full force at her present opponent, twisting her hand in a vicelike grip before balancing behind her and further putting strain on her arms, eliciting a defeated yell from the female, leading to Tyler rushing forward to blow the whistle. Once more my mate wins.Somehow my heart swelled inside, even if my sister was presently one of the fallen heroes. I couldn't believe it myself. My sister was one of the best fighters in this pack, having her share of tricks which she used to her favour and during the fight has employed all of them-however, it appeared my mate was of the mind to mesmerize everyone as she ploughed through the battlefield bringing down all her opponent not greater than five minutes, without breaking a sweat.It was as if she was born for this.How come I didn't know she was this good? To the extent of winning against my female Lycans who were bred to fight, maim and destroy. The c
**GWEN**My head was banging, that was the first thing I noticed as I came to, long before noticing the hushed voices whispering in the background. I winced as I tried to open my eyes, my right hand flying to my forehead.Why does my head feel like I was smashed with a waterside rock? It acched terribly. I shifted on the bed until I was facing the people standing in the middle of the room, their stance portraying they were presently disagreeing over something.First of all, I was lying on my bed, in the same clothing I wore to the arena this morning, and the only light in the room was coming from the window. It wasn't night yet. I raked my head to recall how I landed here from the arena and why my head ached so badly. Nothing was adding up. I sat up slowly, so subtle that the three people; Ashton, Abby and Williams didn't notice. I parted my mouth about to ask what was going on when like I was blasted back from whatever bubble I'd been huddled, I remembered. My eyes flashed daggers,
**GWEN**"I can manage on my own, Tyler," I waved him off with a slight smile, hoping he would heed to my plea and leave. From the black bags under his eyes and the manner his collar bones were sticking out, I could deduce he hasn't been having a proper sleep. Possibly because of the games."I can't leave you here, you know that," He grumbled, and pushed my wheelchair further into the temple yard. I didn't know if to be grateful to him for being here with me, for being the kind of friend I needed right now or to be irritated by his peskiness. I requested him to bring me with the idea that he would leave once we reached the gate. Tyler wasn't a fan of temples. According to him, he said he stopped believing in the goddess after she allowed his former pack people to humiliate and exile him. I might not have grown up with Tyler, however, these past weeks we have spent together as friends have given me a beamlight into his history and the kind of man he was."Tyler, you know what will happ
**ASHTON**It's been three days. For three days I've been hiding away in my study, waiting, hoping that my mate would bulge and summon for me. And for these three days, she had ignored me, not looking for me.My wolf was agitating, telling me to go to her, to keep trying to win her, to make her forgive us over what happened the other day. It wasn't my fault, yet, Fangs expect me to beg. After all, Merit was the nemesis of my recklessness. If I hadn't fucked her, she wouldn't have gone rogue. And today, when I awoke this morning, I made up my mind to do it. Call me stupid. My mate was hurt, I shouldn't care, considering that was what I always wanted. To break her, make her cry every day that she will give in and reject me, leave and never return so I could go back to my former rakish life; a life of excessive enjoyment. Having so much fun without consequences. That was what I have always desired. Until she came along. So, why should I care? Then slowly, these past few months of bic
**GWEN**I clicked my tongue and made up my mind to ignore Merit. As I veered to leave, her next comment stopped me, igniting the fire that I had managed to quench inside of me."I see you are still ashamed of your woeful defeat at the arena on Tuesday, huh?"With speed I reached in front of her, my two hands connecting with her shoulders, sending her back. Unfortunately, she doesn't fall, it was not as if I did something. Her lips quirked to the side in a mocking smirk. "You are such a weakling and I keep wondering what my dear King saw in you in the first place. You are not fit to be our Queen."The more those words flowed, the more my heart boiled, pouring over. I wanted to hurt Merit so bad the way she was hurting me. I needed to make her pay, yet I didn't know how to. "Are you happy with yourself now?""Huh?""You should be the one ashamed of yourself hovering over a man that is already taken. What? Don't you have a mate somewhere?" She growled, her Lycae eyes flashing at me the
**GWEN**By 4:15 pm, I was properly dressed in a burgundy knee-length body con gown to match with a peach slight stiletto heel. I sat in front of the mirror as Kora adorned my hair with silver pins in a simple chignon style."Has there been any meeting these past three days, Kora?" I asked her, watching her move from the mirror.She shrugged, her eyes meeting mine steadily. "None, your higjness. For now, there won't be much meetings until after the games.""Okay..." Is she lying? If not, why would Ashton have those bags and look that way? He had a week load of stubbles on his face and his colour was pale, not to mention his hair and clothing. "Besides, with the ball of appeasement approaching, there are bound to be several meetings, most of which would run through the night. So, the elders are trying to preserve their energy for it. Even the King."Ball of appeasement? I've never heard of that. Instead of asking her-which would seem awkward- I would rather ask Abby later. "Where has
**GWEN**"I will come to check on you later, Gwen," Tyler said as he dropped us off at the palace, totally ignoring Abby by my side. I don't understand why they can't seen to comport, and right now, ‘someone’ might be watching from ‘somewhere’. My eyes itched to look upwards at the numerous windows, but managed to control myself.I clasped my right hand around Abby's left wrist when she made to leave and then I leaned into Tyler's car and whispered, "Hey, you need to come out and...you know, even though a goodbye."Abby snatched her wrist away with a loud gasp. "Ohmg, I can't do that. Think about Williams!""I can't do that." Tyler simply declared. I shook my head impatiently, letting out small curses. "Do you guys realize Ashton might be watching right now from his window up there? Don't forget that was how he knew I was out this morning with Ty."To external eyes, they wouldn't notice, but me that was closer, I saw Abby stomp her feet, plastering on a faux sweet smile as she took a
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